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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

France's Atlantic Coast

Atlantic rail holiday: London to La Rochelle, Bordeaux, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Illustration of France's Atlantic Coast

France's Atlantic Coast is a 10-day independent rail holiday run by Tailor Made Rail. The journey begins with a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then a high-speed TGV south to La Rochelle, where you spend three nights exploring the historic fishing port, medieval harbour towers, and optional boat trips to Fort Boyard on the Bay of Biscay. From La Rochelle, you travel to Bordeaux via a deliberately meandering route that offers optional stops in the Dordogne towns of Sarlat and Bergerac; three days in Bordeaux let you sample the world's best wines and stroll the UNESCO World Heritage city centre. A two-hour coastal train takes you to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a Basque resort where you relax on sheltered beaches and visit the sister town of Ciboure. Standard Class rail with seat reservations and nine nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast are included. This trip suits independent travellers and couples who enjoy unhurried exploration, wine culture, and Atlantic coastal scenery without a guide.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplements apply for sole occupancy; pricing basis is for two people sharing a room.
  • Day 4 offers optional stops in the Dordogne, but the itinerary does not specify which train services or whether these are arranged by the operator or self-guided diversions.
  • The from-price (£1,199 or $1,601) applies to specific dates and may attract supplements during peak periods or at short notice.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: La Rochelle

    London to La Rochelle

    Morning Eurostar from London St Pancras via Calais to Paris, metro transfer to Gare Montparnasse, then a high-speed TGV to La Rochelle, arriving late afternoon.

  2. Day 2overnight: La Rochelle

    La Rochelle

    Explore 'la Ville Blanche', its old port, medieval harbour towers, or take a boat trip to the Napoleonic Fort Boyard.

  3. Day 3overnight: La Rochelle

    La Rochelle

    Optional day trip to the Ile de Re.

  4. Day 4overnight: Bordeaux

    La Rochelle to Bordeaux via Bergerac

    A deliberately meandering journey with an optional hour or two in the Dordogne towns of Sarlat and Bergerac; direct services are also available on request.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bordeaux

    Bordeaux

    Explore Bordeaux's wine culture and its 18th-century UNESCO World Heritage city centre, with an optional cruise on the River Garonne or a visit to the botanical gardens.

  6. Day 6overnight: Bordeaux

    Bordeaux

    Second day in Bordeaux.

  7. Day 7overnight: Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    A journey of just over 2 hours down the coast to the Basque resort of Saint-Jean-de-Luz for a 3-night stay.

  8. Day 8overnight: Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    Relax on the sheltered beaches, or cross to the sister town of Ciboure via the Pont Charles de Gaulle or the summer ferries.

  9. Day 9overnight: Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    Second full day at leisure in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

  10. Day 10rail

    Saint-Jean-de-Luz to London

    Direct train north to Paris, crossing to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar back to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Morning Eurostar from London St Pancras via Calais to Paris, followed by a high-speed TGV to La Rochelle, arriving late afternoon.
  • Day 2Explore La Rochelle's old port and medieval harbour towers, or take a boat trip to Fort Boyard, a Napoleonic fortress on the Bay of Biscay.
  • Day 4Meandering journey from La Rochelle to Bordeaux with optional stops in the Dordogne towns of Sarlat and Bergerac.
  • Day 5Spend two days in Bordeaux's UNESCO World Heritage city centre, sampling wine culture and taking an optional River Garonne cruise.
  • Day 7Two-hour train ride down the coast to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a Basque resort town on the Bay of Biscay.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 9 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations is included, covering Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV to La Rochelle, and regional trains between the three cities. The return journey from Saint-Jean-de-Luz to London via Paris is also included.
What hotels are included?
Three Best Western hotels: Best Western Premier Masqhotel in La Rochelle (3 nights), BW Premier Bayonne Etcha-Ona in Bordeaux (3 nights), and Hotel Txoko in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (3 nights). All include breakfast.
Is this trip guided or independent?
Independent. Tailor Made Rail provides comprehensive travel directions, easy-to-follow documentation, and ticket despatch, but there is no guide. You explore each city at your own pace.
What is the pace like?
Relaxed. You spend three nights in each of the three main stops, allowing unhurried exploration of La Rochelle, Bordeaux, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
What is not included?
Meals other than hotel breakfast, activities such as boat trips or wine tours, travel insurance, and airport transfers. Day trips and tours are optional and at your own expense.
Are there any special rail passes or visas required?
No special rail pass is required. Seat reservations are included with your Standard Class fares. UK citizens should check current passport and visa requirements for France.

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