Tour description
PROVENCE SMALL GROUP TOUR
Experience the Provence lifestyle with a 9 days small group of 12/14 travelers only! Secret Tours is thrilled to introduce a trip of a lifetime, the magical Provence.The string of colors,whether bursting or subdued, will captivate, move and touch your core.No wonder great artists like Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and many others found their inspirations here.The charm of this region is so unique you can feel it piercing your very soul. It is transparent and is clearly mirrored on every street and place that you will see and visit. You will feel it on every person that you will encounter and meet. You will quickly discover that Provence is an intriguing country with an amazing past.
Let your thoughts sway away with the beauty of Provence. Fill your imagination with the richness of its history. Wander away in a place of meandering beauty, scenic landscapes and colorful flower fields. Be out with olive trees, lavender, and vineyards. This is the place where clear light shines and pours through meadows, reflecting different hues that will play with your imagination. When darkness descends,it becomes all the more exciting as the whole scenario unfolds for the perfect location where you can drink and dine under the stars.
This region is also the place of stimulating aromas and bright skies. Nowhere else is the scent of nature as magnificent as in Provence.
We have a real passion for this amazing land and look forward to sharing it with you all !
PROVENCE SMALL GROUP TOUR THE ESSENCE OF PROVENCE TRAVEL ITINERARY DAY 1 : WELCOME TO PROVENCE & THE CITY OF POPES With its shimmering coast and rustic Provencal heart, the Mediterranean south has a timeless allure. You’ll travel through wildly divergent landscapes: cinematic coastline, rugged hinterland and bucolic valleys. Arrive at Marseille airport and meet your guide at 11.00 outside the Hotel Escale Oceania, in the town center for a panoramic tour of MARSEILLE with a stop at the stunning Basilica NOTRE DAME DE LA GARDE .Continue your journey to the town of AVIGNON for the first three nights of your tour staying at the boutique “HOTEL D’EUROPE” or similar, which enjoys an excellent location close to the town’s architecturally treasures. This evening, join your local tour guide and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner together in an authentic Provencal restaurant.Overnight in AVIGNON DAY 2 : CAPTIVATING AVIGNON, CHATEAUNEUF DU POPE & UNESCO PONT DU GARD AVIGNON is a city of a rich historical past, surrounded by medieval walls and home to the pope for more than 100 years in the 14th century. We will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, PALAS DES PAPES, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, with an estimated floor area of 15,000 square meters. After some time on your own and a photo stop at one of Avignon’s famous landmarks,the medieval bridge PONT ST BENEZET,we drive to the wine country of CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE for a visit to a well-known domain for a wine tasting with lunch. We end the day to the UNESCO–listed PONT DU GARD ,the tallest of all Roman aqueducts at 48m (158ft). Dinner is on your own this evening.Overnight in AVIGNON DAY 3 : THE OCHRE VILLAGE OF ROUSSILLON, LIMESTONE GORDES, SENANQUE ABBEY & LAVENDER MUSEUM Today’s tour takes you to discover the mountainous land of the LUBERON REGION with its bucolic rolling hills, golden-hued perched villages and hidden valley. Some two millennia ago, the Romans used the ochreous earth around the spectacular village of ROUSSILLON for producing pottery glazes. This makes the village famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ocher quarries. Continue to the pretty little hill town of GORDES, located on a rocky slope of the Vancluse plateau popular with artists since the academic Cubist painter Andre Lhote began visiting in 1938. Gordes is dominated by a 16th century chateau and arcaded medieval cobblestone lanes that wind through this spectacular village. After an included lunch in a small village, we drive for to the 12th century Cistercian ABBEY DE SENANQUE surrounded by a tranquil sea of lavender. We end the day with with a guided tour of the LAVENDER MUSEUM in Coustellet to learn on lavender oil production from field to bottle.Overnight in AVIGNON DAY 4 : ROMAN ARLES, CARRIERES DE LUMIERES, LES BAUX DE PROVENCE & OLIVE OIL EXPERIENCE This morning marvel at Roman town of ARLES, founded by Julius Caesar 2000 years ago, a unique and well preserved declared UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most prominent of which is the ARLES AMPHITEATRE ,the largest and most complete ancient monument in the town. Arles is a place where you can see and feel the remarkable Roman influence in this Southern French province. After a local street food experience,enjoy a scenic drive through LES ALPILLES for a visit to the magnificent perched fortress site of LES BAUX DE PROVENCE, named as one of the most beautiful village in France, largely due to its hilltop position and picturesque stone ruins of the upper old village and castle. Here, we end the day with the spectacular sound and visual imagery of the monumental CARRIERES DE LUMIERES, followed by an olive oil tasting in an old mill. Spend the next two nights in the village of SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE staying at the 5 stars country hotel “LE VALLON DE VALRUGUES & SPA” located near the village center. Dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight stay in SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE DAY 5 : MY TIME IN SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE We start the morning with a walking tour of the colorful historical town of Saint-Remy-de-Provence with our resident art historian. We’ll wander along cobblestone streets, admiring the beauty of renaissance architecture and follow the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh all woven with the rich history and culture of SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE. Sur DAY 6 : ANCIENT GLANUM & AIX-EN-PROVENCE: CITY OF FOUNTAINS & HOME OF PAUL CEZANNE Today’s visit takes you to the popular archaeological area of GLANUM, an ancient and wealthy city which still enjoys a magnificent setting below a gorge on the flanks of the Alpilles mountains. Continue to AIX-EN-PROVENCE, one of the most beautiful cities in France. Anywhere you look, you will feel the city’s unique ambiance and romantic character. You will have a stroll through the historic center, with its elegant 17th and 18th century hotels, fountains and the beauty of renaissance architecture, following the footsteps of Cezanne. Our walk finishes at the magnificent Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur, which dates back farther than the early history of the city. The beauty of this church encompasses a variety of architectural styles and one of the historical highlights that you can see here is the 4th century Merovingian baptistery, an octagonal basin surrounded by a circle of 8 marble columns. You’ll have time to meander through the colorful artist’s market to see the skillful craft of local artists and perhaps take the time to visit the Granet museum,with its permanent collections including paintings by Cezanne make it one of the most visited museums outside of Paris.After an included street food experience,we’ll transfer you to the 5 stars coutry “HOTEL LE PIGONNET” or similar.Overnight stay in AIX-EN-PROVENCE DAY 7 : THORONET ABBEY & TROGLODYTE VILLAGE OF COTIGNAC Today, our expert guide will introduce you to LE THORONET ABBEY, a former Cistercian abbey built in the late twelfth and early thirteenth century, now restored as a museum, a jewel of the Romanesque art. Nestled in a middle of an oak forest, it provides a stark beauty conform to St Benoit’s monastic ideal. Continue to the unique village of COTIGNAC, built against the foot of a tufa rock and classified among the villages of character of Provence.After an included lunch in a beautiful setting surrounded by vineyards,you’ll return to your hotel to enjoy maybe a walk to the old town for a meal or taking in the atmosphere of the evening “stroll”.Overnight stay in AIX-EN-PROVENCE DAY 8 : CALANQUES CRUISE IN CASSIS, WINE TASTING & THE VILLAGE OF LE CASTELLET With a varied topography that could easily be considered France’s finest, Provence boasts golden beaches, valleys and the fjord-like CALANQUES. Today you will be touring along the region’s prettiest roads to the rugged beauty of Cassis’s towering Calanques, passing resort towns that saw their heyday in the 1920s and verdant countryside full of vineyards. Upon arrival in the lively city port of CASSIS, we will enjoy an exploration of the cliffs and coves cruising to the famous Calanques of Cassis (45 minutes) – weather permitting. After lunch on your own, continue to the medieval hilltop village of LE CASTELLET in the heart of the vineyards of the renowned wines of the Bandol AOC. This evening we’ll enjoy a final dinner together, sharing travel memories and toasting new friends. Overnight stay in AIX-EN-PROVENCE DAY 9 : GOODBYE BEAUTIFUL PROVENCE Morning transfers to Marseille airport 2023 TOUR PRICE: € 4,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: € 700 Currency Converter Price is per person based on double room occupancy for 9 days/8 nights Chris and I absolutely loved our visit to Provence. The itinerary offered a great blend of cultural, educational, and scenic opportunities to keep us constantly entertained and anticipating the next adventure. Our tour guide, Veronique, was wonderful. She provided us with all of the historical information along the way blended with her own personal insights as a native of the area.She was always attentive to our needs and eager to ensure that our experience was as fulfilling as possible.Our driver, Christoph, was also a great asset through his knowledge of the best areas to stop to get the optimal view of the sights and his current knowledge of local conditions (especially where the best fields for viewing the lavender and sun flowers were for the days we were there). The three hotels were excellent choices.Each had its own charm and the locations allowed easy access to the city center. We especially enjoyed the garden at Le Pigonnet. Such a beautiful spot to relax after a long day of seeing the sights and our dinners there were great. Chris appreciated the opportunity to use the pool at Le Vallon de Valrugues (she is an avid swimmer) and the breakfast buffet there was among the best we have ever had. All of our rooms were quiet and comfortable. As usual, all of the technical aspects of the Secret Italia tour worked like a Swiss watch. From our arrival at the Marseille airport, through checking in at the three hotels, and our eventual departure, everything went perfectly.Kudos to you and your staff for designing such a wonderful tour of Provence and kudos to Veronique and Christoph for treating us so well throughout the week.
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Provence evokes picture-postcard images of lavender fields,medieval hilltop villages,bustling markets and superb food and wine. Less expected is Provence’s incredible diversity. The Vaucluse and Luberon epitomize the Provencal cliche’.But near the mouth of the Rhone in the Camargue,craggy limestone yields to bleached salt marshes specked pink with flamingos,and the light,which so captivated Van Gogh and