The Gironde - bike, walk, drive

The Gironde, in the SW of France, is full of bastides. Before you get the wrong idea, bastides are fortified towns, many built by the English in medieval times - we'll visit several during this tour.

This area, close to the city of Bordeaux, is dominated by the huge Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. Its widely varying, mellow golden scenery is unforgettable. We travel through unspoiled countryside, past noble chateaux and medieval villages.

The Gironde is a mecca for sybarites and connoisseurs of the vivid, intensely-flavoured wines of Bordeaux, Graves, and Saint-Emilion, and the famed white wines of Sauternes and Montbazillac.

During your Gironde tour you'll travel pleasant pathways and pique-nique beside the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, explore the pine forests of the Landes, wonder at the miles of underground cellars in Saint Emilion, visit a 14th century abbey, and a fortified windmill. You'll enjoy some of our favourite small country cafes, discover the historic secrets of tobacco growing, visit the best market in the region, and revel in the glorious food of SW France.

Food - superb! Wine - sensational, ending with our au revoir banquet.