Walking through the Majestic Landscapes of the Alpilles and the Luberon South of Avignon

Join the "savoir-vivre" lifestyle of Provence. Follow quiet farm laneways, canals and "Grand Randonee" trails under the bright Provecial sunshine. Hike among vineyards and orchards, open fields of wild poppies, and through aromatic pine forests. Enjoy Provence's warm hospitality and superb accommodations. Dine on "La Cuisine du Soleil" where heady and down-to-earth flavors come alive with local olive oils, fresh basil, garlic, and "Herbes de Provence". Visit quintessential Provençal villages and market towns, Roman ruins and natural wonders. Cruise through the sun drenched landscapes that inspired Cezanne, Picasso, Van Gogh and countless other artists since then. Visit the villages made famous by the writer Peter Mayle. Join Club Toscana in the south of France where the charms of this easy-going region never end.

Day 1 - Uzès and the Pont du Gard - Meet at your hotel in Avignon.Private transfer to the charming market town of Uzès, site of the Palace of Le Duché, and home to France's highest ranking ducal family.Enjoy a light lunch in its town square surrounded by Medieval homes.Guided tour of Uzès historic center.Ride through the vallée du Gardon to the spectacular Pont du Gard for a visit to this marvel of 2000 year old Roman engineering.Arrival at our Provençal home near Les Baux in time to relax in its gardens before dining on local specialties.

Day 2 - Les-Baux-de-Provence - Meander through vineyards to the beautifully preserved Renaissance village of Les-Baux-de-Provence dramatically perched on a rock crag, and the ancient seat of the Rainier Family of Monaco.Tour the ghostly ruins of the unique Château des Baux, an 11th-century fortress carved into the top of this rocky peak.Walk the crest of the Alpilles with spectacular views of vineyards, olive groves, cypress trees and the Mediterranean sea far in the distance.Pass by the 2nd-century BC Gallo-Roman ruins at Glanum.Trace the life and works of Van Gogh from his asylum at the 12th-century Monastere de St-Paul-de-Mausolée to the streets of St-Rémy.Wander the "Vieille Ville" Old Town of St-Rémy-de-Provence before a dinner of traditional Provençal cooking.

Day 3 - St-Rémy-de-Provence & Eygalières - Join the locals at St-Rémy's morning food market where fresh farm produce, Provençal food specialties and crafts are proudly displayed.Help your trip leader pick out the perfect items for a Club Toscana picnic.From the Romanesque chapel of St-Sixte meander to the castle village of Eygalières.Walk the "Grand Randonee" to a noted wine Château, that specializes in organic wines, for a "degustation des vins".Back in St-Rémy, join the locals at a cafe and try pastis, a traditional dinner aperitif.Dinner on your own this evening to discover you own culinary and romantic corner of this charming Provençal town.

Day 4 - Gordes and the Luberon - Travel to the Vaucluse.Discover the dramatic landscapes of the Luberon and the quintessential Provençal "perchés" hilltop villages immortalized by the writer, Peter Mayle in his book "A year in Provence".Discover the ruins in the village of Oppède-le-Vieux, a haven for writers and artists, before wandering along a quiet route of vinyards and countryside "mas" farm houses to Ménerbes, rising like a stone ship adorned with castles and forts.From Lacoste and the Château de Sade, once home of the infamous Marquis di Sade, walk a panoramic route through a valley of small Luberon farms to romantic Bonnieux, known for its handicrafts and a great place to soak up that surreal Provençal sunlight.Dine on traditional French Provençal country fare surrounded by its ever-present herbs in a noted village restaurant.

Day 5 - Roussillon - Walk the "Grand Randonee" along farm trails and through oak forest through the Montagne du Luberon to Roussillon, a magnet for hordes of artists trying to catch all 17 shades of ocher from its dramatic natural landscapes.Walk the surrounding pathways of La Chaussée des Géants (The Giants’ Causeway) where ancient Romans mined the ocher from among its sunburned exposed rocks.Meander the village streets and join the locals and artists in a outdoor bistro.Meander the cobble stone alleyways of Medieval Gordes, dominated by its 13th-century château, to discover its fascinating Rococo church St-Fermin.

Day 6 - Avignon - Homeward bound.Bid a final farewell to the soothing landscapes of Provence and take a private transfer to Avignon for convenient flights or TGV train departures for Paris, or extend your stay in beautiful Provence.As always, we would be more than pleased to help you with any of your post-trip travel planning.
Bon Voyage !