Biarritz to Bordeaux: Road Trip on France's West Coast

Included in the itinerary - A private surfing lesson. The birthplace of surfing in Europe, internationally-renowned surfers still visit the Basque coast. You'll have a chance to learn about this sport with your private instructor, surrounded by the most beautiful waves of the French coastline.
Optional - Free visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

On the road to the Landes Natural Park, you'll stop in Bayonne, the largest city in the French Basque Country. The Adour and Nive rivers divide the city into three districts, two of which are protected by the fortifications of Vauban. With its network of pedestrian streets, Grand Bayonne encircles the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie, its cloister, and its 15th-century door-knocker. On the other side of the river, Petit Bayonne is home to the Basque Museum.
You'll stay for two nights in Vieille-Saint-Girons, at the entrance to the Landes Natural Park. At the end of a path, a small chapel, a large colonial-style house, and two wooden dwellings stand in the middle of a wilderness. Dating back to 1858, the premises have been restored to preserve their original feel. In the kitchen, Chef Michel Guerard's delicious cuisine is prepared with products from local markets in the surrounding area.

Included in the itinerary - Private cruise down the Courant d'Huchet with a boatman. North of Vieux-Boucau, the waters of Leon Pond feed into the Atlantic through the Courant d'Huchet. It crosses a maze of plants that look like a primal forest, before following a two mile route to the sea. Nature has reclaimed its rights and the human presence is limited to a few remaining dams, used to set out fish traps and capture eels.
Optional - Fly over Lake Biscarrosse by seaplane.

Head to Cap Ferret and stay overnight in a forestry worker's home. Located in the fishing district, the building has been beautifully restored and turned into a charming hotel. Rooms offer exotic decor - mahogany furniture, rattan chairs, vintage finds from India, while the restaurant serves refined and beautifully presented dishes.
Included in the itinerary - Day-long boat excursion along Arcachon Bay. You'll enjoy a beautiful day on board a pinasse, the traditional boat in this area. Along the way, enjoy a picnic of oysters and dry white wine, as you float past huts built on stilts, Birds' Island, and the sandbar of Arguin, a nature reserve between the bay and the ocean, opposite the largest dune in Europe.
Optional - An oyster farming experience.

Drive to Bordeaux for a two-night stay in the Chartrons neighbourhood. The owners of this 18th-century house decided to use only environmentally friendly materials at the time of its restoration. The bedrooms have no television but many books, meant to be devoured on the shady patio. The soft, personal atmosphere of this house will have you wanting to return.

The quays of the Garonne are the pride of Bordeaux, as are its UNESCO World Heritage-listed districts. A great French port since the 18th century and a prominent centre known for its excellence in wine-making, the capital of Aquitaine shines.
Included in the itinerary - An oenology course followed by a wine tasting. Bordeaux is home to the premier AOC vineyard in France. Beyond its wealth of land resources and grape varieties, it is also the only region with so many important brands and wines classified as grand crus. The designations (known as appellations ) - Medoc, Saint-Emilion, Graves, Sauternes and Pomerol - are internationally renowned. After learning the tasting method with the oenologist, you will taste three wines classified as grand cru wines.