Your Go Get Lost adventure starts in the late afternoon today at our meeting point, the lobby of our centrally located hotel in Bordeaux.  (If you're arriving from our D-Day and the Beaches of Normandy Tour you're scheduled to arrive in Bordeaux in the early afternoon.) 

You'll meet your private guide, your traveling companions, and start with an orientation walk to help you get your bearings in the charming city center. Eventually you’ll make your way to an ancient merchant’s storehouse close to the river in the Chartrons district. Here we'll have a lovely introduction to the history of the wine trade in Bordeaux, a trade which has existed since Roman times and has been the principal industry ever since. Of course the visit will be capped off with a tasting of the local vintages! Another short walk through the charming streets of Bordeaux’s old city will bring us to our dinner spot…at one of our favorite local haunts.

After our delicious French breakfast we'll relax for a scenic drive into the countryside west of Bordeaux, all the way to the Atlantic coast. Here at Pilat we'll find the largest sand dunes in all of Europe, and the site of our coastal walk today. As we hike along the ridges of the massive dunes, we'll enjoy expansive views of the coastline in all directions. Our return path is at sea level along the lovely beach that rings the coast. After our labors we'll sit down to an excellent lunch at one of the area's most spectacular restaurants, overlooking the bay. Oysters from nearby Archacon Bay are prized all over France, so we'll be sure they're one of the options. Washed down with a local white wine, it's a treat not to be forgotten.

After lunch we'll continue our journey through this enchanting landscape, renown for its classic French wine estates which dot the countryside. We'll pass many chateaus as we wind through one of France's most highly regarded wine regions, the Graves. Sprinkled with pine forests and blessed with a mild climate due to the nearby ocean, the Graves gravel soil allows for good drainage, heat retention and extensive root systems. The result is an abundance of wine estates producing some of the finest vintages in Europe.  We'll visit one of them today, for a tour and tasting.

Afterwards we'll return to Bordeaux, you'll have the rest of the day free to wander, explore and get lost in the streets of this amazing city. Your local guide can suggest where to go to see more of Bordeaux's lovely streets and sites, or you can venture out on your own, armed with nothing more than a city map and a taste for adventure. With its ample supply of shops, bars and restaurants, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect spot for dinner in this cuisine-oriented city!

Today's walk is rated EASY, with a total distance of about 2.5 miles, an elevation gain of 423 feet and an elevation loss of 459 feet. You will be walking on the dune for the first half of the hike, so the footing is packed and loose sand. There is an option to walk to the top of the dune on an actual stairway built into the sand, which makes it even easier. The last half of the walk will be along the seashore, so you can expect a firmer (and wetter) sand surface. Feel free to take off your shoes and walk in the water's edge!

Non-hiking options: If you decide to opt out of the dune walk, you could simply ride with the coach to the lunch spot and hang out. The views from the resort are amazing. You could easily spend the day exploring Bordeaux, too.

Today we'll make our way to Saint Emilion, the mythical and quaint medieval village and center of some of the finest wines produced in the "Entre-deux-Mers" region.   Here you'll have time to visit the village, wander a bit before continuing on our journey through the amazingly picturesque Perigord region, with ample forested ridges and gorges, formed over the centuries by the lovely Dordogne river. The idea here is to relax and enjoy the charming scenery as our private coach takes us through this famed region and past some of the prettiest villages on the Dordogne. This pastoral landscape might seem peaceful today, bit there are ample remnants of the medieval times when war was raging between the English and the French. The Périgord is said by locals to have “1001 fortified castles”, which still dot the countryside and contribute to the history and ambiance of the area.

We'll stop for lunch and a stroll in a lovely village along the way, then proceed on to our home for the evening, the picturesque town of Sarlat-la-Caneda.  After checking into our 4-Star hotel, we'll have time for a leisurely stroll through the historical center before we settle in to dinner at one of our favorite local brassiere.

This morning we will depart on our private coach for a visit to the stunning village of Rocamadour, a medieval pilgrims site spectacularly built into the rock of a mountain! Here we'll embark on a village walk of this tiny gem, with some free time to explore as well. 

Later our our private coach will whisk us to a scenic spot where we can enjoy a picnic on the banks of the river Lot.  To make up for our indulgence we'll have an easy walk through the rolling, green hills along the river to the tiny village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Perched on a cliff three hundred feet above the river, the town is considered to be one of the prettiest medieval villages in France. After a stroll around here we drive to medieval Cahors, known for its deep red wine, elaborate municipal gardens and the Pont Valentré, a medieval bridge with 3 towers, considered the best preserved fortified, medieval bridge in France.

Later this afternoon we'll arrive at our home for the night...and what a treat it is! A medieval fortified chateau renovated to luxury standards, featuring a Michelin starred restaurant and a renowned chef! We'll indulge ourselves here with an exceptional meal, featuring wine pairings for each course, selected by the chef. An after-dinner apéritif on the patio under the stars might be an excellent way to end your day.

Our walk today is rated EASY. There is an ascent into the town, steep but not too long...and we go slow. The total distance is 2.2 miles, with 489 feet of ascent and 184 feet of descent. The trail surface is varied, sometimes paved, sometimes country lanes, sometimes single-track forest trail.

Non-hiking options: If you decide to opt out of the walk, you can ride the coach instead go directly to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

After breakfast, this morning we drive to Carcassonne, stopping en route at the lovely medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel for some exploration. Surrounded by mountains and vineyards, the scent of pine shrubs, spicy herbs, and sweet flowers is carried on the cool winds. Known as the garrigue, it is the signature scent of the south of France. The village itself is a wonder of medieval architecture set amid cobblestone streets lined with shops. It's a pleasure to stroll and explore this delightful and photogenic town. 

This area has been producing wines since the Roman times, and is the oldest wine area in southwestern France. Shortly after departing Cordes we'll stop at a small family winery in the Gaillac region, to meet the current owners (14th generation) and taste some of their excellent products. 

In the early afternoon we reach Carcassonne. The medieval walled city sits in the picturesque valley of the Aude River—the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. With its extensive ramparts and myriad turrets, the citadel of Carcassonne dominates the surrounding countryside. It's a UNESCO- listed World Heritage Site and embodiment of a fairy-tale castle. After checking into the hotel, we enjoy a stroll through the fortified city and along the old ramparts.

Tonight we'll have an excellent group dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants. As always, regional specialties will dominate the menu, with plenty of the incredible wines from the surrounding vineyards to complement the delicious cuisine.

An after-dinner drink at a sidewalk cafe...or a stroll through the lamplit streets of the old city will be a perfect end to the day.

Today's city walk is rated EASY, with a total distance of around 1.5 miles, with minimal elevation gain or loss. As it's a city walk, the surface is paved.

Non-hiking options: If you decide to opt out of the Carcassone city walk, you can simply meander around the medieval town itself...lots of exploring to do there!

Today is packed with adventure and activity! After breakfast we'll head north into the mountainous Cabardes hills region known for its Cathar castles. Here we'll have a chance to hike to the ruins of the Chateaux de Lastour, or the Lastour Castles, an 11th century cluster of four defensive strongholds built at the peak of the Cathar period on rocky ridges as part of an overall castle complex. This famous fortress formed the center of resistance for the Lords of Cabaret and the Cathar religion. 

The Cathars, a quasi-Christian religion that was denounced as heretical by the Catholic Church, was continually assailed early in the 13th century by the forces of Catholicism during the Albigensian Crusade, this site was pivotal in the war and resistance.

After the crusade, the Medieval Inquisition eventually eradicated what was left of the sect in the 14th century.  Between the crusade wars and the Inquisition, over a million Cathars were slaughtered, hanged or burnt at the stake.

Afterwards we'll have time for a stroll in the lovely medieval village of Caunes-Minervois, then back to Carcassone for an excellent lunch. The afternoon will be filled with floating and sipping wine as we embark on a private boat tour of the historic Canal du Midi. Started in 1666, the canal was considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 17th century, linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic at Bordeaux. Over 150 miles long, with 86 locks, it was an impressive construction, especially considering the times.

Tonight we'll have the evening free in Carcassone to explore and find our own bistro or boulangerie for dinner.

Today's walk is rated EASY . The walk has a short uphill at the start, then the trail meanders across the ridge between all the ruins. Depending on how much wandering you do, the total distance will be around 1.5 miles with 548 feet of ascent and the same for the descent. Trail surfaces are generally single-track rocky trails.

Non-hiking options: If you decide to opt out of the hike today, you can remain with the coach in the parking area, with some pleasant countryside views. You can always walk a short distance on the path before turning around and returning to the coach. Alternatively you can take it easy today and remain in Carcassone for a rest day.

This morning, we drive to the hilly region southwest of Narbonne to visit the magnificent Cistercian Abbey de Fontfroide. Here we'll have a tour and enjoy a wonderful lunch. We then continue to our journey's end, the historic village and old fishing port of Collioure on a stretch of the Mediterranean Sea known as the Vermilion Coast. The small town has a strong Catalan culture and is famous for its anchovies and history as an artist's colony - Derain, Picasso and Matisse all painted here. For many this is the prettiest place to be found on the French coast west of Marseille.

This afternoon your guide will take you on an optional walk along the shore and uphill to on old mill with great views of the area, or you can opt to use your free time for strolling around at your own pace or even for a swim in the usually crystal-clear water of the sea.

This morning, we mix with the natives and use the local transportation to take us out to a particularly scenic part of the coast, where we'll come upon the fascinating remains of one of the largest dynamite factories in France, owned by Alfred Nobel. The area is converted into a museum now and overlooks a lovely stretch of beach, inviting for a swim (depending on season of course). Here we'll enjoy a relaxing coastal walk along the lovely, rugged Mediterranean coast until reaching Banyuls, another nice old fishing village famous for its very particular sweeter dessert wines produced only in the hills around the town. You're free for lunch, after which we take the bus back to Collioure and enjoy a wine tasting in a local bodega, featuring some of the very interesting local wines including the Banyuls dessert wines.

Tonight, we'll have an amazing farewell dinner in a superbly located restaurant, overlooking the sea. with lots of toasts. laughing, eating, and of course, wine.

Today's hike is rated EASY / MODERATE, with a total distance of 3.1 miles, an elevation gain of 450 feet and an elevation loss of 450 feet.
The pathway winds along the coast, with rolling terrain and a single-track trail surface.

Non-hiking options: If you decide to opt out of today's hike, it might be possible to ride the local public bus all the way to Banyuls and explore the town while you wait for the group to arrive. Then you can return to Collioure with the group. Alternatively, a free day in Collioure is a wonderful thing!

After breakfast today you'll have an early morning group transfer to the Barcelona airport, where your Go Get Lost tour will end. From here you can opt to stay in Barcelona for an extension, catch a flight to anywhere else (Paris maybe?) or board your flight to return home.