Day 1
Arrive in Avignon and be met by our assistant and local guide. Transfer to the lovely HÙtel des Agassins. You will have a few hours to relax before meeting the rest of your small group for a welcome dinner in the hotelís charming restaurant.
Day 2
After breakfast we will move into the kitchen and have an introduction into the cuisine of Provence and a cooking class with the hotel chef. Then the lunch you helped to prepare will be served in the restaurant.
We will depart after lunch for a full afternoon of sightseeing and discover the beautiful villages of the Luberon Mountains. We will visit the exquisite, historic stone village of MÈnerbes, which inspired creative minds such as Pablo Picasso and writer, Peter Mayle. Continuing on, we will visit Lacoste with its ch‚teau, Roussillon, and the hilltop village of Gordes. We finish our sightseeing with a visit to the Lavender Museum and celebrate this wonderful flower-the very symbol of Provence. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 3
This morning you will have another opportunity to learn ProvenÁal cooking with the chef as he prepares one of his specialties, which we will enjoy for lunch. Then learn about the wines of the CÙte du RhÙne with wine tastings in Gigondas and Ch‚teauneuf du Pape. You will have time to visit local shops, sample some of the local delicacies and purchase a special bottle of ProvenÁal wine before heading back to the hotel for dinner.
Day 4
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and then set off for a full day of sightseeing. We start today with a visit to Arles, where you will have free time to stroll through a typical ProvenÁal open-air market. We will then visit the medieval village of Baux de Provence and the town of St. Remy, set in an olive grove often painted by van Gogh.
Then itís on to Avignon, the ìCity of Popesî. Visit the Palais des Papes, the largest gothic fortress in Europe and the ìPont díAvignonî, the bridge made famous by the song of the same name. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 5
Today you will transfer from Avignon to the quaint town of Vence and the HÙtel Diana. Along the way, stop for an hour in Aix en Provence to do some shopping.
Day 6
Get an early start today and journey to the city of Nice for a full day tour. Stroll through the old town with its famous flower market. After a typical NiÁois lunch you will have free time to shop and sightsee before returning to the hotel. Spend the evening on your own in Vence.
Day 7
This morning we depart to Monaco and Monte Carlo along one of the worldís most beautiful highways. On the way, stop at the village of Eze high atop a steep cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. Watch the changing of the royal guard at the Palace in Monaco and explore the old city. Visit the infamous Monte Carlo Casino and the cityís sumptuous gardens. Return to Vence in the evening and enjoy free time.
Day 8
Today we head to Grasse, center of the perfume industry for over 400 years. We will visit one of the local distilleries to view the production process. Return via Cannes with time to shop and sip a drink at on of the many cafes lining the beach along the Croisette. Return to Vence in the evening for your farewell dinner.
Day 9
After breakfast say goodbye to France as you are transferred to the airport in Nice for your flight home.
