Reach Bordeaux in half the time. The new high-speed rail that launched in 2018, takes just two hours to travel from Paris to the wine region.
Even the wisest oenophile is sure to learn something new at the Cite du Vin. Created to look like a swirl of wine in a glass, this USD$83 million museum is quite clearly the mothership of wine. You can take part in wine tours, workshops and take a tour of 20 different wine regions within the state-of-the-art building.
If you take a trip to the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at the stunning hotel Les Sources De Caudalie, you can bathe in red wine extracts, enjoy a Merlot wrap or experience a body scrub, which comprises grape seeds and essential oils.
Eat your heart out Downton Abbey. You can book a five-hour ride that will take you across the vineyards and treat you to picture perfect panoramas.
Young contemporary local artists have placed installations in the forest for you to discover. The two-hour long walk in the forest surrounding the Chateaux Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard (again, part of Les Sources De Caudalie) encourages you to “hear, touch, smell and finally taste the surrounding nature”. We’re guessing more wine then.
Forget about carb loading and vitamin drinks – each September, Bordeaux hosts the Marathon du Medoc – a marathon through the vineyards. Runners can sample the region’s famed vintages enroute while tucking into it local delicacies such as cheese and foie gras.
If you want the perfect keepsake of the city, take your smartphone to Place de la Bourse and the water mirror. Your friends will be amazed with your photography skills and it will be possibly the easiest shot you’ve ever taken.
Lovers of the vine will want to book themselves into Les Sources de Caudalie. This boutique hotel is a must visit for those who like the finer things in life as each room is filled with art and antiques. It's also the home of the previously mentioned wine spa. Cheers to that.
If you want to book your own mini-break in Bordeaux, contact Lightfoot's France experts.
Classic Kyushu
- Explore Fukuoka’s most famous Yatai with your private guide
- Ride on the scenic trains Yufuin No Mori and Aso Boy!
- Stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan with hot spring baths
- Embark on a boat tour to discover the famous landmarks of Nagasaki
Northern Thailand and Laos Cultural Adventure
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle Laos Thailand Luang Prabang
- Explore the tastes of Chiang Mai on a street food tour
- Witness the monks’ morning alms ceremony at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Enjoy the northern Thai wilderness and wildlife at Chiang Rai
- Cruise along the mighty Mekong, stopping to visit local villages and temples
- Soak up the atmosphere on a cycling tour around Luang Prabang, Laos
Shakti Ladakh Village Walk
- See the impressive Islamic architecture at Basgo Fort
- Go rafting along the shores of Nimoo
- Explore the village of Likhir with its famous giant gold Buddha
- Cycle around the village of Stok, home to Ladakh’s royal family palace
- Witness the early morning prayers by the monks at Thiksey monastery
