5-day Bordeaux and Cognac Trip
Spend four nights exploring the amazing Bordeaux and Cognac regions of France
Pricing and Booking
Below is our suggested itinerary. A perfect introduction to both regions. Contact us for booking and exclusive pricing and let us create an amazing Bordeaux and Cognac experience for you!
Spend Four Nights and 5 days Exploring Bordeaux and Cognac
Your luxury adventure starts when you take a flight or the super convenient high speed TGV rail from Paris to Bordeaux (recommended).
Welcome to Bordeaux
This jewel of a southern French city has beauty, history and top cuisine like Paris, but it’s a bit more laid-back. It’s smaller but no less fascinating, with a vibrant arts district, the world’s only internationally-focused wine museum (la Cité du Vin), and fun riverside bars and dining.
Your trip starts with either a private pickup from the airport or the Bordeaux Saint-Jean TGV station. If renting a car, both the airport and train station offer super convenient car rental options. From there, transfer to either one of two 5 star hotels or a 4 star winner in Bordeaux. We love all three hotels.
Bordeaux Hotel Options
Hotel Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes (5*) – This wonderful spa property, with top amenities including an amazing indoor pool, Michelin-starred restaurant, and generous room sizes. For foodies, Hotel Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes is home to the first European restaurant of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Delicious Asian delights with a French twist.
Villas Foch (5*) – Right off the historic Place des Quinconces stands the brand new 5 star jewel Villas Foch. A boutique property with 20 well appointed rooms. A great location and a great hotel.
Hotel Seze (4*) – Also off of the Place des Quinconces is the charming 4 star Hotel Seze. A highly rated boutique hotel in the heart of Bordeaux.
Self-Guided Option
Lunch and shopping in the Bordeaux city center and an afternoon visit of the Cite du Vin wine museum, This many-storied wine experience features informative films about wine history, the story of wine from ancient times, and fascinating interactive exhibits where your nose is tested and your wine “personality” is evaluated. Your admission includes a glass of wine at the top floor. Enjoy a panoramic view of Bordeaux while you savor a wine from one of literally a dozen choices. Go with a favorite or be adventurous and choose a grape you have never even heard of.
Guided Small Group Option
Lunch at the hotel. Meet at the Bordeaux Tourist Office for an afternoon wine tour of the Médoc via private van. This tour meets after lunch. You will visit three family-run chateaux for in depth tastings of Medoc wines. These are all Classified Growth or better. You’ll drive the beautiful chateau route, enjoying the idyllic countryside dating back to centuries of cultivation. Aperitifs accompany your tastes as you explore the relationship of food and wine.
You’ll return to your Bordeaux hotel armed with substantial wine appreciation, be it in the countryside or in town at the museum.
Day 2 – Saint-Émilion
Check out of your hotel and full day Saint-Émilion wine tour in a small group.
Self-Guided Option
Leave Bordeaux at leisure, headed toward Saint Emilion. This is on the well-maintained N89 toward Libourne. The first stop is at Chateau de Ferrand for a private wine tasting. Blending Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, this Grand Cru red wine is grown on a high plateau overlooking the Dordogne. While most wines they make are meant for aging, the chateau also offers a young, ready-to-drink red. Bring a Bic pen along (ask us) :). After, drive to Saint-Émilion for lunch at either the amazing Le Tertre or the cozy and delicious L’Envers du Décor. St. Emilion has free parking around the police station (Gendarmerie). The paid lots are about 2€ per hour and near the church or in the lower town at Place Bouqeueyre.
Guided Small Group Option
Meet near the tourist office to meet your guide. It is a pretty drive to the town of Saint-Émilion for a walking tour of this historic 9th century village. Then you will enjoy a cellar tour of a classified growth domaine, including aperitifs and at least two wine tastes. You will have a generous picnic lunch on site. Then it’s time for a Grand Cru winery visit and tastes.
If there is time, stop at La Grande Cave (6 Place du Clocher) – a great little wine shop in the center of town that we love.
On to Cognac!
Small Group option folks will be privately driven to Cognac hotel while the rest of the group goes back to Bordeaux. Self-Guided option travelers will head for Cognac, an easy 45 minute journey.
Cognac Hotel Choices
Check in at 5 star La Nauve Hotel and Jardins or the Hotel Chais Monnet in the center of Cognac. This Relais and Chateau property is a converted mansion with beautiful grounds and on site dining focusing on local ingredients. The cozy bar has literally dozens of local Cognacs for tasting!
Enjoy a 3 course wine and Cognac tasting dinner on site.
Day 3 – Chateau de Cognac
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then a 10 a.m. private tour of the historic Chateau de Cognac. This former residence of King Francois I exudes history. A private cellar tour winds through medieval stone passageways and steps. Dusty and carefully kept bottles are stacked throughout. You will experience O.S., V.S.O.P and Extra tastings with a private guide. You’ll finish with a cocktail blending tutorial and tastes. After a pleasant local lunch at leisure, you return to your hotel. A cruise on the Charante river is also an option.
Day 4:
This will be a full day of cellar tours, with an option to choose 2 of 3 local historic houses. Be it Martell, Remy Martin or Hennessy, you will gain a deep perspective on this small but mighty French region. Let us know which houses you prefer and we will set up an exclusive tasting.
Return to hotel for dinner and drinks at leisure.
Day 5:
Transfer to Angouleme or Bordeaux for the train to Paris.
4 Night Bordeaux and Cognac
Price: $1950 per person based on 2 persons.
Departure Time: Before 10 a.m. from Paris on day one.
Duration: 4 days/nights
Meeting Point: Private pickup at Bordeaux TGV or Bordeaux airport
Group Size: Limit 7 on Day 1and 2, private on Day 3
Availability: This tour runs every day except national holidays of December 25, January 1 and May 1.
This Tour Includes
4 nights in 5 star hotels.
All transfers and admissions
Breakfast each morning.
Bistro lunch at Le Mondrian Hotel
Picnic tasting lunch in St. Emilion.
Private tour, tasting and cocktail making at Chateau de Cognac
Wine/cognac tasting dinner
Premium cellar tour of Martell, Hennessy or Remy Martin, choose 2.
What’s Included in the 5 Day Bordeaux and Cognac Tour?
Package Includes:
- Four nights hotel (double occupancy) at 5 star hotels
- Breakfast each morning
- Transport in a luxury air-conditioned minibus or car rental
- Four days of touring
- Wine tastings on Day 1 and 2 with semi private guided tour
- Private tasting on morning of Day 3 at Cellar Otard and visits at major Cognac producers on Day 4
Not included:
- Transfers from your hotel or apartment in Paris to the Montparnasse train station
- Rail/air to/from Bordeaux
Getting to the Bordeaux and Cognac from Paris Information
We can happily book your 1st or 2nd class train tickets. If you are not booking your rail through LinkParis.com, please do not book your train tickets until the correct rail times are confirmed by us. Rail tickets are emailed as a .pdf document for home printing.
All admissions, hotel, and wine tasting included.
Link Paris Reviews – What Others Say About Our Tours
| Why we love the Bordeaux and Cognac – Where to start? Glorious countryside, incredible history dating to the early Middle Ages, local chefs who match any Paris eatery and premium wine and cognac. What a region! – Laura |