France: Provence & Riviera

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1 : DEPART USA

EN ROUTE

Depart on your overnight flight to Paris.

DAY 2 : PARIS

HOTEL REGINA

Arrive Paris airport and transfer to hotel.

DAY 3 : PARIS

HOTEL REGINA

Half day tour of Paris and Montmartre with private English speaking driver/guide. Discover Paris and its history through the city’s major landmarks and monuments: Madeleine, Opera, Vendôme Square, Concorde, Arch of Triumph and Champs-Elysées, Invalides, Louvre, and Notre-Dame. Then let yourself be enchanted by the charm of Montmartre where this excursion ends with a walking visit of this artistic and always lively bohemian quarter: Sacré-Cœur, Moulin de la Galette, the vineyards and Place du Tertre. Evening at leisure. (B)

DAY 4 : PARIS

HOTEL REGINA

Half day guided tour of the Louvre or Musee d’Orsay with your private English speaking guide. Evening dinner cruise with premier seating at the front of the boat to admire “Paris by Night” whilst enjoying a lovely dinner. (B,D)

DAY 5 : PARIS / AVIGNON

HOTEL DE LA MIRANDE

Transfer to the rail station where you board the TGV fast train to Avignon (2 ½ hours). On arrival transfer to your hotel and walking tour of the “intra muros” city with the Palace of the Popes. Evening at leisure. (B)

DAY 6 : AVIGNON

HOTEL DE LA MIRANDE

Full day tour with your local English speaking guide to explore some of the beautiful Provencal villages such as Gordes and Roussillon, and stop for a wine tasting in celebrated Chateauneuf du Pape. (B)

DAY 7 : AVIGNON

HOTEL DE LA MIRANDE

Full day tour with your local English speaking guide to Arles and Les Baux de Provence. (B)

DAY 8 : AVIGNON / RAMATUELLE

VILLA MARIE

Travel to Aix-en-Provence for a visit of Cezanne’s birth town. Its classic Baroque architecture sets it apart from other Provencal towns. Continue to the coast and charming little Cassis, where, weather permitting, you will discover the unique “calanques” by boat. End the day in Ramatuelle, near St Tropez. (B)

DAY 9 : RAMATUELLE

VILLA MARIE

Morning at leisure. Afternoon to St Tropez for a drink on the harbor (try to spot the celebrities on their yachts!) and some time visiting this haven of the “rich and famous”. St Tropez first attracted the “Painters of Light” such as Signac and Dufy, followed by Matisse and Picabia. The Annonciade Museum tells the story of this sleepy village with paintings of those artists and many more. (B)

DAY 10 : RAMATUELLE / CANNES

HOTEL MAJESTIC

Travel along the coast. (B)
NOTE: If time allows, we suggest settling into your own villa, Villa Miranizza for a week in beautiful Cap d’Antibes.

DAY 11 : CANNES

HOTEL MAJESTIC

The French Riviera is a treasure trove of places to visit and activities. For arts and crafts lovers we suggest a full day to visit Vallauris where pottery has been taking place for 2000 years and Biot to admire glassblowers at work. In Vence, visit the Maeght Foundation, with its splendid modern art collection and stroll the many galleries of St Paul de Vence. (B).

DAY 12 : CANNES

HOTEL MAJESTIC

Today you could be active and hike around one of the “Capes”, board the boat to the nearby Lerins Islands with a picnic, enjoy a 4 x 4 excursion in the back country, visit the Picasso Museum in Antibes’ Castle, travel to Monaco and Monte Carlo for a visit of this legendary tiny country with its palace, casino and Oceanographic Museum, or stay in Cannes to shop, lay on the hotel's private beach, have a “bouillabaisse” lunch on the harbor... These are just a few suggestions… (B)

DAY 13 : DEPART NICE

EN ROUTE

Transfer to Nice airport for your flight home. Au revoir! (B)