Decorated Caves of the Pyrenees & the Rhone Valley

(B)= Breakfast, (L)= Lunch, (D)= Dinner

Thursday, April 3, 2025: Home | Bilbao, SPAIN
Depart home on independent flights to Bilbao, Spain.

Friday, April 4: Bilbao | Welcome dinner
Arrive at Bilbao Airport (BIO) and transfer as a group (time TBD) to the Gran Hotel Domine, situated in the heart of this thriving city. This afternoon, admire both the architecture and the permanent collection of the spectacular Guggenheim Museum during a guided tour. Gather later at the hotel for a welcome drink and dinner. Two nights at the 5-star Gran Hotel Domine. (D)

Saturday, April 5: Altamira II | Altamira Museum | Santillana del Mar | El Pendo Cave | Bilbao
After breakfast, drive to Santillana del Mar to visit Altamira II, an exact replica of Altamira (the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art”), decorated with vivid depictions of bison and other animals dating back 15,000 years. We also visit Altamira Museum, with its highly informative exhibits on Cantabrian prehistory and cave art. After an independent lunch in the charming medieval town of Santillana del Mar we continue to El Pendo Cave, with its nearly 30-foot-long panel of painted figures. Return to Bilbao, where dinner is at leisure. (B)

Sunday, April 6: Ekainberri | San Sebastián | Hasparren, FRANCE
Check out of our hotel and drive towards France, stopping first at the Ekainberri replica (of Ekain Cave) with its famous panels of horses, the originals dating from the Magdalenian period. Continue to the elegant Basque town of San Sebastián, situated on the Bay of Biscay. Enjoy a guided tour of the town and savor an independent lunch before moving on to Hasparren, France. Check-in to our hotel and gather this evening for dinner. Two nights at the 4-star Hôtel Berria. (B,D)

Monday, April 7: Isturitz and Oxocelhaya Caves | Bayonne | Hasparren
This morning, visit the caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya with their bas-relief sculptures and concretions. Stop for an independent lunch followed by a guided tour of Bayonne (famous for its cathedral, as well as the ham and chocolate that it produces). Return to our hotel in Hasparren and then gather for dinner. (B,D)

Tuesday, April 8: Gargas Cave | Tarascon-sur-Ariège
Check out of our hotel and drive towards Gargas. After a group lunch, we visit Gargas, one of the finest caves in the Pyrenees, known for its collection of more than 200 stenciled hand prints, many of which are mysteriously incomplete. Continue on to our hotel in Tarascon-sur-Ariège, where we check-in to Le Manoir d’Agnes, a 200-year-old French château, and then gather for dinner in the restaurant next to our hotel. Three nights at the 3-star Le Manoir d’Agnes. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 9: Bédeilhac Cave | Mas d’Azil | Tarascon-sur-Ariège
We drive a short distance to the cave of Bédeilhac, famous for its vast entrance (used as an aircraft maintenance facility in World War II) and which was decorated in the Middle Magdalenian (ca. 14,000 years ago). We drive to Mas d’Azil for a group lunch and then visit the cave, an ancient refuge for humans and animals, including mammoth and rhinoceros. Return to our hotel and enjoy the evening and dinner at leisure. (B,L)

Thursday, April 10: Niaux Cave | La Vache Cave | Parc de la Préhistoire | Tarascon-sur-Ariège
This morning we will visit the cave of Niaux, regarded as one of the most impressive in Europe for its spectacular and well-preserved wall paintings from 14,000 years ago, most of which are found in its “Salon Noir,” situated some 800 meters from the cave entrance. We will have lunch in the village of Niaux before visiting the small cave of La Vache, plausibly where the Niaux artists lived, and known as one of the Pyrenees’ richest Magdalenian sites in terms of artifacts and engravings on bone and stone plaques, including representations of bear, lion, salmon, and more. Continue on to the Parc de la Préhistoire for an overview of the area’s prehistory through its museum and numerous reconstructions and demonstrations. Return to our hotel and enjoy the evening and dinner at leisure. (B,L)

Friday, April 11: Arago Cave | Tautavel | Narbonne
Check out of our hotel and drive to the Arago Cave, situated just outside the village of Tautavel and famous for the discovery of “Tautavel Man,” some of the most significant hominid remains ever found in Europe. After a group lunch we visit the small but impressive museum in Tautavel before driving to our hotel in Narbonne. The balance of the day and dinner are at leisure. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Le Mosaique. (B,L)

Saturday, April 12: Marseille: Cosquer Méditerranée
After breakfast we drive to Marseille, where we check-in to our hotel and have lunch. This afternoon we visit the inventive replica of Cosquer Cave, Cosquer Méditerranée, a submerged prehistoric cave that has been referred to as an “underwater Lascaux.” The original cave, found in 1985, contains approximately 500 Paleolithic paintings, engravings, and drawings, and is only accessible to deep sea divers as the entrance is more than 98 feet below sea level off the coast of Marseille. The building containing the exact replica opened to the public in June 2022 and has three floors, one of which is an “underwater” replica of the cave that guests tour via exploratory vehicles. Return to our hotel for the balance of the day and dinner at leisure. Overnight at the 5-star Hotel InterContinental du Dieu. (B,L)

Sunday, April 13: Chauvet Cave replica | Lyon | Farewell dinner
Check out of our hotel and drive north to what may be the highlight of our journey: the spectacular replica of Chauvet Cave, Pont-d’Arc Cavern, including a reproduction of its delicately shaded horses. Chauvet is one of the most famous decorated caves in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After an independent lunch on site, drive to Lyon. Tonight we gather for a farewell dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Le Royal Hotel Lyon. (B,D)

Monday, April 14: Fly home
Transfer this morning to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) for flights home. (B)