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Monday 6 September 2009 Today we will begin our tour following your arrival in Avignon where your personal guide and driver will be waiting to greet you. Following your arrival this afternoon we will drive you to our lovely three star hotel in the charming village of St Remy de Provence, to the south of Avignon. This hotel is situated in the heart of this wonderful village, with an attractive swimming pool, yet metres from many animated bars, restaurants and shops! Welcome dinner (with welcome drinks)(wine included with dinner). [D] |
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Tuesday 7 September 2009 This morning we will drive through the wine regions of the Cote du Rhone, passing by some of the Cotes du Rhone “Village” appellations before arriving in Chateauneuf du Pape where you will receive an introduction to this “grand grape” at one of the leading vineyards in this region, before sampling this wine - the headiest and the most famous of the Rhone wines. We will then drive to Avignon where we will walk through the town, and observe the Pont Bénézet as well as the Palace of the Popes, and the chance to linger in one of the many cafés on the colourful and always animate 'Place de l'Horloge'. [B]
Wednesday 8 September 2009 This morning is free for you to enjoy the wonderful morning market of St Remy de Provence. The village is full of stalls displaying the freshest produce of the region as well as other French made goods - an ideal place to find some purchases to tuck in the bottom of your suitcase. This afternoon we will follow in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh where we will visit the asylum to where he was committed following his stay in Arles. We will visit his room where he remained for one year in St Remy and see where he painted many of his most famous paintings. |
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Following this we will visit the Greek/ Roman ruins of Glanum which offers us the opportunity to experience the life and times of the early settlers of this region. [B] |
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Thursday 9 September 2009 This morning we are going to go directly to the perched village of Les Baux de Provence, before visiting the impressive Cathedrale des Images built in to the limestone quarries of Les Baux. We will then drive to Daudet’s Mill where we can take a picnic lunch. Daudet was a Parisian author who wrote many stories about life in the 19th century, and was regarded as the 19th century equivalent of Peter Mayle. We will then drive to Arles to continue our theme of Vincent Van Gogh, as well as visiting the exciting roman town with its arena and amphitheatre. While here we will also see the Cathedral and Cloisters of St Trophime [B] |
Friday 10 September 2009 This morning we are going to drive through to the west of Avignon to the town of Uzes, a protestant strong-hold since the Wars of Religion in the 1500s. This is a beautiful town.
This afternoon will we will do something different and we are going to take canoes down the absolutely beautiful Gardon River until we arrive at the most impressive Pont du Gard. This Roman aqueduct built by Agrippa almost 2000 years ago was designed to carry the waters of the Eure to Nimes, 25 kilometres away, surely one of the most impressive Roman ruins intact, and what a way to see it from the river, rather than from a tour bus! The river cruise is very easy and very beautiful! [B]
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Saturday 11 September 2009 Today we are going to move to our new hotel in the picturesque perched village of Gordes. We will firstly drop off our luggage here before going to visit one of the finest abbeys in France, the Abbaye de Sénanque. This abbey built from the 12th century, is a fine example of Cistercian/ Romanesque architecture, and one will be hard pressed not to be moved by this extraordinary building. We will then travel in to Haut Provence around the village of Sault to see the large commercial lavender fields there, which may be in the midst of their harvest – the smell will seduce! This evening we are going to travel to a local village for a special dinner out [B,D] |
Sunday 12 September 2009 This morning we will visit the very impressive Fontaine de Vaucluse. This is the village at the source of the Sorgues River, and a walk to the source of this river is well rewarding. We will then travel to Isle sur la Sorgue, the antique market town, where you will have the opportunity to meander through this village in full swing with its famous Sunday market. You will have time to meander through the food and bric-à-brac stalls, as well as seeing the antique markets there.
We will have a lunch feast today in a magnificent restaurant, and I guess you will be ready for an easy afternoon following what I have in store for you!!! [B,L]
Monday 13 September 2009 This morning we will drive through the Luberon Valley seeing the picturesque village of Roussillon, famous for its red ochre cliffs. If time and weather is on our side we will walk through the ochre quarries. We will then return to our hotel to collect out luggage, from where we will drive past the Roman bridge, Pont St Julien, on our way past Bonnieux and Menerbes - two villages made rather too famous on the success of Peter Mayle’s book “A Year in Provence”. We will then proceed to the Var to our home for the next three nights just out of the delightful village of Cotignac. We will be staying in a charming small hotel in the heart of an olive grove, a short distance out of the village. Cotignac is a most memorable village where no tour buses visit! This is an area where the people playing boules in the main street are in fact locals, whereas elsewhere in Provence the boules players are more likely to be Germans or Scandinavians. This evening we are going to have some locals prepare us a sumptuous dinner. [B,D] |
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Tuesday 14 September 2009 Following the morning market in Cotignac this morning we will drive through Draguignan before driving down the impressive Canyons of Verdon, before arriving at Moustiers Ste Marie, a charming site built on a river, and famous for its pottery. We will then make our way through the major lavender production region near Riez, before returning back to Cotignac. Free time this afternoon to explore the little village of Cotignac. [B]
Wednesday 15 September 2009 This morning we will drive through to St Tropez, famous for the jet-set and movie stars who want to be photographed on their summer holidays! One of the bonuses of coming here is the beautiful Impressionist Art Gallery, L’Annonciade, which we will visit. We will explore this area and on the way back to Cotignac this afternoon will visit the very beautiful Cistercian Abbaye, le Thoronet. [B]
Thursday 16 September 2009 This morning we will drive down through Marcel Pagnol territory to our home for the last three nights in the delightful fishing village of Cassis on the coast. Cassis is so different from elsewhere on the Riviera and still possesses that special local charm, that some Riviera towns have all but lost. Our hotel for the next two nights is located 5 minutes walk from the centre of Cassis; all rooms have sea views from their balconies and a beach directly in front of the hotel.
This afternoon we will go for a cruise on the Mediterranean for just over one hour, exploring the impressive calanques of the coastline. Calanques are mini-fjords caused over the years by rivers running constantly over soft limestone ground. An unforgettable voyage! [B]
Friday 17 September 2009 This morning we are going to drive to the elegant town of Aix en Provence, where we will explore the old part of town walking from the memorable Cathédrale St Saveur, past the flower markets, elegant shops, down the attractive pedestrian streets, before strolling down the Cours Mirabeau; you will see the famous café Les Deux Garcons, which inside has not changed since the French Revolution (where we will have lunch). Following lunch we will return to Cassis, where you will be free to do what ever takes your fancy! Beaches, shops, bars, or hotel?
Saturday 18 September 2009 Today we will have a free day, until we assemble for an end of tour dinner at a waterfront restaurant. [B,D]
Sunday 19 September 2009 Today after breakfast our tour will end, and you will be dropped off at either the Marseille Train Station or the Marseille Marignane Airport.
Prices for this tour will be set in May 2010
Lodging at quality three star hotels. Price includes continental breakfast, 3 3/4 course dinners (wine included where mentioned), 2 lunches, site visits and activities mentioned; welcome drinks, bilingual guide; transportation while on tour. Maximum capacity of 8 travellers (excluding guide) per tour. There is a minimum number required on tour. Please note that in St Remy de Provence a four star hotel has been included.
Note: The above itinerary is to be used as a guide. Due to possible accommodation constraints the order of some of the days may need to be changed. Needless to say, if there are any changes from the above itinerary, the quality of the tour will never be jeopardised. Also some of the places visited may be visited on other days than mentioned, and some places will be visited which are not mentioned in this itinerary outline.
The pace throughout will be relaxed, and depending on the weather, some days we may return to the hotel for a siesta, walk, swim (if available) before we recommence our touring!
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Here are a selection or the comments we have received from group tour clients |
Garry and Jeanette Rice, Auckland, NZ
Just a short note to again pass on our thanks and appreciation for the wonderful trip we had with you in September.
We enjoyed so much our (escorted) tour in Provence with you in September 1997 that this year we brought along our friends. We feel that the personalised tour that you provide for 6-8 persons is the way to appreciate and discover the true joys of town and village life in the south of France.
We appreciated the leisurely pace of the tour which enabled us to absorb the history and scenery without having to rush. Also some of your little surprises such as wine and cheese at St Sixte Chapel to watch the sunset at Eygalières and lunch with the Michelles’ at their lavender farm.
John we can’t wait to do our next tour with you. (In-DepthProvence)
Rodney LEWIS, Auckland, NZ
My wife and I, together with two other couples, spent twelve days with John Reese, travelling in Provence and the Cote d’Azur. The tour was so constructed that our various interests and tastes were catered for; no easy task to reconcile these, but one accomplished with unfailing tact, good humour and courtesy, by John.
From the Cistercian Abbabye de Thoronet, where we were fortunate enough, in the splendid acoustics of the chapel, to hear some superb singing, to the sophistication of St Tropez; from the peace and seclusion of Eygalières, to sailing a 40ft yacht along the coast; from a memorable picnic at Chateauneuf du Pape, to an equally memorable dinner at St Remy, the “French Way’ experience was an enjoyable one. An appreciated aspect was that we got enough exercise, a factor which seems to be overlooked on many tours. Finally, John was not only a charming and considerate host, but also thoroughly professional and a safe driver in whom we had every confidence. I recommend “France - The French Way” and commend to any prospective client its principal, John Reese.
Margie Maxwell, NZ
I have so much to thank you for John, pushing my boundaries out in all directions and feel very lucky to have spent time with you.
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