Charente-Maritime for senior groups: La Rochelle, Île de Ré, the Marais Poitevin, Rochefort and Cognac (8 days)

Day 1: Journey to Touraine

• Morning departure from the pick-up point of your choice.
• Coffee break on the way; our drivers drive for 3 hours at most, then take a 30-minute break.
• Sit-down lunch in a restaurant on the way (on request).
• Arrival in the late afternoon, overnight stop in the Tours area and dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: The Marais Poitevin and La Rochelle

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive to the Marais Poitevin (about 2 hours 30) with a coffee break.
• Punt trip in the Green Venice from Coulon (on request).
• Local lunch in a restaurant in Coulon (on request).
• Drive to La Rochelle (about 1 hour) and check-in at a hotel in the La Rochelle area for 5 nights, dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: La Rochelle

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Discovery of the Old Port and its towers, then the arcaded streets of the old town.
• Guided tour of La Rochelle’s old town (on request).
• Seafood lunch on the harbour (on request).
• Visit to the La Rochelle Aquarium (on request).
• Return to the hotel and dinner.

Day 4: The Île de Ré

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Crossing of the Île de Ré bridge and stop at the salt marshes.
• Stroll in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a harbour fortified by Vauban and listed by UNESCO.
• Sit-down lunch in a restaurant in Saint-Martin-de-Ré (on request).
• Stop at the Phare des Baleines lighthouse at the tip of the island.
• Return to the hotel and dinner.

Day 5: Free day

• Free day on site (driver’s rest day).
• Free time to relax at the hotel or stroll around town and the market.
• Cruise to the Île d’Aix passing close to Fort Boyard (on request).
• Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6: Rochefort and Brouage

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive to Rochefort (about 40 minutes) and walk along the Charente to the Royal Ropeworks.
• Visit to the Royal Ropeworks (Corderie royale) (on request).
• Sit-down lunch in a restaurant on the way (on request).
• Free visit to the citadel of Brouage, birthplace of Samuel de Champlain.
• Marennes-Oléron oyster tasting at an oyster farmer’s (on request).
• Return to the hotel and dinner.

Day 7: Cognac and journey to Touraine

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive to Cognac (about 1 hour 30).
• Visit to a cognac house with tasting (on request).
• Sit-down lunch in a restaurant in Cognac (on request).
• Drive to Touraine with a coffee break, overnight stop in the Tours area and dinner at the hotel.

Day 8: Journey home

• Breakfast at the hotel, then journey home.
• Coffee break on the way; our drivers drive for 3 hours at most, then take a 30-minute break.
• Sit-down lunch in a restaurant on the way (on request).
• Return in the evening to your region.