Avignon, the Rhône and Provence

We meet at London St Pancras, travelling on the Eurostar to Avignon via Paris. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel before dinner at a local restaurant.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

We take a relaxing cruise along the river Rhône, enjoying lunch as we sail through picturesque scenery of vineyards and historic houses to Arles. With a history dating back to Celtic times, Arles' diverse past has left it with a rich variety of architecture. Boasting a beautifully preserved centre, the city has one of Europe's best collections of Roman ruins, including a mighty UNESCO-listed arena that would have once seated about 20,000 people, which sit alongside Romanesque monuments and sun-baked houses. There's free time to explore the rich heritage of the city, including the Van Gogh Foundation, which celebrates the work of the famous artist who once called Arles home, before we return to Avignon by rail.

Please Note: For departures 07/09/2023, 30/09/2023, 14/10/2023 and 21/10/2023 you will now travel by rail to Arles.

For departure 21/09/2023 Days 2 and 3 have swapped around.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Setting out on a guided walking tour of Avignon, we see the Pont St Bénezet, the city's famous broken bridge. All but four of its arches were washed away by a devastating flood in 1668, and today the surviving arches have become an iconic symbol of the city. We also stop by the Palais des Papes, the Palace of the Popes, which was the seat of the Papacy during the 14th century after Clement V escaped the violent chaos and corruption of Rome. Your afternoon is free to explore further. Stoll through the city's broad, tree-lined avenues and wander the intriguing network of alleyways and passages which connect the beautiful open squares and pretty churches.

Please Note: For departure 12/08/2023 Days 3 and 4 have swapped around.

• Breakfast

We travel by coach to the petit village of Saint Didier to visit Nougaterie Silvain, the home of local nougat production. Breathe in the scent of honey and toasted almonds as we tour the manufacturing workshop, learning about the history of this much-loved local sweet before sampling some ourselves. We continue to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, also known as the 'Venice of Provence' thanks to the canals which criss-cross the town, where there's free time to explore. Later, we stop at Gordes, a beautiful old village built around an outcrop of rocky cliffs and crowned by its 12th-century castle. Here, you're free to discover one of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' before we return to our hotel.

• Breakfast

We set out on a gourmet tour that tells the history of Avignon through its food. Wandering the city's lesser-known side streets with our knowledgeable guide, we meet local producers before visiting many of the different stalls at the city's renowned food market, Les Halles. Here, we sample unusual delicacies such as papaline, a type of chocolate unique to Avignon, and other regional specialties that will excite your taste buds and inspire your home cooking.

• Breakfast

We make our way to the stunning Pont du Gard, a famous stone aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River Valley. Built in 19 BC, this incredible structure is UNESCO-listed and is one of the greatest remaining glories of the Roman Empire. We lunch at the small town of Uzès, and continue to Cellier des Princes to learn more about Châteauneuf-du-Pape's famous wines. After a presentation and tasting, there's free time to browse and shop before we return to Avignon for dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We leave Avignon after breakfast and join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, travelling via Paris.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal