Romantic Provence

Welcome to Provence. Upon your arrival at the Marseille airport, or the Avignon station, the town in which the seven bishops of Rome resided during the Avignon Papacy, you will be welcomed by our bilingual English chauffeur who will drive you to your luxury 4 star hotel, right in the heart of the Avignon.

In the late afternoon, you can take the opportunity to stroll around the town. You will immediately find the famous 13th century Saint Bénezet bridge, made famous by the nursery rhyme which became an international success from 1876, thanks to the operetta «Sur le pont d’Avignon».

After breakfast at your hotel you will go out to discover one of the most beautiful places in the world. You will take a walking tour around the ancient historic core of Doms, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
«Le Rocher des Doms» offers many exceptional sights including the Saint Bénezet bridge, «Remparts», the «Petit Palais», Doms Cathedral and the impressive walls protecting the four enormous towers of the «Palais des Papes».

With your english guide, you will visit parts of the Palace of the Popes, never opened before.
During your lunch break you can take your time to try some of Provençal’s cuisine.
In the afternoon, you are invited to take part in an amazing tour of the region. For 30 minutes, within a 40 km radius, we are offering you an unforgettable ride on board a Cessna 182/172 to take in some of Provence’s most beautiful sites from the comfort of an aeroplane.

During the Avignon festival, one of the oldest and most famous theatrical festivals in the world, the streets come to life for 3 weeks from the 6th to the 28th July, with more than 40 shows, in approximately 20 places around the town. The programme will be available to you from May.

We will provide you with a list of restaurants where you can eat your evening meal.

After breakfast, your chauffeur will drive you to discover the landscapes which inspired Peter Mayle’s work, between lavender fields and perched villages. Many of them have been ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, for example Ménerbes, where you may be lucky enough to bump into the author himself as he lives very close to this charming village. Depending on when you visit, you may leave with a signed copy of his book.

Then you will immerse yourself into the heart of the lavender fields and take a break at the home of the producers who will give you a tour of their land. You will finish with a visit to one of the Occidental factories where you can buy the produce at the best prices.

A romantic and unforgettable day.

After breakfast, your chauffeur will take you to «Baux de Provence», listed as the most beautiful village in France.
There, you will discover St Remy de Provence, its old alleyways, its sheltered plots of land and its elegant boutiques.
You will visit the numerous hotels, which have been converted into museums or art galleries, the convents, the chapels, and the beautiful 17th and 18th century homes.
The scenery is so beautiful that it has inspired numerous artists, writers and painters, such as Van Gogh.

Those who wish to can take the opportunity to discover the oldest archeological site in Europe, with relics of Comptoir de Glanum, founded in 3BC, the large thermal baths, the temple and the natural source of a truly Gallic-Roman city dating from 30-10BC.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will leave for Marseille, where you will be put up in a hotel right in the heart of the city.
You will have the chance to stroll along the side of the «Vieux Port«, the birthplace of Marseille‘s history. It’s called «old» in comparison to the new Joliette ports which were created in the middle of 19th century. Until then, it was the only port that was used.

Every morning, on the banks of the «Vieux Port«, a fish market takes place from 7.30 till 12.30. This market is a truly Marseillaise tradition. Fishwives sell fish caught the night before, which allows you to cook the famous Provençal fish soup, Bouillabaisse. It is also one of the last places where you can buy fresh, good quality fish.
From the Vieux Port, if you lift your eyes, you will notice the medieval fortifications of the Saint Victor abbey, an unusual site dominating the South bank of the Vieux Port and facing the old town.
Between destinations, stop for a drink on the Place aux Huiles which features many cafés and restaurants as well as art galleries.

We advise you to go to the Panier district, a name given to the area by one of its roads, one of the oldest and prettiest districts in the town. You can enjoy a pleasant stroll there and roam around a well renovated, and perhaps now even slightly fashionable area. There are artistic boutiques on every corner where you can find unusual pottery and paintings.

In the heart of this district you will find the Vieille Charité, which served as a hospice for children and the elderly until the end of the 19th century and which is home today to 2 of the most beautiful museums in the town.
Don’t forget to finish your day with a visit to the Basilica Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, built in 1870. The statue of the Virgin Mary, which has been above the Basilica since this date measures 9.7 metres and weighs 10 tonnes!
Perched on a hill in the heart of the town, the Bonne Mère dominates all the town and offers an outstanding panoramic view of the town and the port, at 162 metres of altitude. A unique view of the Vieux Port, Panier district, the autonomous port, the islands of Frioul and If, the north of Marseille, the beach areas and the hills which surround Marseille.

At the end of the end of the day, you are invited to dine in one of the best restaurants in Marseille of which we will send you the secret address.

After the breakfast, you will then leave for a stroll by the sea where you can take in the scenery which will take your breath away.
After a 20 minute boat ride from the Vieux Port, you will reach the island of If, which is home to If castle, made famous by the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Counte of Monte Cristo.
Then, as you move away from the coast, you will discover a real paradise for nature lovers, the Calanque de Cassis, often presented, deservedly so, as the jewel of the town.
Breakfast at your hotel. You will then leave for a stroll by the sea where you can take in the scenery which will take your breath away.
After a 20 minute boat ride from the Vieux Port, you will reach the island of If, which is home to If castle, made famous by the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Counte of Monte Cristo.
Then, as you move away from the coast, you will discover a real paradise for nature lovers, the Calanque de Cassis, often presented, deservedly so, as the jewel of the town.
An unforgettable day where cameras and hats are an absolute must!
Return to your hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, you will take the coastal road towards St-Tropez. You will stop off at Bormes-les-Mimosas, home to Fort de Brégançon, holiday home of the French Presidents.

International capital of tourism, which went on to become a myth, St Tropez has contributed to the renaming of the Côte d'Azur. St Tropez became «St Trop» from the 1950s, when the artistic and intellectual Parisian worlds, captivated by the charm of the «petit port» descended on St Trop for the summer.
The myth was accentuated by the arrival of Brigitte Bardot in the 60s. She lived there for more than 20 years.
Since then, St Tropez has became one of the favourite holiday destinations of the Parisian in-crowd and the international elite.
There is a fantastic nightlife, many private parties take place each evening in the luxurious golf villas where some of the guests arrive by helicopter to avoid traffic jams.
After dinner, your chauffeur will take you back to Marseille.

After your breakfast, you will leave for the very famous town of Cannes, situated on the Côte d’Azur, a town known all over the world for its international film festival.
Your chauffeur-guide will show you to your hotel, situated in the centre of the town.

A stroll along the Croisette, the famous street by the seafront is a must. The large hotels which line it welcome the stars of international cinema every year.
Feel free to step inside one of the many luxury, high fashion boutiques.
You will eat lunch in one of Cannes’ top restaurants.

After lunch, you can either continue exploring the town or take the opportunity to relax on one of Cannes’ many private beaches.

Towards the end of the afternoon/early evening, the casinos will begin to open their doors.

In the morning, you are invited to take a tour of the picturesque Forville market, which has been in its current location for 120 years. It’s just a short walk from the port and the Croisette, and along with Rue Meynadier, it’s one of the most celebrated places in Cannes. Attracted by the beauty of the Provençal market and by the quality and the wide choice of products, you can find locals and professionals from the restaurant business as well as tourists there.
Go then to the medieval town of Suquet with its Provençal boutiques and its many little restaurants. At the top, you can admire the view of Cannes Bay.
Then, you will be invited to a private visit of the Palais des Festivals. You will discover all the secrets from the Cannes Festival.

In the afternoon, about 15 km north of Cannes, you will find the town of Grasse, the worldwide capital of perfume, the knowledge of which is passed down from generation to generation. Grasse has become famous for the quality of its oils and its creations for luxury perfumeries. Discover this mythical world with a superb visit to one of its main perfumeries.

We will provide you with a choice of some best restaurants where you can eat your evening meal.

Your chauffeur will drive you to Nice and its famous Promenade des Anglais. There you will visit the Cours Saleya Flower Market, ranked as one of the prettiest markets in France. You can try some local specialities "on the go" at this market: socca, pissaladière, deep-fried courgette, etc with the Château hill as your backdrop.

Accompanied by your English guide, you will leave for a guided walking tour through the town’s districts.

We then invite you to stop for lunch in the alleyways, typical of vieux Nice where you can taste genuine "Niçoise" cuisine, before leaving for a tasty visit to the Florian confectionery in vieux Nice, a true institution where you can taste the fruit confits, jams and chocolates which, according to family tradition are made by local craftsmen.

At the end of the day, your chauffeur will drive you along the coastal road and you can take in the seaside towns, the pebble and fine sand beaches along this prestigious coast, until you arrive back in Cannes.

After breakfast, your chauffeur will take you along the high cliff road in the direction of the Principality of Monaco, the second smallest state in the world after the Vatican, just 12km from the Italian border.

You will start the visit from the Rocher with a visit to Saint Nicolas Cathedral and the tomb of Princess Grace of Monaco.
Place du Palais, you can admire the Palais Princier, built in the 13th Century and then remade during the Renaissance. A private visit will allow you to discover the splendours of the Grand Apartments in the Palais Princier, its gallery, the Cour d’Honneur, the Salon Louis XV and the Throne Room.
You will stop for lunch in a famous restaurant in Monaco from where you can admire the luxury cars that continually pass by. This area is a must for shopping lovers, with plenty of luxury boutiques and galleries to explore.
In the late afternoon or in the evening, gambling amateurs can try their luck in one of the 5 casinos in the surrounding area.