Last minute! Lourdes Southern France, departure 23rd July return 28th July with Hamilton Travel

We will meet at the airport at 9.15 pm so that we fly to Lourdes with Air Malta at 11.30 pm.

Upon arrival we travel to our 4* hotel – Hotel Alba, which is located close to the grotto. Allocation of rooms and we will have time to rest. Breakfast will be followed by a visit to a few places of interest in Lourdes, including the Boly windmill, where Bernardette was born; and Cachot, where she lived during the time of the apparitions. We will dine at the hotel, and and, afterwards, there will be an optional excursion to Bartres. Then, we will head to the Meridien Shopping Arcade. Dinner at the hotel. Following this, we will attend the procession and recite the rosary.

After breakfast and mass, there will be an optional excursion to Biarritz where we will see, among other things, the Hotel Napoleon III, which used to be Napoleon’s summer residence. We will also visit the Grand Plage and the lighthouse. Then, we will make our way to St. Jean de Luz, a fishing port on the Basque coast known for its architecture, sandy bay and cuisine. We will have some free time for shopping. Supper will be served at the hotel, after which we will attend the Marche Aux Flambeaux.

After breakfast there will be an optional tour to Artouste by way of a coach ride through the Pyrenees mountains. We will take a cable car (extra) and then ride a train (extra) into these mountains that separate France from Spain. A packed lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, we will visit a small town in Spain, where we will be able to take photos and buy souvenirs. Supper at the hotel, then we will attend the Marche Aux Flambeaux. (Cable car and Train cost around €21.50 per Adult & €17 per Child).

Breakfast will be followed by mass. Lunch will be taken at the hotel. In the afternoon there will be an optional excursion to the largest grottos in the world – The Betherram Grottos.  Please be advised that this excursion entails walking for at least 1 hour and 20 minutes and 250 steps and once started, one cannot stop half way through and return back to the entrance.    After dinner we can join in the ‘Aux Flambeaux’ Procession to recite the Rosary.

We will eat breakfast at the hotel and then head to the Baths. After lunch there will be an optional trip to Pont d’Espagne, which we will reach by coach. On the way there we will see some beautiful scenery, including several waterfalls. We will stop shortly inCauterets, a small town in the mountains. Then, we will head to St. Savin, another mountain town. Supper will be served at the hotel. We will then attend the procession. Late at night, we will take the coach back to the airport and catch our flight to Malta, where we will be scheduled to arrive in the early hours of the following day. ROOMS WILL BE KEPT TILL 19.00 HRS