Come discover the Provence we’ve come to know and love. Where you’ll follow in the footsteps of artists. Explore beautiful hilltop villages. Browse through colorful markets. Enjoy the tastes and smells of Provençal foods and wines.

And stay in a marvelous stone villa in the center of Provence, spending a week in leisurely exploration of the market towns, castles, villages and wineries in this wonderful region of France. Throughout this Provence tour, we’ll enjoy regional meals in very special restaurants and at the villa. We’ll have picnics with views. Taste some special wines at boutique wineries.

And while we’ll explore lots of amazing places together, you will also have time on your own to roam the picturesque streets, shop the markets or just sit back and relax in the garden or at the pool.

This is the perfect time to visit Provence, when the sun is warm enough for sunbathing but gentle enough for sightseeing.

Day 1 – Saturday

Arrival at the Villa

You’ll be picked up at the Avignon TGV station in late afternoon. Arrive at the villa with time to unpack and explore this magnificent property or take a refreshing dip in the pool before the evening’s welcome reception and dinner served in the garden.

Day 2 – Sunday

L’Isle sur la Sorgue / Fontaine de Vaucluse

This morning we’ll explore one of the best and most famous markets in Provence where you’ll find bountiful local products, including lavender soaps, hand-thrown pottery, luxurious fabrics, locally made olive oil, fresh fruit, vegetables and cheeses. Considered the “Venice of Provence,” this beautifully set town, graced by canals and the Sorgue River, is also recognized as one of the best places for antique shopping outside of Paris. After a delightful lunch in L’Isle, we’ll spend the afternoon in nearby Fontaine de Vaucluse, the mystical source of the Sorgue River. Choose to walk up along the river, visit the Musée d’Historie which explores daily life in occupied France during WW II, or rent a kayak and paddle down the Sorgue.

Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner on your own – try a local bistro or one of the many restaurants in nearby Gordes.

Day 3 – Monday

Arles / St. Remy / Les Baux

Today we’ll journey back to Roman times, exploring 2,000-year-old ruins. Arles was once a Roman capital and a major religious center in the Middle Ages. With our own private guide, we’ll discover the Roman theater and arena, as well as the 12th century Church of St. Trophime. We’ll also follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh who found inspiration for some of his best work here. In St. Remy we’ll explore Glanum, an archeological wonder. Unearthed in 1921, the site contains ruins that date back to the 2nd and 3rd century BC and include villas of wealthy Romans, baths and forums. Time permitting, we’ll venture to Les Baux, a medieval stone citadel that was once the stronghold of lords who terrorized southern Provence. Today costumed guides demonstrate the massive siege weapons used in medieval times to breach the citadel’s fortifications.

Breakfast included. Lunch on you own. A delightful dinner of regional food served at the villa.

Day 4 – Tuesday

Gordes / Abbaye de Senanque

Today is market day in the spectacular perched village of Gordes. This 12th century village, one of the most picturesque in Provence, is an amazing place to explore on your own. And you’ll have all morning to do it. Stroll along and you’ll see small, sometimes stepped alleyways lined with rampart ruins, art galleries and cafes. The market will be bustling with local people and tourists buying everything from fennel-flavored sausages to foie gras, crusty breads, pottery and linens. Two must-sees in Gordes are the impressive 16th century Chateau de Gordes and the charming church of St. Firmin. In the valley below, poppies spring up among orchards of cherry trees. For those looking for even more spiritual enlightenment, we’ll travel to the nearby Abbaye de Senanque, one of three Cistercian monasteries in Provence and famous for its fields of lavender.

Breakfast at the villa. Picnic lunch with foods we purchase at the local market. Dinner on your own -- perhaps at a delightful butcher-shop-turned-restaurant that’s nearby.

Day 5 – Wednesday

Bonnieux / Afternoon Optional Cooking Class

Enjoy a leisurely morning strolling the narrow streets of Bonnieux, a lovely perched village topped by a 12th century church. In the afternoon, you’ll create several wonderful Provençal dishes during a cooking class at the villa. Those who don’t participate in the cooking class can spend the afternoon, hiking, biking or exploring the nearby Lavender Museum.

Breakfast at the villa. Lunch on your own. Dinner will be your cooking class creation.

Day 6 – Thursday

Morning On Your Own / Wine Tasting

If you’re up and about early, you can enjoy a walk in a nearby forest, take one of the bikes to explore a nearby village or just relax around pool. After lunch, we’ll drive to Chateau la Canorgue, a family run winery – one of the best in the Luberon region -- built on the ruins of a villa. You may recognize this vineyard – it was the setting for the Russell Crowe film “A Good Year.” From here we’ll try one or two more local wineries, including one with a corkscrew museum.

Breakfast and lunch at the villa. Dinner on your own.

Day 7 – Friday

Roussillon

In the morning, we’ll journey to the ochre-colored hilltop village of Roussillon, a photographer’s dream. Built on the slopes of the Vaucluse mountains, Roussillon is known for its red cliffs and ochre quarries. You’ll have free time to explore the village and enjoy lunch at one of the cafes on the main plaza. Later in the afternoon, we’ll hike the village’s Sentier des Ocres (Ochre Trail) which passes through old mine works and quarries.

Breakfast at the villa. Lunch on your own. Farewell dinner at the villa.

Day 8 – Saturday

Au Revoir...

Morning departure to Avignon TGV Station. And bonne journée for those of you who plan to extend your visit in France!