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Euroventure · Escorted rail & sail tour

France and Spain Wine Tour

First-class rail from Yorkshire through Bordeaux, Basque Country, and Rioja wine regions

Illustration of France and Spain Wine Tour

Euroventure's France and Spain Wine Tour is an eight-day escorted journey by first-class rail from Yorkshire through two of Europe's most celebrated wine regions. The trip departs Skipton on LNER first class, crosses the Channel via Eurostar, and reaches Bordeaux the same evening aboard the TGV. From there, guests visit St Emilion's vineyards by regional train, travel to the Basque coastal village of Hondarribia for a wine-paired tasting menu, and spend three days in Logroño exploring the Rioja wine region by coach and on foot. The return crosses the Bay of Biscay by overnight ferry from Santander to Plymouth, then by direct train back to Skipton. A multilingual tour leader accompanies the group of up to 16 throughout. Accommodation is in hand-picked historic hotels; included meals feature regional wine tastings, a traditional Riojan lunch, and an evening tapas street tour. This tour suits food-and-wine travellers, repeat rail passengers seeking first-class European routes, and couples seeking guided comfort in wine country.

What to know before you look closer

  • The ferry cabin is a 2-berth inside cabin; cabin upgrades are available on request subject to availability and additional cost.
  • Most meals are not included; only 3 breakfasts, 2 vineyard tastings, 1 Basque tasting menu, 1 traditional lunch, and 1 tapas tour are included.
  • Only one departure date listed: October 2026 at GBP 1,695 per person.
  • Single-supplement pricing is not published; confirm availability and cost for solo travellers with Euroventure.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Bordeaux

    Travel to Bordeaux by Train

    Meet at 06:30 at Skipton train station for the 06:56 direct LNER to London (breakfast included in first class). Walk from King's Cross to St Pancras for the Eurostar (complimentary light meal in Standard Premier) to Paris Gare du Nord, cross Paris by metro, then take the TGV first class to Bordeaux, checking in to a hotel across the street from the station in the evening.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Bordeaux

    St Emilion Day Trip

    Regional train out to the winery village of St Emilion, a half-hour walk through the vineyards into the village for a wine tasting and winery visit, with free time to explore before returning to Bordeaux; evening free to explore the old town.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Hondarribia

    Basque Tasting Menu

    TGV from Bordeaux St Jean to Hendaye on the Spanish/French border, then public transport into Spain to the coastal village of Hondarribia; check in to a historic hotel overlooking the main square, with an evening tasting menu of local ingredients paired with wine.

  4. Day 4overnight: Logroño

    Excursion Through Rioja

    Coach pick-up for a full day tour to Logroño, the capital of the Rioja wine region, stopping at a vineyard for wine tasting and a traditional restaurant for lunch, with an hour or two in the medieval village of Laguardia; check in to a historic hotel in Logroño city centre.

  5. Day 5overnight: Logroño

    Free Time and Tapas

    Free day to explore, relax and shop in Logroño, followed by a guided 'Tapas Street' tour sampling each bar's special tapas dish outside on the street.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Bilbao

    Travel to Bilbao

    Leisurely train to Bilbao on the coast, with free time to visit the city and learn about Basque traditions, including the Guggenheim.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ferry (Santander to Plymouth)

    Ferry to Plymouth

    Leave Bilbao for Santander at midday to check in for the return ferry, staying in a 2-berth inside cabin (upgrade cabins available on request); restaurants and bars onboard.

  8. Day 8rail

    Arrival back in Skipton

    Direct train from Plymouth to Leeds and on to Skipton, arriving in the late evening.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1LNER first-class breakfast from Skipton to London, then Eurostar Standard Premier to Paris, and TGV first class to Bordeaux, arriving the same evening at a hotel across from the station.
  • Day 2Regional train to St Emilion followed by a half-hour walk through vineyards into the winery village for a wine tasting and winery visit.
  • Day 3TGV from Bordeaux to Hendaye on the Spanish border, then public transport to the Basque coastal village of Hondarribia for a Basque tasting menu with wine pairing.
  • Day 5Free day in Logroño followed by an evening tapas street tour sampling each bar's special tapas dish outside on the street.
  • Day 7Overnight ferry crossing from Santander to Plymouth in a 2-berth inside cabin with onboard restaurants and bars.

Included

  • 6 Nights Hotel Accommodation - hand-picked historic hotels
  • 1 Night Ferry Accommodation - 2-berth inside cabin
  • First-class rail travel (where possible) - LNER, Eurostar & TGV
  • Multilingual Tour Leader
  • 3 Breakfasts
  • 2 Vineyard Wine Tastings - St Emilion, Rioja
  • Basque Tasting Menu With Wine Pairing - Hondarribia, Spain
  • Evening Tapas Street Tour - Logroño, Spain
  • Traditional Riojan Lunch - Laguardia, Spain

Not included

  • Meals unless listed
  • Drinks unless listed
  • Any Private Expenses
  • Room Service Fees

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. First-class rail is included on LNER from Skipton to London, Eurostar Standard Premier from London to Paris, and TGV first class from Paris to Bordeaux and Bordeaux to Hendaye. A regional train to St Emilion and a train from Hondarribia to Logroño are also included. The return journey uses a direct train from Plymouth to Leeds and on to Skipton.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Euroventure provides a multilingual tour leader who accompanies the group throughout the eight days. The group size is capped at 16 people.
What meals are included?
Three breakfasts, two vineyard wine tastings with tasting glasses in St Emilion and Rioja, a Basque tasting menu with wine pairing in Hondarribia, a traditional Riojan lunch near Laguardia, and an evening tapas street tour in Logroño. All other meals are at your own expense.
What hotels are used?
Euroventure books hand-picked historic hotels. The evidence lists hotels in Bordeaux (2 nights), Hondarribia (1 night), Logroño (2 nights), and Bilbao (1 night). The ferry crossing from Santander to Plymouth includes one night in a 2-berth inside cabin.
How much walking is involved?
You should be comfortable carrying a suitcase and walking up to 10 minutes navigating the Paris metro to change stations. In St Emilion, there is a half-hour walk through vineyards into the village.
When does it run?
One departure is listed: October 2026. Starting price is GBP 1,695 per person. Confirm current and future departures with Euroventure before booking.

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