the French Riviera, provence & camargue

Please meet your Tour Director, Timothée the next morning at the Nice Airport

Arrive Nice in the morning. Your Tour Manager Timothée, will meet you at the aiport and transfer you to your hotel , located on the waterfront. Check-in and freshen up before meeting your guide for a welcome drink and a trip overview information session. For the ones of you who would like to explore right away, join your guide for a stroll up the Castle hill for the best view of Nice and of the Mediterranean sea. In the evening, join Timothée for a stroll through the old town. Dinner of a traditional  "Salade Nicoise" and "Petits Farcis", specialties of Nice at a local restaurant. Meals B,D

This morning we will be going to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat to visit the beautiful Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its lovely gardens. You will first visit the gorgeous interior of the Villa and will then have plenty of time to discover the different gardens  (French, Stone garden, Florentine Garden, Exotic garden, or even the Japanese garden). A light lunch will be served in the beautiful Tea room overlooking the Bay of Villefranche. 

After lunch we will go for a private visit of Chateau Cremat, a beautiful Wine Estate with its interiors that have been redecorated with the original furniture of the suites of the Ritz in Paris like the Coco Chanel Suite. We will end the visit with a wine tasting. Dinner is at leisure tonight. Meals B,L

Today depart Nice early morning for Provence, drive through unforgettable scenery through perched villages and deep gorges of the southern Alps. Enjoy lunch in a local auberge before arriving in Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages of France, where we will stop for some free time. Afterwards we will stop to discover the village of Roussillon (known for its ochre quarries and red stone houses) where you will join your guide on a short walk to the quarry. Arrive this evening at your hotel, a typical provencal "Mas" (Country Inn). Meals B,L,D

This morning with your guide (A Van Gogh specialist) you will discover the "Antiques" the most well preserved Roman Monuments in France at the entrance to the Roman town Glanum before heading to the village of "Les Baux de Provence" where you will visit the "Quarry of Lights" an incredible inside quarry where famous paintings are projected on the walls along with a classical music presentation. You will have time in Les Baux for shopping in the lovely boutiques and enjoying a lunch at your leisure. 

This afternoon, your guide will take you through Saint Paul de Mausole, where Van Gogh stayed for treatments during his troubled time in 1889/1890 and painted more than 150 paintings. It is now a nursing home that has permanent exhibition of paintings made by the patients and beautiful reproductions of Van Gogh's paintings. Outside the hospital, the guide will then take you on a walking tour "In the footsteps of Van Gogh" showing you many copies of his paintings at the exact same locations where they were painted by van Gogh... So little has changed... This is where you will have some time to paint. Dinner tonight at a lovely restaurant in Saint Remy de Provence. Meals B,D

You will spend the entire day in the beautiful  area of the Camargue and the town of Arles, famous for its Amphitheater and for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh.  You will also enjoy a private visit to a "Manade" a French Ranch where the owners raise horses and bulls and where we will be served a wonderful lunch. Tonight join us for a show of local Gypsies and dinner. Meals B,L,D

Morning transfer to the city of Aix En Provence via a photo stop to view the Mountain Sainte Victoire painted so many times by Cezanne. A local guide will take you on a "In the Footsteps of Cezanne" walk through the center of town before visiting  the Hotel de Caumont Art Center where you will have lunch in the beautiful salons. Enjoy a movie about Paul Cezanne and visit his workshop that has not changed since his death in 1906.

We will continue our drive to Saint Paul De Vence where you will stay in a charming hotel. . Meals B, L

Enjoy a very scenic drive on the way to the Principality of Monaco and montecarlo, where you can see the change of the guards at the Palace. Free time for lunch and shopping. Transfer to the village of Eze, one of the most spectacular village in France, a medieval village hanging off the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. You will have time to visit the Fragonard perfume factory if you wish. Meals B

This morning, you will spend some time in the amazing village of Saint Paul de Vence before joining your tour manager for a traditional aperitif "Pastis" at the local café and joining your guide and tour manager for a quick game of Bocce Ball on the main square of the village. You will then head to a wonderful famous restaurant for our farewell lunch. After lunch return to the hotel for some relaxing time . A traditional "Pain Bagnat" demonstration by our guide as well as local desserts and wine will be our dinner at the hotel. Meals B,D

Morning Transfer to the Nice Airport for your flight back to the USA. Meals B