August 30-September 6, 2026

 

Join us for an unforgettable week through Burgundy—where Food, Wine, and French come together in the most delicious way.

Over the course of this upbeat, immersive wine tour, we’ll savor the very best of the region: its world-class wines, its vibrant culinary traditions, its charming towns, and its rich cultural heritage.  And we’ll learn a few French words along the way.

Our home base is the capital city of Dijon, long considered the historic heart of Burgundy. Famous for its medieval streets, celebrated gastronomy (Bonjour, mustard, coq au vin and crème de cassis!), UNESCO-listed old town, Ducal Palace, and lively markets, Dijon blends centuries of history with a welcoming, modern energy. Often described as a “little Paris,” it’s a beautiful, walkable city surrounded by rolling vineyards, historical countryside, and inspiring cultural sites.

Throughout the week, you’ll enjoy a curated menu of experiences designed to delight all your senses. We’ll begin each day with a short, optional French lesson designed to give you a leg up on the day’s vocabulary.  We’ll explore Dijon’s colorful market, sample fresh produce and regional specialties, and delve into the city’s rich artistic and architectural heritage.  Each day includes a dégustation de vin, whether in one of Dijon’s cozy wine bars or at a vineyard tucked in the hills that surround the city.

We’ll explore the Musée des Beaux-Arts, home to a stunning collection of Burgundian treasures, and take time to wander Dijon’s storied streets—where every corner reveals a new slice of history. And of course, no trip to Burgundy would be complete without indulging in its world-renowned restaurants, meeting local winemakers, and discovering neighboring towns that embody the region’s timeless charm.

Your stay will be in a four-star hotel in the center of Dijon, featuring an indoor pool, spa, hammam, and a peaceful courtyard perfect for sharing an evening drink. Shops, cafés, and public transportation are just steps away, and the rail station is an easy walk—making arrivals and departures by train effortless.

Because Dijon is best experienced on foot, this trip requires the ability to walk independently for up to 2–3 hours per day. Within the city we combine pleasant walks with buses and trams; for vineyard excursions, we’ll travel by coach or private driver, and we’ll use the local train for our visit to Beaune

As a special bonus, you can extend your adventure by joining us for a one-day exploration of Lyon—a dazzling city less than two hours away by train. We’ll wander the Renaissance-era Old Town, explore the elegant Presqu’Ile, visit a museum, and admire Lyon’s impressive opera house. You’ll spend one night in Lyon, and we highly recommend staying longer if your schedule allows—it’s a city worth savoring.

We’re also happy to offer special group rates for an extra night at our Dijon hotel either before or after the tour. Many travelers like to arrive early to shake off jet lag or stay on to keep exploring Burgundy at a leisurely pace once the trip is over. The hotel will welcome you for as long as you wish, though the preferred rate applies only to a limited number of nights.

———————————–ITINERARY SIP & SAVOIR 2026————————-

Sunday, August 30
         Arrive at your leisure and settle into your charming Dijon hotel. As the afternoon softens into evening, gather with the group for a welcoming apéritif—your first sip of Burgundy’s legendary warmth and hospitality. A playful “Survival French” session follows, equipping you with the essentials for cafés, menus, and those all-important Bonjours.  We’ll then stroll into town for dinner at one of Dijon’s celebrated restaurants, where the flavors of the region make their first impression.    Bon appétit!           DINNER

Monday, August 31
         We start gently today, easing into the rhythm of French life. After a morning class focused on the language of ordering and navigating city streets, we head out for a guided stroll through Dijon’s historic center. Medieval timbered houses, gracious squares, and centuries-old churches reveal the city’s layered past.  Lunch awaits at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, followed by time to explore this remarkable museum, housed in the grand Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Its collections span from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century—glittering tombs of the Dukes, Flemish masterpieces, and treasures from five continents—all displayed in a breathtaking setting.  A late-afternoon wine tasting at a renowned Dijonnais wine establishment brings the day to a delicious close, with the rest of the evening free for your own discoveries.                                     LUNCH

 Tuesday, September 1st
         This morning’s French class delves into vineyard and culinary vocabulary—the ideal warmup for a day devoted to flavor. We begin with some gentle wandering: climb the Tour Philippe le Bon for sweeping rooftop views, or meander along the lively rue des Forges.

Soon we find ourselves in the bustling food halls of Les Halles, where vendors call out their offerings beneath soaring ironwork designed by Eiffel himself. By midday, we board the tram to the Cité de la Gastronomie, where lunch is followed by hands-on workshops—wine, cheese, pastry, seafood, and more. It’s an afternoon steeped in the artistry and pleasures of French gastronomy.     LUNCH   

Wednesday, September 2nd
       After a brief review in French class, we board the train to Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital. Our first stop is the iconic Hospices de Beaune, its dazzling glazed roof tiles gleaming like a mosaic. Enjoy time on your own to browse Beaune’s specialty shops before we regroup for lunch.  In the afternoon, we descend into the vast, echoing chambers of a distinguished wine cellar for an atmospheric tasting. By early evening, we return to Dijon, pleasantly steeped in the spirit of wine country.

 Thursday, September 3rd
        Begin with French class, then enjoy a free morning to savor Dijon at your own pace—browse markets, linger in sun-dappled cafés, or revisit favorite corners of the city. Lunch is at leisure.
In early afternoon, you may join an optional excursion to the magnificent Abbey of Fontenay, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in a tranquil green valley. On the way back, we stop at a charming cassis boutique in a nearby village—the birthplace of Burgundy’s ruby-red liqueur—before returning to Dijon for a relaxed evening.    LUNCH AT LEISURE

Friday, September 4th
         After class, we venture into the renowned Côte de Nuits, where some of Burgundy’s most celebrated wines begin as clusters of sun-warmed grapes. We’ll stroll among the vines and speak with a local vigneron about the delicate artistry behind great winemaking.
Lunch follows in a quintessential Burgundian village. Then we continue to the historic Clos de Vougeot for a guided visit and tasting amid centuries of winemaking tradition. We return to Dijon in late afternoon, with the evening yours to enjoy.  LUNCH

Saturday, September 5th
         Today is yours—wander Dijon’s boutiques and galleries, revisit a favorite museum, or savor a slow morning in a café.  We also offer an optional morning excursion to the storybook village of Époisses, famed for its namesake cheese, its Renaissance château owned by the same family since 1661, and its picture-perfect charm. Lunch in Époisses is included, and you’ll be back in Dijon by early afternoon for last-minute shopping or relaxation.  In the early evening, we gather for a festive closing apéritif at the hotel, followed by a celebratory dinner in town.        DINNER

Sunday, September 6th
       If today marks your departure, we send you off with warm wishes and hope Burgundy has captured your heart.

For those joining the extension, we take a morning train to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. After dropping our bags, we begin exploring the winding Renaissance streets of the Old Town before enjoying lunch together.  The afternoon carries us to the elegant Presque-Île, framed by the Rhône and Saône rivers, where Lyon’s grand boulevards and lively squares await. A final apéritif closes the day, with dinner at leisure amid Lyon’s glowing evening atmosphere..

Monday, September 7

Following breakfast in Lyon, depart at your convenience.

 

——————–COST AND DETAILS OF SIP AND SAVOIR 2026——————–

Sip & Savoir,  August 30-September 6, 2026.  $4250 land only. Single occupancy.  For people interested in sharing a room, price is $3850 per person.

Optional visits may be cancelled if the minimum number of people is not attained, in which case participant will be refunded  

1. Afternoon trip to Abbaye de Fontenay & Dijonnais countryside, 9/5  $199
2. Morning excursion to village of Epoisses,  9/6   $199 
3. One-night extension to city of Lyon, 9/6-9/7   $799 (includes transportation to Lyon, one night at a hotel in Lyon, lunch, closing apéritif)

Transportation
          Transportation to and from the town of Dijon (or Lyon, if you choose the extension) is the responsibility of the individual; closest airport is Dijon.  Trains depart regularly from Paris Charles de Gaulle and from the train station in Paris to Dijon, an easy 2-hr journey.

Payment
          To reserve your space, a registration form and non-refundable deposit of $1000 is due by check OR Zelle to sipandsavoir@frenchtraveler.com before April 15, 2026.  Balance may be paid by check, Zelle, or credit card before May 15, 2026.  Please let us know via email if you would like to pay the balance by credit card; we will send you an appropriate invoice and direct you to the payment link. The French Traveler strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance to protect your investment in case of unforeseen accident or incident which prevents you from attending at the last minute. 

Inclusions
          All lodgings in single accommodations in deluxe hotel in the heart of Dijon ♦ all breakfasts and other meals where noted ♦ all guided tours ♦ introductory & farewell cocktails  ♦ entrance fees and transportation to scheduled locations ♦ tips, taxes, & service charges for all group activities. 

Exclusions
          International airfare  ♦  meals on days marked “at leisure”  ♦ all drinks at meals except at welcome & farewell dinners ♦  accident/baggage/trip cancellation insurance ♦ any activities not scheduled in program ♦ optional activities ♦ laundry, dry cleaning or valet service ♦ phone, fax

Travel Insurance
          Because you are signing up in advance, and because travel involves certain risks, The French Traveler strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance to protect your investment.  For any of you with children, aging parents, or health concerns of any kind, you will be protected if anything should prevent you from joining the trip or if you should fall sick or become injured during the trip.  The French Traveler has worked successfully in the past with Generali—click here—but shop around and see which company best fits your needs.

Registration
          Print out registration form from website and send it with your deposit check of $1000 made out to The French Traveler to The French Traveler, 1825 Ponce de Leon Blvd #346, Coral Gables, FL 33134.  You may alternatively Zelle your deposit to sipandsavoir@frenchtraveler.com.  Deadline for reservations:  April 15, 2026 (or until all 10 slots have been sold).  Balance due May 15, 2026.  Balance can be paid via check, Zelle, or credit card.  (See registration page.)

Cancellation Policy
          Cancellations must be made in writing before May 14, 2026.  Deposits and any paid balance are refundable, less $500 per person, until May 14, 2026. No refunds of either deposit or balance after May 15, 2026 under any circumstances, unless The French Traveler cancels the trip.  The French Traveler strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment. 

Eligibility
       This walking tour of Burgundy will be conducted in English, and no knowledge of French is required. However, we will offer optional daily French lessons designed for intermediate beginners, focusing on useful expressions and vocabulary related to the day’s activities.  Some familiarity with French would be helpful for these sessions.  Absolute beginners are welcome to join the classes, though we cannot guarantee that the level will always be ideal for those starting completely from scratch.

           Note that this tour involves walking without assistance, sometimes for 2–3 hours per day. Within Dijon, we primarily use public trams when we are not walking, and for excursions outside the city we travel by coach bus or train. If you prefer, taxis, Ubers, and private drivers are also readily available at your own expense.

Participant responsibility
          We will gladly discuss details of the tour with you.   We expect you to read the pre-departure information and be in sufficiently good health to undertake the trip.  We use public transportation in France and walk at length, sometimes on bumpy cobblestone streets or on narrow sidewalks.  We take guided walking tours which means walking for 2-3 hours at a time and standing while the guide tells us a story.  While this contributes to the charm of the experience, it requires the participant to be in good physical condition, particularly knees & hips.  Air conditioning in Europe is not as widespread as it is in the US, and hotel rooms are smaller. We focus on absorbing French culture and expect our participants to do their best to adapt to France: vive la différence!  If you have certain dietary or other restrictions, please ascertain beforehand that we are able to accommodate you.  Vegetarian diets can usually be adapted, but we regret that our chefs cannot accommodate a vegan diet.

Organizer Responsibility
          The French Traveler has exercised careful consideration with regard to the safety and well being of participants.  We can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any airplane, automobile, train, cable car, motor coach, metro or other conveyance, or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying passengers in carrying out the arrangements of these programs.  We accept no responsibility for baggage losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, force majeure, or other causes beyond our control; such losses or expenses will be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated.   We reserve the right to make alterations to this itinerary as deemed necessary, or to cancel this program prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation. We reserve the right to decline any person deemed inappropriate for the program, and to change or substitute any activities described above for reasons of inclement weather, unforeseen circumstances, acts of nature or inconveniences or reasons beyond our control.  We do not guarantee fluency in French after this program, but we do expect that you’ll have mastered at least 10 French vocabulary words pertaining to French life and culture.  No refund will be made for any unused portion of this program.  The French Traveler accepts no liability for any carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket connected with the program.  Program price based on exchange rate in November 2025; if euro/dollar rate reaches or exceeds 1 E = $1.20 by March 15, 2026, a $200 surcharge will be required of all participants, regardless of registration date. 

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