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The famed Pont d'Avignon as see from above

Vegetables at the market in France

A cooking class in Avignon Provence

Grapes on the vine during a winery tour in France

Provencal tart on a culinary vacation in France

At the market with the chef before your cooking class in Provence

Flowers at the market in Provence

The village of Gordes during a tour of Provence

The Pont du Gard in Provence

Smelling the bouillabaisse in Marseille during a cooking vacation

Beef with potatoes on a culinary tour of Provence

Candied fruit in Provence on a French culinary tour

Soaps at the market in Provence on your tour of France

Double room of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Bedroom of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Breakfast room of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Facade of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Lobby of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Overview

Discover Provence

This trip is eligible for our Worry-Free Booking promotion.

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.

Latest Review

We gave this trip 4 stars

★★★★★

Claudia & Richard

Alabama

Trip taken June 2015

We would go again tomorrow if we had the time! While the classes did not offer a great deal of information regarding technique or innovative recipes, we loved the chefs and greatly enjoyed the time we spent with them. Each one was very personable and engaging, and we left feeling that we understood the passion each invested in the food they prepared. [Regarding the cooking vacation packet:] The description of the day long trip put the lunch break in the wrong place, resulting in our having to cancel a reservation at the last minute because we were not actually going to be in the town where we understood we were "on our own" for lunch. We might have preferred to visit one less place and have more time to explore the others. It would have also helped for the guides to have plats or maps to offer for each location as we arrived. We never found the view points for a couple of the stops, and it almost seemed as though the primary activity was shopping, not exploring the locale. [Regarding The International Kitchen staff:] Yes, very pleasant to work with. Response from The International Kitchen: Wonderful! We're glad to hear you had such a wonderful time in Provence! Regarding the itinerary, adjustments may need to be made as the trip progresses, depending on how long some of the excursions may take. We will pass on your feedback to the guides! Thank you again.

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.

Itinerary

6 Night 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

6 Night 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

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.)

Facade of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Breakfast room of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Bedroom of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Double room of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

Lobby of the hotel l'Horloge in Provence

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Pricing & Tour Dates

6 Night Pricing

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.

This trip is eligible for our “Worry-Free Booking” promotion*, which means your deposit is fully refundable up to 31 days prior to the trip start date. Questions? Please contact us!

*See our terms & conditions for details and exclusions.

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.)

2021
Sample weeks, other start dates also possible:
May 2-8
May 9-15
May 16-22
May 23-29
May 30-June 5
June 6-12
June 13-19
June 20-26
June 27-July 3
July & August: Please inquire
August 29-September 4
September 5-11
September 12-18
September 19-25
September 26-October 2
October 3-9
October 10-16
October 17-23
October 24-30
October 31-November 6
November 7-13
November 14-20
November 21-27
November 28-December 4
December 5-11
December 12-18
December 19-25

2022
Sample weeks, other start dates also possible:
January 2-8
January 9-15
January 16-22
January 23-29
January 30- February 5
February 6-12
February 13-19
February 20-26
February 27-March 5
March 6-12
March 13-19
March 20-26
March 27-April 2
April 3-9
April 10-16
April 17-23
April 24-30
May 1-7
May 8-14
May 15-21
May 22-28
May 29-June 4
June 5-11
June 12-18
June 19-25
June 26-July 2
July 3-9
July 10-16
July 17-23
July 24-30
July 31-August 6
August 7-13
August 14-20
August 21-27
August 28-September 3
September 4-10
September 11-17
September 18-24
September 25-October 1
October 2-8
October 19-15
October 16-22
October 23-29
October 30-November 5
November 6-12
November 13-19
November 20-26
November 27-December 3
December 4-10
December 11-17
December 18-24

Reviews

We gave this trip 4 stars

★★★★★

Claudia & Richard

Alabama

Trip taken June 2015

We gave this trip 4 stars

★★★★★

Melanie & Glenn

British Columbia

Trip taken October 2014

Our trip was action packed with local tours and cooking sessions: * Cooking in Carpentras - Excellent. Chef Gina is professional and her cooking location is warm and cozy. Best for smaller groups of 2-6. She is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic to share her experiences. I highly recommend her B&B and cooking classes. * Cooking at a hotel restaurant - Wonderful atmosphere. Professional. 5 stars like the hotel facilities and amenities. I highly recommend an experience at La Mirande. The teaching kitchen is beautifully equipped with state of the art equipment and tools. * Cooking with Jean-Marc Lamarre - JM has a wonderful character and he is well known around town and in the markets. He is very knowledgeable on local products. His teaching facility is part of his restaurant which is a commercial, working kitchen. This can be good and bad. I did not feel we learned to cook a dish from beginning to end. Plus we ended up learning to skin a rabbit which was a bit jarring and unexpected. What I appreciated out of this experience is how hectic and how everything has to be timed to get plates out to the paying guests in the restaurant. We had 2 cooking sessions with JM. For me, I would have preferred an extra session with the other two cooking instructors. * The tour operator - Excellent. Clean vans/cars. All guides spoke excellent English and many other languages. Guides were very informative on all visited places and were very helpful and organized if we had questions on the local areas. They were excellent keeping everyone on time. * Hotel de l'Horlage was great. Staff was helpful. Breakfast was well organized and food was fresh. Rooms were clean. Location was central to everything in Avignon. * Transfers - excellent and on time. * Because I spoke French, the tour and cooking providers were enthusiastic to speak with me in their native language. This I appreciate. [Regarding the cooking vacation packet:] Package was helpful. Found not every tour provider wanted our daily vouchers. [Regarding The International Kitchen staff:] Superb. Answered all my emails in a timely fashion. We had lovely time. It was a very busy 7 days for us. This was exactly what we were looking for

We gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

Dina & Michaela

New York

Trip taken August 2013

It was spectacular!!! We had a great time and loved Avignon. Provence reservations made everything run very smoothly and the classes with the chefs were better than I ever dreamed. I think this was a new program for you but I would highly recommend it to anyone. Hotel L'Horlage was perfectly located and everything was within walking distance. I hope I have the opportunity to do another program through The International Kitchen. I just loved not being in the same kitchen for the whole week. The kitchen at La Mirande was like stepping back 100 years in time and was the highlight of the trip.