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Rhône Valley: Burgundy to Provence
offered by supplier M07510 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 12
day(s)
Group Size: 8
- 16
people
Destination(s):
France
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Food & Wine
Season: May
Airfare Included: Yes
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 5999 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 5999 US Dollar (USD)
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This tour runs only once a year, and is scheduled for May 2009. If you would like us to set up this itinerary for you to travel on your own or with your own group, we would be happy to do so. We can do all the reservations and trip planning for you and can customize the tour for you to meet your individual wishes and budget.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1-2
We meet at the Paris Charles DeGaulle airport and begin our journey south toward the beautiful wine region of Burgundy. In just over two hours we come to Chablis, perfect timing for a snack and a tasting of our first Burgundian wine. We veer off the main road to the enchanting town of Vézelay- in a gorgeous setting on a ridge overlooking the wild "Morvan" forests and fields. Vézelay is in competition for the title of prettiest village in France. We arrive in the charming medieval wine town of Beaune, known as the wine capital of Burgundy. Our hotel for the next two nights is a dreamy, elegant inn conveniently located in the historic center. We can walk to dozens of enticing wine shops, boutiques and cafés along picturesque, narrow streets. After relaxing with a glass of local Burgundy or exploring the neighborhood, we enjoy a wonderful dinner of regional Burgundian specialties. The next day we take an excursion to Dijon to visit an ancient mustard factory. We return to Beaune through the Côtes de Nuits countryside, stopping of course to quench our thirst (from all that mustard). Tonight is a special wine pairing dinner in a local winery.
Day 3-5
We journey south through the beautiful Burgundian countryside to the tiny medieval hilltop village of Pérouges for lunch. Then it's on to Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. We check into our hotel in the historic center of the oldest part of the city. We have hundreds of restaurants to choose from just steps away. The next day we visit the old town of Lyon and then take a drive into the Beaujolais countryside. We visit a Beaujolais vineyard for a tasting and tonight enjoy a very special gourmet Lyonnais dinner. The next morning we enjoy an entertaining cooking class and have a feast we can be proud of. We have free time to shop or walk off a few calories.
Day 6
Following the Rhône River south into Provence, we arrive at our home for the next four nights, a lovely country inn outside the charming village of Saint Rémy de Provence. Our hosts serve us a gourmet French dinner complete with an excellent Rhône Valley wine.
Day 7
Today we visit the nearby Roman city of Arles. We have a guided walking tour of this picturesque town made famous by Vincent Van Gogh and have time after lunch to explore on our own. We return to Saint Rémy in time for happy hour.
Day 8
Today's excursion takes us to the mountainous Luberon region, made famous by Peter Mayle in his bestselling book A Year in Provence. We visit a lavender museum and three lovely villages- Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Apt, and Gordes. Tonight is another gourmet feast at home.
Day 9
This morning we explore the nearby medieval fortified village of Les Baux de Provence. Les Baux is set high on a mountain in the Alpilles range with a spectacular view of the surrounding vineyards. After lunch in Les Baux we visit a winery in the Côtes du Rhône wine region for a tour and tasting. For those who like to cook, our chef invites us to assist him to prepare tonight's dinner.
Day 10
This morning we have a guided tour of an amazing Roman village called Glanum uncovered in 1921. The town was actually built by a Celtic Ligurian tribe several centuries before being conquered by the Romans. Our next stop is the Saint Rémy market where we pick up some choice items for a gourmet French picnic. In the afternoon we leave Saint Rémy and drive to our next destination, Avignon. Encircled by ramparts, Avignon is an ancient city that was home to the Popes during the 14th century. We check into our lovely hotel in the historic city center and in the evening enjoy a superb gastronomic dinner.
Day 11
We take a guided walking tour through Avignon's medieval streets and squares, the highlight of which is the magnificent Pope's Palace (Palais des Papes), a veritable maze of galleries, chambers, chapels, and passages. The afternoon is free to explore on our own.
Day 12
On our last day we drive by the magnificent Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, on our way to visit the charming town of Uzès. After lunch we visit the celebrated winery of Beaucastel in Chateauneuf du Pape. We return to Avignon for a grand farewell dinner.
Day 13
After breakfast, we head to the Marseille Airport for the flight home.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Cultural Journey
Food & Wine
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