Day 2: Nice, Èze, Cagnes-sur-Mer
This morning we’ll leave Nice towards the mountains on our way to Èze, the first town you will meet during your discovery of Provence. Have a first taste of the Provencal atmosphere among cobbled streets, colorful flowers and breathtaking views. Visit the Jardin Exotique, a wonderful botanical garden with succulent plants of all shapes and origins, climb the stronghold and admire the view of the French Riviera. After visiting this hamlet, head to Cagnes-sur-Mer and dive into the azure waters of Provence. In the evening, treat yourself to a little relaxation by tasting Provençal specialties on the seafront. [B/D]
Day 3: Cagnes-sur-Mer, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Grasse, Aups
Today head to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, just 4 miles north of Cagnes-sur-Mer, a famous town that is an open-air art gallery! If you love art you’ll have a field day in this place! You should know that in the past, Saint-Paul-de-Vence was the destination of famous artists, including Picasso and Matisse to name just two. Even today the whole town exudes art: there are many contemporary installations that you can admire while walking through the streets of the city. The second stop of the day is Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the city of violets. Here you can not only admire a typical Provencal hamlet, but also discover all the possible uses of violets. From beauty products to cooking: because here, flowers can be tasted! And after discovering the culinary aspects of the violets, how about discovering their use in perfumes? Continue to Grasse, the perfume capital. Here you can feel intoxicated by the fragrance nebulizers in the town’s small streets or dedicate yourself to visiting a real perfume factory. Then, get back in the car reach Aups in time for dinner. We’ll stay here for the night. [B/D]
Day 4: Aups, Grand Canyon du Verdon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Today we’ll visit the deepest and largest gorge in Europe: The Grand Canyon du Verdon. This spectacle of nature can be admired in various ways: from the top panoramic terraces or more closely… literally crossing it. After admiring the spectacle of nature that is the Canyon du Verdon from each observation corner, a little time to enjoy some sun and relax on the banks of the emerald green waters of Lake St. Croix before continuing to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The symbol of this town is a golden star suspended in the air, hanging between two rocky spurs of the cliffs. If you want you may climb 200 steps carved into the rock to admire it more closely. Ceramics are a peculiarity of this small town where as many as 15 shops offer glazed pottery. If we are lucky we may see the sun bathe the town with a pink light making even more beautiful one of the most beautiful towns in France. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/D]
Day 5: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Roussillon, Abbey of Sénanque, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Avignon
Roussillon owes its fame to its ocher quarries that were used until 1929. Today it is possible to visit them through 2 paths left from that time, called Trail of Ocher, that allow us to admire a “Martian landscape”! Visiting the town is really special, too! All the houses are painted in shades of ocher and really seem to blend in with the surrounding landscape. After getting lost in the warm colors of Roussillon, head to the Abbey of Sènanque, one of the most evocative places to admire the blooming lavender fields. It's time to visit one of the most romantic places in Provence: Fontaine de Vaucluse! Just think that Petrarca composed his love poems for Laura right here. It is a really delightful town with a beautiful walkway along the river banks. Then, we head to Avignon for dinner and overnight. [B/D]
Day 6: Avignon, Les Baux-de-Provence
You cannot say that you haven’t seen Provence without visiting Avignon! When you arrive in town you have the impression of being catapulted back in time: imposing buildings, winding alleyways and well-preserved walls, make this city truly unique. The Palace of the Popes is an absolutely must visit. Consider it’s the largest Gothic palace in Europe and was, during the 4th century, the residence of the popes. We’ll also visit St. Bénézet bridge, the symbol of Avignon and a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a small cruise on the Rhone river that will give you a different perspective of St. Bénézet Bridge. Get lost in the city’s streets admiring its imposing buildings from the outside. After the visit, we continue to Les Baux-de-Provence. This hamlet is really suggestive: Literally perched on a cliff, in some places the houses seem to merge with the surrounding rock creating a really surreal atmosphere. For centuries this town was abandoned because of its tragic past, but was later rediscovered thanks to its bauxite deposits, but it preserved that mysterious charm of those places once abandoned, making it truly unique. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/D]
Day 7: Les Baux-de-Provence, Camargue, Arles
We have taken you to visit some fantastic hamlets, to dive into lavender, to admire the most spectacular gorge in Europe and a real Martian landscape. You think it can’t be surpassed but, truly, it can! Today we take you to the Camargue, where the wild and unspoiled nature is sovereign and the man is just a mere passing spectator. The Camargue is a vast plain with lagoons, marshes, rice fields and sandbanks, all surrounded by water. It is a huge natural park with very particular flora and fauna. We arrange a boat to let you see more closely the famous white horses of the Camargue and the bulls with lyre-shaped horns. Then we’ll explore some folk towns. Les-Saint-Maries-de-la-Mer looks like a fishing village like many others but, in fact, it is the most folkloristic in all of France. In the village’s church rest the mortal remains of Santa Sara, the patron saint of gypsies who celebrate it with a great ceremony every year on 24 and 25 May. A short drive to charming Aigues Mortes, literally "Dead waters". This city was in the past the first Mediterranean port of France and from here the French ships left for the seventh crusade in the Holy Land. Aigues Mortes has been perfectly preserved over the centuries, so much so that it is still completely surrounded by a wall 5360-foot long that allows you a walk to enjoying the fantastic view. We drive to Arles to dedicate a couple of hours in the evening. Know that it is one of the oldest cities in all of France and offers exhibits dating back to the Roman era, including an extraordinarily well-preserved arena. Dinner and overnight in Arles. B/D]
Day 8: Arles, Aix-en-Provence
We leave Arles for Aix-en-Provence to start a visit in style at the market place. Nothing is more effective to get in the mood of Provence than a walk among the stalls of fruits, vegetables, fish and delicatessen. Direction Richelme square, just next to City Hall, then we go to the Place des Prêcheurs and Place de Verdun continuing our gourmet walk. Then, we take the passage Agard leading to the top of the famous course Mirabeau! It's the heart of the city. From here, you can admire the beautiful perspective offered by the course, bordered by plane trees and bourgeois buildings. At the end, you will see the big fountain of the Rotunda. Take some time to lunch on the terrace. In the afternoon we’ll tour the fountains of Aix-en-Provence: Place Albertas and fountain of 4 dolphins, the mossy fountain in the middle of Cours Mirabeau pours a hot thermal water that gives it a mysterious appearance in winter when it is adorned with a cloud of condensation. Enjoy some relaxation time before our farewell dinner in a small restaurant lost in an alley before returning to the hotel for overnight. [B/D]
Day 9: Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, USA
And here ends our journey in Provence, which gave us unique experiences and timeless memories of landscapes, hamlets, people and delicious food that will remain in your heart forever ... yes, because Provence is truly spectacular! After breakfast we head to Marseille where you’ll board your connecting flight back home.
[B] = Breakfast | [D] = Dinner | [B/D] = Breakfast and Dinner
