Depart From: Depart from U.S. for overnight flight to Paris.

Morning: Fly from Paris to Bordeaux. Upon arrival meet your group leader.

Lunch: For those who have already arrived, group lunch in Bordeaux.

Afternoon: Group transfer to Sarlat. Check into your hotel. Enjoy some free time to settle in and explore.

Dinner: Meet the group for a welcome dinner and cocktail.

Lodging: Hotel la Couleuvrine

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: This morning explore the beautiful village of La Roque Gageac and enjoy a ride aboard a gabare boat on the Dordogne river. Learn more about the history of the region and about gabares, the traditional flat-bottomed boats used for transporting goods between the Massif Central and the ports of Bergerac, Libourne and Bordeaux. Continue on to an on-site lecture and cooking demonstration led by a Grande Toque du Perigord (Grand Chef). Learn about regional cuisine of the region and sample some local specialties.

Lunch: Lunch features dishes prepared by your chef.

Afternoon: This afternoon visit the Château des Milandes. Built around 1489, it was the main house of the lords of Caumont who preferred to live in this manor house instead of the uncomfortable medieval castle of Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. In 1940 the entertainer Josephine Baker moved into the château and and lived there until 1968.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Take an evening walk around the beautiful medieval city of Sarlat as your Group Leader points out sites of interest.

Lodging: Hotel la Couleuvrine

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: First this morning you get to enjoy the local market. Sarlat has an exceptional market that features all the local produce and local products. Then board the coach to travel to prehistoric Dordogne with a visit to Lascaux to see the world's most famous cave paintings. The Lascaux caves were discovered accidentally in 1940. From 1940 through 1963, more than a million people visited. But they tracked in fungus on their shoes and changed the temperature and humidity with their heavy breathing. In just 15 years, the precious art deteriorated more than during the 15,000 years before that. The original caves were closed. A copy cave showing 90 percent of the paintings found in Lascaux was opened next to the original in 1983. At Lascaux II, the reindeer, horses, and bulls of Lascaux I were painstakingly reproduced using the same dyes, tools, and techniques the original artists used 15,000 years ago.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: This afternoon continue your exploration with a visit to the National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies where you will have the opportunity to view one of the most important stone and bone tool collections in France, and the premier collection of Paleolithic engravings and sculpture in the world. Continue to Rouffignac to see the "Cave of a Hundred Mammoths" on an electric train ride through the caverns. View over 250 animal figure etchings scattered in this underground maze, made over 140 centuries ago.

Dinner: Dinner at your hotel.

Lodging: Hotel la Couleuvrine

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Coach to Rocamadour along the scenic Dordogne valley route and stop a few times to admire the spectacular views. This morning you will discover the spectacular setting of Rocamadour, built on the side of cliffs overlooking the valley. Learn about the history of the town and the significance of the Black Virgin and other sites.

Lunch: Lunch in Rocamadour

Afternoon: At a local distillery discover the regional fruit wines, juices and liquors that have been produced here for generations. Learn about the economic impact of this industry while you enjoy some sampling.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own to sample the local fare of Sarlat.

Lodging: Hotel la Couleuvrine

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: At a farm in St Cyprien you will learn about the "Black Pearl of the Perigord" and discuss the history of this rare and mysterious truffle that has become a luxury product and a sign of wealth. You will also learn about truffle hunting and uses in cuisine.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to enjoy some fresh market food or explore local fare.

Afternoon: Take coach to Bordeaux with a short rest stop in Bergerac.

Dinner: Dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board

Morning: This morning you will learn about the origins of viticulture and the history of winemaking in the region. Discover the appellations (AOC) within Bordeaux and sample some of the wines to develop your palate.

Lunch: Lunch on board

Afternoon: This afternoon, we venture out into the vineyards of the Graves and Sauternes regions. Take time to explore two very distinct producers and learn about their art and taste their wines. Along the way explore some of the loveliest villages of the Bordelais.

Dinner: Dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board

Morning: Enjoy a free morning on board observing the scenic vistas of the Garonne and Gironde rivers.

Lunch: Lunch on board

Afternoon: Discovering the Medoc: The Medoc vineyards produce some of the best wines in the world. This region of the Bordeaux wine AOC is blessed with unique micro climates. This afternoon we drive through the vineyards of Pauillac, St Julien Margaux and the Haut Medoc, stopping at a few exclusive properties for a cellar visit and a special tasting.

Dinner: Dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board

Morning: This morning we examine the wines of the Cote de Blaye. This is a lesser known vineyard that produces some very nice local wines with very little exposure in North America. Enjoy the rest of the morning on deck observing the scenic vistas of the Gironde Estuary and the cliffs of Meschers-sur-Gironde. Your Study Leader will share historical commentary.

Lunch: Lunch on board

Afternoon: Discover the Corniche a beautiful scenic road that follows the Dordogne river as it joins the Gironde to form the estuary. The narrow road goes along high cliffs revealing some interesting local architecture. We will also visit a small vineyard to taste the local Cote de Blaye before returning to Blaye to explore the citadel.

Dinner: Dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board

Morning: This morning discuss the great wines of St Emilion. By far the most famous vineyards in the world. Learn about the complexe system of cataloguing and rating the vineyards and discover how these unique wines are made. Enjoy the rest of the morning on deck observing the scenic vistas of the lower Dordogne as we enter the river just north of Bordeaux. Observe the unique landscapes as your Study Leader shares historical commentary.

Lunch: Lunch on board

Afternoon: Explore St. Emilion and its many historic sites including the Eglise Monolith, the largest underground church in Europe which was carved by Benedictine monks during the 9th-12th centuries.Visit a vineyard in St. Emilion for a sampling of their wines. Many of the area growers still keep up the old tradition of planting roses at the ends of the rows, which in pre-pesticide days served as an early-warning system against infection, the idea being that the commonest bug, oidium, went for the roses first, giving three days' notice of its intentions.

Dinner: Dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board

Morning: This morning discuss the importance of Bordeaux in French history. Start with the role of wine and the wine merchant on the history of Bordeaux. Discuss the cities close connection with England and its role in the Hundred Year War.

Lunch: Lunch on board

Afternoon: This afternoon set off on foot and tram and explore some of the great monuments of Bordeaux. Led by your Study Leader, a native of the city, enjoy a unique perspective of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dinner: Dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board

Morning: Enjoy a unique inside visit and lecture to the Museum of the Wine Merchant. Led by one of the founders of this unique museum, explore the final part of Bordeaux history and enjoy a unique tasting of wine and cheeses.

Lunch: Lunch on board

Afternoon: Enjoy an afternoon off to either explore Bordeaux on your own or to stay onboard the ship and enjoy the sites of boats sailing up and down the Garonne.

Dinner: Farewell dinner on board

Lodging: MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Early breakfast on board

Morning: Group transfer to the airport for departure

Meals Included: Breakfast