Discover Provence
Discover Provence
Avignon is a city famous for its history, and not just because its often referred to as the “City of Popes.” After all, this city on the Rhone is one of the few places in France to preserve much of its historical center, ramparts around the city, picturesque bridges, and buildings such as the impressive Popes’ Palace. Whether exploring the ancient cobblestone streets on foot or by bus, Avignon’s charm and friendly atmosphere is everywhere, from beautiful private mansions hailing from the 18th and 19th centuries to its many parks and gardens.
Avignon, too, is the center of Provencal food. With the oldest covered market in the city, Les Halles, along with cooking classes, visitors can discover Provencal specialties and local products, such as honey, nougat, chocolates, olive oils AOC, Côte du Rhône wines, and so much more. With its central location, Avignon is the perfect place to discover the surrounding Provencal countryside, including the Luberon mountains with their breathtaking views, Roussillon’s unique ochre landscape, and small villages like Chateauneuf du Pape that you can explore on a Provence wine tour with wine tasting.
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Trip Details
Your 3 hands-on cooking classes will take place in a variety of kitchens throughout central Avignon and the Provencal countryside so you’ll discover all the different facets of the local cuisine. Visit Les Halles, a traditional Provencal food market full of farm products including vegetables, fruit, cheeses, honey, wines, flowers, and poultry, and learn how to create traditional Provencal cuisine. You’ll also visit a charming restaurant and discover how to pair wines with your meals as you learn from the chef, who is passionate about using local flavors.
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Itinerary
Day One
- Private transfer from Avignon TGV station to your hotel.
- Check-in to your 4-star hotel in central Avignon.
- Welcome dinner tonight (beverages included).
Day Two
- Breakfast.
- Meet in central Avignon in the morning (within walking distance of the hotel) for a shared tour dedicated to wine. Start on a scenic drive to the foot of Mont Ventoux through the vineyards of the eponymous appellation. Discover an outstanding wine estate and enjoy a guided tour.
- Your Provence wine tasting will engage all five senses as you taste a variety of wines (4 or 5).
- After the Provence wine tasting, a picnic lunch on the terrace will follow (weather permitting). Taste seasonal products with wines of the domain.
- Return to Avignon.
- Dinner on your own.
Day Three
- After breakfast, meet in central Avignon and depart for a full-day tour with an English speaking driver/guide on a shared mini-bus (max 8 people). First stop will be the Luberon hill range and picturesque villages, including Roussilon with its ochre cliffs, and a quick stop in Gordes, completely built with dry stones called ‘lauze’.
- Next stop is Fontaine de Vaucluse, where you will see the cave from which emerges the River Sorgues.
- Free time for lunch on your own.
- After lunch it is on to the Unesco-rated Pont du Gard, which is the best preserved part of a Roman aqueduct that sent the water from Nimes to Uzes during the Roman civilization. From there head to Les Baux de Provence, a medieval hilltop village in the heart of the Alpilles hill range.
- Return to Avignon, stopping for a quick look at the Antiques (Triumphal Roman arch and mausoleum), located in a olive field near Saint-Remy-de-Provence.
- Dinner on your own. Overnight.
Day Four
- Breakfast.
- In the morning, meet again in central Avignon and take a half-day tour on a shared minibus with an English-speaking driver/guide to Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape (max 8 people). Stop first in Orange to see the amazing Roman monuments including the Triumphal Arch and Theater, one of the best preserved monuments from Roman times (entrance fee and audioguide included).
- Lunch on your own. Then it is time for a Provence wine tour with wine tasting in a Chateauneuf du Pape winery.
- Return to Avignon.
- In the afternoon, take part in a cooking class in a charming Avignon restaurant. During the apéritif, you’ll also learn how to pair wines with your meal. Dinner to follow based on your efforts, drinks included.
Day Five
- Breakfast.
- In the morning, meet your driver at your hotel and depart for a cooking class with a local chef in the Alpilles area.
- Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the afternoon, head to Villeneuve les Avignon, where you will visit an olive mill and have a tasting.
- Return to Avignon and dinner on your own.
- Overnight.
Day Six
- Breakfast.
- After visiting the market with a chef, begin your next cooking class in his professional kitchen. Lunch to follow, drinks included, based on your efforts.
- In the afternoon, time to explore Avignon one last time. Entrance tickets to 2 of Avignon’s most famous sites, the Popes’ Palace and the Pont d’Avignon, will be included for you to explore at your own pace.
- End the afternoon with a wine tasting at a wine shop.
- Farewell dinner and overnight in Avignon.
Day Seven
- Breakfast.
- Check-out of the hotel and return to the Avignon TGV train station.
Trip Details
Included in the 6-Night Trip
Accommodations
6 nights accommodations in 4* hotel in the center of Avignon
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 3 lunches, local wine included
- 3 dinners, local wine included
Classes & Instructors
Your 3 hands-on cooking classes will take place in a variety of kitchens throughout central Avignon and the Provencal countryside so you’ll discover all the different facets of the local cuisine. Visit Les Halles, a traditional Provencal food market full of farm products including vegetables, fruit, cheeses, honey, wines, flowers, and poultry, and learn how to create traditional Provencal cuisine. You’ll also visit a charming restaurant and discover how to pair wines with your meals as you learn from the chef, who is passionate about using local flavors.
Excursions
- Shared tour of the Mont Ventoux wine producing region with tastings
- Shared tour of the Luberon, including the Pont du Gard, and the Alpilles region
- Half-day tour to the Chateauneuf du Pape region, including Provence wine tour with tasting, and a tour of Orange
- Private tour on day Five to the Alpilles region
- Visit of olive mill in Villeneuve les Avignon
Transfer Details
- Round-trip transfers to/from Avignon TGV train station. (Transfers to/from Marseille airport available for an additional price).
Miscellaneous
- Tickets for the Popes’ Palace
Not Included
- Local tourist tax (a couple Euros per person per night, paid locally)
Accommodation Information
Located in central Avignon, just steps from Popes’ Palace and numerous cafes and shops, is the Hotel de L’Horloge. Once a 19th-century house, this hotel now offers 66 modern, cozy rooms with individual a/c and heat, free Wi-Fi, mini-bar, safe, telephone, and satellite TV. (If unavailable a comparable property will be proposed.)
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Pricing & Tour Dates
Looking for tour date information?
Year-Round Pricing:
(excluding July and August)
6-night Program
US$3400 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$600 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
July and August pricing available on request.
Single occupancy pricing: please inquire.
Transfer also possible from Marseille airport: please inquire for cost.
Tour Dates
Available the following weeks for 1-8 people. Other start dates also possible. (Please inquire for July & August.)
2020
January 5-11
January 12-18
January 19-25
January 26-February 1
February 2-8
February 9-15
February 16-22
February 23-29
March 1-7
March 8-14
March 15-21
March 22-28
March 29-April 4
April 5-11
April 12-18
April 19-25
April 26-May 2
May 3-9
May 10-16
May 17-23
May 24-30
May 31-June 6
June 7-13
June 14-20
June 21-27
July & August: Please inquire
August 30-September 5
September 6-12
September 13-19
September 20-26
September 27-October 3
October 4-10
October 11-17
October 18-24
October 25-31
November 1-7
November 8-14
November 15-21
November 22-28
November 29-December 5
December 6-12
December 13-19
December 20-26
Pricing & Dates
Class Pricing
Reviews
Country:
France
Region:
Provence/Cote d'Azur
Tour Dates:
Available any dates you choose (except July & August) for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details.
6 Nights
Starting at
$3,400
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