Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
This 13-night self-drive holiday to St Jean de Luz takes you from Calais in the north to the French Basque country in the extreme south-west of the country with a focal point being the stay of seven nights in the picturesque coastal town of St Jean de Luz that combines a traditional fishing port with an elegant promenade along an outstanding sandy beach, top quality restaurants and charming half-timbered houses in the local Basque style. We allow three nights in each direction with overnight stops that give you a real flavour of the breadth of France. On the outward journey stops are included near Honfleur in Normandy, near Chenonceau at the heart of the Loire Valley and near Bordeaux. On the way back, there is a stop to the north of Bordeaux and south of Cognac, in Amboise on the banks of the River Loire and finally in the Pas-de-Calais. As you journey southwards, you’ll pass through a range of French landscapes from the rolling green fields of the Somme valley to the sunflower fields of the Loire. As you continue south, the architecture changes and the grey slate roofs of the Loire give way to the terracotta tiles of the south. Experience the change in scenery in reverse as you travel back. You return to Folkestone by Eurotunnel from Calais.
Highlights
St Jean de Luz • Honfleur • Amboise and Chenonceau in the Loire Valley • Bordeaux region • North of France
Day by day
After arriving in Calais via the Eurotunnel, begin your drive through the rolling, chalky fields of the Pas-de-Calais and then the valley of the Somme, into the charming landscape of Normandy, crossing the mouth of the mighty River Seine by the dramatic Pont de Normandie. Your overnight stop is just outside Honfleur. It’s worth trying to arrive early enough in the afternoon to have some free time in Honfleur before reaching your hotel. Honfleur’s harbour is lined by elegant, townhouses and warehouses that are now occupied by an array of restaurants and art galleries.
Today’s drive takes about three hours, so you have time to explore the vicinity of Honfleur, perhaps with a drive along the coast to the seaside resort of Deauville or to drive through the delightful Calvados countryside with its apple trees, pasture-land and half-timbered Normandy farmhouses. The road takes you towards Le Mans and then it’s motorway towards Tours, the capital of the Touraine at the heart of the Loire Valley. Your overnight stop is a short distance from here and near to the famous Renaissance chateau at Chenonceau.
Setting out from near Tours today, your journey time is about 4 hours. There is a motorway direct to Bordeaux or you can take the route nationale through Angouleme. Unless you have a desire to veer off to somewhere such as La Rochelle on the coast, it’s worth reaching the Bordeaux region early, giving time to explore the vineyards of Pomerol and St Emilion near the Dordogne river, or venture onto the left bank of the Garonne to visit the might Medoc vineyards where you’ll find Margaux, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild as well as other well-known names.
The drive today is about three hours but also offers a few variations of route. South of Bordeaux you pass through the flat fields and forests of the Landes. Instead of taking the motorway from Bordeaux south, you could deviate right towards the coast at Arcachon and follow it for a while, although it does zig in and out, or left towards the spa and market town of Dax on the river Adour.
St Jean de Luz, almost on the Pyrenean border between France and Spain, is renowned for its pretty architecture, sandy beach, gastronomy and light. The coastline here is a mixture of cliffs and sandy beaches, creating interesting scenery, and there are the foothills of the Pyrenees in the distance. This fishing port has a charming town centre, lined with picturesque 17th century shipowners’ houses. Many of the buildings are in the distinctive Basque half-timbered style, often with the beams painted a dark red or green, with matching shutters at the windows. The Church of Saint Jean Baptiste was the site of the marriage of Louis XIV in 1660. Its interior makes it a unique religious building, split onto three levels, and adorned with extravagant gold decoration, while in the centre of the main room hangs a model ship, harking back to the nautical history of the town. To the north is the sophisticated and larger resort of Biarritz and inland is the historic town of Bayonne. Just across the rocky Pyrenean border in Spain is San Sebastián - an essential day-trip. As well as its reputation for excellent cuisine, San Sebastián boasts of an impressive heritage and royal connection. The La Perla spa building on the waterfront was built for the Queen María Cristina and is still believed to be one of the most beautiful in the world. St Jean de Luz hosts numerous festivals including a Sardine festival at the end of July and beginning of August, a classical music festival in September and an International Basque Choral Singing Festival at Halloween.
You retrace your steps towards Bordeaux, cross the river Dordogne and head north but stopping short of Cognac for your overnight stop.
Today we recommend an early start and a visit to Cognac, home of the eponymous ‘digestif’. There is a museum of cognac production and history, and the cognac houses of Remy Martin and Hennessy that can be visited. Re-join the motorway for the journey back to the Touraine, the River Loire and the chateau-town of Amboise. The chateau houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci and his former home, the Chateau de Clos Lucé is nearby. There are numerous restaurants in the town for tonight’s dinner if you want to stroll the short distance from the hotel.
The most direct route today takes you back past Le Mans, to Rouen where you cross the Seine, and then north to Abbeville in the Somme valley and the small town of Montreuil, a few miles from the site of the battle of Agincourt, and just inland from the coastal resort of Le Touquet. This route avoids Paris, although it’s also possible to take the motorway to Orleans, Paris and Amiens instead.
On your final day in France, there might be time for a stroll in Le Touquet or to take the coastal road after Boulogne, through the villages of Wimereux and Wissant, back to Calais and your return Eurotunnel crossing.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,590 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
After arriving in Calais via the Eurotunnel, begin your drive through the rolling, chalky fields of the Pas-de-Calais and then the valley of the Somme, into the charming landscape of Normandy, crossing the mouth of the mighty River Seine by the dramatic Pont de Normandie. Your overnight stop is just outside Honfleur. It’s worth trying to arrive early enough in the afternoon to have some free time in Honfleur before reaching your hotel. Honfleur’s harbour is lined by elegant, townhouses and warehouses that are now occupied by an array of restaurants and art galleries.
Today’s drive takes about three hours, so you have time to explore the vicinity of Honfleur, perhaps with a drive along the coast to the seaside resort of Deauville or to drive through the delightful Calvados countryside with its apple trees, pasture-land and half-timbered Normandy farmhouses. The road takes you towards Le Mans and then it’s motorway towards Tours, the capital of the Touraine at the heart of the Loire Valley. Your overnight stop is a short distance from here and near to the famous Renaissance chateau at Chenonceau.
Setting out from near Tours today, your journey time is about 4 hours. There is a motorway direct to Bordeaux or you can take the route nationale through Angouleme. Unless you have a desire to veer off to somewhere such as La Rochelle on the coast, it’s worth reaching the Bordeaux region early, giving time to explore the vineyards of Pomerol and St Emilion near the Dordogne river, or venture onto the left bank of the Garonne to visit the might Medoc vineyards where you’ll find Margaux, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild as well as other well-known names.
The drive today is about three hours but also offers a few variations of route. South of Bordeaux you pass through the flat fields and forests of the Landes. Instead of taking the motorway from Bordeaux south, you could deviate right towards the coast at Arcachon and follow it for a while, although it does zig in and out, or left towards the spa and market town of Dax on the river Adour.
St Jean de Luz, almost on the Pyrenean border between France and Spain, is renowned for its pretty architecture, sandy beach, gastronomy and light. The coastline here is a mixture of cliffs and sandy beaches, creating interesting scenery, and there are the foothills of the Pyrenees in the distance. This fishing port has a charming town centre, lined with picturesque 17th century shipowners’ houses. Many of the buildings are in the distinctive Basque half-timbered style, often with the beams painted a dark red or green, with matching shutters at the windows. The Church of Saint Jean Baptiste was the site of the marriage of Louis XIV in 1660. Its interior makes it a unique religious building, split onto three levels, and adorned with extravagant gold decoration, while in the centre of the main room hangs a model ship, harking back to the nautical history of the town. To the north is the sophisticated and larger resort of Biarritz and inland is the historic town of Bayonne. Just across the rocky Pyrenean border in Spain is San Sebastián - an essential day-trip. As well as its reputation for excellent cuisine, San Sebastián boasts of an impressive heritage and royal connection. The La Perla spa building on the waterfront was built for the Queen María Cristina and is still believed to be one of the most beautiful in the world. St Jean de Luz hosts numerous festivals including a Sardine festival at the end of July and beginning of August, a classical music festival in September and an International Basque Choral Singing Festival at Halloween.
You retrace your steps towards Bordeaux, cross the river Dordogne and head north but stopping short of Cognac for your overnight stop.
Today we recommend an early start and a visit to Cognac, home of the eponymous ‘digestif’. There is a museum of cognac production and history, and the cognac houses of Remy Martin and Hennessy that can be visited. Re-join the motorway for the journey back to the Touraine, the River Loire and the chateau-town of Amboise. The chateau houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci and his former home, the Chateau de Clos Lucé is nearby. There are numerous restaurants in the town for tonight’s dinner if you want to stroll the short distance from the hotel.
The most direct route today takes you back past Le Mans, to Rouen where you cross the Seine, and then north to Abbeville in the Somme valley and the small town of Montreuil, a few miles from the site of the battle of Agincourt, and just inland from the coastal resort of Le Touquet. This route avoids Paris, although it’s also possible to take the motorway to Orleans, Paris and Amiens instead.
On your final day in France, there might be time for a stroll in Le Touquet or to take the coastal road after Boulogne, through the villages of Wimereux and Wissant, back to Calais and your return Eurotunnel crossing.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,590 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD14
Our prices include
● Eurotunnel return crossing from Folkestone to Calais for car and passengers
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Campagne double room at the Auberge de la Source, near Honfleur
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic double room at the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere, near Chenonceau
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Comfort double room at the Sources de Caudalie, near Bordeaux
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at the Hotel Parc Victoria, St Jean de Luz
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic double room at the Chateau de Mirambeau, north of Bordeaux
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Traditional double room at Le Choiseul, at Amboise
● 1 night’s dinner, bed and breakfast in a Classic double room at the Chateau de Montreuil, at Montreuil sur Mer
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
Additional information
This self-drive holiday can be arranged throughout the year subject to the opening dates of the hotels.
Driving times for this touring holiday
Calais to Honfleur 3 hours
Honfleur to Loire Valley 3 hours
Loire Valley to Bordeaux 4 hours
Bordeaux to St Jean de Luz 3 hours
St Jean de Luz to north of Bordeaux 4 hours
North of Bordeaux to Amboise 4 hours
Amboise to Pas-de-Calais 5 hours
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
Auberge de la Source is a 4-star hotel in an idyllic country location a few miles from Honfleur and near the Cider Route and Calvados distilleries. The excellent fresh local cuisine and secluded setting afford guests a truly tranquil and authentic Norman experience.
Campagne double room
Château de la Bourdaisière is a charming, historic, château-hotel set in a beautiful countryside location. Labyrinthine gardens filled with botanical delights. Traditional furnishing.
Classic double room
Les Sources de Caudalie is a 5-star hotel in an excellent location among the vineyards. Perfect for gourmands and oenophiles, the hotel offers a 2-Michelin-star restaurant, Vinothérapie spa as well as unparalleled access to some of Bordeaux's most prestigious wineries.
Comfort double
Hotel Parc Victoria is an exclusive 5-star hotel in an excellent location. Delicious cuisine and excellent wellness facilities afford guests a truly tranquil and indulgent experience.
Standard double room
Château de Mirambeau is a 5-star luxury hotel in a beautiful location. Gourmet cuisine, opulent decoration and spectacular grounds afford guests a truly tranquil and relaxing experience.
Classic double room
Le Choiseul is a very attractive, 4-star traditional hotel in Amboise, a superb location for visiting the region. Excellent cuisine and pristine grounds and gardens afford guests a truly tranquil and indulgent experience.
Traditional room
Le Château de Montreuil is an exclusive 4-star country-house hotel in beautiful grounds. The fine dining restaurant, charming decor and lovely grounds afford guests a relaxing retreat.
Classic double room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,590 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
About French Basque Country
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the French Basque Country is a chance to explore this rural and picturesque region of France. One of the French Basque Country's great attractions is the close proximity of sea and country. The coastline is dramatic, with its wide sweeps of sandy beaches, cliffs and fishing harbours, beautiful sunsets over the sea and the Atlantic surf breaking on rocky outcrops; yet just a few minutes' drive inland are green, rolling hills, streams and rivers and flower filled pastures. The Basque identity of this region is apparent; the place names, the local accents, the Basque colours of the red and green timbered houses of villages where pelota is played regularly and in locally woven linens. Pimentos hanging from houses are a common sight as are locals in traditional costume for festivals and feast days. We loved the Basque Country from the moment we first visited it. The luxury hotels in the Basque Country which we recommend are located in and around St Jean de Luz, an old fishing port with wide sandy beaches. An excellent way to explore the Basque country is by car, perhaps also visiting other parts of southern France including Carcassonne and Bordeaux or venturing into Spain for a touring holiday including Northern Spain and French Catalonia.
Highlights of French Basque Country
Sample traditions such as pelota and pimento festivals. Local crafts such as the makhila walking stick, fine linens and Thalassotherapy are also available throughout the region. There are excellent golf courses and sandy beaches. Notice the red and green timbered houses.
Climate of French Basque Country
Average air temperatures by month in centigrade: Jan: 10.0, Feb: 9.4, Mar: 12.2, Apr: 19.5, May: 18.0, Jun: 23.7, Jul: 27.2, Aug: 25.7, Sep: 24.2, Oct: 19.7, Nov: 15.4, Dec: 11.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
About Bordeaux Region
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Bordeaux is a chance to explore a region renowned the world over for its wines and its awe-inspiring chateaux, whilst Cognac is less explored yet holds a countless store of treasures waiting to be appreciated. The Bordeaux region is ideal for short breaks and touring holidays with a range of sights to discover. Cognac country is a perfect destination for the discerning traveller as it is still relatively unknown yet is within very easy reach of more popular areas such as the coastal resorts between La Rochelle and Royan about 30 minutes` drive to the west, the Medoc and Saint Emilion vineyards about 45 minutes` drive to the south and the intriguing Marais Poitevin about an hour`s drive to the north. Moreover, the cuisine has a character of its own, utilising cognac, pineau and Marennes oysters. A holiday to the Bordeaux and Cognac regions is highly recommended. A fantastic way to discover the region is to incorporate it into a self-drive touring holiday, flying to Bordeaux and then exploring this area as well as the Basque Country and Carcassonne by hire-car. It is also accessible by train, such as in our suggested rail holiday travelling to the Loire Valley and Bordeaux which also allows you to explore by hire-car.
Highlights of Bordeaux
Visit vineyards and chateaux, for tasting and buying. Visit the oyster beds. Experience the Cognac distilleries, and the Romanesque architecture. Bordeaux is the historical centre for wine however you may also visit the villages of the wine region such as St Emilion.
Climate in the Bordeaux Region
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 10.0, Feb: 9.4, Mar: 12.2, Apr: 19.5, May: 18.0, Jun: 23.7, Jul: 27.2, Aug: 25.7, Sep: 24.2, Oct: 19.7, Nov: 15.4, Dec: 11.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
About Loire Valley
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Loire Valley offers travellers a chance to explore this magnificent region, known as the `Garden of France`, traditionally the hunting grounds of the Kings of France, is renowned for its gentle countryside, vineyards, forests, rivers and numerous chateaux. At the centre of this region are the regal river Loire and its numerous tributaries, attractive historic towns and cathedral cities such as Tours, Blois and Chinon and of course the chateaux. The chateaux range from vast palaces to fortresses, from mediaeval strongholds to Renaissance delights and include the well-known ones of Chenonceaux, Chambord, Villandry and pretty Azay le Rideau. The vineyards offer great variety from sparkling Vouvray to the reds of Chinon and Bourgueil. Our `Loire Valley` covers the central region of Touraine and the more westerly region of Anjou as well as taking in a more southern part that extends towards Poitiers. The visitor to the Loire Valley is embraced by seemingly endless amusements whatever the time of year, enticing for longer stays and so well situated for overnight stops or short breaks. It is very easy to reach the Loire Valley by train, combining a holiday here with a visit to Bordeaux. Alternatively, a self-drive holiday to the Loire Valley is an excellent option, allowing you to explore the region's Chateaux by car or to combine a stay in the region with a holiday to the Dordogne region and Normandy.
Highlights of the Loire Valley
Cultural highlights include wines and wine vinegars, wild mushrooms - (visit the mushroom museum), the Troglodyte caves, and local art exhibitions.
Festivals in the Loire Valley
Son et Lumiere in the chateaux in the summer months. Summer festival in Chinon in August.
Climate of the Loire Valley
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.8, Feb: 6.8, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 16.1, May: 16.4, Jun: 23.6, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 24.5, Sep: 21.1, Oct: 16.2, Nov: 11.2, Dec: 7.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
About Normandy
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Normandy holds an astonishing familiarity for the British visitor, due to its lush green pastures and close historical ties. Normandy is an attractive land of white chalk cliffs, long sandy beaches, fishing ports and harbours, rich green pastures and apple orchards, half-timbered and thatched houses and barns, lively market towns, sophisticated sea side resorts such as Deauville and Cabourg and sleepy villages. Famous for its dairy produce, cider and calvados, the cuisine of Normandy is hearty reflecting both its rich pastures and its proximity to the sea. Historical ties provide links from William the Conqeror to 1944. Normandy is a gentle and friendly land, small and pretty where the comforting aroma of apple wood fires lingers in the air and where the salt of the sea is in the breeze. With its nearby location, beautiful scenery, countless activities and charming hotels, Normandy is well-suited to both short breaks and longer holidays. A self-drive touring holiday is an excellent way to explore Normandy, and the region is a perfect place to stay en route further south, perhaps to the Dordogne region or the Loire Valley.
Highlights of Normandy
Calvados, cider and camembert, horse-races in Deauville in August, markets every day of the week throughout the region, the Route du Cidre, and the summer art exhibitions.
Climate of Normandy
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.6, Feb: 6.4, Mar: 8.4, Apr: 13.0, May: 14.0, Jun: 20.0, Jul: 21.6, Aug: 22.0, Sep: 18.2, Oct: 14.5, Nov: 10.8, Dec: 7.9. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive touring holiday to French Basque country, with overnight stops in Normandy, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux region
About Pas de Calais
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Pas-de-Calais is the chance to explore a region renowned for chic seaside towns such as Le Touquet, and for the long sandy beaches along what the French call La Cote d’Opale, or Opal Coast. Translating as the French equivalent of the Straits of Dover, Pas-de-Calais is the region bordering the English Channel. A mere 20-odd miles from England, Pas-de-Calais has a huge amount to offer, from its three National Parks and enchanting Flemish architecture, to its water sports and beach resorts, while everywhere you go you can enjoy simple, unassuming gourmet restaurants and fantastically fresh, seafood-based regional cuisine. Along with its famous seaside towns of Le Touquet, Boulogne-sur-mer and Wimereux, Pas-de-Calais has stunning inland towns, including St. Omer with its fortified upper old town and gothic cathedral, Arras, with two beautiful squares surrounded by Flemish-style facades, and Montreuil-sur-Mer, with a historic upper town surrounded by ramparts and citadel. As well as some of the finest, widest beaches in France, and haunting, evocative WWII battle sites, the region also boasts the stark, windswept wilds of Cap Griz Nez. Often neglected by visitors in their rush from the French ferry ports down to Paris and beyond, Pas-de-Calais is a fascinating, diverse, and captivatingly beautiful region, just a stone’s throw from home across the Channel.
Highlights of Pas-de-Calais
Seaside towns with fabulous seafood restaurants; Anglo-Norman and Art Deco architecture in the super chic Le Touquit; the castle museum, basilica and belfry of Boulogne-sur-Mer; a stroll along the promenade at elegant Wimereux; St-Omer’s narrow, winding streets, fortified upper old town and 13th century Notre Dame cathedral; the Flemish- baroque Heros and Grande Place squares of Arras, surrounded with cafes selling local gingerbreads, and galleries selling local artwork; the citadel and ramparts of Montreuil-sur-mer; locally brewed beer and cider; visit the crystal glass factory at Arque; Opal Capes and Marshes natural reserve, crisscrossed by waymarked trails; the 500ft sheer chalk cliffs at Cape Blanc-Nez, with footpath running above it.
