Gourmet Holidays
La cuisine Française
France has a reputation for food and wine that is respected the world over.
All of our Prestige walking and cycling holidays in the Loire, Burgundy and Provence include hotels with a reputation for gastronomic excellence, some of which have one, two or three Michelin stars. We also have 2 cycles in Burgundy with gourmet wine-tasting meals.
However, we have also created non-walking and cycling holidays with a strong emphasis on very good food and wine. Choose from:
Wine Trails - Discover where all those fine labels really are, see the terrain that forms them and explore the caves working all year to produce the wines that France is famous for. Charm of Champagne, Burgundy Wine Trail and Loire Valley Wine Trail. Wine tasting is also included on A Votre Santé and Paris au Choix.
Cookery – The French revere their chefs and treat fine cooking absolutely as an art. Work alongside a chef in Normandy, or in Paris in their own homes or in a top hotel in Provence and learn the finer points of the culinary arts in their region. A Taste of Normandy, Paris au Choix and Provence Prestige holidays.
Chef – Hire Thomas Lecourbe, trained at the 3-Michelin Star Hotel Lameloise to cook for you in your château home. You can accompany him as he buys the best from the markets for you and whilst he prepares your gourmet meal. Château de Lans and Château de Mercurey.
Our Gourmet Holidays
Loire Prestige en Vélo
Tranquil rivers and regal architecture
Luxury holiday staying in elegant accommodation reflecting the style of this classic region. Explore quiet back roads and visit the fascinating old towns of Amboise and Blois with time to discover the classic wines of the region. Graded easy.
Loire Prestige à Pied
Enchanting châteaux and picturesque villages
The Loire is renowned for its châteaux, and you have the chance to live like a king yourself as you walk from château to château. We grade this walk as easy, following pathways alongside the river and through vineyards, rewarded with gourmet food at the end of each day.
Burgundy Prestige en Vélo
Gear up for some great food
Easy cycling through vineyards with prestigious names. You stay at delightful hotels offering gourmet menus - an opportunity for some classic French cuisine.
Burgundy Prestige à Pied
Rolling vineyards and ancient châteaux
A luxury holiday staying in prestigious hotels and converted châteaux. Walking is relatively easy to moderate along fairly even earth tracks and quiet lanes with vineyards all around. Undulating hills necessitate some short climbs but with compensating views!
Burgundy Classic Premier Cru
Ride through renowned vineyard countryside with built-in wine tasting
For the wine connoisseur we have teamed up with our local agent to offer in-depth wine tasting. Cycling can be easy or with more challenging options through the vineyards of the Hautes Côtes but whichever route you choose you are sure to come across some famous wine labels.
Burgundy Wine Trail
Discover the grands crus of Bourgogne
A real treat for wine buffs to visit the famous Burgundy Appellations. There are so many tasting opportunities you must prepare a list of those you wish to try before you set out on this tour.
Classic Cognac à Pied
Discover the classic Cognacs of Charente
The walking is gentle following the River Charente as it meanders from Angoulême to Cognac through a peaceful landscape of vineyards. Plenty of opportunity to sample some of the great names of Cognac and complimentary tickets to visit Hennessy Cognac.
Dordogne Prestige à Pied
Spectacular Dordogne combined with special hotels
Spectacular views as the walk takes you through the splendid scenery of the Quercy Natural Park past rocky overhanging cliffs with wonderful views across the Dordogne River - graded a moderate walk as there are some steep sections.
A Votre Sante
Luxurious 5-star spa hotel in the Smith Haut Lafitte estate
Wine and Spa treatments don’t seem to compliment one another but at the luxurious Les Sources de Caudalie they ingeniously combine the two with Merlot wraps and crushed Cabernet scrubs and in the bar you can sample the very best of French wines by the glass.
River Cruising in Provence
All-inclusive luxury floating hotel
This is an all-inclusive holiday to which we can add overland travel and additional nights in hotels before or after your cruise. The cruise includes interesting daily excursions to discover the history and culture of this beautiful and fascinating region.
Provence Prestige en Vélo
Vineyards and olive groves
Absorb the essence of Provence - sleepy villages, sun soaked vineyards, roman ruins, the magnificient Pont du Gard. Easy cycling along quiet lanes and canal paths, the air fragrant with wild thyme to your destination where you are guaranteed a comfortable room and delicious food.
Provence Prestige à Pied
Scented pines and dazzling skies
Charming accommodation that adds a touch of luxury to the delights of walking in Provence. Wander through pretty village squares, past vineyards and fields of sunflowers, over remote hill sides and along canal towpaths with the smell of wild herbs in the air. The grade is moderate.
Charm of Champagne Tour
A weekend of bubbly indulgence
We provide a booklet full of details for Champagne tastings and suggested driving routes, some great places to visit and charming hotels. Stay for one or two nights half board and two nights bed and breakfast at first class hotels.
Loire Valley Wine Trail
The Loire offers a wide range of wines
Sample a range of Loire Valley wines from the dry whites of Touraine, then fruity reds of Bourgueil to the luscious sweet whites of the Coteaux de Layon. Our partner vineyards guide you through their varieties. Add to that some fine dining and you have the basis of a truly gourmet experience.
A Taste of Normandy
Cider, Calvados and gourmet menus to create
Located in the heart of one of the most famous cider areas of the Pays d’Auge the delightful Château les Bruyères, close to the pretty Normandy village of Cambremer, offers a wonderful opportunity to try delicious Normandy dishes conjured from local produce from the land and sea.
Canal du Midi Cruise
All-inclusive luxury barging
A delightful cruise along sections of the historic Canal du Midi between Carcassonne and Marseillan on the inland sea of Bassin de Thau. Join the 10 berth Athos, the 8 berth Anjodi, which featured in Rick Stein's French Odyssey, or take an exclusive charter of the 4 berth Alouette. Each barge follows a different daily cruise schedule.
Gascony Canal Cruise
All-inclusive luxury barging
The luxury barge ROSA offers comfortable en suite accommodation for up to 8 passengers cruising the Canal Latéral through the peaceful Gascony countryside. The ROSA featured in Rick Stein's TV series The French Odyssey.
Burgundy Canal Cruise
Gentle cruise through lush green countryside
A leisurely journey through the rolling countryside, history and viniculture of Burgundy aboard the 12 berth L'IMPRESSIONISTE or the 8 berth LA REINE PEDAUQUE along the Burgundy Canal west from Dijon and south towards the region wine capital of Beaune and continuing to Chateauneuf-en-Auxoise. LA REINE PEDAUQUE has been specially adapted to accommodate wheelchair passengers.
Gardens and Vineyards of the Loire
The Loire offers charming and artistic gardens and a wide range of wines
Sample a range of Loire Valley wines from the dry whites of Touraine, the fruity reds of Bourgueil to the luscious sweet whites of the Coteau de Layon. Our partner vineyards guide you through their varieties. Each day you can visit some breathtaking gardens of the Loire Châteaux.
Dordogne Prestige en Vélo
Grand scenery and grand hotels
An undulating landscape of forested hills and dramatic gorges. This is classic Dordogne scenery green, sometimes dramatic and rocky and scattered with honey, turreted castles and farms - truly a fairytale landscape! A great ride for the cycling enthusiast
Grands Vins de Bordeaux à Pied
A must for wine lovers
A leisurely walk through prestigious vineyards, starting with the reds of St Emilion, followed by the dry whites of Entre-Deux-Mers and concluding with the sweet Sauternes - plenty of tasting opportunities en route and a chance to restock your cellar with some of France's best wines. Santé!
Want to know more?
Why not give us a call and we'll help you pick a holiday that suits you.
