Bordeaux Wine Day TourSaint-Émilion Day Trip from Bordeaux: Three Châteaux and the Village
This Saint-Émilion day trip from Bordeaux is Ophorus's full-day listing on Viator: 8 hours, an air-conditioned minivan capped at 8 guests, and three château tasting sessions plus a guided walk through the UNESCO-listed village. It costs $182.70 per person, leaves at 9:30 AM from the Bordeaux Tourist Office and runs with a professional English-speaking driver-guide. Lunch is not included, and the operator says so plainly: eat a good breakfast before you go, because French tastings usually come without snacks. This page breaks down what the price covers, what the day looks like stop by stop, and who should book something else. If you want a shorter or cheaper option, the comparison of every Bordeaux wine day tour is the place to start.
About This Tour
Ophorus runs this as a small-group full day to Saint-Émilion and the villages around it. The format is simple: an air-conditioned minivan, up to 8 guests, one qualified driver-guide who speaks English, three wine tasting sessions at three châteaux, and a walking tour of Saint-Émilion village itself.
The price is $182.70 per person and covers the transport, the guide and the three tastings. It does not cover lunch, gratuities or entrance fees to monuments, and the operator recommends a good breakfast or lunch beforehand because snacks are not usually served at French tastings. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
$182.70 per person, booked through Viator
8 hours, departing 9:30 AM
In front of the Bordeaux Tourist Office, 12 Cours du 30 Juillet. Meet 10 minutes before departure
Up to 8 guests, with a professional English-speaking qualified driver-guide
Three wine tasting sessions at 3 châteaux, plus a walking tour of Saint-Émilion village. The number of wines poured is not stated
Lunch not included. Gratuities, food and drinks, and monument entrance fees are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Check Dates and Availability
Departures run from the tourist office at 9:30 AM, and the tour needs a minimum of 2 adults to go ahead. Check live dates on Viator below.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer The short version
This Saint-Émilion day trip from Bordeaux lasts 8 hours, costs $182.70 per person and includes tastings at 3 châteaux plus a guided walk of the village, with up to 8 guests per minivan.
Key takeaways
- Meet 10 minutes before the 9:30 AM departure at the Bordeaux Tourist Office, 12 Cours du 30 Juillet. Adults only, 18 and over.
- Lunch is not included, and the operator advises eating well before you go. If you want food on the day, the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol day with a WSET guide includes a picnic-style lunch.
- Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure, and the operator can cancel for bad weather.
- Short on time? The Saint-Émilion Village and Grand Cru Half Day covers the village and one château in 4 to 4.5 hours for $95.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing is specific about what your $182.70 buys and what it does not. Three tasting sessions and the village walk are in. Food, tips and monument tickets are not.
Included
Your ticket covers transport by air-conditioned minivan from Bordeaux, a professional English-speaking qualified driver and tour guide, three wine tasting sessions, and a walking tour of Saint-Émilion village. The listing does not state how many wines are poured at each château or which estates you visit, so treat the château line-up as the operator's call on the day.
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Professional English-speaking qualified driver and tour guide
- Three wine tasting sessions at 3 châteaux
- Walking tour of Saint-Émilion village
Not Included, and What You Might Pay on the Day
Lunch is the big one. Food and drinks are excluded unless specified, and the operator's own note is worth reading twice: in France, snacks are usually not provided during wine tastings, so eat a good breakfast or lunch beforehand. Gratuities and entrance fees to monuments, museums or attractions are not covered by the ticket.
If a full lunch matters to you, look at the Saint-Émilion and Médoc day with lunch or the e-bike day with lunch instead.
- Lunch and any food or drinks beyond the tastings
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums or attractions
Line by Line
The table sets out each part of the day and whether it sits inside the $182.70 price, based on the operator's own inclusions and exclusions on the listing.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minivan transport from Bordeaux | Yes | Air-conditioned, up to 8 guests |
| English-speaking driver-guide | Yes | One qualified guide who also drives |
| 3 château tasting sessions | Yes | Number of wines not stated |
| Saint-Émilion village walking tour | Yes | Guided, UNESCO-listed village |
| Lunch | No | Operator advises eating beforehand |
| Gratuities and monument entry fees | No | Not in the price |
Sources: Saint-Émilion Tourist Office, Bordeaux wine, Wikipedia
A lane through the vineyards of Château Pavie in Saint-Émilion. Photo: Megan Mallen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing describes one 8-hour block covering Saint-Émilion and the surrounding appellations. Here is that shape, with the times the listing states and the phases it implies.
Meeting and Departure
Meet your guide 10 minutes before departure, in front of the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet. The van leaves at 9:30 AM.
The Drive Out and the Tastings
From the city the minivan heads to the Saint-Émilion wine region, which the listing describes as a full day taking in some of Bordeaux's most famous appellations. The day is built around three wine tasting sessions at three different châteaux. The listing does not name the estates, publish a per-stop schedule or say how many wines are poured.
The Village Walk and the End of the Day
The day also includes a guided walking tour of Saint-Émilion itself, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed village with its steep cobbled lanes. Wear good walking shoes, as the listing warns. The day lasts 8 hours in total.
The listing does not state the return point or return time, so confirm both with the operator before you book.
Day Trip to St Emilion With Three Winery Tours
A day in Saint-Émilion with visits to three wineries. Third-party video by Why Don't We Go. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing sets hard limits. Read them before you book, because several are non-negotiable.
Ages, Numbers and Wheels
This is an adults-only tour: children under 18 are not allowed, and the price is set for ages 18 to 99. A minimum of 2 adults is required for the tour to run, so a single adult booking alone cannot run. The group is capped at 8.
There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to the tourist office.
- Adults only, no one under 18
- Minimum of 2 adults for the tour to run
- Maximum of 8 guests
- No hotel pickup
- Pets are not allowed
Fitness, Food and Weather
The tour involves some walking and good walking shoes are recommended, and Saint-Émilion's steep cobbled alleys make that advice real. It is not recommended for pregnant travellers or travellers with poor cardiovascular health. Lunch is not included on a long 8-hour day, so eat first, as the operator advises.
The estates are not named, the tour needs 2 adults to run, and the operator can cancel for bad weather. If any of that is a problem, there are alternatives: the Saint-Émilion and Margaux full day adds both banks and a picnic lunch, the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol day with a WSET guide includes lunch and takes ages 13 and up, and the Saint-Émilion Village and Grand Cru Half Day suits anyone wanting a shorter, cheaper day.
Getting to the Start and the Rest of Your Day
The meeting point is easy to reach by tram, and the same corner of the city centre works well before or after the tour.
Reaching 12 Cours Du 30 Juillet
The meeting point is the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet. Tram lines B and C both stop at Quinconces, which is the city's main transport hub and serves three tram lines plus buses. A single tram ticket costs €1.90 and the network runs from about 04:30 until midnight.
If you are coming straight from Gare Saint-Jean, line C connects to the station. Meet the guide 10 minutes before the 9:30 AM departure.
Before and After the Tour
The CIVB Bar à Vin at 3 Cours du 30 Juillet is open Monday to Saturday 11:00 to 22:00, with one listing showing 2 glasses of Bordeaux for €3 and another saying from about €2 a glass, an easy place to compare styles after your tastings. La Cité du Vin sits further out on tram line B in the Bacalan district, and its stop carries the same name. If you would rather see the village at your own pace another day, the train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to Saint-Émilion takes about 30 to 35 minutes, and the station is a 20 to 30 minute walk below the village.
The guide to Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion by train covers the timings, and the Saint-Émilion page covers what to do once you are there.
The Day, Step by Step
The listing publishes one 8-hour itinerary block rather than a timed schedule, so the steps below use the stated departure time and phases for the rest.
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10 minutes before
Meet at the tourist office
Meet your English-speaking driver-guide in front of the Bordeaux Tourist Office, 12 Cours du 30 Juillet, 10 minutes before departure.
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9:30 AM
Leave Bordeaux by minivan
Set off in an air-conditioned minivan with up to 8 guests, heading east towards Saint-Émilion and the surrounding appellations.
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During the day
First château tasting
The listing includes three wine tasting sessions at three châteaux. It does not name the estates or give the order of the stops.
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During the day
Saint-Émilion village walk
A guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed village, with its steep cobbled lanes. Good walking shoes are recommended, and lunch is not included.
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During the day
Second and third tastings
The remaining wine tasting sessions at different châteaux in the appellations around Saint-Émilion.
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End of the day
Back to Bordeaux
The day lasts 8 hours in total. The listing does not state the return point or time.
What Works and What Does Not
An honest read of the listing, based only on what Ophorus states and what the alternatives offer.
What we genuinely like
- Three château tastings and a guided village walk in one day, all inside the $182.70 price
- Small group capped at 8 with a qualified English-speaking driver-guide
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
- Convenient 9:30 AM start at the tourist office, reached by tram lines B and C
The honest downsides
- No lunch on an 8-hour day, and the operator's own advice is to eat a big breakfast first
- The number of wines poured at each château is not stated, so the value per glass is hard to judge
- The château line-up is not published
- The tour needs a minimum of 2 adults to run and can be cancelled for bad weather
- No hotel pickup, so you make your own way to the meeting point
Who it's NOT for: Anyone under 18, pregnant travellers, people with poor cardiovascular health, or anyone who wants lunch included on a full-day tour.
Questions About This Tour
How much does this Saint-Émilion day trip from Bordeaux cost?
The price is $182.70 per person on Viator. That covers the minivan, the English-speaking driver-guide, three château tastings and the village walk, but not lunch, gratuities or monument entry fees. Compare it with the other options in the Bordeaux wine day tours overview.
Is lunch included?
No. Food and drinks are excluded, and the operator recommends a good breakfast or lunch beforehand because snacks are usually not served at French tastings. If you want food built in, the Saint-Émilion and Médoc day with lunch includes a picnic at a winery.
What time and where does the tour start?
Meet 10 minutes before the 9:30 AM departure, in front of the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet. Tram lines B and C stop at Quinconces, and a single tram ticket costs €1.90. There is no hotel pickup.
Can children join this tour?
No. It is adults only, with children under 18 not allowed and pricing set for ages 18 to 99. Families should look at options such as the Saint-Émilion Village and Grand Cru Half Day, which takes children from 4 years old with a ticket.
How many wines will I taste?
The listing includes three wine tasting sessions at 3 châteaux but does not state the number of wines poured. If a known count matters to you, the Saint-Émilion Half Day with 8 Wines states eight wines from a Grand Cru estate for $106.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure for a full refund. The operator can also cancel the tour for bad weather, and a minimum of 2 adults is required for it to run.
Is the village walk difficult?
The tour is described as suitable for all fitness levels, but it involves some walking and Saint-Émilion has steep cobbled alleys, so good walking shoes are recommended. It is not recommended for pregnant travellers or anyone with poor cardiovascular health.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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