BORDEAUX TOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Best Adventures in Bordeaux Tour
By France Off the Beaten Path Tours
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Frequently Asked Questions About Our Best Adventures in Bordeaux Tours
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Answers to our most frequently asked Bordeaux Tour questions.
Still need help? EMAIL US at christy@traveloffthebeatenpath.com
Yes. All tours are conducted in English and designed for English speaking travelers. The majority of France Off the Beaten Path Tour Guests come from the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and England. Guests have also come from the Caribbean, Singapore, Philippines, South Africa, Peru, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, South Korea, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Israel.
Our Bordeaux tours are limited to 12 guests, allowing for personal attention, relaxed conversation, and meaningful connections with our guides and local French hosts.
Our 6-day Bordeaux tour is guided by Christy Destremau, owner and founder of France Off the Beaten Path Tours, alongside her colleagues Isabelle and Anne. All three call the Bordeaux region home, sharing firsthand local knowledge, personal connections, and a love of southwestern France.
Christy is a French history specialist, with a particular passion for the House of Valois and the lesser-known, delightfully spicy stories of royal life—from secret romances and rivalries to the private relationships and intrigues behind life at court. An avid collector of historical documents and coins, especially those from the Capetian and Valois dynasties, she brings depth and engaging storytelling to your discoveries.
Isabelle shares her extensive local knowledge of Bordeaux, bringing the city’s neighborhoods, history, and everyday life into focus. Her insights and recommendations help you appreciate the region from a local’s perspective.
Anne combines a deep knowledge of French history with her background as a professionally trained chef, connecting the region’s past with its cuisine, wines, and culinary traditions.
Together, our team introduces you to longtime friends, winemakers, chefs, and local hosts, creating immersive experiences filled with lively conversation, warm hospitality, and the pleasure of discovering France with friends.
Yes. All scheduled winery visits, tastings, cultural excursions, and immersive activities are led by our professional guiding team. Designated leisure time gives you the freedom to explore independently.
– NO HOTEL HOPPING! – Enjoy 5 nights at the 4-star Hôtel Indigo Bordeaux–Centre Chartrons, a stylish boutique hotel whose décor draws inspiration from the nearby Arcachon Basin. Air-conditioned rooms, an elevator, and complimentary Wi-Fi ensure a comfortable stay, while the rooftop restaurant offers beautiful views across Bordeaux and the Garonne River.
Ideally situated in the historic Chartrons wine merchants’ district, the hotel places you close to artisan boutiques, antique shops, galleries, inviting cafés, and excellent restaurants. Stroll along the riverfront, and walk or take the nearby tram to explore the city’s historic center during leisure time.
There’s no hotel hopping—you’ll unpack just once and return to the same welcoming home base each evening.
Yes. Hôtel Indigo offers air-conditioned guest rooms, an elevator, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Yes, absolutely. We welcome solo travelers, couples, and friends to all of our tours (Loire Valley, Provence, Bordeaux, Champagne, Normandy, and 11-Day Signature Tour).
Our 6-day, 5-night Bordeaux tour price is US$5,499 per person, based on double or twin occupancy. A US$980 single supplement applies to solo travelers and any guest requesting single occupancy.
A US$980 single supplement applies to solo travelers and any guest requesting a room for single occupancy.
Our Bordeaux tour includes 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), and 2 dinners (Monday, Friday), with Grand Cru classified Bordeaux wines and non-alcoholic beverages at included group meals.
Yes, we accommodate ALL dietary requests (including vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, etc) and ALL food allergies (gluten, shellfish, etc) while ensuring an amazing foodie experience for all tour guests with restrictions and/or allergies.
Please share your requirements when booking.
No experience is necessary—simply bring your curiosity and enthusiasm.
Yes. Our Bordeaux tour balances guided excursions and immersive cultural experiences with free time to explore the city at your own pace. Browse boutiques, visit museums, stroll along the Garonne waterfront, or settle into a café and enjoy local life. Our guides are happy to share favorite addresses and restaurant recommendations.
Bordeaux is a vibrant city with much to discover beyond our itinerary, so we also recommend extending your stay by a day or two before the tour begins or after it concludes. This gives you more time to pursue your interests and make the most of your Bordeaux experience.
Yes. Hôtel Indigo’s location in the historic Chartrons district makes it easy to enjoy Bordeaux during your leisure time. Once the heart of the city’s wine trade, this inviting neighborhood is now home to independent boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, wine bars, cafés, and excellent restaurants.
Explore nearby Rue Notre-Dame, browse local shops, or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Garonne waterfront. Bordeaux’s historic center is accessible on foot or by the nearby tram, giving you the freedom to discover its monuments, museums, shopping streets, and lively squares at your own pace.
Our guides are happy to share their favorite addresses and recommendations to help you make the most of your time in the city.
Step into the role of maître de chai—cellar master—during a private, two-hour wine-blending workshop at one of our friends’ Bordeaux wine estates. Following a winery visit and tasting, we explore the character of the estate’s grape varieties and discover how they come together to create a balanced wine.
Then enjoy experimenting with your own proportions to craft a blend that reflects your personal taste. No wine knowledge is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to try something new. You’ll take home a half bottle of your own creation, a delicious reminder of your time in Bordeaux.
Our hands-on cooking experience takes place in the Sauternes family home of Christy’s longtime friend Antoine, a master chef, cookbook author, and former culinary professor. Prepare a multi-course meal inspired by traditional Bordelaise cuisine while discovering regional flavors and culinary techniques.
Then join Antoine and his wife, Claire, for an apéritif and a leisurely lunch featuring your creations, paired with wines from Antoine’s private cellar—a warm, personal taste of our France with Friends philosophy.
Yes! Enjoy a two-hour private cruise on the Arcachon Basin aboard a traditional wooden pinasse with our local friend Delia—one of only two professional female fishers on the bay, alongside her sister Maud.
Discover oyster villages, maritime traditions, and beautiful views of Cap Ferret and the Dune du Pilat as Delia shares her knowledge and stories of life on the water.
Your France Off the Beaten Path Tour Guides meet you at the St. Jean TGV train station in Bordeaux at 3:00 PM on day 1 of the tour for complimentary transfers to the hotel. Specific meeting location details will be included in your complete tour information package we send you 30 days prior to the tour.
On Day 6 – We provide a complimentary transfer departing the hotel at 9:30 am to arrive at the Bordeaux St. Jean Rail station by 10 am.
Yes. You may transfer from one trip to another before trip departure's balance payment due date without any penalty (excludes custom designed-private tours), as long as space is available on the tour date requested.
Off the Beaten Path is a full service tour operator and it is our pleasure to assist you with all aspects of upcoming travel plans. Whether you are looking for a suggestion for a hotel in Paris or assistance with your rail tickets, simply contact us by EMAIL at christy@traveloffthebeatenpath.com or CALL 1.717.683.2827 with your tour questions.
Bordeaux enjoys a temperate climate influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, with mild springs, warm summers, and pleasant early autumn days. During our April–October tour season, you can generally expect:
April and May: Mild spring days, with average daytime highs around 64–72°F (18–22°C). Mornings and evenings can be cool.
June: Warmer days and long evenings, with average daytime highs around 77°F (25°C).
July and August: Typically the warmest months, with average daytime highs around 81–82°F (27–28°C). Hotter spells are possible.
September: Often comfortably warm, with average daytime highs around 75°F (24°C) and cooler evenings.
October: Mild afternoons and fresh mornings, with average daytime highs around 68°F (20°C) and a greater chance of rain.
Showers are possible throughout the season, and coastal breezes can make our Arcachon Basin cruise feel cooler than inland excursions. We recommend comfortable layers, a lightweight waterproof jacket, sun protection, and supportive walking shoes. Check the forecast shortly before departure to fine-tune your packing.
Airfare to and from France, train fare to and from Bordeaux St. Jean rail station, 1 lunch (Friday), 3 dinners (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), personal purchases, gratuities to guides and professional driver.
No. Airport transfers are not included. Our complimentary scheduled group transfers operate from Bordeaux Saint-Jean railway station to our hotel on Day 1, with pickup at 3:00 p.m., and from our hotel back to Bordeaux Saint-Jean railway station on Day 6.
Guests traveling through Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport can reach central Bordeaux by taxi or direct tram service.
Our Bordeaux tour includes daily leisure walking during winery visits, cultural excursions, and time exploring historic towns, with occasional steps, cobblestones, and uneven surfaces.
Guests may also enjoy two optional guided walks: a short, approximately one-hour walk through the Saint-Émilion vineyards after lunch, and a cultural walk through Arcachon’s historic Ville d’Hiver, continuing into the town center after lunch.
Those who prefer not to join these walks can travel with our professional driver, Laurent, and enjoy cultural alternatives with a member of our guiding team. We explore at a relaxed pace, though all guests should be comfortable with everyday walking and standing during visits.
France Off the Beaten Path Bordeaux Tours are designed for discerning travelers, from the seasoned traveler and independent traveler to the first time traveler to France. Join any one of the our tours as a solo traveler, a couple, a small group of friends or family, or bring your entire travel club, affinity group, women’s organization, or wine society. No culinary, history or other type of experience is necessary. Join us for the vacation of a lifetime to discover the Bordeaux wine region of France, as an insider, and make new friends along the way.
Yes. Guests who prefer not to join the short post-lunch Saint Emilion walk option and the Ville d'Hiver cultural walk option in Arcachon can be shuttled by our professional driver, Laurent, and enjoy cultural alternatives in Saint Emilion and Arcachon with a member of our guiding team.
Yes. Guests are welcome to opt out of any activity or excursion to explore independently, pursue personal interests, or simply enjoy some quiet time on their own. Our guides are happy to help coordinate where and how to rejoin the group, so you can enjoy the flexibility to spend your time as you wish.
Yes, wine is included at all group lunches and dinners together. We expertly match Grand Cru wines from the region with each dish. Meals offer an excellent opportunity to try wines from appellations not available to guests at home, and to introduce guests to some select wines worth a favorable mention or that are exceptionally appreciated by the locals.
A typical French breakfast is very simple and comprised of all or any combination of the following — traditional home-made French bread called “baguette”, “viennoiserie” known in English as pastries, such as croissants, pain au chocolate (a croissant with chocolate in it — yum!) or pain au raisins (croissant type pastry with custard and raisins in it), cereal and/or yoghurt or a fresh white cheese of the same consistency as yoghurt called “fromage blanc”, fresh fruits and jams, fruit juices and coffee, tea or hot chocolate. When in the heart of “farm” country, one might be offered a small selection of local cheese and French charcuterie.
Celebrating 33 years experience in 2027 in the France tour travel industry, specifically with small group touring, we have found that our guests are generally more interested in active and interactive experiences, culture, people to people experiences and guided tours of sites.
Our guests like to visit private homes, and pursue their hobbies when they travel. Our guests enjoy being able to shop locally for items, such as, collectibles, art and local products. Our guests tend to do more homework and want a meatier trip, but also want to enjoy down time or leisure time to explore independently. All of our trips are designed based on these factors.
Each trip offers organized activities and excursions daily combined with periods of leisure time each day. Our tours encourage individual approach and pursuit of your interests, as well as introducing you to new experiences and people during each trip.
Please limit your luggage to a size that you can easily manage while traveling around France through the airport(s) and on the French rail system. Try not to over pack; you will not wear all your clothing, and laundry service is available at our Bordeaux hotel! A suggested packing list will be enclosed in your tour information package. Pack comfortable light weight, casual clothing. It’s vacation and we want our guests to feel and be as comfortable as possible during our daily activities and excursions. Our meals together include a mix of Michelin star and casual bistro style restaurants. For men we suggest a business casual ensemble (no tie or jacket necessary unless it’s your personal preference) and for women we recommend a casual dress for dinners. Please no jeans or gym type sneakers at dinner.
All travelers to France are required to have a valid passport. Please make 2 copies of your passport and personal identification before you depart. Keep one set of copies with you in a separate location from your travel documents, and leave the other set of copies with a contact at home before you depart. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with your consulate general for entry requirements.
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