Provence & The Riviera (April 30 - May 11) - 11 nights, 12 days and only 12 people
When did you last indulge yourself?
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| 'sur le pont d'avignon' The famous bridge |
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A return to the South of France
There
are few places in the world that have captured the essence of
sophisticated, laid back leisure. .
Imagine strolling along the Promenade des Anglais while the Mediterranean gently washes up on the beach, or
strolling through the narrow streets of the old town enjoying the flavor
and atmosphere of the old City. And when you’ve finished it’s just a short
stroll to your waterfront hotel where you can have a coffee while
staring out at the sea.
And a few days later settle in to our
former cloistered monastery in the historic Avignon where you will be
cocooned within the walls of this ancient city that was the City of the
Popes back in the 14th century during a dispute with Rome. Wander
through the Papal Palace and enjoy a café lunch in the main square
listening to the medieval music from the excellent street musicians.
Some New Bits...
Then
for something completely different, soak up the sights and sounds of
the old Roman City of Arles in the heart of the Camargue. Wander through
the ampitheatre and the arena where the might of Rome was once
displayed. And you will journey down the Petit Rhone on a paddle wheeler
seeing the fields of Black Bulls and White Horses famous throughout
Europe as well as massive rice paddies and great salt flats of the Camargue.
In
between you will discover the artist’s town of Aix en Provence, the
Massive Hill Fortress of Les Baux, believed to have been founded by
Balthazar, one of the three wise men, then Orange, the home of the
fabulous Chateauneuf des Papes wines and even more Roman monuments.
And on your way back to Nice, stroll through Cannes as they prepare for the annual world famous Cannes Film Festival.
Including:
Nice, Monaco, Aix en Provence, Les Baux, Avignon, Orange,
Chateauneuf des Papes, Arles, The Camargue, Boat cruise on Le
Petit Rhone - slow, relaxed pace, free time.
Twelve days in some of the finest luxury hotels. April 30 - May 11, 2012. Check the sidebar on the right for pricing.
Big booking incentives:
Bring four friends (not wife, husband or significant other) and
get your tour for half price.
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| Spring in Provence |
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Pricing and Booking
Price: $4,395 per person based on double occupancy. Single: $5,390
A
$500 deposit (non-refundable so take out insurance and protect
yourself) at the time of booking with the remainder due 60 days prior to
departure. You will be invoiced. We accept MasterCard and Visa.
(Please read our fine print pages for more details and all ‘the boring stuff’).
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Your Hotels
Nice (4 nights)
Avignon (3 nights)
Arles (3 nights) and back to Nice for last night
Nice - Westminster Hotel - www.westminster-nice.com/ Right on the Promenade des Anglais overlooking the Med. and just a short stroll from the old city. Perfect location.
Avignon - Cloitre St. Louis - www.cloitre-saint-louis.com/uk/index.php A fine four star former cloistered monastery inside the walls of the city and easy walking distance from all the major sites.
Arles - Jules Cesar www.hotel-julescesar.fr/uk/index.php In the heart of town an excellent luxury hotel in its own grounds.
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What's Included:
All ground transportation
Airport Transfers
Driver and guide
Full breakfasts throughout
Seven dinners
All entry fees
Baggage handling
All service charges, local taxes
Background kit
Not included:
Air fare,
lunches,
Dinner for early night and one night Estremoz, one night Lisbon
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses
Tipping to guide and driver
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| Old Nice |
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Itinerary (April 30-May 11)
30 April: Nice - Early night - Check in into your Hotel Westminster Dinner on your own. Overnight in Nice where you will be based for the next 4 nights
01 May : Nice at leisure- The centre of Nice is easy to explore: The Promenade des Anglais, the waterfront boulevard which is one of the most famous streets in France. Behind the pebbly beach is the old town with its rambling old lanes and its famous Marché aux Fleurs. This is the charismatic heart of the city and it contrasts well with the belle époque buildings that line the waterfront and the west of the city.
Dinner and overnight in Nice.
02 May : Nice - Monaco (09:30 -16:30)- After breakfast, pick up at your hotel by your driver-guide and transfer to Monaco. Drive on the middle coast road enjoying a panoramic view of Nice and the bay of Villefranche. Eze Village : Visit of the old medieval village perched like eagles nests. Visit of the Perfumurie Fragonard. Monaco: Walk in the small streets of the old town on the rock. See the Prince's Palace and the changing of the guard just before midday. Monte Carlo : Discover the old Casino, the famous Hôtel de Paris and Café de Paris, the beautiful gardens and de-luxe boutiques . Drive on the Monte-Carlo world-famous race-track. Returning to Nice along the beautiful low coast road.
Dinner and overnight in Nice.
03 May : Nice - St Paul de Vence (09:30 - 16:00) - After breakfast, pick up at your hotel by your driver-guide and transfer to St Paul de Vence for a fascinating and unhurried visit. Built on its rocky outcrop and surrounded by its ramparts, St Paul is certainly one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. The beauty of the surrounding area, quality of life and
exceptional light has inspired numerous famous artists, painters, writers and poets. Then it's back to Nice to enjoy free time for dinner on your own. Overnight in Nice.
04 May : Nice - Aix en Provence - Avignon (09:30 - 16:30) Pick up at your hotel by your driver-guide and transfer to Aix en Provence,to visit the former capital of Provence:Town of water, town of art... Aix en Provence was built and has developed around this dual identity. But the town also knows how to blend different eras and culture. Open to the world, it is a city of human dimension where the preserved heritage and the city of tomorrow blend perfectly. Here, all is colour and sensation: the light of the sky, the golden stone of the facades, the transparent green of the fountains, the shade of the plane trees...Then it's free time to relax over lunch at a sidewalk cafe or to wander around whilst enjoying a baguette.
Settle into your 4-star Hotel Avignon Grand Hotel where you will be based for the next 3 nights Dinner and overnight at your hotel .
05 May : Avignon - Orange - Isle sur Sorgue (09:30 - 16:00) Pick up at your hotel by your driver-guide and transfer to Isle sur Sorgue where you will visit to the local market and antique dealers. Often called the “Venice of Provence”, the town's crystal clear water flows under pedestrian bridges, and flower boxes overflow with color. We tour a local winery and enjoy some of the finest wines during a tasting session. Continue to Orange, city of art and history, Orange is outstanding for its exceptional historical heritage. As soon as you come inside the gates you will find yourself in the midst of Roman civilization with the Arch of Triumph (three arches) standing majestically over the city. Back to Avignon Dinner & overnight at your hotel.
06 May : Avignon at leisure Tour of the city where you can admire the medieval walls and Pont d'Avignon, famous for the French song 'Sur le Pont d'Avignon'. Visit of the Popes' Palace, the biggest gothic palace in all of Europe. Dinner on your own & overnight at your hotel.
07 May: Avignon - Les Baux de Provence - Arles (9:30 - 16:00) Pick up at your hotel by your driver-guide and transfer to Les Baux-de-Provence The village of the Baux de Provence is situated in the heart of the Alpilles. This immense and superb stone fortress is without doubt one of the "must-sees" on the Provencal tourist trail! The village is officially classified and labelled as "one of the most beautiful villages in France". Its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich, with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments". Stop at les Carrieres de Lumiere. Transfer to Arles, noted for the wealth of its Roman and Romanesque heritage. The monuments of the city listed as Unesco world heritage monuments in 1981. Settle into your luxury 4-star Hotel Jules Cesar where you will be based for the next 4 nights Dinner and overnight at your hotel .
08 May : Arles - Camargue - (09:30 - 16:30) Full day excursion in Camargue, a place of encounters : between the earth and the water, the sky and the swamps, the salt and the silts, and man and his past. Then it’s a Mini cruise on Le Petit Rhône. Dinner & overnight at your hotel in Arles
09 May: Arles for the day (9:30) Orientation tour in Arles. Rest of the day at your leisure. Dinner on your own and overnight at your hotel in Arles.
10 May: Arles to Cannes to Nice Airport Hotel (09:00 - 16:30) After breakfast departure to Cannes to see The Croisette, one of the most famous promenades in the world. Time at leisure in Cannes Then route to Nice airport.Settle into your 4-star Hotel Novotel at Nice airport for our final dinner together. Overnight stay.
11 May: Departure Day from Nice Airport Free shuttle from your hotel to the airport.
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What the artists saw...
Sometimes one is slapped in the head with obvious truths and so it was with us when we decided many years ago to visit the South of France.
We had read all the books, seen the videos and had accepted the fact that the South of France was a different color; the sea, the hills, the fields - even the air itself.
And it is.
Perhaps it is the influence of all those artists who headed down here to paint. Renoir, Van Gogh, Gaugin, Dali, Picasso, Monet, Manet and on and on and...
It’s as though they had a meeting and decided to paint a moving picture of this land and the result was a slightly wispy, slightly soft pastel image.
Sure there is the Riviera and the topless beaches (though most of those who do go topless most definitely should not), the disgustingly expensive yachts, the hectares of vineyards, the azure mediterranean and the remarkable ruins and history.
Then too, the markets are something else. From the countless olive trees come the countless varieties of olives stuffed or unstuffed, red, green, black, maroon, you name it. Or the mushrooms, the saucissons, again in every variety shape and aroma.
Nor is French baking to be ignored. It’s actually considered a sin to not partake. Or so we’ve been told. And the breads; oh my what smells, what salivating.
What a joy to sit down at a table or to pick up something from the markets for lunch.
This is probably why there is so much history and so many overlapping settlements and explorations and conquerings. They knew this place was different.
Mix it all together and throw in that pastel coloured air and you have a separate world to play on your senses. It even smells different, a mixture of land and sea - and a pastel aroma. Honest, there is something totally unique here that we haven’t found in any other corner of med.
When you are long gone from the South of France that pastel, ethereal image will haunt you for the rest of your days. Just ask the artists.
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