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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Railbookers Signature - Paris, Carcassonne, Bordeaux, and the Dordogne

8-day independent rail trip through Paris, Carcassonne, Bordeaux, and the Dordogne

Illustration of Railbookers Signature - Paris, Carcassonne, Bordeaux, and the Dordogne

Railbookers operates this 8-day, 7-night independent rail vacation across southern France, starting and ending in Paris. Two nights in Paris include a small-group day trip to Monet's garden in Giverny and a skip-the-line tour of the Palace of Versailles, with lunch along the way. From Paris, a high-speed TGV train covers the journey south to Carcassonne for two nights, where a full day is spent walking the fortified city's walls, past all 52 watchtowers. A direct train continues to Bordeaux for three nights, including a day at a St Emilion winery blending and bottling your own wine, and a private day trip through the Dordogne to the Lascaux IV Cave Museum, the medieval town of Sarlat, and the riverside village of Beynac. Trains return travelers to Paris to close the trip. As an independent vacation built around small-group and private tours rather than a full-time guide, this suits travelers drawn to French history and wine country alike.

What to know before you look closer

  • Railbookers offers 16 accommodation options across the trip's cities and tiers, from the budget-lifestyle Tribe Carcassone to the five-star Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra and the historic Hôtel de la Cité Carcassonne - MGallery, so the specific hotel depends on which tier and property you choose.
  • The Dordogne day trip on day 7, to Lascaux, Sarlat, and Beynac, is by private car with a driver, not by train, so part of this rail vacation is covered by road.
  • The evidence does not describe how travelers reach Paris to start the trip, even though a Eurostar route connecting London with Paris and other cities is listed alongside the trains used within France.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Your Journey Begins in Paris

    Welcome to Paris! You will be met on arrival and taken to your central hotel for a two-night stay. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the city.

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Giverny and Versailles Day Trip

    This morning join a very small group tour to two of France's most famous gardens. First Monet's House and Gardens in Giverny, before lunch in the fabulous 'Moulin de Fourges'. In the afternoon it's a skip the line tour of the Palace of Versailles, including the State Apartments, Royal Chapel, and Hall of Mirrors.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Carcassonne

    Paris to Carcassonne

    Enjoy the French scenery fly by onboard the high-speed TGV as you take train south to the fairy-tale citadel of Carcassonne, where you will stay for the next two-nights.

  4. Day 4overnight: Carcassonne

    Carcassonne

    Today is a day for exploring one of France's most popular and historic attractions. Your skip the line ticket gives you access to walk the city walls, including all 52 watchtowers, and visit the fascinating museum.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Bordeaux

    Carcassonne to Bordeaux

    Make your way back to the station for a direct train to Bordeaux, and check-in at your central hotel for a three-night stay. Take the afternoon to explore the city and be sure to visit the Place de la Bourse.

  6. Day 6overnight: Bordeaux

    Bordeaux and St Emilion

    You will be collected from your hotel today and taken to a winery in the beautiful village of Saint Emilion, where you will blend your very own wine and leave with your own bottle. After, enjoy a guided tour of this picture-perfect French village and an afternoon of wine tasting.

  7. Day 7overnight: Bordeaux

    Dordogne Day Trip

    Your private driver will meet you at your hotel this morning to visit the world-famous Lascaux IV Cave Museum, a perfect replica of the nearby caves and their prehistoric paintings. From here it's a short drive to the medieval town of Sarlat, then to Beynac, a village perched on the banks of the Dordogne River.

  8. Day 8rail

    Your Journey Ends in Bordeaux

    After breakfast at your hotel make your way to the station for your train ride back to Paris.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A small-group day trip visits Monet's garden in Giverny, followed by a skip-the-line tour of the Palace of Versailles, including the State Apartments, Royal Chapel, and Hall of Mirrors.
  • Day 4A skip-the-line ticket gives access to walk the city walls of Carcassonne, including all 52 watchtowers, and visit the museum.
  • Day 6At a Saint Emilion winery, travelers blend and bottle their own wine, then take a guided tour of the village and an afternoon of wine tasting.
  • Day 7A private day trip visits the Lascaux IV Cave Museum's replica prehistoric paintings, the medieval town of Sarlat, and the riverside village of Beynac.

Included

  • All rail travel as per the itinerary
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Paris
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Carcassonne
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Bordeaux
  • Small group day trip to Giverny and Versailles including skip-the-line access and lunch
  • Cité de Carcassonne tickets
  • Blend your own wine and take your bottle home in Bordeaux
  • Private tour of St Emilion
  • Private Dordogne day trip from Bordeaux
  • Tickets to Lascaux IV Cave Museum

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. A high-speed TGV covers Paris to Carcassonne, a direct train continues to Bordeaux, and a return train takes travelers from Bordeaux back to Paris. The Dordogne day trip on day 7 is by private car, not train.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
Railbookers lists it as an independent rail vacation that includes small-group and private tours, such as the Giverny and Versailles day trip and the private Dordogne day trip.
What hotels are used?
Railbookers offers 16 accommodation options across Paris, Carcassonne, and Bordeaux; named examples include the Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra and Holiday Inn Paris - Gare De Lyon Bastille in Paris, and the Hôtel de la Cité Carcassonne - MGallery and Tribe Carcassone in Carcassonne.
What is not included?
Optional extras such as Eiffel Tower tickets and an evening at the Moulin Rouge are listed as add-ons, not part of the included package.
How much walking is involved?
The trip includes a full day of walking the city walls of Carcassonne, including all 52 watchtowers, plus garden and palace touring in Giverny and Versailles.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $3,339 USD for the 8-day, 7-night trip.

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