Discover Provence
From CAD $4,275
Guarantee
Small Group
Unknown
Rating
Experience Overview
Provence is the France of artists and artisans, where lavender fields meet ancient villages and time-honoured cuisine. Experience the highlights on this compact adventure, which takes you from Forcalquier’s cobbled lanes to the elegant boulevards of Aix-en-Provence, via the beautiful villages of the Luberon mountains. En route, you’ll indulge your inner Francophile, combing local markets, sampling local produce, and meeting the local people – an experience made all the more immersive thanks to the expert insight of your local tour leader.
Profile
— Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by private minibus — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by private minibus — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip For You
This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Suitability: To see the highlights of Provence, we enjoy some gentle walking on this adventure, though there are slopes to tackle on the mountainside towns of the Luberon. You should be prepared for walking on hills and bring shoes you are comfortable walking in.
Eating Drinking
Vegetarians can be fairly easily accommodated in this area of France; however, vegans may find the variety of dishes available is rather limited. Larger supermarkets can provide gluten-free bread and baked goods, but this is less common in local bakeries.
Transportation
Transfers during the week are by private, air-conditioned minibus or van.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Hôtel Charembeau, 1730 chemin du milieu, 04300 Forcalquier
Phone: +33 4 92 70 91 70
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. We have a welcome meeting at 6pm
Airport: Marseille Provence Airport (MRS)
Getting to the start hotel
We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Catching your return flight
There’s one group transfer to Marseille Provence Airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.
Weather Information
Provence experiences a Mediterranean climate with the hottest months being July and August, though you may experience hot temperatures in other months. Rainfall is common throughout the year, so pack waterproofs. While the weather is less predictable outside summer, it can be a more favourable time as you miss the crowds of July-August.
Spending Money
Aix-en-Provence
— Cezanne’s studio: From €9.50 — Musée Granet: From €6.50 (there may be additional costs for visiting certain exhibits)
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. Most wish to tip their tour leader in appreciation of their help and friendliness. This, of course, is not compulsory and depends on the service received. As a starting point, we recommend €20-€25 per person for the tour leader.
Highlights
— Experience the best of Provence with the help of an expert tour leader — Enjoy a tour and tasting at the iconic Les Grandes Marges farm and boutique — Tour the beautiful, historic villages of the Luberon region — Sample a wide range of exceptional local produce, including wine, olive oil and cheese — Peruse traditional food markets and meet the vendors — Immerse yourself in the historic towns of Avignon and Aix-en-Provence
Trip Details
Product Code: 37226
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: s or van.
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: AFP
Starts: Forcalquier, France
Finishes: Forcalquier, France
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
— All breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader throughout — Group arrival and departure transfers availableAccommodation
HotelsWe aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines. Forcalquier: Hôtel Charembeau (nights 1-4) Spend the first four nights at Charembeau, an 18th-century farmhouse in a large estate of meadows, hills and old-growth trees. There are plenty of wonderful views to enjoy, of the Luberon massif, Lure Mountain and Forcalquier Citadel, while the hotel team favours local produce and other supplies from small, local businesses wherever possible. The rooms are comfortable and traditional, plus there are two pools, sun loungers and vegetable gardens to explore. Avignon: Hotel D'Angleterre (night 5) Our Avignon accommodation is wonderfully located on a tranquil boulevard in the downtown Vaucluse region. It’s a family-run hotel with 40 rooms, which are modern and decorated in neutral tones, allowing for a relaxing stay as we explore the City of Popes. Aix-en-Provence: Hôtel des Augustins (night 6) This historic establishment, founded as the Augustinian Convent in the 12th century, has welcomed monarchs, princes and nobles throughout the years, but you’re the guest of honour at the end of our adventure. It’s very well located, just a short walk from the popular Cours Mirabeau avenue, plus there’s a bar for the group to gather and toast the final night of the trip. Worth knowing Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,275 ($611 /day)
Itinerary
Begin your adventure in Forcalquier, a picturesque town in the Provence region, nestled between the Lure and Luberon mountain ranges. Around 6pm, say bonjour to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big French welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in Forcalquier? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Accommodation: Hôtel Charembeau (or similar)
Join your tour leader this morning for a guided tour of the town centre. Our adventure takes us to Forcalquier market, one of the largest in the Haute Provence with more than 200 stalls. There’s free time to explore, before we transfer (15 minutes) to the village of Lurs. Enjoy a picnic lunch of produce from the market, before a 4mi (6km) walk in the Lurs area with magnificent views over the Durance valley. After, we visit an olive oil-making workshop led by an expert local guide, in which we enjoy a tasting, before returning to Forcalquier. Accommodation: Hôtel Charembeau (or similar)
Today is dedicated to the famously beautiful villages of the Luberon. First, we transfer (30 minutes) to the medieval town of Banon, where we enjoy a 45-minute walk from the new town to the old town. Along the way, we discover the Old Church, which was first built in 1350, but restored in 1826 after it was destroyed in the French Revolution. Then, join a local producer to sample Banon cheese, a round goat’s cheese traditionally wrapped in chestnut leaves, before free time in the weekly market. After, we head (35 minutes) to Rustrel and enjoy a picnic lunch. Here, we explore the Provençal Colorado, an open-cast ochre mining site in the 19th and 20th centuries, before transferring (40 minutes) to Lourmarin to stroll through narrow streets and discover the fountain in the square. Finally, we head to the medieval town of Bonnieux, walking from the Low Church to the High Church, before returning (one hour) to Forcalquier. Accommodation: Hôtel Charembeau (or similar)
The beauty of Provence is in full bloom today, as we transfer (30 minutes) to Valensole, one of the largest plateaux in France, where lavender blooms between mid-June and mid-July and almond trees grow. Here, we visit Les Grandes Marges, a farm and boutique run by the Jaubert family for four generations. Here, we can enjoy a 45-minute walk among the olive trees and taste lavender oil. After, we transfer (50 minutes) to Sisteron, nicknames the Pearl of Haute-Provence. This eye-catching town sits on the banks of the Durance with the limestone folds of the Rock of La Baume rising dramatically at the entrance. Here, we enjoy a stroll around the town with our tour leader, before returning to Forcalquier via Les Mees, a village with distinctive rock formations. Accommodation: Hôtel Charembeau (or similar)
Bid à bientôt to Forcalquier, as we depart early for our transfer (two hours) to Avignon. Upon arrival, join a local guide for a tour of this historic city on the Rhône, which includes a stop at the local market, where you can enjoy lunch. The afternoon is then free to further explore the city, perhaps visiting Avignon Bridge and the Palais de Papes (entrance included). Accommodation: Hotel D'Angleterre (or similar)
We transfer (1hr 20min) to Aix-en-Provence this morning, a historic university city of leafy boulevards and the birthplace of painter Paul Cezanne. Here, we join a local guide for a tour of the historic centre and local landmarks; after, there may be some free time, in which you could visit Cezanne’s studio or the Musée Granet. After, we drive (30 minutes) to the enchanting estate of the Château des Trois Sautet, where we toast our adventure with a tasting of their exceptional wines in the vineyard. Returning to Aix-en-Provence, we continue our celebrations with a farewell dinner. Accommodation: Hôtel des Augustins (or similar)
You’ve walked, tasted and explored the best of Provence, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
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