Provence & The French Riviera 9 Days/7 Nights

Depart from the US on an overnight flight to Marseille, France. Meals and refreshments served on board.

Upon arrival at Marseille airport proceed to baggage claim. After clearing customs, you will be met by our professional tour director and transferred to your hotel in Avignon. Dependent on arrival times the rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight, dinner is at the hotel. (D)

Your day begins with a visit of Orange, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a visit of the well preserved Roman Triumphal Arch, a symbol of the Roman imperial glory, your driver will take you on a journey through the vineyards between Orange and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, where a wine tasting session of the most prestigious red wine in the Rhone Valley awaits you - Cultural Discovery Series. Continue to St. Remy-de-Provence, a picturesque market town. The medieval streets of the Old Town jumble together to form a maze filled with upscale boutiques and pretty shops stocking Provençal products. Continue with a visit of Les Baux-de-Provence, a village set upon a rock, and of Arles, a good example of the adaptation of an ancient city to medieval European civilization. (B)

This morning you tour Avignon, the City of the Popes. See the Popes’ Palace, the largest gothic palace in the world, and the majestic Pont d’Avignon. In the afternoon, your time is free to explore or take an optional tour to Gordes, a hilltop village in the Luberon region. Its houses and buildings of white stone root themselves into the sharp cliff of the mountain. Its labyrinth of “calades,” narrow cobblestone streets, do not leave the visitor indifferent to its charms. Continue to Roussillon, a village that has seduced many artists. Its houses offer the passers-by a harmony of enchanting colors, art galleries, and some excellent restaurants. Afterward, as part of our Cultural Discovery Series, visit the Senanque Abbey and Lavender Museum. The Abbey of Senanque has become one of the symbols of Provence because of its idyllic setting. The Cistercian abbey from the 12th century still is occupied by monks. Since 1960 the monks have been cultivating what they call “the blue gold” lavender. After the visit, we head back to the hotel. (B)

This morning, after breakfast, depart Avignon bound for the Côte d'Azur and Nice! Along the way, you visit the spectacular town of Aix-en-Provence and step back in time. Vestiges of the Roman city are still visible at the Thermes Sextius spa, Gothic cloisters can be admired at the Cathedral, and sumptuous neoclassical houses that long inspired writers and artists can be seen in the Mazarin quarter. Here you visit Paul Cezanne’s studio – Cultural Discovery Series. Free time will be given for lunch, before continuing to Nice and check in at your hotel. Welcome to Nice, a gem of the French Riviera, sitting on the pebbly shores of the Baie des Anges. Founded by the Greeks and later a retreat for 19th-century European elite, the city has also long attracted artists. Relax and enjoy! (B)

Today you will enjoy a walking tour of the lovely town of Nice. See the Promenade des Anglais – one of the most photographed stretches of the seafront in the world, with its elegant Belle Époque-style buildings, and Marché aux Fleurs. This market is still one of France’s foremost venues, selling delicious fruit and vegetables as well as local flowers. This is a great place for taking photographs of the brightly colored displays or sampling the homemade local delicacies. Afternoon at leisure to shop, relax or head to a coffee shop to watch the world go by. (B)

Your morning begins with a city tour of Cannes. “Discovered” by Lord Brougham in 1834, Cannes soon became a community for the international elite and is synonymous with the International Film Festival. We will see the Palais des Festivals with its lovely harbor and La Croisette, perhaps one of the most elegant seaside promenades in the world. The Old Town – Le Suquet – is still a delicious maze of medieval streets and Renaissance houses. We continue to St. Paul-de-Vence. The picture book medieval village of St. Paul-de-Vence stands hidden behind its ramparts and is “Provence in a nutshell.” It was rediscovered only in the 1920s by a group of painters, including Chagall, who lived here and is entombed here. Afterwards, it is time for our Cultural Discovery Series and time to learn and taste the local specialties – olive oil, cheese and wine. (B)

Today enjoy a full free day to explore Nice or take an optional tour along the French Riviera visiting Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Monte Carlo & Eze. The first stop will be in Villefranche-sur-Mer. There’s a quite medieval feeling in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The city’s long and rich history as a major seaport is visible everywhere you look with quiet little squares and Place de l’Eglise that has a bench circling a beautiful big tree. We continue to the Principality of Monaco. From casinos to elegant balls, Monte Carlo has plenty of luxurious attractions to draw international jet-setters. The next stop will be the tiny village of Eze, perched on a rocky hill above the sea. With narrow cobblestone, pedestrian-only streets, beautiful views of the surrounding hills and the azure water below, it is just as it was centuries ago. Along the way, there is free time for lunch and then our Cultural Discovery Series with a visit to the Fragonard perfumery to discover the trade secrets of our fragrances and the history of perfume-making from its beginnings to the present day. This evening dinner is included (B,D)

This morning transfer to the airport for your return flight home, taking with you many wonderful memories of France. (B)