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 4 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. In one cooking class, set up shop in a 19th-century kitchen and work around a huge wood-block table. The kitchen’s original stove is fired up with oak wood three hours before class even begins, and you’ll discover authentic traditions as you prepare menus that feature traditional Provencal and French recipes. In Avignon, 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 and infusing them with something exotic.
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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.
- Dinner on your own and overnight.
Day Two
- Breakfast.
- After visiting the market with a chef, begin your first cooking class in his professional kitchen. Lunch to follow, with three courses and drinks included, based on your efforts.
- Afternoon on your own to visit Avignon at your own pace. You will be provided with tickets for Popes’ Palace, the biggest gothic palace in all of Europe; the Pont d’Avignon, famous for the French song ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’; and a Provence wine tasting in a wine shop.
- Dinner on your own.
Day Three
- After breakfast, 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, such as Roussilon with its ochre cliffs, and Gordes, completely built with dry stones called ‘lauze’. (If you are lucky enough to be in Rousillon on Thursday or Gordes on Tuesday, you can also go to the local market.)
- 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 in either Gordes or Fontaine de Vaucluse.
- 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.
- On Sundays only, we may substitute a stop in L’Isle sur la Sorgue, a village famous for its antiques and weekly market.
- Return to Avignon for dinner on your own. Overnight.
Day Four
- Breakfast.
- In the morning, 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). Next, it is time for a Provence wine tour with wine tasting in a Chateauneuf du Pape winery.
- Lunch on your own.
- 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 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.
- Enjoy the morning exploring Avignon on your own. (If you’d like us to arrange an additional cultural tour or Provence wine tour for you this morning, please let us know.)
- Lunch on your own.
- In the late afternoon, meet for your last cooking class is in a 5-star hotel in Avignon, followed by dinner with drinks included.
- Walk back to your hotel after dinner for your final 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
- 2 lunches, local wine included
- 2 dinners, local wine included
Classes & Instructors
Your 4 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. In one cooking class, set up shop in a 19th-century kitchen and work around a huge wood-block table. The kitchen’s original stove is fired up with oak wood three hours before class even begins, and you’ll discover authentic traditions as you prepare menus that feature traditional Provencal and French recipes. In Avignon, 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 and infusing them with something exotic.
Excursions
- 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
- 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
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
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Year-Round Pricing:
(excluding July and August)
6-night Program
US$3400 per person based on double occupancy
- Subtract US$300 per person when booking 4 or more people
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.)
2019
February 3-9
February 10-16
February 17-23
February 24-March 2
March 3-9
March 10-16
March 17-23
March 24-30
March 31-April 6
April 7-13
April 14-20
April 21-27
April 28-May 4
May 5-11
May 12-18
May 17-23 (custom week please inquire)
May 26-June 1
June 2-8
June 9-15
June 16-22
June 23-29
September 1-7
September 8-14
September 15-21
September 22-28
September 29-October 5
October 6-12
October 13-19
October 20-26
October 27-November 2
November 3-9
November 10-16
November 17-23
November 24-30
December 1-7
December 8-14
December 15-21
December 22-28
Pricing & Dates
Class Pricing
Reviews
Country:
France
Region:
Provence/Cote d'Azur
Good for Solos
Romantic Getaways
Wine Themed
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
$3,100
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