Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1
Arrival Day, Group Pick-up at 3:00 PM at the Avignon TGV rail station, Dinner Together - D

"Meet and Greet" by your tour guide(s) at AVIGNON TGV Rail Station at scheduled group pick-up time and location inside the TGV station. Transfer to your luxury historical hotel, L'Hotel: Les Ateliers de l'Image, in the heart of the village town of St. Remy-de-Provence. Step out the door of our hotel into the historical pedestrian streets and begin your program of discovery with a leisure stroll through St. Remy-de-Provence village, visit of historic monuments and museums. Introductory walking tour of St. Remy de Provence following check-in at the hotel. Afterwards, enjoy a local cafe and shopping at the artisan boutiques or simply enjoy your time to settle into your room with a cocktail at the private garden of our hotel or by the pool. Enjoy the peacefulness of the hotel gardens and the spectacular backdrop of Les Alpilles mountain range behind the gardens, a perfect setting for pure relaxation. Our hotel, L'Hotel des Ateliers de l'Image has recently been placed on Conde Nast Traveler's exclusive hot list.

Dinner: Welcome cocktail hour in the hotel gardens followed by our first evening of regional cuisine St. Remois style, a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with your fellow travelers.

Day 2

Day 2
Day Along the Mediterranean Coast: Morning Walk of the Mediterranean "Calanques" of Cassis, Visit and Shop in Cassis Wine Growing Village - B, D

Breakfast. Departure to the picturesque Mediterranean coastal village of Cassis, France surrounded by vineyards, and bordered by the Mediterranean sea, picturesque cliffs and beach. The Mediterranean sea glistens and sparkles as it meets the calcium rich white cliffs (called Calanques), and as Frederic Mistral decried, "who have seen Paris, if you have not seen Cassis, you have seen nothing", a quote taken to heart by the locals of this thriving coastal wine growing village. Stroll through this art deco style village pedestrian streets for photo ops, shop and try a local cafe at the port. The colorful Mediterranean port in Cassis will serve as the starting point for our Calanques walk. This walk is optional: It has been designed for interested guests. Any guest not participating in the walk may wish to embark on a scenic boat tour of the Calanques instead.

Dinner: Bistro style Provence cuisine this evening.

Day 3

Day 3
Luberon Villages: Morning: Perched Village of Gordes, Afternoon: Artist Village of Roussillon, Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Regional Cheese & Chateauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tasting - B

off the beaten path provence luxury tour visiting in Gordes FranceBreakfast. Departure to the picturesque "Luberon" area of Provence made famous by Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence and A Grand Year. Our visit today will concentrate on the artist villages of Gordes and Roussillon, the two most beautiful of the Luberon. Built on the foothills of the Monts of Vaucluse, facing the Luberon, the village of Gordes is one of the most well-known hilltop villages in the region, and one of the most beautiful in France. Its houses and buildings of white and golden stone root themselves into the sharp cliff of the mountain, its labyrthinth of "calades" (narrow cobblestone streets) do not leave the visitor indifferent to its charms. Many artists have stayed in Gordes and have contributed to its fame. Some, such as Marc Chagall, Victor Vasarely and Pol Mara came to stay. Gordes is also proud of its castle firmly planted in its very core and which reminds the passer-by of a past rich with conquests, but also marked with the sufferings of its inhabitants.

Also, situated at the foot of the Monts of Vaucluse and in the heart of one of the biggest ochre deposits in the world, the village of Roussillon is famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ochre quarries. The red, yellow and brown shades of the earth form a striking contrast with the lush green pine trees. The vivid blue of the Provencal sky and the exceptional quality of light make this a magical site. It is like an artist's pallet, with the infinite combinations of colors varying from yellow to purple with all the shades of pink and red in between.

The ochre facades of the houses are magnificent... shades vary subtly from light yellow to dark red, set off by the brightly painted shutters and doors. From the base of the village to the summit of the Castrum and its splendid view, Roussillon is a delightful place! Again, numerous artists, naturally, have been seduced by Roussillon: Jean Cocteau, Carzou, Buffet, Ambrogiani...to name a few. You will discover several art galleries and studios, as well as artisan boutiques while strolling through the narrow village streets.

Early evening: Guests are welcomed in the gardens of our hotel for a tasting of local cheeses produced by our friend Claudine, an artisan cheese maker from the Camargue. Claudine raises her goats and produces her cheese in a fromagerie on her farm in the Camargue. We'll pair our cheeses with a lovely bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape wine and a selection of Provence fresh breads from our local baker, plus increase our wine and cheese knowledge, learning more about Provence vinification practices and the art of cheese making. Enjoy a game of petanque before, during or after our tasting.

Dinner: Independently in St. Remy de Provence. The town offers a large selection of dining opportunities from simplistic to sophisticated cuisine. Your Guide will be happy to make recommendations for dinner, as well as reservations.

Day 4

Day 4
Morning: Culinary Class - The Provence Paradox, Cooking Class Lunch, Afternoon in Historic Aix-en-Provence Town - B, L

Breakfast. Culinary Class in an antique bastide in the heart of Aix-en-Provence countryside, just minutes from the town center. Traditional provencal cooking: Preparation of a three course meal with the help of our Chef Marc's local provencal recipes. The type of recipes used are simple but well known. In an italian park each step reveals the rich aromas so well known to the local cuisine. One cannot resist collecting the wild perfumed herbs to prepare the irresistible old fashioned tasty mediterranean delights. Lunch: Savoring the gourmet meal we have just prepared accompanied by regional wines.

Afternoon: Independent visit in historic Aix-en-Provence. In 1182, Aix became home to the Counts of Provence. The town developed around three main sites, the Palace of the Counts, the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral and several districts of artisans and merchants. Under the reign of the Counts: Its ancient ramparts were brimming with new convents, the most famous being that of the Knights of Saint-Jean de Malte, which became the burial place of the Counts. From this period, the town has preserved its outer wall, which begins at the old Bourg Saint Sauveur (the market town). In 1409, Louis II of Anjou founded the University. Under the reign of his son Rene (1409-1480), Aix acquired an efficient administration and became a place of artistic creation. This Golden Age no doubt contributed to the legend of Queen Jeanne and "Good King Rene", whose statue still stands at the far end of the Cours Mirabeau. A year after his death, Provence was annexed by the Kingdom of France, though for two centuries the town refused to accept the centralist policies of the monarchy.

Dinner: Independently in St. Remy de Provence. The town offers a large selection of dining opportunities from simplistic to sophisticated cuisine. Again, your Guide will be happy to make recommendations, as well as any reservations that you may require.

Day 5

Day 5
Morning: St. Remy-de-Provence Art, Artisan and Local Products Market, Afternoon: Village of Les Baux de Provence, Evening & Dinner: Culinary Class in an 18th century Provencal Farmhouse - B, D

Breakfast. Spend the morning shopping at the local art, artisan and local products market in St. Remy-de-Provence, the town that inspired some of Van Gogh's most famous art work. Noble names of our time include Princess Diana who once had a home here and Princess Caroline of Monaco who has a home in St. Remy. Situated in the heart of the Alpilles, surrounded by lush valleys of olive trees and Baux de Provence vineyards, the sounds of cicadas chirping, the visual delight of plane trees and flowers and its' Gallo-Roman architecture, St. Remy-de-Provence reflects the heart and soul of Provence. Market day in town is a must for any stay in Provence. Early afternoon at leisure to explore St. Remy independently or enjoy an optional trip to Les Baux de Provence.

Evening and Dinner: This evening Guests embark on a culinary adventure with a hands-on cooking class at an 18th century Domaine (farmhouse) surrounded by a pine forest, vineyards and olive trees near St. Remy-de-Provence. This spectacular settings creates the perfect inspiration for the delicious cuisine and local recipes we'll prepare together. There will be time to enjoy a glass of local wine and stroll the grounds. Following class, a gourmet feast of the recipes prepared together in class with wine pairings.

Day 6

Tour Conclusion - B
Buffet breakfast. Trip concludes today with a 10 AM arrival to Avignon TGV Rail Station.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

--5 nights, Home Based Historical, Luxury Hotel (NO Hotel Hopping) in the historic center of St. Remy-de-Provence. L'Hotel des Ateliers de l'Image has recently been placed on Conde Nast Traveler's exclusive hot list.

Exclusions -

roundtrip airfare to and from France

Extras -

ACTIVITY LEVEL:
10% Moderate, 90% Easy

TOUR BEGINS:
Group pick-up : Your guide meets you and the other Guests of the group on Tour start date at 4:00 PM at the Avignon TGV Rail Station in Avignon, France. To reach the meeting location for the Tour, travelers take the TGV (high speed train) either directly from the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Avignon TGV Rail Station or from the Gare de Lyon in downtown Paris to the Avignon TGV Rail Station in Avignon. TGV Travel time is approximately 2 hours/40 minutes from downtown Paris and 3 hours from the CDG airport.

TOUR ENDS:
Group drop-off on Tour end date at 10 AM at Avignon TGV train Station. Earlier drop-offs at Avignon TGV station can be arranged for guests returning directly to Charles de Gaulle airport.