Eurobound is expanding its 2018 program with a new series of luxury “Small Group Discoveries.” Launching the program is an 8-night Bordeaux to Barcelona guided tour. The tour provides a kaleidoscope of southwestern France and Catalonia, from wine chateaux to medieval towns and picturesque ports.
Featured are 2 nights in Bordeaux, 3 nights in the Dordogne region, plus a night each in Albi, located in the mid-Pyrenees, Carcassonne, a UNESCO world heritage site, and finally Barcelona. The tour includes accommodations in mainly 4 and 5-star properties with daily breakfast, selected lunches and dinners in typical local restaurants, wine tastings, touring by minibus, and services of an expert, English-speaking accredited guide in addition to local guides. Per person price is $5,500, based on double occupancy.
Designed for Sophisticated, Repeat Travelers
According to Brigitte Armand, President, Eurobound, the “Small Group Discoveries” guided tours are for clients who want the camaraderie of like-minded travelers and the intimacy of a smaller group. Each “Small Group Discovery” is limited to 18 people, and concentrates on lesser-known regions. “These are tours for sophisticated travelers who are already familiar with the main cities, and who want to expand their horizons,” says Brigitte.
Bordeaux and Wine Country
The Bordeaux to Barcelona itinerary begins in Bordeaux with a welcome dinner, a walking tour of the city, and a cheese and wine-pairing lunch. Two days of excursions to some of France’s renown wineries and chateaux provide an opportunity to sample the region’s great wines. Included are a walking tour of St. Emilion, and winery visits with tastings in the Medoc vineyards of Chateau du Tertre in the Margaux appellation, and Chateau Siran. Guests also visit the Lalande-de-Pomerol area, and the Chateau Siaurac, an elegant, historic estate with expansive gardens.
Market Day and Paleolithic Art in the Dordogne
Wine chateaux give way to medieval villages and Paleolithic art, as the village of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil becomes base for discovering the Dordogne. A walking tour of Sarlat–with its picturesque buildings and alleyways–coincides with market day, as Eurobound guests shop for their own picnic lunch of local specialties. Vistas of cliff-top villages unfold on an afternoon Dordogne River cruise by traditional boat, culminating with a visit to Beynac, classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Paleolithic art of the Vezere Valley is the subject of another full day tour. Included are visits to Rouffignac cave with original etchings of mammoths, and to Lascaux IV, a replica of the famous original Lascaux, now closed to the public.
Mid-Pyrenees to French Catalonia
The itinerary winds its way from the Dordogne Valley to the Mid-Pyrenees region, with stops in historic Rocamadour and Cahors en route to overnights In Albi and Carcassonne. Private walking tours include a visit to the Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi and the imposing Citadel at Carcassonne with its Roman walls.
Collioure in French Catalonia is the final French destination before crossing into Spain. A guided walking tour introduces Eurobound guests to the seaside village which has captivated painters from Matisse to Picasso. Following lunch in the Mediterranean port, guests are transferred to Barcelona for the final night.
In Barcelona Eurobound guests have the option of extending their stay, including touring itineraries tailored to their interests.
Responding to the Marketplace
Armand sees the new series as responding to a need in the marketplace. “While the bulk of our business continues to be directed at highly customized itineraries, some of our travel agents wanted small-group tours to lesser-known areas for their clients who have already visited the major destinations. Small Group Discoveries addresses this market,” she says.
The new category also features a 7 day/6 night Bordeaux to San Sebastian tour, including Bordeaux, San Sebastian in northern Spain and the Rioja wine-growing region. “Small Group Discoveries” joins Eurobound’s “Epicurean Collection” of personalized itineraries focused on wine and food experiences.
To Book
For details on Eurobound’s “From Bordeaux to Barcelona,” tour visit Bordeaux to Barcelona 8 nights 9 days. Information on Eurobound’s custom itineraries is available by calling 888-672-7476 toll free, or emailing reservations@eurobound.com. For further information, visit the company’s web site: Eurobound.com.
Now celebrating its 21st year, Eurobound provides distinctive packages and itineraries for independent travelers and small groups, sold exclusively through travel agents. Specializing in personalized travel to Europe, Eurobound is a winner of the French Affairs Award for Best Niche Tour Operator.
Kundell PR Travel News 