Discover the Heart of Southern France

Flight from London Heathrow Airport to Toulouse Blagnac Airport
Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Day overview:
Arrive at any time. Meet your fellow travellers at an evening welcome meeting, then set off with your CEO to explore Toulouse on a short orientation walk.

Today's activities: Orientation Walk Toulouse
Enjoy a pleasant CEO-led walk by the Garonne river and explore the heart of Toulouse: the Basilica of Saint Sernin, a stunning, romantic church and an important stop on the Santiago de Compostela.

Your Welcome Moment:
Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Accommodation: Hotel Heliot Toulouse (or similar)

Day overview:
Set off on foot to discover the neighbourhoods and food scene of Toulouse like a local. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling Victor Hugo Market and sample some of the most mouth-watering treats and fresh ingredients around. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to explore some of the city's many highlights, museums, and parks.

Meals included:
Breakfast
Today's activities:
Your Foodie Moment
Toulouse Food Tour

Experience the best of Toulouse's food scene with a relaxed guided walking tour through the city, followed by a visit to the bustling March Victor Hugo. Enjoy generous tastings from top vendors while discovering the market's history and culture before it gets too crowded. The tour wraps up in time for you to stay and enjoy lunch at the market or nearby. Free time. There's plenty to see and do: now is your time to explore.
Accommodation: Hotel Heliot Toulouse (or similar)

Day overview:
Climb aboard a local train this morning and set off through vineyards and olive groves for Carcassonne, a beautifully preserved medieval city known as "La Cit." Head out on foot on a walking tour of the area to learn about what makes it so special before some free time to explore on your own. Return by train to Toulouse in the afternoon and enjoy a free evening and optional dinner out with the group.

Meals included:
Breakfast
Today's activities:
Local Train
Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau - Carcassonne, 1 hour
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Walking Tour Carcassonne

Set off on foot from the Pont Vieux, the parcours du coeur, and experience why walkers and joggers love this stretch so much. Witness the Ile de la Cité and the banks of the River Aude and take in beautiful views of the Citadel of Carcassonne. This walk takes place on a flat, easy path. Local Train Carcassonne - Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau, 1 hour. Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride. Free time. There's plenty to see and do; now is your time to explore.
Accommodation: Hotel Heliot Toulouse (or similar)

Day overview:
Set off again by local train for the short trip to Albi, an historic town located on the Tarn River. Discover Albi's charm and history as you walk along its medieval streets lined with beautiful buildings and intricate architecture. Enjoy some free time to choose from some of the many wonderful restaurants and cafes or to walk along the river before returning to Toulouse for the evening.

Meals included:
Breakfast
Today's activities:
Local Train
Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau - Albi, 1 hour
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Walking Tour Albi

Join your CEO on a walk through Albi. See the imposing Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the largest brick cathedrals in the world, and also the largest fully painted cathedrals in Europe. Continue through the medieval Old Town to view the Palais de la Berbie, a fortified palace that once served as the residence of the bishops of Albi and now houses the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. Local Train Albi - Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau, 1 hour. Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride. Free time. There's plenty to see and do; now is your time to explore.
Accommodation: Hotel Heliot Toulouse (or similar)

Day overview:
Set off today for Lourdes, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in France. This quaint town is nestled in the foothills of the French Pyrenees mountains, at the base of the Pic du Jer. Head off on a walking tour and discover the Neo-Gothic Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, visiting the sanctuary and the grotto. Enjoy free time to explore the town before returning to Toulouse in the late afternoon.

Meals included:
Breakfast
Today's activities:
Local Train
Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau - Lourdes, 2 hours
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Walking Tour Lourdes

Explore Lourdes on a guided walk and learn a little more about the city known as one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and Grotto. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Catholic complex and famous pilgrimage site. The complex of churches was built on the site where it's said that Bernadette Soubirous experienced apparitions in 1858. The Grotto of Massabielle specifically is said to be the location where apparitions occurred.
Local Train: Lourdes - Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau, 2 hours. Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Accommodation: Hotel Heliot Toulouse (or similar)

Day overview:
Take advantage of a full free day in Toulouse to explore on your own or relax in one of the city's many charming cafes to watch the world go by. Perhaps visit the Cit de l'Espace, Halle de la Machine, or the Aeroscopia experience, or join your CEO on a trip to Foix, a medieval gem said to be the gateway to the Pyrenees and home to the largest navigable subterranean river in Europe. Regroup in the evening for an optional final dinner out on the town.

Meals included:
Breakfast
Today's activities:
Free time
Enjoy a full free day in Toulouse to explore on your own.

Day overview:
Depart at any time.
Meals included:
Breakfast
Today's activities:
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.

Description:
Settle into the good life in one of France's most charming cities. With its rosy-hued architecture and laid-back vibe, Toulouse makes the perfect home base for a week of slow travel, great food, and cultural discovery. Unpack once and soak it all in - from café-lined squares and riverside strolls to day trips that bring you to the fairytale walls of Carcassonne, the sacred sites of Lourdes, and the UNESCO treasures of Albi. This is your chance to live like a local in the heart of the French south - and fall for everything it has to offer.