Paris & Provence
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Paris
Day 2 - Arrive Paris On arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport you are transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, time at leisure to relax at your hotel or spend some time in a pavement café before enjoying a Welcome Dinner and drink in a lively bistro near the Champs Elysées with your Tour Director and fellow passengers — an excellent opportunity to get to know more about your tour. (Welcome Dinner)
Day 3 - Paris — Tournus — Avignon This morning our day begins with a drive along the 'Autoroute de Soleil' and into Burgundy, making a stop at Tournus to visit the Abbey Church of St. Phillibert, the finest example of Romanesque architecture in the area. Then we continue past Lyon and follow the Rhône Valley into Provence, via Montelimar, before we arrive in the Cote du Rhone vineyards and the Papal city of Avignon straddling the river Rhone. Orientation here will show us the famous broken bridge, the mighty Papal Palace and the bustling Place de l - Horloge before we enjoy dinner tonight. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 4 - Avignon — Chateauneuf du Pape — Pont du Gard — St Remy — Mallemort-en-Provence (4 nights) First we drive to the Cote du Rhone vineyards and to the pretty town of Chateauneuf du Pape where we enjoy a sampling of some of the great Rhone wines. From here we are off to the Pont du Gard - the most ancient Roman aqueduct in France before our arrival in St. Remy de Provence, where we see the asylum where Van Gogh was to spend some of his last days. Later, it's only a quick drive to the beautiful Provençal
village and resort at Mallemort-en-Provence, where we spend the next four nights. This evening, we get together for dinner at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 5 - Aix-en-Provence orientation & at leisure Our orientation tour this morning shows us the elegant Cours Mirabeau with its many cafés and 19th century architecture. Then free time to relax or explore. Aix was the home of Paul Cezanne — maybe visit the museum dedicated to him or take an excursion to visit Marseilles with its impressive port, magnificent corniche drive and the pretty seaside resort of Cassis. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - French Riviera Excursion An early start this morning as we pass the Abbey of St. Maximin to Ste. Maxime — a stylish resort on the Esterel coast. From here we will cruise across the Mediterranean to St. Tropez. There's time to watch out for the rich and famous from one of the cafés before we head back to Mallemort for dinner at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Van Gogh's Arles and 'Les Alpilles' After breakfast, we enjoy a morning drive into the heart of the Camargue to Arles. Here we see the Roman Arena and the Cathedral of St. Trophime and enjoy a walking tour "in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh". Then , we continue to Les Baux — the most mysterious, hilltop ghost town in all of France! Later, you may wish to take an optional excursion to visit the beautiful Luberon National Park, with its hilltop villages and rolling green hills, reminiscent of Peter Mayle's 'Year in Provence'. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 8 - Mallemort-en-Provence — TGV — Paris (2 nights) Today a short drive brings us to Avignon's train station where we will board our supremely comfortable high-speed TGV train to Paris. We arrive in Paris in less than three hours. This evening, why not enjoy dinner in a typical Parisian bistro" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Paris sightseeing and at leisure This morning we head off for a guided sightseeing tour which features views of the Champs Elysées, Arch of Triumph, Notre Dame Cathedral and visits Bohemian Montmartre with its picturesque cafés and street artists dominated by the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur. We also ascend to the second level of the Eiffel Tower before free time for shopping or visiting some of the city's great museums. On your final evening in this exciting colourful city, why not enjoy a night out at the world-famous cabaret, the Moulin Rouge" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 10 - Paris - USA This morning after breakfast, it's "au revoir Paris", with time to bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer to the Charles de Gaulle airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
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