Paris and Provence
10 Days
Features: Paris, Orange, Chateauneuf du Pape, Avignon,
Mallemort-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, French Riviera, Arles
Day 1 Depart
USA Overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 Arrive Paris On arrival in
Paris you are transferred to your hotel. Later this afternoon,
we enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring views of the Louvre, Champs
Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and visits Bohemian
Montmarte, with its picturesque cafes and street artists, dominated
by the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. We also ascend to the second
level of the Eiffel Tower. Then time to relax before a welcome
drink with our Tour Director this evening.
Day 3 Paris - Tournus - Orange Today
we drive along the 'Autoroute de Soleil' and into Burgundy, stopping
at Tournus to visit the Abbey Church of St. Phillibert, the finest
example of Romanesque architecture in the area. Then past Lyon
we follow the Rhone Valley into Provence, via Montelimar, before
we arrive in the Cote du Rhone vineyards and the ancient Roman
town of Orange. On our orientation tour, we visit the most preserved
Roman theatre in existence and view the impressive 2,000 year
old commemorative Arch. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 4 Orange - Avignon - Mallemort-en-Provence(4nights)
A short drive brings us to the celebrated vineyards of Chateauneuf
du Pape, for a sampling of some of these great Rhone wines! Next
on to the 'Pont du Gard' before our arrival at Avignon, where
an orientation shows us the famous broken bridge and the Palace
of the Popes. Then down to 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 short drive to the beautiful Provencal village
at Mallemort-en-Provence, where we spend the next four nights.
Tonight we get together for dinner at our our hotel.(Buffet breakfast/
Dinner)
Day 5 Aix-en-Provence orientation and
at leisure Our orientation tour this morning shows us the
elegant Cours Mirabeau with its many cafes 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 the beautiful Luberon National Park with its listed hilltop
villages and rolling green hills reminiscent of Peter Mayle's
'Year in Provence.' (Breakfast)
Day 6 French Riviera Excursion An
early start as we pass the Abbey of St. Maximin to Ste. Maxime
– a stylish resort on the Esterel coast. From here we 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 before we continue to Les Baux – the most mysterious,
hilltop ghost town in all of France! Later you may wish 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 - Avignon
- TGV - Paris (2nights) Today a short drive brings us to Avignon
train station where we board our supremely comfortable high-speed
TGV train to Paris arriving in less than three hours. This evening,
why not enjoy dinner in a Parisian bistro? (Buffet breakfast)
Day 9 Paris at leisure Enjoy a full
day at leisure. Maybe visit the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay or
you may wish to take a trip to the nearby ornate Palace of Versailles.
Shopping in Paris is always fun, try out the boutiques near St.
Sulpice! On your final evening in this exciting, colourful city,
why not enjoy a night at the world-famous cabaret, 'Moulin Rouge'?
(Buffet breakfast)
Day 10 Paris - USA This morning after
breakfast, time to bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer
to the airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet breakfast)
2002