Bordeaux Wine Day TourSaint-Émilion Small Group Tour: The Wikitour Half Day
This Saint-Émilion small group tour by Wikitour is the lowest priced half day on this site, at $84 per person for 5 hours. A driver-guide takes up to 8 people from Quinconces Square through the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations to the UNESCO village for a walking tour, then on to a visit and tasting at a Grand Cru Classé property. Entrance fees to cultural places, insurance and the guide gratuity are included, as the listing states. The trade-offs are real: no lunch, a tasting whose wine count is not stated, and no Sunday departures in winter. This page sets out what the price covers, hour by hour, and points you to other Bordeaux wine day tours if this one does not fit.
About This Tour
Wikitour runs a 5-hour morning half day from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion in a comfortable minivan. The itinerary gives 45 minutes each way on the road, 1.5 hours in the medieval village with a guided walk and free time, and 1.5 hours at a Grand Cru Classé winery for a visit and tasting. The group is capped at 8, and the operator normally runs 4 to 8 people per departure.
The listing carries a 4.6 rating from 286 verified GetYourGuide bookings and is flagged as likely to sell out. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.
$84 per person, the lowest starting price on this site for a Saint-Émilion half day
5 hours, with about 45 minutes of driving each way
Quinconces Square, 42 Allées d'Orléans, 33000 Bordeaux, in front of the tourist office
Limited to 8 participants, run with 4 to 8, live driver-guide in English or French, other languages on request
One winery, a Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion property. The number of wines poured is not stated. No lunch
Guide gratuity, insurance and entrance fees to cultural places are included, nothing is stated as paid extra. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown once you pick a date. The tour runs all year except December 25 and January 1, and not on Sundays in December, January and February.
Quick answer Price, duration and what to know
This Saint-Émilion small group tour costs $84 per person, lasts 5 hours and takes up to 8 people from Bordeaux with a driver-guide, a village walk and one Grand Cru Classé tasting.
Key takeaways
- Compare it with the Saint-Émilion half day with 8 wines at $106 if you want a stated wine count
- The most reviewed option is the village and Grand Cru half day at $95 with 3 to 4 wines and an aperitif platter
- See what the price covers before booking, because lunch is not included
What the Price Actually Covers
At $84 this is the cheapest Saint-Émilion half day listed here, and the included list is unusually wide. Here is what the operator states, and what you may still spend on the day.
Included in the $84
The listing states that the driver and guide, transport, the wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion property, entrance fees to cultural places, gratuities for the guide and insurance are all in the price. On the village and Grand Cru half day at $95, the aperitif platter and gratuities are also listed as included.
- Driver and guide in one person
- Transport in a comfortable vehicle
- A wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé property, wine count not stated
- Entrance fees to cultural places
- Gratuities for the guide
- Insurance
What Is Not Included and What You May Pay
No lunch is included, so eat breakfast before a morning departure because the 5 hours run straight through. The listing does not state any mandatory extras. Bring your own water and a sun hat, both on the recommended packing list, since village shops will otherwise take your euros.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driver-guide and minivan | Yes | Live guide in English or French |
| Grand Cru Classé tasting | Yes | Number of wines not stated |
| Entrance fees to cultural places | Yes | Listed as included, places not named |
| Guide gratuity | Yes | Stated as included |
| Insurance | Yes | Listed as included |
| Lunch | No | Eat before, or plan around it |
| Water, sun hat, comfortable shoes | No | Bring them yourself |
The Honest Caveats
Three things to know before you pay. The château is not named in advance, because reservations are made once the booking is confirmed, so you trust the operator to pick a Grand Cru Classé property. The number of wines at the tasting is not stated, which makes it hard to compare value with the $106 eight-wine half day.
And the tour needs a minimum of participants to run. If too few people book, the operator offers rescheduling or a refund rather than a guaranteed departure.
Sources: Saint-Émilion Tourist Office, Bordeaux wine, Wikipedia
The ruined cloister of the Cordeliers in Saint-Émilion. Photo: Calips, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives a clear structure with set durations for each leg. Here is the shape of the 5 hours, stop by stop.
Meet at Quinconces Square
You meet at 42 Allées d'Orléans, 33000 Bordeaux, in front of the office of tourism on Quinconces Square. The exact starting time appears when you select a date on the booking widget. The listing calls this a morning tour and it ends at the same spot.
The Drive Out
A comfortable van takes about 45 minutes out of Bordeaux. The route is described as scenic, passing the most prestigious castles of the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations, family properties in the right bank vineyards. Expect a right-bank landscape where Merlot dominates the blends, about 60 percent of a typical Saint-Émilion wine.
The Village Walk, 1.5 Hours
In Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage village of about 1,600 residents, you get a guided walking tour plus free time, shopping and a food market visit inside the same 1.5-hour block. The village has steep cobbled alleys, so wear the comfortable shoes the listing asks for. The village is also home to the 11th-century monolithic church, carved from limestone with a hall 38 m long.
The listing does not say whether this tour goes inside.
The Winery, 1.5 Hours
The second half is a visit and wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion property, with sightseeing on the estate. The château is booked after your booking is confirmed, so the name is not published in advance. How many wines are poured is not stated, and since there is no food stop, a good breakfast matters.
Back to Bordeaux
The van takes about 45 minutes back and drops you at 42 Allées d'Orléans, the same square you started from. The return time is not stated on the listing.
Saint-Émilion: Day Trip from Bordeaux
A walk through Saint-Émilion on a day out from Bordeaux. Third-party video by Graham Miln. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This is a cheap, short, structured half day, and the exclusions are wider than most. Check this list before booking.
Age and Health Limits
Children under 12 are not suitable, and the listing also excludes wheelchair users and people over 70. If you travel with younger children, the village and Grand Cru half day accepts children from 4. If you want an adults-only room, the three-châteaux day trip is 18 and over.
Physical Demands
Saint-Émilion is built on steep cobbled lanes known as mounds and escalettes, and the 1.5-hour village walk plus a winery visit means standing and walking throughout.
Logistics That Catch People Out
There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to Quinconces Square. The tour needs a minimum of participants, and if they are not reached you get rescheduling or a refund, so book early rather than late. Groups run from 4 to 8 people and larger groups must contact the operator.
No lunch is included across 5 hours, and no Sunday departures in December, January and February, with December 25 and January 1 closed all year.
Better Fits Elsewhere
If you want more wine, the eight-wine half day at $106 pours a stated count from a Grand Cru estate. If you want two châteaux and an aperitif, the afternoon two Grands Crus tour runs 5.5 hours for $119.90. For a full day with lunch, see the Saint-Émilion and Médoc day with lunch.
Getting to the Start and the Rest of Your Day
The meeting point is the easiest in Bordeaux to reach, and the early finish leaves the afternoon free for more wine.
Reaching Quinconces Square
Quinconces is the city's main transport hub and a common meeting point for small-group tours. One source says three tram lines serve the stop, while the tour page names lines B and C. A single tram ticket costs €1.90 and the network runs from about 04:30 to midnight, seven days a week. The square covers about 25.6 ha and is dominated by the Monument aux Girondins, 54 m tall, an easy landmark.
Wine Before or After, Without a Car
The finish leaves your afternoon open. The CIVB Bar à Vin at 3 Cours du 30 Juillet is run by the Bordeaux wine council and opens Monday to Saturday 11:00 to 22:00. Line B also stops at La Cité du Vin, the wine museum that passed one million visitors in autumn 2018.
A DIY Saint-Émilion Day
If this half day makes you want more village time, do Saint-Émilion yourself another day. The train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean takes around 30 minutes, with about 15 direct trains a day from about €10. Another guide says trains run every 1 to 2 hours.
The walk uphill from the station to the village takes 20 to 30 minutes. The guide to Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion by train has the details.
The Day, Step by Step
Times below come from the listing's own itinerary. Departure time itself is confirmed at booking.
-
Start
Meet at 42 Allées d'Orléans
Meet the driver-guide in front of the tourist office on Quinconces Square. The exact departure time shows when you pick your date.
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First 45 minutes
Scenic drive to Saint-Émilion
Ride a comfortable van through the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations, past family châteaux on the right bank.
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1.5 hours
Guided walk in the UNESCO village
A walking tour of medieval Saint-Émilion with free time, shopping and a food market visit built into the same block. Cobblestones and slopes throughout.
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Next 1.5 hours
Grand Cru Classé visit and tasting
Visit a Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion property and taste its wines. The number of wines is not stated on the listing.
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Last 45 minutes
Drive back to Bordeaux
Return in the van to 42 Allées d'Orléans, where the tour ends.
Pros and Cons
The honest case for and against the cheapest Saint-Émilion half day on the site.
What we genuinely like
- $84 per person is the lowest starting price for a Saint-Émilion half day listed here
- Entrance fees to cultural places, insurance and the guide gratuity are included, as the listing states
- Groups of 4 to 8, small enough for one driver-guide to handle
- A 4.6 rating from 286 verified bookings
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, with reserve now and pay later
- English or French live guiding, other languages on request
The honest downsides
- No lunch anywhere in 5 hours, and the number of tasting wines is not stated, so you cannot compare pour for pour
- The Grand Cru Classé château is chosen after booking, so you do not know which estate you visit
- Not suitable for under 12s, wheelchair users or people over 70
- No Sunday departures in December, January and February, and closed December 25 and January 1
- No hotel pickup, and the departure needs a minimum of participants or it is rescheduled
Who it's NOT for: Anyone wanting a stated wine count, a named château, lunch, or a Sunday winter departure should look at a different listing.
Questions About This Tour
How much does this Saint-Émilion small group tour cost?
$84 per person for 5 hours, the lowest starting price for a Saint-Émilion half day on the wine day tours from Bordeaux.
How many wines do you taste, and is lunch included?
The listing states a wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé property but does not say how many wines, and lunch is not included. If the count matters, the eight-wine half day states 8 wines for $106.
Where does the tour meet and how do I get there?
At 42 Allées d'Orléans on Quinconces Square, in front of the office of tourism. Tram lines B and C stop at Quinconces, and a single ticket costs €1.90. Details are in the guide to Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion by train if you plan a DIY day too.
Which château do you visit?
The operator books a Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion property only after your booking is confirmed, so the name is not published in advance. If you want a more defined visit, the three-châteaux day trip names its format upfront.
Can I bring children or someone in a wheelchair?
No, the listing excludes children under 12, wheelchair users and people over 70. The village and Grand Cru half day takes children from 4 and is the most reviewed alternative.
When does the tour not run?
All year except December 25 and January 1, with no Sunday departures in December, January and February. See the page on the seasons in the vineyards for timing your trip.
What happens if the minimum group is not reached?
The operator runs groups of 4 to 8 and offers rescheduling or a refund if too few people book. Booking early and comparing all Bordeaux wine day tours reduces the risk of a cancelled date.
What Travelers Said
Our guide Alex was great. he was local to St Emilion and knew lots of places to stop for great pics.
Perfect half day trip. Gorgeous town. Our guide was very informative. Highly recommended
Alex the guide was amazing. Fantastic day trip. Good guidance and excellent knowledge. I would highly recommend
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