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Bordeaux the Gironde and Wine Country

This 5-night itinerary from Bordeaux follows the Gironde and Garonne rivers to the top French wine growing areas. Visits to Pauillac, Blaye and Cadillac with optional excursions to the Medoc and St Emilion

Cruise Only
5 nights from £949pp

River Cruise Holiday
Bordeaux Pont de Pierre
Chateau Latour
Caves and fishermens huts, Meschers

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This part of Aquitaine was fortified by English king Henry II and his successors, leaving ancient castles and fortified bastide towns across the landscape. Returned to France in 1453 after the Hundred Years War, the whole area has interesting historical sights such as hilltop Bourg and the citadel at Blaye.

France's three top chateau are in the Bordeaux area - Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Bordeaux itself is a World Heritage site with over 350 classified buildings and the small port of Pauillac shipped wines for centuries, brought down by barge along the rivers.

This itinerary travels from Bordeaux down to the Gironde estuary past cliffs and hilltop towns. Noted sights include the old houses carved out of the cliffs, and the carrelets, the famous fishermens' huts built on stilts over the water. Returning upriver on the Garonne, the ship visits Cadillac for an optional tour to St Emilion and its famous underground city before returning to Bordeaux.

E272 Operated by CroisiEurope

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BOS - Bordeaux, Gironde and Wine Country Itinerary

Day 1 - Bordeaux (France)

Board your ship between 6pm and 7pm in Bordeaux. After settling into our cabins, we have a welcome drink in the lounge and are introduced to the crew. After dinner, we have a welcome party on board.

Day 2 - Pauillac

We head down the River Garonne and then join the River Gironde, passing Cazeau Island and Patiras Island before arriving Pauillac. Built long ago by wine merchants or ship captains, Pauillac has managed to preserve the fine stone houses along its quaysides. Our optional excursion this afternoon is to visit the Medoc (reservation in advance essential) - the renowned region where the most famous red wines in the world are cultivated, a strip of land squeezed between ocean and estuary with a mild, humid climate ideal for wine cultivation. We pass through most of the great Medoc appelations such as Saint Julien, Margaux, Haut-Medoc following the famous Chateaux Route and the chateaux of Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. There is also the optional excursion visiting the Medoc through walking, wine and cheese. We return on board for dinner and an evening of entertainment. We moor for the night in Pauillac.

Day 3 - Pauillac - Blaye

We set sail early this morning, cruising along the Gironde to the estuary. We pass the Meschers-sur-Gironde with its steep cliffs, Troglodyte houses and fishermens' huts, before arriving in Blaye. This superb acropolis was an ideal look-out post to watch for invaders and its fortress is the biggest attraction in Blaye. We set off on our optional excursion along the Corniche, or cliff route. Narrow and picturesque, the road snakes alongside the River Dordogne before reaching the Gironde Estuary. As we travel, we catch a glimpse of charming gardens, ancient fishermens' houses, remarkable dwelling places carved out of the heart of the cliff, not forgetting the famous carrelets, the unique fishermens' huts perched on wooden stilts on top of the water. The scenery here is an unusual combination of river, rocks and vines. An alternative optional excursion visits Blaye and its underground monuments.

Day 4 - Blaye - Libourne - Saint Emilion

Cruise to Libourne at the confluence of the Isle and the Dordogne. Perhaps take the optional excursion to Saint-Emilion, before returning to Libourne. Gala dinner on board. Moor for the night.

Day 5 - Libourne - Bordeaux

We have breakfast and lunch on board today as we continue back to Bordeaux, where we arrive later in the morning. We set off by coach for an optional guided tour of the city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the key sights and fine buildings on the banks of the River Garonne. Alternatively there is an optional visit to La Cite du Vin and wine-tasting.

Day 6 - Bordeaux

After breakfast on board, we disembark around 9am.

Please note that this schedule may be modified by the Captain in the light of tidal and other factors.

Price Includes

  • Five nights accommodation on board on a full-board basis
  • Unlimited complimentary house wine, beer, mineral water and soft drinks on board
  • Itinerary as described
  • Entertainment on board
  • Cruise Manager
  • Gala farewell dinner
  • Port taxes

Price Does Not Include

  • Cruise only prices do not include flights or transfers
  • Optional Excursions (must be pre-booked at least 4 weeks before departure or bookable on board subject to availability)
  • Gratuities
  • Personal insurance and expenses

Special Features

  • CroisiEurope is the leading French river cruise company. Their ships have a distinctly French flavour, the service and the food having received much praise from Blue Water Holidays customers. Staff and passengers come from many European countries and there may be other English speaking passengers on board.
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2024 Departures £ price per person based on 2 people sharing

  • April
    • Apr 6th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1012
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat B Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1012 Cruise Only from: £1044 Cruise Only from: £1101 Cruise Only from: £1186 Cruise Only from: £1173 Cruise Only from: £1206 Cruise Only from: £1263
    • Apr 17th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1012
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat B Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat C Middle Deck Cat B Middle Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1012 Cruise Only from: £1044 Cruise Only from: £1101 Cruise Only from: £1153 Cruise Only from: £1186 Cruise Only from: £1243 Cruise Only from: £1173 Cruise Only from: £1206 Cruise Only from: £1263
  • May
    • May 4th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1187
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat B Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat C Middle Deck Cat B Middle Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1187 Cruise Only from: £1225 Cruise Only from: £1291 Cruise Only from: £1328 Cruise Only from: £1366 Cruise Only from: £1433 Cruise Only from: £1348 Cruise Only from: £1386 Cruise Only from: £1453
  • June
    • Jun 22nd - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1187
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat B Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat C Middle Deck Cat B Middle Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1187 Cruise Only from: £1225 Cruise Only from: £1291 Cruise Only from: £1328 Cruise Only from: £1366 Cruise Only from: £1433 Cruise Only from: £1348 Cruise Only from: £1386 Cruise Only from: £1453
  • July
    • Jul 19th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1069
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat B Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat C Middle Deck Cat B Middle Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1069 Cruise Only from: £1101 Cruise Only from: £1159 Cruise Only from: £1210 Cruise Only from: £1243 Cruise Only from: £1301 Cruise Only from: £1230 Cruise Only from: £1263 Cruise Only from: £1321
    • Jul 30th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1069
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat B Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat C Middle Deck Cat B Middle Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1069 Cruise Only from: £1101 Cruise Only from: £1159 Cruise Only from: £1210 Cruise Only from: £1243 Cruise Only from: £1301 Cruise Only from: £1230 Cruise Only from: £1263 Cruise Only from: £1321
  • August
    • Aug 26th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1069
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B Upper Deck Cat A
      Cruise Only from: £1069 Cruise Only from: £1159 Cruise Only from: £1230 Cruise Only from: £1263 Cruise Only from: £1321
  • September
    • Sep 22nd - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1187
      Main Deck Cat C Upper Deck Cat B
      Cruise Only from: £1187 Cruise Only from: £1386
  • October
    • Oct 19th - Bordeaux and back - Sailing on: Cyrano de Bergerac From: £1012
      Main Deck Cat C Main Deck Cat A Middle Deck Cat A Upper Deck Cat B
      Cruise Only from: £1012 Cruise Only from: £1101 Cruise Only from: £1243 Cruise Only from: £1206

Price Information

  • Single Supplement - £465
  • Please note prices are updated regularly from a third party price feed and may fluctuate from those shown. Please contact us for latest prices
  • Prices shown usually include all available discounts
Map for Bordeaux the Gironde and Wine Country