paris_provenc

Day 1 Depart USA Overnight flight to Paris. Day 2 Arrive Paris On arrival in Paris you are transferred to your hotel. Later this afternoon, we enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring views of the Louvre, Champs Elysées, Opera House and a guided tour of Notre Dame Cathedral. The highlight of our day will be the included ascent of the Eiffel Tower to the second level. Then there's time to relax and unwind before meeting for a beverage with our Tour Director and fellow traveling companions. Hotel: Holiday Inn La Villette Day 3 Paris – TGV Train – Lyon – (5) This morning we board our high speed and comfortable TGV train to Lyon. From here we drive to the celebrated vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape for a sampling of the great red vintage! Then it's only a short drive to our beautiful Provençal village at Mallemort-en-Provence, where we spend the next five nights. Hotel: Pont Royal (5 nights)
Day 4 Aix-en-Provence Our orientation tour this morning shows us the elegant Cours Mirabeau with its many cafés and 19th century architecture. Then time at leisure to relax or explore. Aix was the home of Paul Cezanne – maybe visit the museum dedicated to him or take an excursion to Marseilles and 'Les Calanques'. Tonight, why not dine on Provençal specialties in a restaurant?
	Day 5 French Riviera Excursion An early start as we pass the Abbey of St. Maximin to Ste. Maxime – a stylish resort on the Esterel coast. From here we cruise across the Mediterranean to St. Tropez. There's time to watch out for the rich and famous from one of the cafés before we head back to Mallemort via the Castle of Grimaud.
Day 6 Lourmarin Excursion A short drive takes us to the village of Lourmarin with its many Art galleries and imposing castle. Then free time to take an excursion to the heart of the 'Luberon', visiting Menerbes and the town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue – an antique collector's paradise! Later, we return to Mallemort for dinner at our hotel. Day 7 Van Gogh's Arles and 'Les Alpilles' Today we drive into the heart of the Camargue to Arles. Here we see the Roman Arena and the Cathedral of St. Trophime before driving to Les Baux – the most mysterious, hilltop ghost town in all of France! Then down to St. Remy de Provence, where we see the asylum where Van Gogh was to spend some of his last days.	Free time in this pretty town before continuing on to one of the most amazing sights in France, the 'Pont du Gard', an incredible feat of Roman engineering.
Day 8 Mallemort-en-Provence – Avignon – TGV – Paris (2) This morning a short drive brings us to Avignon where an orientation tour shows us the famous broken bridge across the Rhône and the Palace of the Popes. Then we will board our TGV Train back to Paris for our two-night stay. This evening, why not enjoy dinner in a Parisian bistro? Hotel: Courtyard Marriott (2 nights) Day 9 Paris at leisure Enjoy a full day at leisure. Maybe visit the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay or you may wish to take a trip to the nearby ornate Palace of Versailles. Shopping in Paris is always fun, try out the boutiques near St. Sulpice! On your final evening in this exciting, colorful city, why not enjoy a night at the world-famous cabaret, 'Le Paradis Latin'? Day 10 Paris – USA This morning after breakfast, time to bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer to the airport for our return flight to America. We can also arrange a tour that returns from Nice!