Tucked between the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, the Languedoc region is a land of history and secrets, where chateaux and ancient villages abound, the scent of wild thyme fills the warm air and the swirl of deep red Corbières wine sipped at a café in sun-kissed stone villages where time slips gently by tastes like nectar. This is the real south of France, far from the Riviera’s glitz and glamour. Take a tour of the Languedoc region and discover the rich culture, history, wines and gastronomy in the company of local guides Kay and Mark of the ‘Real’ South of France Tours.
Tour Timeless Languedoc
Kay and Mark have designed two small-group tours (never more than six guests) which offer a deeply immersive, relaxed adventure through Languedoc. Each day invites you to connect with the landscape, the people, and the flavours of this rather secret French heartland. There’s never any rushing from place to place. Accommodation, excursions, food and wine are all included. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the trip.
Tour One: Languedoc for First-Time Visitors (7 days)
Perfect for those new to the region, this itinerary captures the essence of Languedoc’s history, culture, and natural beauty. Expect leisurely days, rich storytelling, and the kind of moments that linger long after you return home.
Highlights Include:
La Cité of Carcassonne – Walk the 52-towered ramparts of this world famous UNESCO-listed medieval fortress, where turrets pierce the sky and picturesque cobbled streets echo with centuries of tales. This is followed by a private gourmet lunch in the heart of the Minervois wine region.
Cabrespine Cavern – Descend into one of Europe’s most spectacular caves, as tall as the Eiffel Tower aglow with rare aragonite crystal formations, waterfalls and a glass bridge in an otherworldly subterranean world.
Minerve – A ‘Plus Beau Village de France’ perched on limestone cliffs. This pickled-in the-past village with a turbulent history is as pretty as a postcard and after exploring the village it’s where you’ll have lunch at a renowned Michelin rated restaurant
Canal du Midi Boat Tour – Drift gently along tree-lined waterways, as you pass ancient stone bridges…
Corbières Wine Tasting – Discover bold reds, soft rosés and crisp whites at a family-run vineyard followed by lunch with wines from the region in a medieval village.
Olonzac Market and Cooking Class – Shop like a local at the largest market in the region right near your accommodation and enjoy the produce at your lovely accommodation. Later you’ll take a cooking class with a local chef and feast together in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. Everything is seasonal, organic, and delicious.
Narbonne and Fontfroide Abbey – In Narbonne wander Roman roads including the Via Domitia, the first Roman road to link Spain and Italy plus visit a famous indoor market voted the favourite of the French. Then explore a 11th century restored Cistercian abbey adorned with stained glass and with gorgeous rose gardens.
Olive Tour – Taste the ‘green diamond’ olive of the Languedoc; the buttery, nutty Lucques olive loved by everyone and learn how the olives are grown, harvested and produced for the table or olive oil – all at an award winning co-operative, one of the best in France.
Gruissan and Pink Salt Pans – After having a delicious lunch in a chateau with exceptional local wines, we head to the Mediterranean coast to discover the amazing landscape of Gruissan. With its pastel pink salt pools it is unforgettably pretty.
Tour Two: A Deeper Dive into Languedoc (7 days)
This itinerary is made for return visitors or curious souls looking to peel back the region’s deeper layers. From a renaissance fort to sparkling wines and sea-lapped ports, it’s a journey shaped by local passion and intimate moments.
Highlights Include:
Historic Port of Marseillan and Étang de Thau – Visit Marseillan, one of the oldest ports in France, and take a boat trip on the Etang du Thau tasting fresh oysters in the colourful lagoon where fishermen haul in the morning’s catch. This is followed by lunch at a renowned restaurant,and an afternoon tasting of the local vermouth Noilly Prat.
St Chinian Market and Olargues – Pick up local cheeses, honey, and lavender at a lovely market shaded by plane trees. After lunch at a Michelin rated restaurant overlooking the famous bridge of Olargues (known as the Devil’s Bridge), you can walk through this medieval gem in the shadow of verdant hills.
Minervois Vineyard Tour – Visit vineyards and discover the fabulous local wines made with heirloom grapes in ancient terroir shaped by sun and schist.
La Forteresse de Salses and Collioure – Step inside a vast early 16th century fortress built by the 1st King and Queen of a newly united Spain to protect their border with France. Then relax by the Mediterranean in colourful Collioure, beloved by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall for its dazzling light and vivid façades, and a great place to wander the streets and do some shopping with art galleries and boutiques galore.
Limoux – Discover the birthplace of sparkling wine (Blanquette de Limoux) – dating back to 1531, and visit an artisan chocolatier whose creations are pure alchemy.
Château de Pennautier – Tour this 17th-century “Versailles of the Languedoc” and taste the elegant estate wines with lunch in the award-winning Chateau restaurant.
Cabrespine Cavern or Grotte de Limousis – Choose between the grandeur of Cabrespine or the hidden wonders of Limousis.
The real Languedoc
Tour accommodation is in an award winning Chambre d’hotes, ranked in the top 25 in France, in the thriving village of Olonzac.
Languedoc is a region to feel, not just see—and these small-group tours offer the keys to its most intimate doors.
Discover the Languedoc your own way—gently, deliciously, and in the best of company. Book your tour, and let the journey begin: realsouthoffrancetours.fr
