Picture-Perfect Provence
Provence is known for its picture-perfect landscapes, miles of vineyards, lavender fields, adorable hill-top villages, and colorful decorations. It is indeed a traveler’s dream. The Romans were conquered these areas and left their mark throughout. And seven popes and artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne enjoyed years in Provence. With the smell of lavender captured in a gentle breeze, Provence surprises travelers with its breathtaking views, mouthwatering cuisine, and small-town tranquility. On this amazing 5-night program, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the charm of its idyllic towns, an experience you can customize if you choose to extend your stay to Paris, Nice, or other destinations throughout France. With our Travel. Your Way! programs, choose your accommodation type and choose your activities, and we'll piece it all together for an unforgettable, hassle-free vacation.
Select your Own Departure Date
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- 5 nights in Provence in a charming hotel
- Car rental to help you explore the area
- Visits to towns such as Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Gordes
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in France
- Flight arrives Paris.
- You may choose to arrive in Paris or Marseille to start your trip.
- If arriving in Paris, we will assist in making arrangements on the TGV Train, also known as the bullet train, south towards Provence (not included in pricing).
- Pick up Rental Car and Drive to Provence Hotel, where you will spend 5 fabulous nights.
- Get acquainted with the area near your hotel this afternoon.
- Welcome dinner served at the hotel.
Day 2 - Gordes / Luberon / Roussillon / Ménerbes
- Flight arrives Paris.
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Today we recommend visiting Gordes, one of the "in" villages of the Luberon, home to many movie stars and artists. White and gray stone houses swirl around the rock where the village is set. Crowning the site is the church and the castle, which face the hills of the Luberon.
- Visit the nearby Abbey of Senanque, where lavender fields bloom from June to august.
- If you’re not too tired, continue to the village of Roussillon, located in the Luberon, at the foot of the Mont de Vaucluse, considered one of the most impressive villages in France, famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ocher quarries.
- By the end of the day stop in Ménerbes, ranked among "the most beautiful villages in France".
- Return to the hotel
Day 3 - Saint Rémy de Provence / Les Baux-de-Provence / Arles
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Depart to Saint Rémy de Provence, one of the most authentic towns in Provence.
- Here you can discover the St-Paul-De-Mausole Clinic, where Van Gogh produced about 150 paintings while he was treated for mental illness, a good place to start exploring. Its cloisters now house the Valétudo art- and music-therapy center, where a permanent exhibition of paintings by patients, many of them for sale, is showcased since it opened its doors in 1995.
- Nearby you may also wish to visit the ancient Roman city of Glanum.
- Next, we recommend that you visit a local olive oil mill, where you can sample some of the best oils of Provence.
- Continue your exploration towards Les Baux-de-Provence. This village is unique among the many attractions in Provence. It is both an ancient ruin and a quaint much visited town, perching for nearly a mile along a narrow strip of land that juts up from the valley floor, surrounded on three sides by the sheer jagged cliffs of the Alpilles Mountain range.
- Then discover the city of Arles with The Arenas and Theatre Antique Pop down to the interesting Théâtre Antique, an outdoor Roman style semi-circle theatre that sat 12,000 people. Built by Emperor Augustus at the end of the first century BC, it was later used as a quarry, so much of what you see today is in ruins, but it is still used for outdoor performances.
- Return to the hotel.
Day 4 - Avignon / Pont du Gard / Châteauneuf du Pape
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Visit to Avignon, a walled city located on the Rhone River, known for its papal rule during the 14th century. Make sure you pay a visit to the impressive Palais des Papes (once residence of the popes).
- The Pont du Gard is a very special highlight in the heart of a beautiful region. This engineering feat, built by the Romans in the 1st century BC, was part of a 30-mile long aqueduct which carried waters from Uzès to Nîmes.
- Then you must visit Châteauneuf du Pape, with its great vineyards and amazing wine cellars. Enjoy a wine tasting at one of the many spots in town. Specially the white wines offer a nuance of plums and white flowers.
Day 5 - Provence Cooking Class
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- This morning make your way towards Aix-en Provence, one of the most charming and beautiful towns of the region, with its colorful daily market filled with flowers, local produce, and more! Enjoy a walk in the footsteps of post-impressionist French painter Cézanne.
- Today enjoy a cooking class with a local chef and learn the secrets of Provencal cuisine, which you will savor afterwards.
- In the afternoon spend some time enjoying the nearby Provencal town where your hotel is located for your last evening in the region.
- Return to the hotel
Day 6 - Departure Day
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Drive towards the Marseille airport and drop your rental car, OR choose to extend your stay to Paris, Nice, or other destinations throughout France.
- Return flight home.