Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise

Biarritz & Bordeaux Cruise

Ten-day escorted French trip pairing rail travel with a Bordeaux river cruise

Biarritz & Bordeaux Cruise, a rail journey with Great Rail Journeys

Great Rail Journeys operates this ten-day trip combining rail travel with a river cruise through southwest France, escorted throughout by a Tour Manager and Cruise Director team. The route starts on the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, continues by First Class rail to Biarritz on the Atlantic coast for three nights, then heads to Bordeaux to board the MS Cyrano de Bergerac for six nights along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Day 3 rides the heritage La Rhune Mountain Railway to the summit of La Rhune on the France-Spain border. Once aboard, the days settle into a cruise rhythm, with wine tastings in St Émilion and along the Médoc route, guided tours of Bordeaux, Rochefort and La Rochelle, and a choice of excursion to Roquetaillade Château or medieval Cadillac. It suits travelers who want French wine country and coastal history covered by cruise rather than a rail-focused itinerary, with only the opening and closing legs spent on a train.

What to know before you look closer

  • For the 8 June standard class departure, the Biarritz hotel is a different property, the Hotel Villa Koegui in Bayonne, rather than the usual 4-star Biarritz hotel.
  • Tips and gratuities are left to guest discretion and are not included in the price.
  • This is primarily a river cruise; only 4 of the 10 days involve a rail journey, the Eurostar and TGV legs plus the heritage La Rhune Mountain Railway, so most travel time is spent aboard the MS Cyrano de Bergerac or on coach excursions.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Biarritz (4-star hotel)

    Arrival in Biarritz

    Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and travel to Paris on the Eurostar in Plus class with a light meal served at seats. Continue by First Class rail to Biarritz on the Atlantic coast and check into the hotel for three nights. Evening free to dine independently. Note: for standard class departure 8th June, accommodation is at Hotel Villa Koegui in Bayonne.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal

  2. Day 2overnight: Biarritz (4-star hotel)

    Discovering beautiful Biarritz

    Free day to explore Biarritz at your own pace. Options include strolling along golden beaches, visiting the lighthouse, the historic casino on the bay, or walking from the Old Port to Rocher de la Vierge. Evening free to dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Biarritz (4-star hotel)

    A trip on the La Rhune Mountain Railway

    Coach to Col de Saint-Ignace to board the Le Petit Train de la Rhune rack-and-pinion railway through the Atlantic Pyrenees to the summit of La Rhune (3,000 feet) on the France-Spain border. Descend and continue to the fishing port of St Jean-de-Luz for free time and a three-course lunch with cider. Return to Biarritz with the rest of the day at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4railovernight: MS Cyrano de Bergerac (Bordeaux)

    To Bordeaux and our luxury cruise ship

    Free morning in Biarritz before travelling by First Class rail to Bordeaux. Transfer to the MS Cyrano de Bergerac for six nights. Welcome cocktail followed by a three-course dinner with free-flowing wine and evening entertainment onboard.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: MS Cyrano de Bergerac (Bordeaux)

    Welcome to the city of Bordeaux

    Relaxed morning onboard with breakfast and lunch. Afternoon walking tour of UNESCO-listed Bordeaux with a local guide, exploring the Quais des Chartrons, classical architecture and Old Town. Option to explore independently. Wine tasting before dinner onboard with drinks and entertainment.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: MS Cyrano de Bergerac (Cussac)

    Exploring medieval St Émilion

    Cruise sets sail to Libourne on the Dordogne river. After lunch onboard, coach to St Émilion for a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed city, including the cave of Saint Émilion and the largest monolithic church in Europe. Visit a family-run vineyard for wine tasting. Continue cruising to Cussac during dinner and moor overnight.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: MS Cyrano de Bergerac (Royan)

    Tasting the wines of Médoc

    Awake in Cussac on the banks of the Gironde. Excursion along the celebrated Médoc wine route with tasting at a classic vineyard along the Route des Châteaux. Return to ship for lunch onboard, then sail to Royan and moor for the night. Afternoon relaxing on deck before three-course dinner with drinks and entertainment.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: MS Cyrano de Bergerac (Bordeaux)

    The maritime cities of Rochefort & La Rochelle

    Disembark in Royan and coach to Rochefort for a morning tour including the historic Corderie Royale rope-making factory. Continue to La Rochelle for lunch at a local restaurant, then a guided tour of the harbour, three defensive towers and medieval Old Quarter with free time to explore. Return to ship for dinner with drinks, cruising back towards Bordeaux to moor overnight.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: MS Cyrano de Bergerac (Bordeaux)

    Visit Roquetaillade Château or medieval Cadillac

    Ship moors in Cadillac. Choice of two morning excursions: guided tour of Roquetaillade Château (built 1306, still privately owned, with working farm and vineyard) or guided walking tour of medieval Cadillac and its 15th-century Ducal Château. Return to ship for lunch onboard and sail back to Bordeaux. Captain's gala dinner in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10rail

    Homeward bound

    Final breakfast onboard. Coach to Bordeaux station, First Class train to Paris, then Eurostar Plus service back to London St Pancras with a light meal served at seats.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Petit Train de la Rhune, a rack-and-pinion heritage railway, climbs through the Atlantic Pyrenees to the summit of La Rhune at 3,000 feet on the France-Spain border.
  • Day 4The tour transfers from Biarritz to Bordeaux by First Class rail and boards the MS Cyrano de Bergerac for a welcome cocktail and three-course dinner with free-flowing wine.
  • Day 6The cruise moors at Libourne for a guided tour of medieval St Émilion, including the cave of Saint Émilion and the largest monolithic church in Europe, followed by wine tasting at a family-run vineyard.
  • Day 7An excursion along the Médoc wine route includes tasting at a classic vineyard on the Route des Châteaux.
  • Day 9The ship moors at Cadillac, where travelers choose between a guided tour of the 1306 Roquetaillade Château, still privately owned with a working farm and vineyard, or a walking tour of medieval Cadillac.

Included

  • Escorted throughout by experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
  • 3 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • 6-night cruise onboard MS Cyrano de Bergerac
  • Five-star service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Eurostar Plus Standard Class rail travel London St Pancras to Paris
  • First Class rail travel Paris to Biarritz and Bordeaux to Paris
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals (outbound and return)
  • Breakfast each day
  • 6 lunches (onboard cruise)
  • 6 dinners (onboard cruise)
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
  • Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
  • A superb choice of excursions
  • Welcome cocktail on embarkation
  • Three-course lunch with cider at St Jean-de-Luz
  • Wine tasting before dinner in Bordeaux
  • Wine tasting at St Émilion family-run vineyard
  • Wine tasting on the Médoc wine route

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Tips/gratuities (left to guest discretion)

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Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Partly. Eurostar and First Class TGV rail are included for the London-Biarritz and Bordeaux-Paris legs, plus a heritage railway ride up La Rhune, but the main 6 nights of the trip are spent aboard a river cruise ship, not a train.
Is it escorted?
Yes, the evidence describes a Tour Manager and Cruise Director team escorting the trip throughout.
What is included on the cruise?
6 nights aboard the MS Cyrano de Bergerac with five-star service, all lunches and dinners onboard, a drinks package every evening, a welcome cocktail, and a Captain's gala dinner on the final night.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance, and tips or gratuities, which are left to guest discretion.
When does it run?
The evidence lists 3 departures, in June and September across 2026 and 2027.

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