Human Origins: Southwest France and Northern Spain

10 days
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3.5/5 Great
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Small Group Tour
Trace the footsteps of early humans as we explore the cradles of civilization in southwest France and on Spain’s northern coast. On an expedition designed with paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, examine carvings and cave paintings that illustrate life up to 40,000 years ago. From the Dordogne to Basque Country, stay in beautiful medieval towns that dot thes...
From$6,995
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Examine the Paleolithic art of two UNESCO World Heritage–listed cave regions: France’s Vézère Valley and the northern coast of Spain.
    • Meet leading archaeologists and anthropologists for talks and private tours of cave sites.
    • Visit Castel-Merle with Isabelle Castanet, whose family has excavated the site for generations.
    • Explore Sarlat, France, and Santillana del Mar, Spain, two of Europe's best-preserved medieval villages.

What's this trip about?

    Trace the footsteps of early humans as we explore the cradles of civilization in southwest France and on Spain’s northern coast. On an expedition designed with paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, examine carvings and cave paintings that illustrate life up to 40,000 years ago. From the Dordogne to Basque Country, stay in beautiful medieval towns that dot these long-inhabited landscapes. 

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityBordeaux
End CityBilbao

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

Activities

  • Historic Sightseeing
  • Ruins & Archaeology

Trip includes

    • Accommodation
    • Most of the meals
    • All internal transportation
    • Airport transfer
    • Tour Guide

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: U.S./Bordeaux, France/Vézère Valley

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Le Centenaire or Hotel Villa Romaine

Depart on an overnight flight to Bordeaux. Journey to the beautiful Dordogne region—still commonly known by its pre-revolutionary name, Périgord. Here, rivers have carved up the lime...

Day 3: Prehistoric Sites of the Vézère Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Le Centenaire or Hotel Villa Romaine

Begin the day with an introduction to Paleolithic art by one of the world’s leading experts, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon, author of Stepping Stones: A Journey Through the ...

Day 4: Sarlat/Lascaux II

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Le Centenaire or Hotel Villa Romaine

Travel to picturesque Sarlat, whose original halftimbered, golden-stone buildings and narrow cobbled streets make it one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Fra...

Day 5: Pech Merle/Toulouse

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grand Hotel De L'Opera

This morning, venture into the spectacular natural galleries of Pech Merle, an enormous cave system filled with prehistoric art and artifacts dating back 25,000 years. See rare representations of hum...

Day 6: Basque Country/Santillana del Mar, Spain

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Parador Santillana Del Mar

Drive southwest into France’s Basque region, stopping in a picturesque village for lunch in a traditional Basque restaurant. In the afternoon, enter the Isturitz and Oxocelhaya cav...

Day 7: Puente Viesgo Caves

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Parador Santillana Del Mar

Come face-to-face with some of the oldest artistic representations in human history on a visit to the caves at Puente Viesgo, part of the Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain Wor...

Day 8: Hornos de la Peña Cave/Bilbao

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Miró or Hotel Carlton

Continue our exploration of Cantabria’s World Heritage–listed caves at Hornos de la Peña. Here, large-scale naturalistic engravings depict horses, bison, aurochs, goats, and other animals...

Day 9: Atapuerca/Bilbao

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Miró or Hotel Carlton

Today we are joined by renowned archaeologist Dr. Ana Cristina Pinto-Llona, an expert on the origins of modern humans. Ana is a two-time National Geographic grant recipient for he...

Day 10: Bilbao/U.S.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to Bilbao Airport for your flight home.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,995
Price per day$700
Single supplement (single occupancy)$1,095
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with National Geographic Expeditions.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Any kind of Insurance
    • International airfare to Bordeaux and return from Bilbao
    • Tips

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Travelstride Take
You’ll get a first-hand look at prehistoric cave paintings in southern France and Spain’s Basque country, in the company of a paleoanthropologist.
Additional Information
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Trip ID
nation-humorinat

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