Daily Itinerary
DAY 1: Friday, October 18, 2024 DEPARTURE: OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO MARSEILLES
Departure from the US for overnight flight to Marseilles on Friday, October 20, 2023.
Airfare is not included but Celestial Voyagers can help you get the best airfare and schedule
DAY 2: Saturday, October 19, 2024, WELCOME TO BEAUTIFUL PROVENCE! Meals | D | Hotel de l'Orloge, 4* Avignon
Arrival Paris CDG (or another city in Europe). After going through customs and immigration you will connect and board your flight to Marseille. Group transfer by coach to Avignon.
Should you prefer to travel individually, the group will meet in Avignon which can be reached easily from Paris by TGV, the fast French train.
Check-in at the charming, centrally-located HOTEL DE L’HORLOGE for 3 nights
Welcome dinner at a restaurant featuring typical Provencal cuisine close to the hotel.
3 Course Superior Menu with a Glass of wine, coffee and mineral water.
DAY 3: Sunday, October 20, 2024, AVIGNON: GASTRONOMIC & PAPAL CITY | Meals: B L | Hotel de l'Orloge 4*, Avignon
Breakfast at hotel.
10 minutes walk through the Old City from the hotel to the Central market.
Morning cooking class with Chef Jonathan Kirii.
Visit local market and plan your menu.
Lunch which will include wine, water and coffee.
Afternoon guided tour of the Pope Palace
Dinner on your own.
DAY 4: Monday, October 21, 2024, AVIGNON & ROMAN PROVENCE | Meals: B D | Hotel de l'Orloge 4*, Avignon
Breakfast at hotel
Full day guided tour of the “Provence Romaine.” See the famous “Pont du Gard,” a Roman aqueduct from the first century BC.; 12 miles North of the aqueduct is the city of Nîmes (a New York Times 52 Places to Visit 2023) now part of Occitanie, but historically part of Southern Provence. Walking tour including the famous Maison Carée and memories of Thomas Jefferson.
Free time for lunch on your own in this charming little town.
Return to Avignon for dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 5: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, CARPENTRAS & HAUTE PROVENCE | Meals: B D | La Bonne Etape, Chateau-Arnoux-Saint Auban
Breakfast at hotel
Departure for Carpentras, capital of Comte Venaissin, often residence to the Popes: walking tour including the Jewish quarter and the synagogue.
Free time for lunch before driving to the Alps of Haute Provence where for 2 nights we will enjoy the warm atmosphere of the Relais & Chateaux property, La Bonne Etape, in Chateau-Arnoux.
Diner at the hotel's Bistro.
DAY 6: Wednesday, October 23, 2024, ALPS OF HAUTE PROVENCE | Meals: B D | Hotel La Bonne Etape, Chateau-Arnoux-Saint Auban
Breakfast at hotel
Full day excursion to the Lake of Serre Poncon, one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe.
Enjoy a tour of Embrun, where we will visit the “Maison Eyriey” founded in 1902, one of the best chocolate masters in France. Boat excursion on the lake
Return to “La Bonne Etape” for another delicious dinner.
DAY 7: Thursday, October 24, 2024, TRUFFLE HUNTING IN THE LUBERON| Meals: B L | Hotel du Moulin de Lourmarin
Breakfast at hotel
Morning drive to go to Lourmarin to spend the day in the Luberon Mountains where you will learn everything about truffles.
First you will learn how truffles grow, how they are farmed, and how they are hunted. You will walk with the dogs in search of the precious tuber. After hopefully finding a trove of truffles, you will visit the rest of the farm with its wild herbs, vineyards, olive groves, and beehives. You’ll return to the outdoor farm kitchen, to eat three different hors d’oeuvre with truffles, followed by truffle ice cream with truffle honey, and finally a tasting of organic extra-virgin olive oil, truffle oil and truffle salt, accompanied by as much Champagne as you care to drink. During the tasting you will learn how to buy truffles and truffle products, clean them, store them and prepare them.
Lunch close to the truffle farm in the little village of Cadenet.
Check-in to a charming country inn in the heart of the small village of Lourmarin for 1 night.
Late afternoon will be spent with locals sharing their “apero” and playing their favorite sport: “La Petanque.”
Dinner on your own in Lourmarin.
DAY 8: Friday, October 25, 2024, LES BAUX, SAINT REMY & ARLES | Meals: B L | Hotel TBD, Arles
Breakfast at hotel
Today’s excursion starts in “Les Baux de Provence,” a magnificent mountaintop village with a fascinating history. Free time to stroll through the fortified village and to enjoy the “Carriere des Lumieres,” a sound and light” art show inside the old quarry.
Lunch in the countryside, at a former hunting lodge surrounded by hilly olive groves
We’ll spend the afternoon in Saint Remy de Provence. Guided tour to visit the Monastery St-Paul-de-Mausole where Van Gogh stayed for nearly one year, the old town with a stop to taste and learn about the making of Lilamand candied fruit.
Arriving in Arles, check-in at your hotel in Arles for 3 nights and enjoy a free evening.
DAY 9: Saturday, October 26, 2024, ARLES & LUMA | Meals: B D | Hotel TBD, Arles
Walking guided tour of Arles in the morning. Learn more about this Roman city with its intact coliseum and its history of Van Gogh’s who stayed there in 1888 – 1889.
Free time for lunch on your own
In the afternoon, visit LUMA, the spectacular new Art Center of Arles designed by Frank Gehry, the renowned Canadian-American architect who collaborated on designing the futuristic Tower with business woman, collector, art patron, and impresario, Maja Hoffman.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 10: Sunday, October 27, 2024 LA CAMARGUE & THE SALT BASINS | Meals: B L | HOTEL TBD, Arles
Full day guided excursion through the plain of La Camargue in the Delta of the Rhône River where you will see the white horses of the region, the bulls and the flamingos. Taste local specialties such as the Fougasse d’Aigues Morte and Saucisson d’Arles for lunch. See “Les Saintes Maries de la Mer,” capital of Camargue famous for the gathering place of the Gypsy festivals.
In Aigues Morte, walk around the ramparts and inside the “salins” (salt basins).
Return to Arles for the evening and dinner on your own.
INCLUDED ON THIS TOUR
- Nine night’s accommodation, double occupancy
- Daily breakfast at the hotels
- Welcome dinner (drinks not included)
- Four lunches (drinks not included unless indicated) at restaurants and with cooking class
- Five dinners (drinks not included unless indicated)
- Bottled water on coach and with meals
- Coffee and tea with meals
- Expert commentary, culinary advice and background by Chef Aliza Green
- All culinary activities and excursions in the program
- Two hands-on cooking classes and wine tastings at wineries
- English-speaking assistance for airport arrival and departure
- Professional English-speaking expert local guides for the visits in the program
- All entrance fees to museums and historic sites
- Luxury, private coach for transfers and excursions
- Daily city tax at the hotels
- VAT and Local taxes
Want More Information?
For questions, visit my contact page or send an email to spice@alizagreen.com.