SELF DRIVE & EASY WALKING - FROM March 15 to November 2008! Cover the best of the Languedoc region in this package and walk lightly in some of the most important sites in France such as Carcassonne where the program starts. This region of France is a landscape of thousand faces. From vineyards to bays, from wooded hills to towering mountains, Catalonia is an open air and open country. With its nice weather and memorable walks, Catalonia is an excellent choice, with scenery that changes with the seasons and its abundance of animal and plant life. Located in the southern part of the region, just north of Spain, the region is also home to prehistoric sites of Tautavel and Belesta, some of the oldest human findings in the world. This region is also rich in wine production, and this tour includes tastings and walks among the many vineyards. Along your tour, you meet numerous local wine producers and taste and share with them the full-bodied, tasty and rich French Catalonia wines, also you have guided walks, self-guided walks, and other visits included.		"It was a unforgettable experience and all of you guys do an awesome job, much more than you are required or expected to do." -S. Guarderas

DAY 1: Arrival at the “Cité” of CARCASSONNE toward the end of the afternoon. Lodging in a 3-star hotel, deluxe room, inside the Cite within an ambiance of the middle ages. After dinner walking around in the night will give you the opportunity to discover the “Old heart of the town” listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. (D)

Day 2: Minervois to Fitou: In the morning, you will have time to visit the « Cité », Lunch on your own, then at the beginning of the afternoon you will leave for Minerve, mecca of the Cathars of the 11th Century. It is surrounded by the “gorges de la Cesse" natural barier against invaders. (Self guided walking tour of 1hour ½ with suggested route/info book.)

Pépieux-Minervois: Then, walking through a landscape dating from antiquity, you will taste the wines made in the Domaine Massamier-la-Mignarde (Pépieux), together with a gastronomic speciality of the Languedoc area “la Tapenade d’olives”. Walking trip (1hour) with Mr or Mrs Venes in the afternoon.

Then to your lodging near Perpignan, a 4 star hotel near the coast with dinner included in a nearby gourmet restaurant.. (B,D)

Day 3: Cathar strongholds to the Agly valley: After breakfast, departure to one of the « Vertigo strongholds », the Castle of Quéribus. Later, lunch by yourself in Cucugnan, then departure to the « Valley of Agly », a winding river, the banks of which are covered with prestigious vineyards. After lunch meet winegrowers who will open their doors for some tasting and education on their wines « Côtes du Roussillon village” and other “Muscat’s de Rivesaltes”. Toward the end of the afternoon, you go to the famous “Auberge du Cellier” where Mr Pierre-Louis Marin, the owner, will serve you a delicious, typically Mediterranean dinner. (or at “la Tour des saveurs” in Latour de France village 3kms). After dinner, driving back to Perpignan and overnight same hotel. (B,D)

Day 4: The wonderful « Côte Vermeille »: depart for the coast and the lovely seaside village of Collioure, a charming village curled up between its bell tower and its Royal Castle, both at the Mediterranean Sea’s edge. Collioure is a town where anchovy fishers and the painters such as Matisse, Derain, Dufy… cohabitated. It is the cradle of fauvism. Visit on your own, and in the late morning it is possible for you to visit one of the anchovy salting fabric (Ets Roc or Ets Desclaux.) Lunch on your own. Continuing along the roads between vineyards and the Mediterranean Sea, you will suddenly discover the Bay of Banyuls where With a wine grower you will walk through terraced vineyards where rocks melt into the sea. Following is a tasting of the best Banyuls wines after visiting the “Grande cave du Cellier des Templiers” (2hours ½)

Visit the village by yourself, without forgetting the “Foundation Maillol”, dedicated to Maillol, the great sculptor well-known in Europe. Typical dinner at the gourmet restaurant la Littorine on the beach. Return to your same hotel. (B,D)

Day 5: Castelnou and surroundings "les Aspres": Departure in the morning, you will stop shortly to visit the new and splendid « Roman Sculpture Centre » in Cabestany before arriving in "Les Aspres" area, where you will admire rocky vineyards curled up between olive trees and "micocouliers". Then you will finally arrive in Castelnou, medieval place listed among the "most beautiful villages in France", where you will take time to wander in the little streets leading up to the Castle, where the craftsmen' shops are so numerous. There is a guided visit at 11:30 am followed by a tasting at the castle and later afternoon wine visit at the museum Vignes et Vins with tasting. Then back at your hotel enjoy a nice dinner and rest. (B,D)

Day 6: Béziers – Saint-Chinian. In the morning, you will discover Béziers by yourself, and then you will drive to the Fontcaude Abbey, curled up in the valley. Then continuation to Roquebrun, situated in a splendid landscape, this village overlooks the Orb Valley is itself overlooked by an old Carolingian tower. Lunch on your own.
At the beginning of the afternoon, you will visit Roquebrune, followed by a visit of the « the Cellar of Roquebrun”. Then leave for Cessenon where you will be welcomed by the English-speaking owners Mr & Mrs. MIQUEL, at the domaine Cazal-Viel - visit of the property and of the wine house with tasting. Then you will have dinner and after go to your medieval chateau hotel in Murviel les Béziers. (B,D)

Day 7: Faugères & Pézenas: After breakfast, departure to discover one of the most ancient vineyards of France, dating more than 500 years! Meet with the wine-growers of the « Crûs Faugères », and Domaine Ollier-Taillefer located near Fos village. Lunch on your own, and after, you will discover the “Château Chenaie” at caussiniojouls including wine tasting. Then near Roujan you will visit the outside of the “Abbey of Cassan”. It is a master piece of classic architecture from the 17th century. You can wander the streets of Pézenas in the footsteps of writer Molière, then making your way back have a dinner made of local and typical food, and your last night at the château at Murviel les Béziers. (B,D)

Day 8: Departure day after breakfast.

The trip includes: 7 nights accommodations in deluxe hotels , all breakfasts, all dinners (terroir) made with local products (3 course) including limited local wines, all visits shown on the right column and mentioned above, wine tastings, visits mentioned, and a roadbook with information and routes.

Hotels: Le Donjon***, Hôtel du Mas D’Huston****, Chateau Hotel in Murviel***

We also include free travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more.

Optional Services:
Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services.

Note: Car rental required, but not included. We can quote rates for car rental depending on each request's criteria. Tourist tax of about 1 euro per person per day is collected at the hotels and is not included in the price; nor are lunches, and any other personal expense. Prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.