Human Origins: Southwest France and Northern Spain

Trace the footsteps of early humans as we explore the cradles of prehistoric civilization in southwest France and on Spain’s northern coast. On an expedition designed with the help of paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, examine remarkably sophisticated carvings and cave paintings that illustrate everyday life some 25,000 years ago. Travel from the Dordogne to Basque Country, discovering the medieval towns that dot these long-inhabited landscapes.

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Bordeaux, France/Montignac

Depart on an overnight flight to Bordeaux. Journey to the beautiful Dordogne region—still commonly known by its pre-revolutionary name, Périgord. Here, rivers have carved up the limestone landscape, leaving cliffs and caves where humans have built their homes for tens of thousands of years. Settle into the village of Montignac, perched on the banks of the Vézère River, and gather this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.
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Day 3 — Prehistoric Sites of the Vézère Valley

Begin the day at the National Museum of Prehistory with an introduction to Paleolithic art by one of the world’s leading experts, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon, author of Stepping Stones: A Journey through the Ice Age Caves of the Dordogne. Then join Christine for a visit to Font-de-Gaume, home to more than 200 prehistoric polychrome paintings, or to Bernifal Cave, known for its tectiform images and engravings. After lunch on your own in the nearby town of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, visit Les Combarelles cave and then see the majestic sculpted frieze of horses and bison on the cliffs at Cap Blanc.
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Day 4 — Lascaux II/Sarlat

Meet prehistory expert Denis Tauxe for a tour of Lascaux II, a painstaking recreation of the two primary chambers of the original Lascaux cave, whose famous paintings have been off-limits to visitors since 1963 to prevent deterioration. Travel to picturesque Sarlat, whose original half-timbered and golden-stone buildings and narrow cobbled streets make it one of the best-preserved medieval towns in France. After time to explore on your own, gather for a unique “prehistoric” lunch, made with ingredients used by the Neanderthals. In the afternoon, join archaeologist Isabelle Castanet for a visit to Castel-Merle, a complex of prehistoric stone shelters more than 300 feet long, excavated and preserved by several generations of the Castanet family.
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Day 5 — Pech Merle/Toulouse

This morning, venture into the spectacular natural galleries of Pech Merle, an enormous cave system filled with prehistoric art and artifacts dating back 25,000 years. See rare representations of human figures, engraved or spotted animals, and a mammoth drawn using the natural contours of the rock. The cave floor displays children’s footprints preserved in the ancient clay more than 12,000 years ago. Following lunch on your own, stop for a wine tasting at a local chateau, then continue to the lively university town of Toulouse.
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Day 6 — Basque Country

Drive southwest into France’s Basque region, stopping in the picturesque village of Saint-Jean- Pied-de-Port for lunch in a traditional Basque restaurant. In the afternoon, enter the Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves with local prehistory specialist Aude Labarge and meet with the archaeological site director, Christian Normand. Used by human beings for more than 80,000 years, these super-imposed caves have yielded tens of thousands of artifacts, including flutes, sculpted reindeer horns, and whale bone tools. Cross into Spain this afternoon and trace the Bay of Biscay to the Cantabria region. Check into our charming hotel, a manor house situated in the heart of the medieval village of Santillana del Mar.
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Day 7 — Puente Viesgo Caves, Spain

Come face-to-face with some of the oldest artistic representations in human history on a visit to the caves at Puente Viesgo, part of the Paleolithic caves of northern Spain World Heritage site. Recently identified as the oldest cave artwork in the world, the paintings in El Castillo cave date back at least 40,800 years. Explore the nearby Las Monedas cave—the longest in Puente Viesgo— and later, delve deeper into the prehistory of the region on a visit to the Altamira Museum.
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Day 8 — Hornos de la Peña Cave/Bilbao

Continue our exploration of Cantabria’s World Heritage–listed caves at Hornos de la Peña. Here, large-scale naturalistic engravings depict horses, bison, aurochs, goats, and other animals, as well as an unusual anthropomorphic figure with a human-like arm and a tail. After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to Bilbao, the largest city in Spain’s autonomous Basque Country. Explore the city on your own this afternoon, and if you wish, stop in at the world-famous Guggenheim Museum located just a short walk from our hotel.
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Day 9 — Atapuerca/Burgos

Today we are joined by renowned archaeologist Dr. Ana Cristina Pinto-Llona, an expert on the origins of modern humans. Ana is a two-time National Geographic grant recipient for her work in the Asturias region of northern Spain, and also spent several years excavating at the Atapuerca archaeological site. Visit Atapuerca, where the oldest known hominin fossil remains in Europe have been unearthed. Then continue to Burgos to visit the Museum of Human Evolution, where many of the Atapuerca finds are displayed. Return to Bilbao and celebrate your prehistoric adventure at a festive farewell dinner
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Day 10 — Bilbao/U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to Bilbao Airport for your flight home.
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