Discover the hub of the famed wine-growing region of France aboard the luxury barge Rosa for a 7-day intimate cruise. Sail across one of the longest masonry aqueducts in France, which spans the River Garonne. Explore the historic architecture of the region, including a visit to the medieval town of Nerac to tread in the footsteps of King Henry IV and Queen Margot, the 13th Century fortified village of Vianne and the 14th Century Château de Duras. En route to Bordeaux, through Graves vineyards, Marvel at the medieval town of Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site and center of the most famous of the Bordeaux appellations. Learn more about the complex science of viticulture, including of course a tasting of some superb and long-lived “Grand Cru” vintages.
Highlights
Tour of the famous Saint Emilion
Visit the impressive Château de Duras
Explore the Bastide village of Vianne and ancient Barbaste
Taste the famous local wines, cheese and Armagnac of the Bordeaux region
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Guests are met in Bordeaux and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Rosa. Following a champagne welcome, there is time for a stroll before returning for your first dinner on board.
Morning cruise to Serignac-sur-Garonne, cross the Plan Canal d’Agen, one of the longest aqueducts in France which spans the River Garonne. After lunch, visit the medieval town of Nerac and tread in the footsteps of King of France Henry IV and Queen Margot. The château was built in the 15th century, but much was destroyed during the French Revolution and today only the impressive north wing remains. Finally, stop at the Lapeyrade Estate for a cellar tasting of Armagnac, the oldest alcohol in France. Dinner on board.
This morning, depart early to enjoy the colorful market of Aiguillon and then cruise to our mooring at Buzet-sur-Baise, a pretty fortified village with pastel-colored houses. After lunch, head to the 13th-century bastide village of Vianne and see a skilled glassblower at work, then en route back to the barge, visit the cork museum at Mezin to learn about the history of cork-making. In the evening you can go to Barbaste with its fortified mill, protected by four square towers, and the nearby 12th-century bridge with its 12 curved arches. Dinner ashore at ‘Le Moulin des Saveurs’, a local auberge in Barbaste.
Start the day with a relaxing cruise to the lovely little village of Lagruère, with time to walk or cycle the towpath through stunning countryside. Following lunch on board, cruise along the Garonne river aboard a traditional flat-bottomed boat, after which you can visit the beautiful village of Le Mas d’Agenais, its 11th century church playing host to an ornate Romanesque doorway and an original masterpiece by Rembrandt. After this, take a short drive to an artisanal dairy farm at Ramier where you can experience the entire cheese making process, culminating in a delicious tasting. Dinner, if the weather permits, is a gourmet barbecue beside the barge, overlooking the River Garonne.
Morning cruise to the village of Meilhan-sur-Garonne with a view over the valley of the Garonne. In the afternoon, visit the 14th-century Château de Duras, an architectural wonder, which has been both a fortress and a stately home over its 900-year history. You can wander through its 35 rooms and museum before returning to the hotel barge. Dinner on board.
Today, your final cruise is to Castet-en-Dorthe, following the nearby River Garonne. In the afternoon visit the medieval town of Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site and center of the most famous of the Bordeaux appellations. Later, we stop at Château Beau-Sejour-Becot, producer of the premier and grand crus wines, where you can discover the secrets of the vine and, of course, enjoy a tasting. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7: Castet-en-Dorthe | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Bordeaux.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$5,490
Rates are subject to change without notice. Book early to get the best rate.
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Stateroom
Two double staterooms and two twin staterooms that feature individually controlled air-conditioning and heating as well as full en-suite facilities.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Credit card, check, and bank transfer. All final payments by credit card subject to a surcharge of 2.5% and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 169 reviews on
32 minutes ago
Friendly and professional interactions. Answered my questions and followed up on initial contact.
Tim Elliott
1 day ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
2 days ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
2 days ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
3 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.