France: Provence & the French Riviera

Bonjour and welcome to southern France! We’ll touch down in Nice, then transfer to our hotel in the city center. This evening, we’ll gather for a Group Meeting at 6:00 PM, followed by an included Welcome Dinner.

Included meals: Dinner

Our first full day begins with wandering the elegant lanes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Riviera’s most opulent peninsula, where Somerset Maugham, his longtime partner Gerald Haxton, Noël Coward, and fellow writers and artists lived more freely than Britain allowed, earning the peninsula a discreet place in gay history. Afterward, we’ll tour the Belle Époque splendor of Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild and its spectacular themed gardens. After returning to the hotel, we’ll have the evening free to dine, shop, or relax.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today connects modern art, literary history, and LGBTQ+ cultural memory as we begin at Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France’s first independent art foundation, where works and spaces tied to Braque, Miró, Giacometti, and other 20th-century masters await us. We’ll also join a short guided tour tracing the village’s connection to James Baldwin, who spent his final 17 years here with his partner, Bernard, living in a Provençal house where he wrote several of his works. After a stop for lunch, we’ll arrive in Antibes, starting at the Musée Picasso, housed in the Château Grimaldi. This is where Picasso set up a studio in 1946 and left behind works that eventually turned the site into a museum dedicated to him. From there, we’ll wander through Antibes’ old town on a guided walk. Once we’re settled into our hotel, the evening is entirely ours to design.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Rise and shine! After breakfast, we’ll begin our drive along the stunning French coastline, stopping at picturesque locations along the way before arriving in Cassis, where colorful waterfront houses line the harbor. After a stroll along the water, we’ll board a boat to explore the Calanques, the dramatic limestone inlets that rise like fjords from the sea. From there, our route continues along one of France’s most scenic coastal drives, hugging the cliffs and serving up sweeping Mediterranean views with several photo stops along the way. Our day ends in Aix-en-Provence, where we’ll settle into our hotel before enjoying an included dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is bound to be a highlight for any foodies! We’ll begin with a market visit alongside a local culinary guide, splitting into smaller groups to explore the city’s famous outdoor markets, where locals gather to sell fresh produce and artisanal goods. We’ll have the chance to sample unique flavors while gaining insight from the people behind them. Our walking food tour continues on to the city’s best artisan producers, both savory and sweet, with enough tastings along the way to double as a satisfying lunch. Throughout the morning, we’ll also learn about Aix’s local history and culture, as well as the culinary traditions that have shaped the city’s reputation. Late afternoon is ours to enjoy freely, whether that means browsing cafés and boutiques, popping into a gallery, or unwinding at the hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Food Tour

The Luberon has captivated artists, writers, and travellers for generations, and today we’ll find out why! We’ll begin in Ménerbes, one of France’s officially designated Most Beautiful Villages, perched dramatically above vineyards and orchards and famed for its artistic heritage and its ties to Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence. From there, we’ll wind our way to Lacoste, exploring its cobbled streets and the dramatic castle ruins that overlook the valley below, then continue on to elegant Bonnieux, where we’ll stroll to the panoramic terrace beside the Old Church. Along the way, we’ll also visit the Abbey de Sénanque, its lavender-lined grounds among the most photographed in Provence. We’ll end our day in Lourmarin, often regarded as one of the most charming villages in Provence, and enjoy a private wine tasting at a local estate. Later this evening we’ll gather for an included dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we’ll set out on a private guided tour of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, timed perfectly to fall on a Sunday, when the town transforms into one of the standout experiences of the entire trip. We’ll wander through the lively antiques market, sample from the food stalls, and take in the canals and antique villages that have made L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue famous throughout Europe. Later, we’ll head north toward Avignon to visit the Palais des Papes, the residence of 14th-century popes and celebrated as the largest Gothic palace in the world, with more than 20 rooms open for us to explore, accompanied by a local history guide. We’ll wrap up the day in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence with the evening at our leisure.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We’ll begin the day in Arles, exploring what may be the trip’s deepest dive into Roman history. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arles is celebrated for monuments like the arena, the Roman theatre, the cryptoporticus, the Baths of Constantine, the Alyscamps, and Saint-Trophime. The amphitheater gives us a particularly strong sense of place, tying the ancient thrill of Roman spectacle to traditions that continue today. This afternoon, we’ll shift gears entirely for an introduction to Course Camarguaise, the region’s signature bull sport and a world apart from Spanish-style bullfighting. The bull is never harmed; instead, razeteurs try to snatch ribbons from its horns while locals celebrate the animal’s agility and sharp instincts. We’ll head out to a manade for a guided visit, admiring the Camargue’s famous horses and learning about the area’s ranching traditions, capped off with a short 4×4 ride and a tasting at the bullfighting stable.

Included meals: Breakfast, Food Tasting

For our final full day together, we’ll stay close to Saint-Rémy as we soak in the beauty of the Alpilles. We’ll visit Les Baux-de-Provence, the storied hilltop village perched dramatically above the limestone cliffs, then continue through the surrounding countryside, pausing among sun-warmed olive groves and quiet stone villages with sweeping views unfolding along the way. Our day continues at the Carrières de Lumières, a former quarry where limestone chambers are bathed in projected images of famous paintings, all set to a stirring musical score. By afternoon, we’ll return to Saint-Rémy with time to wander the town or relax at our hotel. This evening, we’ll gather for a fabulous Farewell Dinner to toast the incredible journey we’ve shared and the memories we’ve made!

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a complimentary transfer to the airport in Marseille. Safe travels home, and thanks for joining us in France!

Included Meals: Breakfast