16-Day / 15-Night Stay & Explore France & Netherlands – Bordeaux, Dordogne, Utrecht & Amsterdam

Destinations: Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion, Bergerac, Perigueux, Arcachon, Cognac, Utrecht, Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, Madurodam, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Giethoorn

Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Tour Type: Stay & Explore – Central Base with Optional Excursions
Ideal For: Wine Lovers, Cultural Enthusiasts, First-Time France & Netherlands Travelers

Experience the best of southwestern France and the Netherlands with a Stay & Explore itinerary, enjoying 7 nights in Bordeaux and 7 nights in Utrecht, combined with optional excursions for wine tasting, historic towns, Dutch engineering marvels, and charming villages.

🛫 Day 1 – Tuesday: Depart for France

• Board your international flight to France to begin your immersive European journey.

🏨 Day 2 – Wednesday: Arrive in Bordeaux

• Arrive in Bordeaux and transfer to your hotel

• Afternoon at leisure to relax

• Evening orientation with your French Tour Manager at 6 PM, followed by a welcome reception

Overnight: Bordeaux

🚶 Day 3 – Thursday: Bordeaux Walking Tour

• Guided walking tour: Place des Quinconces, Monument aux Girondins, Place de la Bourse & Miroir d’Eau, Grand Théâtre, Gothic Saint-André Cathedral

• Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town at your leisure

Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast

🍇 Day 4 – Friday: Saint-Emilion Wine Village & Winery Tasting

• Excursion to Saint-Emilion, UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Orientation walk through medieval streets

• Afternoon vineyard tour with local wine tasting

• Return to Bordeaux

Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast

🏘️ Day 5 – Saturday: Bergerac & Perigueux

• Visit Bergerac: historic streets, half-timbered houses, and local heritage

• Continue to Perigueux: orientation walk, Saint-Front Cathedral

• Return to Bordeaux

Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast

🌊 Day 6 – Sunday: Free Day or Optional Arcachon Oyster Tasting

• Leisure day in Bordeaux

• Optional Arcachon Bay tour: oyster tasting, coastal town visit, Belle Époque architecture, bustling market

• Return to Bordeaux

Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast
Optional: Arcachon Tour with Oyster Tasting

🥃 Day 7 – Monday: Free Day or Optional Cognac Region

• Optional Cognac tour: Cognac historic town, Le Château Royal de Cognac, distillery visit, tasting of fine cognac

• Return to Bordeaux

Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast
Optional: Cognac Region with Le Château Royal de Cognac & Distillery Visit

🍷 Day 8 – Tuesday: Free Day or Optional Cité du Vin Museum

• Optional tour: visit the striking Bordeaux Cité du Vin Museum with interactive exhibits, panoramic wine tasting

• Farewell dinner in Bordeaux

Overnight: Bordeaux
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Optional: Cité du Vin Museum

🛫 Day 9 – Wednesday: Flight to Amsterdam, Transfer to Utrecht

• Fly to Amsterdam and transfer to Utrecht

• Afternoon at leisure

• Evening orientation with Dutch Tour Manager at 6 PM

Overnight: Utrecht

🚤 Day 10 – Thursday: Utrecht Walking Tour & Canal Cruise

• Guided walking tour: Dom Tower, Oudegracht Canals, St. Martin’s Cathedral

• Optional canal cruise through Utrecht’s historic waterways

• Afternoon at leisure

Overnight: Utrecht
Meals: Breakfast

🌆 Day 11 – Friday: Amsterdam Tour & Canal Cruise, Optional Amsterdam City Walk with Dinner

• Travel to Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, Heineken Brewery, Portuguese Synagogue

• Glass-top boat canal cruise, historic gabled merchant houses

• Optional city walk: Rembrandt’s neighborhood, Zuiderkerk, dinner with drinks

• Return to Utrecht

Overnight: Utrecht
Meals: Breakfast
Optional: Amsterdam City Walk with Dinner

🌉 Day 12 – Saturday: Free Day or Optional Delta Works & Rotterdam

• Optional tour: Dutch engineering marvel Delta Works, Rotterdam city tour, Cube Houses, Markthal, Erasmus Bridge

• Return to Utrecht

Overnight: Utrecht
Meals: Breakfast
Optional: Delta Works & Rotterdam

🏛️ Day 13 – Sunday: Madurodam or Keukenhof Gardens Tour

• Scenic drive to The Hague & Delft, orientation walk

• Visit Madurodam miniature park, or seasonally Keukenhof flower gardens (Mar 20–May 11)

• Return to Utrecht

Overnight: Utrecht
Meals: Breakfast

🌾 Day 14 – Monday: Free Day or Optional Zaanse Schans, Volendam & Windmills

• Explore Zaanse Schans windmill village, Volendam fishing village, cheese farm, historic windmill

• Return to Utrecht

Overnight: Utrecht
Meals: Breakfast
Optional: Zaanse Schans, Volendam & Windmills with Lunch

🛶 Day 15 – Tuesday: Free Day or Optional Giethoorn & Kröller-Müller Museum

• Optional tour: Giethoorn “Venice of the Netherlands” with canal boat ride, followed by Kröller-Müller Museum with Van Gogh collection and sculpture park

• Farewell dinner in Utrecht

Overnight: Utrecht
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Optional: Giethoorn City Tour & Kröller-Müller Museum

🛫 Day 16 – Wednesday: Depart Netherlands

• Transfer to airport for departure flight

• End of tour
  Meals: Breakfast

✅ Stay & Explore Package Includes

• Round-trip flights: New York–Bordeaux, Amsterdam–New York; Intra-flight: Bordeaux–Amsterdam

• 14 nights First Class accommodations: 7 nights Bordeaux, 7 nights Utrecht

• 16 meals: 14 breakfasts, 2 dinners

• Air-conditioned motor coach sightseeing

• Services of 2 English-speaking Tour Managers, local guides

• Hotel taxes, fees, porterage, and wireless earphones for enhanced touring

• Optional excursions for flexibility

🌟 Highlights

• France: Bordeaux walking tour, Saint-Emilion vineyards, Dordogne towns, Arcachon Oyster Tasting, Cognac region, Cité du Vin Museum

• Netherlands: Utrecht canals, Amsterdam museums & canal cruise, Delta Works, Madurodam, Keukenhof Gardens, Zaanse Schans, Giethoorn

• Culinary & wine experiences: Bordeaux wines, Cognac tasting, Dutch specialties

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux Old Town