Cheese Tourism in France - What It Costs, All Inclusive 0 10

Gastronomic tourism, especially in Europe, has noticeably increased over the past few years. In countries like France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, among others, tourism related to cheese, wine, and olive oil has recently been booming.

Travelers have clearly developed a taste for "cheese" tourism — a niche that has become particularly popular because it allows cheese lovers to delve deeper into the multi-generational traditions of cheesemaking, terroir, and history. France is one of the main destinations for this type of tourism: travelers here have plenty to choose from, as the country produces around 1,200 varieties of cheese.

Now a new French tour offers cheese enthusiasts the opportunity to taste about 100 of the best cheeses in France.

The company - a boutique tour operator specializing in wine and gastronomic trips - has just launched an 11-day tour across France, during which travelers will be able to taste both world-famous and local cheeses accompanied by outstanding wines.

"Cheese in France is not just food," said SmoothRed founder Adam Stebbings. "It’s about exploring different regions of the country and understanding why the cheeses from each of them have that particular taste.

Our itinerary is designed to take people beyond tasting rooms and offer truly authentic experiences. You will handcraft cheese on a goat farm, observe traditional production methods at family-run dairies, and descend into cellars where cheese wheels mature for months."

From Normandy to Burgundy: The Best Cheese and Wine Regions of France

The tour begins in Normandy, where participants travel from Paris by car.

Here, guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at cheesemaking by visiting renowned dairies such as Grain d’Orge. They will also taste local cheeses, including Camembert, Pont-l’Évêque, and Livarot.

The program includes a visit to a calvados distillery, where they will learn about the production of the famous Norman apple brandy.

In some cases, a visit to one of the most beautiful villages in France — Beuvron-en-Auge — may also be possible.

The next day, the route leads to the famous Loire Valley, where guests will enjoy a private walking tour of the town with its medieval streets and impressive architecture.

One of the most vivid and engaging experiences of this stage will be a visit to a family-owned dairy and goat farm with a hands-on cheesemaking workshop. Guests will be able to indulge in delicious goat cheese (chèvre) and stroll through the farm gardens.

A gourmet picnic among the vineyards is planned, featuring tastings of other regional cheeses such as Crottin de Chavignol, Valençay, and Fleur de Solon, accompanied by local wines.

Wine tastings will continue during excursions to the region's châteaux.

Then the group heads to another iconic cheese and wine region — Bordeaux, where they can try local cheeses such as Gabietou and Bleu de Terminyon, as well as Pyrenean delicacies such as Chabichou and Ossau-Iraty.

Here, a tasting of Grand Cru Classé de Graves wines at Château Latour-Martillac is also included. If desired, travelers can stay an extra day in Bordeaux to explore the wines of the Left Bank of Médoc and visit other local attractions, such as the wine museum La Cité du Vin.

From there, the route continues to Burgundy, where you will visit a local dairy and taste five artisanal cheeses, including Brie de Melun, Morbier, and Nuits-Saint-Georges, paired with five local Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.

Next is a tour of the wine cellars of Maison Joseph Drouhin, where guests will taste six different wines and learn more about the history of these cellars, once owned by the Dukes of Burgundy, the Canons of Beaune, and the Kings of France.

At the restaurant Baud et Millet, dishes such as raclette, fondue, and boîte chaude will be served; its cellar stores over 100 varieties of French cheese, and guests can enjoy a buffet format with "all you can eat."

This epic journey concludes in Paris, where participants will have another hands-on culinary workshop at a Parisian cheese school, including a visit to the aging cellar and tastings.

Additionally, there will be a chance to visit the Musée Vivant du Fromage — an interactive museum and cheese factory that tells the story of the people and science behind the history of French cheesemaking, followed by a luxurious river cruise with dinner at sunset to cap off the trip.

The cost of the tour starts from €4,850.70 per person. This amount includes accommodation in a number of luxurious boutique hotels and châteaux, breakfast, all tastings, and individual meals such as picnics. Ground transportation and the services of private guides are also included.