11 Days/10 Nights Departs Daily Except Sat. from Paris Gastronomic Wonders of France & Spain: Paris, Bordeaux, San Sebastián, and Madrid An indulgent culinary journey pairing world-famous wines with gourmet food, in four cities famous for their gastronomy. ACCOMMODATIONS 3 Nights Paris 2 Nights Bordeaux 2 Nights San Sebastián 3 Nights Madrid
INCLUSIONS Paris City Tour with Wine & Cheese Tasting Cooking Class with Market Visit 3-Day Central Zone Paris Visite Pass Paris TripBuilder City Guide Private Bordeaux &Saintémilion Tour with Wine Tastings Private San Sebastián Tapas Tour Madrid Taverns & Markets Walking Tour Traditional Paella Cooking Class with Lunch First-Class Rail between cities with Seat Reservations Daily Breakfast ARRIVE PARIS: After checking in, use your provided Paris TripBuilder CityGuide to navigate to landmarks such as the Musée d'orsay. Once a famous train station, the d'orsay has been repurposed as one of the world's finest museums, with the world's largest collection of Impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. The view of Paris from the top floor, by the large clock, is quite striking. After seeing the museum, you can stroll along the River Seine towards the Cathedral Notre-Dame, and seek out a quiet Left Bank bistro for dinner before returning to your hotel. If you've walked enough, you can use your 3-day Paris Visite Card to access the Paris Metro. (Accommodations, Paris) PARIS: Today you'll be picked up at your hotel for your Morning City Tour plus Wine and Cheese Tasting with an English-speaking driving guide. You will be driven by most of Paris' classic monuments on the Right and Left Banks including the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Invalides, the Place de la Concorde, the Place Vendôme, and Notre-Dame. Crossing over on the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, the tour finishes with a visit to the village of Montmartre on the Right Bank. Another 20-minute stop will be made to stroll around the Sacre Coeur Basilica and the Place du Tertre where the now famous Modernist artists and painters used to display their work. After the city tour you will be brought to a traditional bistrot, La Bonne Franquette, in the heart of the Montmartre neighborhood, where you will enjoy two glasses of French wine (red and/or white) and a plate of French cheeses. No return transfer to your Paris hotel so please remember to bring your Paris Visite pass with you so you can take the Metro to your next activity. (Breakfast, Accommodations, Paris) PARIS: This morning, Chef Marthe introduces you to the art of buying the best products in the market. Then you are invited to make with her a complete meal including an
appetizer, a main course, and a dessert from the comfort of her private apartment on the Left Bank, near the Montparnasse Tower. (Breakfast, Lunch, Accommodations, Paris) PARIS TO BORDEAUX: After breakfast, check out of your hotel for your first-class rail journey via the TGV to Bordeaux. The remainder of the day and evening will be free for relaxation and exploration of the beautiful city center. (Breakfast, Paris; Accommodations, Bordeaux) BORDEAUX: After breakfast, take a short walk to a central departure point for a full day guided wine tour to Saint-émilion and Pomerol, where the Merlot grape dominates. There will be a maximum of eight guests on this tour. During the course of the day you will visit tow Classified Châteaux for a tour and tastings. The guide will also lead a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage village of Saint-émilion, where there is free time for lunch. At the end of the day, return to Bordeaux for a free evening. (Breakfast and Accommodations, Bordeaux) BORDEAUX TO SAN SEBASTIÁN: After breakfast, check out of your hotel for your first-class rail journey to San Sebastián. In less than 3.5 hours, arrive in San Sebastián and check into your hotel, where you will spend two nights. Rest of the day at leisure. (Breakfast, Bordeaux; Accommodations, San Sebastián) SAN SEBASTIÁN: Free morning and afternoon to explore San Sebastián, also known by its Basque name of Donostia. In contrast to many narrow and curving city alleys, the unexpected openness of San Sebastián's bay front is a beautiful surprise. This
northern Spanish city faces the Bay of Biscay near the geographical hinge where the east-west top of Spain intersects the north-south western coast of France. Explore all or part of the four-mile promenade that connects the city's three main beaches; or walk the narrow alleys of the Old Town. In the late afternoon, explore the local culture by taking a Tapas Tour with a private guide, who will select several excellent bars from the hundreds available to introduce this famous snack food (known as pintxos in the Basque tongue). (Breakfast and Accommodations, San Sebastián) SAN SEBASTIÁN TO MADRID: After breakfast, check out of your hotel for your first-class rail journey to Madrid. In 5.5 hours, arrive in Madrid, and check into your hotel, where you will spend three nights. Rest of the day at leisure to begin exploring this cosmopolitan capital city. (Breakfast, San Sebastián; Accommodations, Madrid) MADRID: Get acquainted with the city's world-class culinary scene on this 2-hour walking tour in Madrid. Madrid is home to hundreds of bars, taverns, and markets. With a local guide at your side, discover the world renowned San Miguel Market, as well as one of the oldest taverns in all of Madrid. Your tour will also include drinks at three different places. (Breakfast, Accommodations, Madrid) MADRID: This morning, a local chef will explain the secrets of cooking paella, the traditional seafood dish of Spain. With your chef's hat on, prepare your own version of the famous dish in the kitchen of a local restaurant, then enjoy the fruits of your labor along with a glass of sangria. (Breakfast, Lunch, Accommodations, Madrid) DEPART MADRID:
Depart Madrid: After breakfast, continue on to your next Avanti destination! (Breakfast, Madrid)