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Group Tour Operator for holidays to Provence, France

Panoramic Provence and the Untamed Camargue

  • Traditional shop, Avignon

    Traditional shop, Avignon
  • Cezanne's workshop, Aix-en-Provence © Sophie Spiteri

    France, Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Cezanne's workshop, Cezanne, artist, © Sophie Spiteri
  • Market, Aix-en-Provence © S. Spiteri

    France, Provence, Aix-en-provence, food market, group tour, group travel, © S. Spiteri
  • Palais des Papes, Avignon

    France, Provence, Avignon, Palais des Papes, Group travel, group tour, NCN
8 day tour
From £515 per person - minimum 25 passengers

Provence: this beautiful area of the south of France conjures up images of pretty villages and sun-kissed vineyards.  On this tour, we explore western Provence, including visits to the remarkable Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct. Gaze at the amazing structure and walk across it for some fantastic photos. It also has many historic towns such as Avignon, the former ‘City of the Popes’. Nearby is Arles, with its famous sites such as the Constantine Baths and Les Alyscamps – originally a large Roman cemetery, and the Camargue. This flat, marshy region is home to hundreds of species of birds, from grey herons and pink flamingos. Perhaps see the world-famous white horses!

Spend some time in Aix-en-Provence, a former Roman spa town. It has beautiful squares and bubbling fountains on every corner. Water features dot the length of the famous Cours Mirabeau and the central promenade is shaded by huge plane trees with markets along its pavements. If you visit Orange, see the Arc de Triomphe Orange – built just north of the old city walls. The carvings show military themes such as Roman battles for supremacy. Orange also has lovely squares, shops and cafes with delicious cakes. Furthermore, make sure to sample some of the local produce, as much of Provencal life revolves around the food and wine of the region. It has excellent cuisine with a strong emphasis on fresh food and intense flavours. Locals use olive oil and fresh herbs while fish and goat’s cheese are popular delicacies.


Dates

Dates throughout 2024


Suggested Itinerary

Day 1/2

Travel to France

Travel to Dover for your ferry crossing to Calais. Continue through France, making an overnight stop, before travelling further south to picturesque Provence. Check into your hotel, where you will be served dinner.

Day 3

Aix-en-Provence

Today explore the beautiful town, Aix-en-Provence. The elegant old town has a genteel feel, thanks to its profusion of fountains, and upmarket boutiques dotted along the labyrinth of narrow streets that spread out from the Cours Mirabeau. Perhaps enjoy an guided tour to provide further insight into the area. Then visit the well-preserved workshop of artist Paul Cezanne where he worked daily from 1902 until his death in 1906. Dozens of great works were created here. Nearby is Mount Sainte-Victoire, which features heavily in Cezannes’ paintings. Perhaps take the walk from his studio to Lauves’ hill, where some of his most famous paintings of this landscape were painted from. Now converted into the ‘Land of Painters’ by the city, you can take in the same panorama which inspired the artist.

Day 4

Pont du Gard and Avignon

This morning we travel to the spectacular Pont du Gard, the 2,000-year-old Roman three-level aqueduct and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue to the medieval walled city of Avignon to see several remarkable monuments.  For around 70 years, Avignon served as the centre of the Catholic world, and indeed the Pope resided here during the early 14th century. This has left a remarkable architectural impression on the town, mainly with the vast Palais des Papes and the Pont Saint-Bénézet, the bridge made famous in the song ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’. Only 4 arches now remain of the original 22 which spanned the River Rhone. Don’t miss the city’s ramparts which are also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Day 5

The Luberon, Lavender and ‘Les Baux’

Today we head north to the Luberon, an area famous for its breathtaking lavender fields and vineyards. At its centre is Les Baux-de-Provence, a medieval hilltop village clinging to a rocky outcrop and officially classified “one of the most beautiful villages in France”. Walk up the narrow, cobbled (and car-free) streets to the ruined castle for splendid views over the surrounding countryside. We continue to Roussillon where the many different shades of the locally-mined ochre rock daubed across the houses offer a flamboyant, technicolor landscape providing an amazing backdrop for pictures. Other picturesque villages include Gordes and St Remy de Provence. Perhaps finish off with a wine tasting before returning to your hotel.

Day 6

Arles and The Camargue

Visit historic Arles, once the Roman capital of Gaul, Britain and Spain. At the heart of the small town is the huge, preserved amphitheatre. The town is remarkably well-preserved and Van Gogh lived here for two years and painted some of his most well-known works. We then travel into the Camargue, where the wild landscape of red salt lagoons teeming with flamingos and herds of wild white Camargue Horses contrast with ancient fishing villages and long, sandy beaches. We visit the popular coastal town of Saintes Maries de la Mer, a picturesque coastal town. Once a year, Gypsies from all over Europe make a pilgrimage to worship Sara the Black, their saint and patroness. You can see Sara’s statue in the crypt of the town’s little church. An optional cruise by boat or paddle steam through the Camargue is available. Return to your hotel with a scenic drive around this stunning region, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Day 7/8

Return to the UK

It’s time to leave Provence. Travel north through France, making an overnight stop. Continue to Calais for your return ferry crossing to the UK.

Additional ideas

Marseille and the Calanques

Extend your stay in this stunning region and visit France’s largest commercial port, Marseille, a city full of art and culture with 26 centuries of history combining tradition and modernity.  The city has a wealth of monuments, places of interest and museums to visit. In the afternoon, perhaps enjoy a boat ride along the coast from nearby Cassis to the Calanques – a series of limestone cliffs, inlets and rocky promontories plunging into the Mediterranean for about 20 km immediately to the south east of Marseille.

Historical Nîmes

Nîmes’ arena, one of the most famous amphitheatres, was used for animal hunts, gladiator contests and even executions. Other highlights include the Tour Magne – all that remains of an ancient hilltop fortification. A spiral staircase inside leads to a fantastic view over Nîmes. Although uphill, the walk up to the Tower through the public park of Jardins de la Fontaine is delightful.

Orange

Perhaps explore Orange, a town incredibly rich in history, from its Celtic fortifications to its Roman monuments. The Ancient Theatre of Orange is one of the best conserved Roman monuments in France and among the best-preserved artefacts of the Ancient World. It is used today for concerts.


Suggested hotels

Novotel Aix en Provence Beaumanoir Les 3 Sautets, Aix-en-Provence ****

4* hotel located approximately 3 km from Aix town centre (30 mins walk) with a local bus outside. It has 120 rooms of which 2 are adapted, free coach parking, lounge area and bar, seasonal outdoor pool, computer station and large terrace. There is a lift as well as ground floor rooms. Rooms have bath/shower, hairdryer, air-con/heating, tea/coffee, TV, WiFi. Rooms on floors 1 and 2 have safes. Coach parking is available.

Mercure Orange, Orange ****

4* hotel located on the outskirts of Orange. The hotel was fully renovated in November 2015 and has 97 rooms of which 3 are adapted. There is a seasonal pool, large bar and lounge area, fitness room, terrace, garden, computer station and free onsite coach parking. Choice of menu from second night onward. There is no lift but plenty of ground floor rooms. Rooms have shower, hairdryer, TV, tea/coffee, WiFi, air-con/heating, trouser press and safe.

Novotel Nimes Atria Centre, Nimes ****

4* hotel located in the centre of Nimes next to Esplanade Charles de Gaulle, a few minutes walk from the amphitheatre. It has 119 rooms of which 4 are adapted (with bath). There is a bar and lounge area, an Atrium restaurant, computer station and free coach parking in front of the hotel. Rooms have either shower or bath, hairdryer, tea/coffee, TV, WiFi, air-con/heating and safe. The hotel provides an excellent base for excursions.

Best Western Atrium, Arles ***

3* hotel located in the heart of Arles, facing the historical monuments. 91 rooms (no adapted). The hotel has a rooftop seasonal pool and terrace area, lounge area with drinks on request, lift and onsite restaurant.  Free coach parking is outside the hotel on a first come first served basis. If this is not available, more parking is available near the near main square. Rooms have bath with shower, hairdryer, tea/coffee, TV, WiFi and air-con/heating.


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Dates Half Twin Single Supplement
Dates throughout 2024 From £515.00 per person Price on request
Price based on exchange rate of £1.00 = €1.192. All prices are per person based on sharing a double or twin room and with one free place in a single room, based on a minimum 25 full fare paying passengers. Prices do not include UK coach hire or travel insurance. Dates are subject to availability. Smaller groups can be quoted for on request. Greatdays Holidays Limited is a member of ABTA (Y0380) which means you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. Greatdays Holidays Limited has an ATOL licence (4279) and all of our air package tours are protected under this licence. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any monies you have paid to us for an advance booking. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this tour are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. Our website policy is to use only copyright free images or images which have been authorised to us for free use by the owner. If you consider an image to be unauthorised or to be your property, please contact us immediately and if invalid we will have the image removed. If your image requires crediting or is missing a copyright statement then we will be pleased to add this to the webpage, contact us at info@greatdays.co.uk

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