This new, luxe Bordeaux cruise itinerary was chosen by guests

Celebrating 100 years, Tauck’s newest journey blends bold reds and château visits with exclusive access.

After 100 years on the road, Tauck knows what makes a journey through France unforgettable. Not the flash. Not the checklist of sights. But the pacing, the access, the local knowledge: these aspects all define its new Bordeaux-to-Paris journey.

Designed with input from past guests, the French tour pairs high-speed rail with riverboat travel, gliding from one cultural moment to the next – exploring the grounds of a private château with a cocktail in hand, following a guide’s stories across the sands of Omaha Beach and wandering through Monet’s garden before the gates open.

It’s a fine balance between a winery lunch and a dawn-lit garden, the old and the evolving. And even with two new riverboats joining the fleet next year, a Tauck cruise still avoids the fanfare, quietly charting a course for what a trip should feel like.

See the best of Bordeaux with Tauck.

Foodie walking tour of Bordeaux

First stop, Bordeaux. Here we’re in the heart of merlot and cabernet country, where the architecture and history have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rise and shine at the InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hotel, then start with an e-bike ride through the vineyards of a 16th-century château and a wine tasting in the cellar. Alternatively, ease in gently with an orientation drive into the city and a stop at the wine museum.

The afternoon is filled with a foodie walking tour. Think sweet canelés, foie gras, oysters, pastries and a glimpse into its galaxy of Michelin-starred chefs. But it’s not all indulgence – your guide will also point out Roman ruins, like the Palais Gallien, and the neoclassical sweep of Place de la Bourse with the Miroir d’Eau (Water Mirror).

Eat your heart out around Bordeaux. (Image: Getty/ saiko3p)

Saint-Émilion local château for wine and lunch

The next day, make your way up to Saint-Émilion. This UNESCO-listed town’s wine pedigree dates back to the 2nd century, when Romans began planting here. Today, this Right Bank village is all cobbled streets and ancient vines, with the clay-limestone soil remaining ideal for those powerful reds. You’ll put it to the test yourself on a château tour, paired with a long lunch and local wine.

Wander the quaint streets of Saint-Émilion before lunch. (Image: Getty/ Agnieszka Glowala)

Tour inside the Palace of Versailles

Gold, mirrors, marble and chandeliers; Versailles might’ve started as a hunting lodge, but it ended up a monument to royal excess and, eventually, a spark for revolution. A local guide will walk you through the whole story, from kings and queens to wars and uprisings, played out across the estate’s 320 hectares. You’ll skip the queues to see Marie Antoinette’s old quarters, stroll the Hall of Mirrors, and wander through formal gardens with hundreds of statues, fountains and canals. Over the top? Certainement.

See the Palace of Versailles with a local guide. (Image: Getty/ Itza Villavicencio Urbieta)

Dinner at a 16th-century château

No tour groups, no background crowds; this one’s for Tauck guests only. Built in 1530, Château du Taillis is an incredible display of Normandy’s French Renaissance architecture. Out the back, there’s also an orangerie shaped like a Greco-Roman temple. You can visit it, with cocktails in tow, on a tour of the grounds. Later, sit down to dinner under chandeliers in a grand dining hall. Expecting to long for your bed once the final course has been cleared? No problem: your luxurious suite on Tauck’s ship is moored just minutes away.

Guided exploration of Normandy

Your Normandy journey travels from the 16th-century château to 6 June 1944, when D-Day hit the region’s beaches. At Pointe du Hoc you’ll stand where US Rangers scaled the cliffs under heavy fire, while at Omaha Beach you’ll walk the sand where the highest casualties of the assault fell. A local historian guides the day, expertly weaving in personal stories with key facts. Later, you’ll visit the American Cemetery overlooking the sea. Rows of white crosses and Stars of David mark the cost of the operation.

Learn the history of Normandy’s beaches. (Image: Getty/ Horstgerlach)

Early access to Monet’s house and gardens

You’ll arrive at Monet’s house before the crowds, when the light is soft and the garden is waking up. This one’s a Tauck-only experience, and when thousands pour in here daily, the quiet makes all the difference. Wander past the lily pond, the blooming flower beds and across the Japanese bridge as Monet saw it. Inside, recreations of his paintings adorn the walls of his former studio, while copper pans line the shelves beside the blue Rouen tiles. A local guide will walk you through it all, including the daily rituals of the artist, the flowers he planted and the scenes he returned to throughout his life.

See Monet’s house before the crowds. (Image: Getty/ Lynne Beclu)

Join a renowned artist for a painting class

Rounding out the Giverny visit, you’ll join artist Mark Alsterlind; the Californian-born, Provence-based artist has exhibited everywhere from New York and Palo Alto to Basel and Modena, and on this tour he’ll lead a hands-on painting class inspired by your morning in Monet’s garden. The Seine flows past outside, but inside it’s all brushes, colour and calm focus. Alsterlind will walk you through the Impressionist techniques, share stories from Giverny’s artist colony and help you take a piece of your Tauck experience home.

Brush up on your art skills. (Image: Getty/ Gorodenkoff)

Discover the full Bordeaux to Paris itinerary at tauck.com.au.