Cruise : Bordeaux s Garonne river cruise biking

Transcription

1 Réf : BOA_BIKAIP Cruise : Bordeaux s Garonne river cruise biking BORDEAUX - PAUILLAC - Estuaire Gironde - BLAYE - LIBOURNE - Saint-Emilion - CADILLAC - BORDEAUX Reasons to book with us NEW PROGRAM 2016 CRUISE BIKING INCLUDED *** For your biking excursions : Small group our average group size is 8 and we limit the number of travelers to 14 Multiple daily route Bienvenue in Bordeaux! You are about to embark on what is sure to be a magical vacation that is as unique as it is splendid. This trip is going to give you the best of both worlds. On most days, you are surrounded by adventure as your bike takes you by sites throughout the beautiful country, and you witness the history that surrounds you. At night and some afternoons, you rest in the lap of luxury as you gently float down the river on your impressive cruise ship. On this trip, you visit a monastery and its beautiful sculpted capitals, see the tallest sand dune in Europe, taste wine at a château, and visit some of the most expensive vineyards in the world, as well as some of the most famous in France. The cruise is not like normal cruises, and while you are enjoying your trip, you get to experience parts of France in ways that most people will never get to do. Be prepared for a magnificent adventure. Guest-to-leader ratio with an average of 1 leader for 4 guests, you are guarantee to have a very attentive serviceship sails to Gironde estuary Day 1 Margaux Route :22 Miles (300 ft Elev. Gain) *** Welcome to a week of travel and fun. Your tour starts at the Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station where your ride is there ready to transfer you to the town of Margaux. As you begin your trip, rest easy in the knowledge that we have your luggage covered. It will be shipped to the ship later today. CroisiEurope is leader in Gironde river cruising Before starting your bike journey, sit down and relax while you have a magnificent lunch at a local restaurant in Margaux, Le Savoie. After, you are fitted to your bike and given a safety talk. Then, it is time for you to begin cycling. The Gironde 3 rivers : Gironde - Garonne - Dordogne

2 Your route today takes you along the shores of the Garonne River going by Château Margaux, Château Palmer, and Château Siran as you make your way to Bordeaux. On the way, enjoy the local flavors at a wine tasting. Once you have tasted what the château has to offer, continue riding through the suburbs all the way to the harbour and your luxurious floating hotel. Once onboard and checked-in, with your luggage reaching its destination before you, get ready to have a welcome drink with your fellow travellers as you are introduced to the crew. Following the introductions, sit down and enjoy the inaugural dinner onboard the ship. Day 2 Cruise Bordeaux to Pauillac :6.00 AM to PM St. Estephe Route : 7 Miles (250 ft) * Pauillac Route : 22 Miles (700 ft) Bechevelle Route : 29 Miles (800 ft) You wake up this morning on the magnificent Cyrano de Bergerac, which is your home for the next week. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning as you sail towards Pauillac. Stand on the decks and enjoy the scenery as it passes by. Once you have docked in Pauillac, it is time to get on your bike and ride along the waterfront before climbing up to St-Estephe, which is famous for its baroque architecture and stunning views overlooking the Garonne. On the way, you stop for lunch. After lunch, you ride along some of the most expensive vineyards in the world, as well as some of the most famous wineries in France. Of course you cannot travel through this area without stopping for a wine tasting. You have an opportunity to do so when you stop at a Château, which produces some of the world s greatest wine. Once you have stopped to taste the amazing wine, you continue biking among numerous châteaux and beautiful villages. You spot many well-known wineries including the Châteaux of Pontet-Canet, Pichon Longueville Baron, and Lynch-Bages as you make your way back to Pauillac.

3 Later, hop back onto the boat until tomorrow s adventure. Dinner is served onboard tonight. Day 3 Cruise Pauillac to Estuaire Gironde :5.00 to 9.30 AM Cruise Estuaire Gironde to Blaye : 9.30 AM to 2.00 PM Blaye Route :19 Miles (1,000 ft) * St. Gervais Route : 31 Miles (1,400 ft) Enjoy breakfast onboard as the Cyrano de Bergerac carries you to the next destination. You have plenty of time this morning as you drift along the water. Relax on the sundeck or sleep in as you float along the river. Your destination is Meschers sur Gironde, all the way to the end of the estuary. In this area lay the homes of many fishermen as well as the Grottes de Meschers, or the Matata Caves. These caves are carved in the limestone cliffs over the estuary. Lunch is served on the ship as you make your way to port, where you are able to discover Blaye, a Unesco World Heritage Town that dates back to the 17th century. As you ride through this area of France, revel in your surroundings. This area showcases the incredible surroundings of Blaye, which includes vineyards, farmland, and castles. The ride is on an undulating route, and it has some of the most scenic stretches along the Garonne. While you are cycling through France, you go through Plassac, filled with Roman remains ; Marmission and its troglodytes caves ; and Bayon sur Gironde, where you have a great view of the Bec d Ambès. You make your way to Bourg, and if you chose to, you can add additional mileage and make your way to St. Gervais, where you can admire the views as you stand in the shadow of the medieval church before you return to Blaye for the evening.

4 Tonight back aboard the ship, enjoy dinner at your leisure. Day 4 Cruise Blaye to Libourne : 7.00AM to 2.00 PM St. Emilion Route : 13 Miles (600 ft) * Libourne Route : 21 Miles (700 ft) boat. Today, you have plenty of time to sleep and relax as you are sailing all morning. As you cruise from Blaye to Libourne, you have both breakfast and lunch onboard the Once you arrive on shore, you start biking towards the town of Saint-Émilion. Your route today takes you through some of the world s most famous Bordeaux towns such as Pomerol and estates such as the Château de Cheval Blanc. Once in Saint Emilion, enjoy a visit of Saint Emilion s underground monuments. Beginning in the 9th century, men removed underground slabs of stones for building Saint-Emilion and also for the nearby châteaux which explains both the presence of extensive underground galleries and the largest monolithic church in Europe. Then take some time to tour Saint-Émilion, and its bustling streets, outstanding monuments, and distinguished architecture. On top of its beauty, it is also known to be one of the principal red wine areas of the region. Later that day, cycle back to the ship and enjoy the amenities the boat has to offer. Relax in your room, or view the scenery from the decks. This evening, you are able to enjoy another spectacular meal onboard. Day 5 Cruise Libourne to Cadillac : 7.00 AM to 2.00 PM

5 Cadillac Route :24 Miles (900 ft) Budos Route :31 Miles (1,300 ft) On day 5, the ship spends the morning cruising from Libourne to Cadillac, which was founded in While you are sailing along the river, fuel up with a hearty breakfast to prepare for the exciting next leg of your cycling tour. Once you arrive at port, you start biking south along the Garonne River. You start your bike ride from the ship and travel into the Sauterne region, known for its sweet dessert wines, and to the village of Sainte-Croix-dumont, where you have an incredible view of the valley. The highlight of the day will be the ride through the famous vineyards of Sauternes and Barsac, going by the Château d Yquem, which is recognised for its complex, sweet wines. Sauternes namesake is known worldwide for its quality, distinctively sweet taste. Due to the maritime climate, there is a frequent occurrence of a fungus known as noble rot. This fungus is actually what gives the wine of the Sauternes region its sweet flavor, as well as its distinct gold color. At the end of today s bike journey, you board the ship once again to relax in your luxurious accommodations. Dinner is served onboard the ship tonight. Day 6 Cruise Cadillac to Bordeaux :8.00 AM to PM La Sauve Route :18 Miles (1,400 ft) * Lastrene Route :29 Miles (1,700 ft) * Bordeaux Route : 36 Miles (1,800 ft) Today starts with a buffet breakfast onboard the Cyrano de Bergerac before you start cycling early this morning. While you are viewing France from the top of your bike, the boat makes its way towards its final destination, Bordeaux. Begin today s ride in the walled city ofcadillac and start pedaling towards Bordeaux. As you travel, you make your way towards

6 La Sauve and Cenac. At lunch time, you dine next to L Abbaye de La Sauve-Majeur. This used to be a Benedictine monastery, and, though it is now in ruins, it still acts as an object of tourism because of its Romanesque architecture and the many sculpted capitals that still remain. This beautiful abbey is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, you circle back to Bordeaux, where you have the afternoon to visit the town on your own. Once you are back onboard the ship, you can enjoy the company of your newfound travel companions. Chat, relax, and have fun with the many activities you will find aboard. Tonight, meet back up with your new cycling friends and enjoy a delicious meal on the ship. Day 7 Arcachon Route :22 Miles (800 ft) * Leget-Cap-Ferret Route : 35 Miles (1,100 ft) Atlantic Route :45 Miles (1,400 ft) Today is the last day of your trip, but your exciting adventure is not over quite yet. After breakfast, take a minivan transfer to the starting location inland from the Atlantic Coast. You leave the vineyards behind you and make your way to the coast and the Atlantic Ocean. As you take the paved bike path, you cycle through a pine wood forest before eventually arriving Arcachon, where you are served lunch. Arcachon is a famous bathing town, and it has been the summer residence of the bourgeoisie since the mid-19th century. Following lunch, you board a boat with your bike and arrive in Cap Ferret, which is famous for its oyster farms. After you have reached shore once more, you bike along the coast and along the Dune du Pilat, which is the tallest sand dune in Europe. It reaches approximately 360 feet above sea level. You continue riding until your reach the shuttle that transfers you back to the ship. Back on the ship, make sure to say goodbye to all of your new friends and travel enthusiasts. It is almost the end, but not before one last meal. Tonight, you can have a grand experience at the gala and have a delicious meal at the farewell dinner.

7 Day 8 Enjoy a leisurely breakfast onboard the ship one last time before before meeting up with your trip leaders and disembarking the ship. From here, a short drive to the train station of Bordeaux marks the end of this unforgettable trip.

8 FORMULA This offer includes : Your cruise with all meals from dinner D1 to breakfast D8 - drinks including water, wine, beer, fruit juices and coffee served by CroisiEurope during meals on board and all drinks from the bar (except champagne and drinks on the wine list)- double-occupancy cabin with shower in private bathroom - the biking excursions - premium quality bikes - dedicated minivan support - Garmin Edge Touring GPS- assistant from professionnal leader during biking tours - onboard entertainment - assistance from our onboard multi-lingual host/hostess - welcome cocktail - the gala dinner and evening - travel assistance and repatriation insurance - all port fees. This offer does not include : Drinks on the wine list, champagne at the bar, drinks served during excursions or transfers - cancellation and baggage insurance - personal expenses - transfers - booking fees. PRACTICAL INFORMATION FORMALITIES valid passport compulsory. Non-EU nationals are advised to consult their embassy or consulate. Please note : Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the last day of your travels. The cruise schedule may vary according to tides and the order of the excursions may be changed to ensure the best organization of your cruise. For the safety of our passengers, the captain and crew of the boat may decide to modify the navigational itinerary. The cruise schedule may vary according to tides and arrival times at ports of call may be subject to change. Alcohol can damage your health. Please drink in moderation. * With shuttle.