Book Now for 2027: The Right Guide Makes All the Difference
2027 may still seem a long way away. Our booking calendar doesn't seem to think so.
At Détours & Guides, we are already working on 2027 and 2028 programmes, and 2027 is filling up very quickly.
If you're planning a private journey, a family trip, a special-interest tour, an incentive, a group programme — or if you're a tour operator looking for reliable guides across France — now is a very good time to start the conversation.
Because booking early isn't simply about securing a date.
It's about having a choice.
The right guide for the right group
One of the things we do best at Détours & Guides is something that sounds simple but makes a huge difference:
matching the right guide with the right group.
A group passionate about Cathare history doesn't necessarily need the same guide as a family fascinated by food and local life.
A group of architecture enthusiasts may want a completely different experience from first-time visitors looking for the stories, flavours and everyday life of a destination.
A wine group needs someone who understands more than wine.
A family with teenagers needs a different rhythm.
A group of professionals may need a completely different approach again.
Our network allows us to look beyond availability and ask the more important question:
Who is the right person to make this experience memorable
for this particular group?
That's our expertise.
But if you have a particular profile, language, speciality or guide in mind, booking early gives us far more choice. And the same applies to drivers, vehicles and specialist partners.
2027: a special focus on South-West France
One of our priorities for 2027 is to develop our presence and expertise in South-West France and Occitanie. This is a region we know, love and believe deserves far more attention from international travellers. It is also the region where our headquarters are.
In particular, we are developing experiences around:
Auvillar & the surrounding area
Beautiful villages, the Camino de Santiago, local heritage, gastronomy, markets, landscapes and the quieter side of South-West France. Auvillar is exactly the kind of place we love at Détours & Guides: somewhere with history and character, but also a living community and stories that go beyond the usual tourist narrative.
Albi & the surrounding area
From the extraordinary red-brick architecture of Albi to the villages, vineyards, landscapes and local stories of the Tarn, there is so much more to explore beyond the city itself. We want to create journeys that connect the famous places with the people, traditions and landscapes that surround them.
Carcassonne, Narbonne & beyond
Carcassonne is an obvious highlight. But the real adventure begins when you venture beyond the medieval walls. Villages, vineyards, producers, artisans, landscapes, local food and the many layers of history surrounding the city all offer opportunities for much more personal experiences.
Nîmes & the surrounding area
Roman heritage is at the heart of Nîmes — but there is much more to the city than its ancient monuments. From the Arena and Maison Carrée to the landscapes of the Costières de Nîmes, nearby villages, local markets, gastronomy and the traditions of the Gard, the area offers a fascinating meeting point between ancient history and contemporary French life.
Cahors & the surrounding area
Cahors sits in a landscape shaped by the Lot River, vineyards, medieval heritage and centuries of rural life. Beyond Cahors, the surrounding countryside reveals beautiful villages, vineyards, local producers, traditional food, dramatic landscapes and the quieter rhythm of South-West France.
Our ambition is not simply to take travellers to these destinations. It is to help them understand them, meet the people who live there and experience the region beyond the postcard.
And there is much more of France to come
Our work remains national. Détours & Guides works with guides, drivers and local partners throughout France, from Paris and Lille to Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Montpellier, Lourdes, Bayonne, and beyond.
And, as always, we're interested in the places between the lines of the map.
Vineyards. Villages. Workshops. Markets. Landscapes. Producers. Artists. Family businesses. Local tables. Unexpected encounters.
The things that turn a sightseeing trip into a journey.
Tour operators: don't wait for the last-minute rush
And this message is particularly for our friends and partners in the tour operator and travel industry. If 2026 taught us anything, it is that waiting until the last minute to secure guides can make things unnecessarily complicated. We have seen a significant increase in demand for guides across France, sometimes with requests arriving very close to the travel date at the peaks of the season.
We will always do our best to help.
But the earlier you send us your 2027 programmes, the better we can work with you.
It gives us time to:
identify the right guide for each group;
match guides according to language, interests and expertise;
secure availability across multi-day programmes;
coordinate guides, tour leaders, partners, and drivers;
find the right vehicle and transport partners;
build specialist experiences;
and, when necessary, develop something specifically for your clients.
Send us your programmes early.
Even if some details are still changing.
We can work with that.
A few things we're preparing for 2027…
We can't reveal everything just yet, but there are some exciting projects taking shape.
We are working with travel agencies on new themed journeys across France, designed around specific interests and ways of experiencing a destination.
We are also preparing a calendar of open-to-the-public guided experiences, alongside private tours, in several regions of France.
And we are developing a collection of private excursions with drivers, departing from cities including: Montauban · Toulouse · Bordeaux · Carcassonne · Lille · Paris · Marseille · Nice · Lyon · Nantes — to name a few.
Expect vineyards, villages, beautiful landscapes, remarkable monuments, artisans, producers and plenty of opportunities to meet local people along the way.
More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
So, should you book your 2027 tour now?
If your dates are already confirmed: yes.
If you are travelling with a group: definitely.
If you need a particular language, speciality or type of guide: the earlier, the better.
If you're a tour operator building a 2027 programme: let's talk before the calendar gets crowded.
And if you have absolutely no idea which guide you need yet? That's fine too.
That's one of the things we are here for.
Tell us who your travellers are, what they are interested in, where they are going and what kind of experience you want them to have. We'll work on the rest.
Because at Détours & Guides, we don't believe that the best guide is simply the guide who happens to be available. We believe the best guide is the right guide for your travellers. And the earlier we start, the more likely we are to find them.
Planning France for 2027?
Tell us what you're planning.
Your dates don't have to be final.Your itinerary doesn't have to be perfect.Your questions don't have to have answers yet.
Let's start with a conversation.
Détours & Guides following moments, not maps.
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