* France - Lourdes and the Pyrenees

Arrive in Lourdes in time for lunch. Guided tour with a group of the town, the basilica and sanctuaries, and the cave where Saint Bernadette had her visions 150 years ago.

We head for the Pyrenees National Park with its exceptional flora and fauna. Our route takes us via St Savin, famed for its Benedictine abbey, the villages of Luz St Saveur and Gedre, then Gavarnie where you can take a stroll at the foot of this vast natural amphitheatre.  Lunch followed by a visit to the Fortress of Beaucens. It houses the Eagle Dungeon, a unique collection of birds of prey from all over the world - watch them take to the air. Dinner and overnight.Group trip.

A day out to the Pic du Midi mountain top via the Tourmalet pass. Cable car ride up to the Pic du Midi, with its Observatory and Astronomy Museum and awesome panorama over the Pyrenean chain. Lunch then on to the fabulous Medous Caves with an underground boat trip on the river Adour amidst incredible rock formations, stalagmites and stalactites. To end the day we visit a cheese dairy with an opportunity to sample some local cheese.  Dinner and overnight. Group trip.

Direction Tarbes, capital of the Bigorre region, and a visit to the National Stud, with its famous breed, the "Tarbais". We continue to the Madiran wine growing region and stop to taste the hearty, deep purple wines. Lunch.Group trip.