Bordeaux River Cruises

Embark on a leisurely Bordeaux river cruise along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and the Gironde estuary. Immerse yourself in French gastronomy as you take life one day, and one vineyard, at a time. Indulge your palate at châteaux and local markets and be treated to beautiful scenery. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, wander cobblestone streets and cycle the back roads of Bordeaux on a French river cruise.

Popular River Cruises View all

8 Days Bordeaux to Bordeaux

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 4,121
Save 2,045

21 Days Bordeaux to Madrid

Operator: Scenic

From 13,355
Save 2,735

13 Days Paris to Bordeaux

Operator: Scenic

From 8,361
Save 2,290

10 Days Paris to Bordeaux

Operator: Scenic

From 6,925
Save 1,077

The Rivers of the Bordeaux

The Rivers of the Bordeaux

Wine and Waterways

Bordeaux is synonymous with wine, and cruising on its rivers - primarily the Garonne and Dordogne - offers unparalleled access to some of the world’s most renowned vineyards. Take a vineyard tour right from the port and enjoy tastings of Bordeaux’s famous reds and whites.

The Gironde Estuary

This is where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet, forming one of the most expansive estuaries in Europe. Its waters are a unique mix of salt and freshwater, creating a diverse ecosystem. Be on the lookout for the region’s specific fishing huts, known as 'carrelets,' perched on stilts.

Historical Richness

The rivers run through areas steeped in history, from ancient Roman ruins to medieval fortresses. Towns like Blaye offer glimpses of centuries-old architecture right from the river, such as the 17th-century Citadelle de Blaye, designed by the famed engineer Vauban.

Seasonal Timing

Spring and Autumn offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Bordeaux's vineyards are especially picturesque during the Autumn harvest season from late September to late October.

River Cruise Operators in the Bordeaux View all

Scenic
With Scenic, it’s more than a 5-star river cruise...it’s a seamless journey from start to finish that places you, our guest, at the heart of everything...more we do. It’s taking you to extraordinary regions and immersing you in meaningful and enriching experiences. It’s exquisite cuisine, indulgent wellness, and a world-class team who will anticipate your every need. You'll find the difference is in the details with Scenic: the innovative ship design, expertly trained crew, immersive journey, and an unrivalled focus on health and safety protocols.
Bordeaux Rivers76
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Luxury Cruising
Fleet Size:14
Uniworld
Once you step onboard the world’s finest and most awarded river cruise line for the first time, we are quite sure the refined luxury onboard our fleet...more will sweep you off your feet. We draw our inspiration for the design philosophy of every one of the 17 ships in our fleet directly from the destination in which they sail. The craftsmanship, the attention to detail, the art onboard, the handcrafted furniture and intricacy of the fabrics are lovingly assembled to be a masterpiece in and of itself. Stepping onboard is to step into a world of beautiful colours and one-of-a-kind details that truly bring your destination to life. Crafting experiences you can’t find anywhere else, means continuing to elevate Uniworld to new heights year after year. From the addition of four new Super Ships in Egypt, Vietnam, Portugal and Italy, to the award winning service that comes from the heart, we’re putting even more emphasis on what’s onboard to enhancing several itineraries to accommodate guest’s diverse tastes for the future. We truly look forward to welcoming our Australian guests onboard.
Bordeaux Rivers80
Budget:Luxury
Known For:Boutique River Cruising
Fleet Size:17
Viking
A Viking river cruise is the discerning traveller’s dream. Whether you choose to visit Egypt, Asia, Europe or the Mississippi, our itineraries are designed...more to immerse you in the history and culture of each destination. With us, you could be exploring a local food market with our head chef one day and experiencing an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a world-famous museum the next. Our state-of-the-art ships take you right into the heart of each destination, and you won’t find any kids or ‘nickel and diming’ on board. In fact, our fares include everything you need - from meals, beverages and Wi-Fi to a culturally enriching shore excursion at every port of call. This unique combination of features has become affectionately known as ‘the Viking difference’. Viking has 70 award-winning river ships sailing all over the world, and we can’t wait to welcome you on board to discover the Viking difference for yourself.
Bordeaux Rivers72
Budget:Premium
Known For:Scandinavian Design
Fleet Size:75

Discover Must do experiences and highlights in the Bordeaux region

Château Dining

Château Dining

Enjoy a meal at an age-old château, owned by consecutive generations who have perfected regional recipes and wine making techniques that will leave your palate aquiver.

Cycle the Route de la Corniche Fleurie

Cycle the Route de la Corniche Fleurie

Pedal your way along the riverside paths and charming roads that weave through scenic countryside and quaint villages between Blaye and Bourg.

Oui, Chef!

Oui, Chef!

Shop the local food markets of Bordeaux and be guided on French cooking techniques as you whip up (and devour) a deliciously authentic meal.

Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion

This picturesque medieval village is enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and nestled amongst sprawling vineyards. Its fine wine is matched by its stunning architecture, led by its Monolithic Church piercing the skyline.

A Glass Among the Vines

A Glass Among the Vines

Breathe in the scent of woody barrels hanging in the cool cellar air, raise a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyards of Médoc and sip a dessert wine in amidst the twisting vines of the Sauternes region.

Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their cruises through the Bordeaux region

Unbelievable Uniworld   , WA, Australia, Sep 2022
If you are looking for a luxury cruise then Uniworld is the one. The Bordeaux, France, cruise is excellent for first time wine buff's to this famed area. The boat has had a very nice fit out and the lounge, dining room, top deck and cabins are a delight to be in. The food matched with Bordeaux wines was excellent, and there is always a number of choices ...read more for all palates. The cabins are fitted out with luxurious bedding and linens to ensure the best nights sleep. We thoroughly recommend this cruise and Uniworld.
Scenic Tour Portugal, Spain & Bordeaux river cruise in France   , SA, Australia, Sep 2019
Our booking through Global Journeys was all via email and went very smoothly, without any hitches. We would not hesitate to book with them once again and in fact already have!! The Scenic 21 Day Western Discovery Tour was very well organised and all went well. The Bordeaux River cruise varied a little from the original program, but this part of the ...read more tour depends on tides and water levels. We saw everything that was listed in the programme and more, but just not in the same order as listed. Scenic is a very professional team and we have travelled with them several times before and certainly will do again. They may be a little more expensive than some other tour companies, but we would recommend them to everyone.
A roam around the wineries   , NSW, Australia, Aug 2019
This was a bit of an unusual trip compared to other river cruises we have undertaken. Most go from A to B (and maybe back again) along a river but this one seemed to go around in circles due to the nature of the river estuary being explored. This meant that even though we seemed to move a long way, in essence it was only ever a short distance from Bordeaux, ...read more and time and time again we passed the same landmarks. Despite that, it was still an excellent experience with several shore trips to visit small and very picturesque villages and wineries.

We have been on several UniWorld cruises previously and all have been exceptional. My sense is that Uniworld is slowly reducing their level of service and included options that made them a standout amongst river cruise operators. This may be a trend across all operators, which reflects the tough times they are going through. However, if you want to taste the wine growing region of France in a leisurely relaxed fashion then this is a great way to do it.
Ultimate France Uniworld River Cruise   , NSW, Australia, Aug 2019
Our Uniworld River Cruise was amazing but there were a lot of optional tours which we think should be included for all passengers when you have already paid top dollar for the river cruise.