Biarritz, Toulouse and Perpignan by Rail

Discuss this breathtaking adventure with our dedicated team of travel professionals, telephone: 01904 734182

Day 1
Travel from St Pancras International to Brussels by Eurostar, enjoying complimentary food and drink on board. From Paris, we continue by train via Montpellier to Perpignan where we spend the three nights the the Best Western Park Hotel.

Day 2
In the morning we take a guided tour round historic Perpignan, passing the cathedral and narrow lanes in the Saint-Jean quarter. After taking in the striking Catalan flavour, we continue by train to the picturesque coastal town of Collioure. Collioure was favoures by early 20th Century Fauves painters and trails lead to the places where Matisse and Derain painted their most renowned works. In the evening return to Perpignan for dinner at our hotel.

Day 3
Today we travel by coach to Villefranche where we catch Le Petit Train Jaune for a spectacular journey through the Catalan Pyrenees. We arrive in Font Romeu from where we take a coach back to the hotel, routing via Mont Louis, the highest fortified town in France.

Day 4
Leaving Perpignan by train we head to Toulouse at its pink brick buildings. We stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, set on one of France's finest squares, the Place du Capitole. We leave our bags at the hotel before heading out for a walking tour, seeing the Romanesque Basilica St-Sermin and other historic buildings of medieval Toulouse.

Day 5
Enjoy the day at your own pace. Toulouse offers plenty for art enthusiasts, ranging from the 19th Century works housed at the Capitole building to the modern art of Les Arbittoirs. Alternatively Les Jacobins, a monastery church containing relics of  Thomas Aquinas and the Hôtel d'Assézat can be brought into an idle stroll around town.

Day 6
In the morning we take a short train journey from Toulouse to Bayonne where we take a coach to Biarritz, arriving at the Mercure  Biarritz Centre Plaza. You are free in the afternoon to explore the seaside port, perhaps visiting the church of Saint Eugénie before we dine together in a local restaurant that evening.

Day 7
Today we take the classic train to the summit of La Rhune, which stands at nearly 3,000 feet (914m) above the Bay of Biscay and the Basque Pyrenees. The train itself is a masterpiece in restoration, its wooden carriages maintained by specialist craftsmen. From La Rhune we head back down the coast to the coastal village of St Jean de Luz, taking lunch there at a local restaurant. We return after lunch to Biarritz for a final chance to explore the surrounding before departure the next day.

Day 8
We travel by coach to Biarritz this morning to take the high-speed TGV service to Paris where we join the Eurostar to St Pancras International. Enjoy a complimentary meal and drinks on board.

Discuss this breathtaking adventure with our dedicated team of travel professionals, telephone: 01904 734182

More about the trains 

 Eurostar: The high speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris, Lille and Brussels. In your dedicated Standard Premier (the highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers) carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

TGV: Introduced in 1981, France's TGV was the original European high-speed train. First linking Paris to Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer the best option. The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

Where you’ll stay

Hotel de l'Horloge, Avignon: The charming 3-star Hotel de l'Horloge is located in the historic centre of Avignon, close to the Palace of the Popes and the railway station; an ideal base for exploring the city and the surrounding region. The hotel is housed in an attractive building with a classic 19th century façade and has a breakfast room. The individually air conditioned rooms are equipped with a telephone, television, minibar and a safe.