AIA Tours: land

Decorated Caves of the Pyrenees & the Rhone Valley

Tour Dates: April 18-29, 2024 (12 days)

Tour Leader(s): Ian Tattersall ,

For more information on this tour, or to make reservations, contact us at 800-748-6262, aia@studytours.org or reserve your space online.

Discover a collection of magnificent but largely unheralded examples of Ice Age art while in the company of acclaimed paleoanthropologist and popular trip leader Ian Tattersall. Admire unusual, elegant bas-relief animal images in Basque caves, a profusion of hand prints at Gargas, and the famous panels of line-drawn and subtly shaded bison, horse, and ibex at Niaux. Visit the recently opened Cosquer Méditerranée, a replica of a heavily decorated, now submerged, prehistoric cave that was discovered in 1985. The trip concludes with a visit to the spectacular Chauvet Cave replica at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, which expertly re-creates the earliest, and perhaps most impressive, of the many masterpieces of Ice Age art dated to some 35,000 years ago. Enjoy fine food and delightful accommodations while an expert tour manager handles all the logistics.

“Ian Tattersall provided his astonishing expertise on the cave art, the Upper Paleolithic, and human evolution in general to make the entire tour an incredibly enlightening educational experience.” – Thomas, Texas

“Ian’s commentary and overall presence could not have been more engaging. He was both an archaeological authority and an excellent traveling companion.” – Richard, New York


Tour Pricing (10 nights)

Per person, double occupancy

13-16 participants $9,645
10-12 participants $10,395
Single Supplement $1,045

Single room supplement will be charged when requested or required (limited availability).
With fewer than 10 participants, a small group surcharge may be added.

To reserve your space using the online form, click here.

For reservations or questions, please email us at aia@studytours.org (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884).


Paintings of bison from the Salon Noir of Niaux cave. ©HTO

The entrance to Isturitz cave. © Krijun.

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain. © Nicolas Vigier.

The Ekainberri panel of horses, Spain. © Zaidiak.

Cosquer Mediterranee © KRossillon

Tautavel Man is a proposed subspecies of the hominid Homo erectus. Image © Rémih.

Painting of a Rhinoceros in the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, France. © Inocybe

A charcoal drawing from Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, France. © Claude Valette

Itinerary


Thursday, April 18, 2024: Home | Bilbao, Spain

Friday, April 19: Bilbao | Welcome dinner

Saturday, April 20: Covalanas Cave | Ramales | El Pendo Cave | Bilbao

Sunday, April 21: Ekainberri | San Sebastián | Ainhoa, France

Monday, April 22: Isturitz and Oxocelhaya Caves | Bayonne | Ainhoa

Tuesday, April 23: Gargas Cave | Sauveterre-de-Comminges

Wednesday, April 24: Aurignac | Aurignacian Museum | Bédeilhac Cave | Tarascon-sur-Ariège

Thursday, April 25: Niaux Cave | Parc de la Préhistoire | PM at leisure

Friday, April 26: Arago Cave | Tautavel | Narbonne

Saturday, April 27: Marseille: Cosquer Méditerranée

Sunday, April 28: Chauvet Cave replica | Lyon | Farewell dinner

Monday, April 29: Fly home

View Detailed Itinerary

(B)= Breakfast, (L)= Lunch, (D)= Dinner

Thursday, April 18, 2024: Home | Bilbao, Spain
Depart home on independent flights to Bilbao, Spain.

Friday, April 19: Bilbao | Welcome dinner
Arrive at Bilbao airport (BIO) and transfer as a group (time TBD) to the Gran Hotel Domine, situated in the heart of this thriving city. This afternoon, admire both the architecture and the permanent collection of the spectacular Guggenheim Museum during a guided tour. Gather later at the hotel for a welcome drink and dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Gran Hotel Domine for two nights. (D)

Saturday, April 20: Covalanas Cave | Ramales | El Pendo Cave | Bilbao
After breakfast, drive to Covalanas Cave with its extraordinary collection of animal images. After an independent lunch in nearby Ramales, continue to El Pendo Cave, with its nearly 30-foot-long panel of painted figures. Dinner is at leisure in Bilbao. (B)

Sunday, April 21: Ekainberri | San Sebastián | Ainhoa, France
Check out of our hotel and head towards France, stopping first at the Ekainberri replica (of Ekain Cave) with its famous panels of horses, the originals dating from the Magdalenian period. Continue to the elegant Basque city of San Sebastián, situated on the Bay of Biscay. Enjoy a guided tour of the town and savor an independent lunch before moving on to Ainhoa. Gather in the evening for dinner. Overnight at the 3-star Hotel Ithurria for two nights. (B,D)

Monday, April 22: Isturitz and Oxocelhaya Caves | Bayonne | Ainhoa
This morning, visit the caves of Isturitz and Oxocelhaya with their bas-relief sculptures and concretions. Stop for an independent lunch followed by a guided tour of Bayonne (famous for its cathedral, as well as the ham and chocolate that it produces). Return to our hotel in Ainhoa for dinner. (B,D)

Tuesday, April 23: Gargas Cave | Sauveterre-de-Comminges
Check out of our hotel and drive towards Gargas. After a group lunch, we visit Gargas, one of the finest caves in the Pyrenees, known for its collection of more than 200 stenciled hand prints, many of which are mysteriously incomplete. Continue on to our hotel in Sauveterre-de-Comminges, where we check in and then gather for dinner. Overnight at the 4-star Hôtel du Barry Resort & Spa. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 24: Aurignac | Aurignacian Museum | Bédeilhac Cave | Tarascon-sur-Ariège
This morning we check out of our hotel and drive to Aurignac to visit the rock shelter of Aurignac and the Aurignacian Museum, which illuminates the lives of the anatomically modern humans who lived in Europe about 36,000 years ago. After lunch we drive a short distance to the cave of Bédeilhac, famous for its vast entrance (used as an aircraft maintenance facility in World War II) and which was decorated in the Middle Magdalenian (ca. 14,000 years ago). Check in to Le Manoir d’Agnes, a 200-year-old French chateau in Tarascon-sur-Ariège, and gather for dinner in the restaurant next to our hotel. Overnight at the 3-star Le Manoir d’Agnes for two nights. (B,L,D)

Thursday, April 25: Niaux Cave | Parc de la Préhistoire | PM at leisure
This morning we will visit the cave of Niaux, regarded as one of the most impressive in Europe for its spectacular and well-preserved wall paintings from 14,000 years ago, most of which are found in its “Salon Noir,” situated some 800 meters from the cave entrance. We will have lunch in the village of Niaux before continuing on to the Parc de la Préhistoire for an overview of the area’s prehistory through its museum and numerous reconstructions and demonstrations. Return to our hotel for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Friday, April 26: Arago Cave | Tautavel | Narbonne
Check out of our hotel and drive to the Arago Cave, situated just outside the village of Tautavel and famous for the discovery of “Tautavel Man,” some of the most significant hominid remains ever found in Europe. After an independent lunch and, time permitting, a quick tasting of the local wine, visit the small but impressive museum in Tautavel before driving to our hotel in Narbonne. The balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Le Mosaique. (B)

Saturday, April 27: Marseille: Cosquer Méditerranée
After breakfast we drive to Marseille, where we check-in to our hotel and have lunch. This afternoon we visit the inventive replica of Cosquer Cave, Cosquer Méditerranée, a submerged prehistoric cave that has been referred to as an “underwater Lascaux.” The original cave, found in 1985, contains approximately 500 Paleolithic paintings, engravings, and drawings, and is only accessible by deep sea divers as the entrance is more than 98 feet below sea level off the coast of Marseille. The building containing the exact replica opened to the public in June 2022 and has three floors, one of which is an “underwater” replica of the cave that guests tour via exploratory vehicles. Return to our hotel for the balance of the day at leisure. Overnight at the 5-star Hotel InterContinental du Dieu. (B,L)

Sunday, April 28: Chauvet Cave replica | Lyon | Farewell dinner
Check out of our hotel and drive north to what may be the highlight of our journey: the spectacular replica of Chauvet Cave, Pont-d’Arc Cavern, including a reproduction of its delicately shaded horses. Chauvet is one of the most famous decorated caves in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After an independent lunch on site, drive to Lyon. Tonight we gather for a farewell dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Le Royal Hotel Lyon. (B,D)

Monday, April 29: Fly home
Transfer this morning to the Lyon airport (LYS) for flights home. (B)

 


For reservations or questions, please email us at aia@studytours.org (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884). To reserve your space using the online form, click here.

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