Tour Director - Becky Edwards

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The tour will start in St Remy de Provence on May 23 at 3 pm. You may choose to fly into either Paris CDG or Marseille. If you fly into Paris, you'll need to take the TGV fast train from Paris CDG to Avignon. We will offer transfers from both the Avignon TGV station and the Marseille Airport. If you are joining us on the Paris extension, you might want to fly into Marseille and out of Paris. 

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Day 1 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - D

After your overnight flight to France, you will be transferred to our hotel on the edge of St Remy de Provence. After checking in and freshening up we will visit St Paul de Mausole, the asylum where Van Gogh was a self-admitted patient and created over 140 paintings and 100 drawings. We will see some of the exact locations where he set up his easel and painted some of his most famous paintings. In the evening we meet for dinner at the hotel where we will enjoy our first true taste of Provence as we are introduced to the local food and wine of the region.

 

Day 2 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - B, L

Today you visit one of the most famous wine regions in the world: Chateauneuf du Pape. We begin by visiting a 13th century cellar where during our tasting class we learn of the area’s AOC regulations, its history and how to taste and recognize the subtleties of the local wines. After a short walk through the village enjoying the view from the ruins of the ancient pope’s summer castle, we drive into the vineyards where we will be met by Eddie, a local winery owner. We will enjoy a typical Provençal country lunch prepared by Eddie himself as we sit under the trees among his vines enjoying a view of Mont Ventoux in the distance. After our relaxing time among the vineyards we will head to the small village of Tavel. After another tasting session we will begin to understand why in Tavel, it is said that rosé is king.

 

Day 3 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - B, L, D

Today it’s time to get to work as we join a locally famous Michelin-starred chef in his kitchen and learn to cook the Provençal way. After we cook and laugh with chef, we enjoy the fruits of our labor as we eat our creations and enjoy local wines. After lunch we will visit a local olive oil mill where we will learn the process of creating olive oil starting with the harvest to the final product. We will then taste a few of the olive oils. After your fun day and free time at the hotel, we'll enjoy dinner as a group.

 

Day 4 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - B, D

Today you live like a local as you hunt for treasures at a quintessential Provençal weekly market in St Remy De Provence. After we get our fill of shopping, we will visit a local goat farm, meet the farmers and learn how they make the famous chévre fromage and, of course, get a chance to taste too. After our tasting we cross the Alpilles mountains to visit one of the most beautiful villages of France, Les Baux de Provence. After a short walking tour of the town there is free time to visit the castle ruins, shop or grab a coffee at a local cafe and enjoy the view. This evening we will relax with a dinner at the hotel and, once again, enjoy the culinary creations of chef Ivan.

 

Day 5 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - B, L

Next we head into the Camarque region, famous for the black bull, white horse, pink flamingos, salt flats and cultivation of rice. We will first visit a bird sanctuary where we will see the famous pink flamingo during their mating season. Camarque is the only place in France and one of the few around the Mediterranean where the pink flamingo nests and there are often up to 15,000 nesting couples here at a time. After visiting the flamingos we will move on to experience another famous local animal the Camarque horse. Here we will have the opportunity to go horseback riding along the sea and enjoy a bar-b-q lunch on the beach. Before heading back to our hotel, we will make a stop in the ancient Roman town of Arles. As we walk through the streets of Arles and view the ancient coliseum, amphitheater and Roman forum we learn how the citizens of this beautiful city earned all the rights of a Roman citizen. Next we focus on the art of Provence as we see the cafe made famous in one of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings, visit the hospital where he stayed and learn of his tumultuous life that ended with him cutting his ear and being run out of Arles.

 

Day 6 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - B, L

Today we will head north to visit the wine regions of Gigondas and Baume de Venise. We will first learn about the famous fortified wine: the Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. After our tasting we will move on to Gigondas where we will have the opportunity to tour a local winery, learn of the red wines of the region and taste their wines. After our visit we'll head to a beautiful spot and enjoy a picnic lunch of local products. The afternoon and evening will be free to further explore St Remy de Provence or enjoy the accommodations around the hotel.

 

Day 7 - Overnight at La Mas des Carassins, St Remy de Provence - B, D

Today we head back to the coast to the fishing town of Sete where we will visit an oyster farm. We will have the opportunity to see first hand how they harvest the famous Languadoc oyster and then have a chance to taste these fruits de mer. After our visit there will be free time to explore the town on your own and enjoy lunch along the water. Tonight we enjoy our last dinner together at the hotel as we share our favorite experiences in this lovely region of France.

 

Day 8 - B

Today we must say good by to beautiful Provence as we transfer to the airport to board your flight home. If you are staying for the Paris extension, we will transfer via the fast TGV train direct to Paris where we'll spend four extra nights enjoying the City of Lights.

 

Note: The itinerary is descriptive, not definitive and is subject to change. In particular our actual itinerary will depend on the ferry and flight schedules, which vary from year to year. There also may be modifications due to weather and availability of local activities and guides.