Avignon, the Rhône & Provence

Your holiday begins at London St Pancras this morning as you meet the Tour Manager and travelling group. Boarding the Eurostar service to Paris in Plus Class, we enjoy a light meal in our seats on the way to the French capital. Here, we change to First Class seats on the high-speed TGV, arriving in the historic Provençal city of Avignon in the early evening having weaved through the verdant fields and hills alongside the expansive Rhône from Lyon.

Lying just outside the city walls, near the station, our hotel has wonderful facilities to aid relaxation after an enjoyable day of exploration. This evening, we enjoy our first dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

Please Note - For departures 03/05, 14/06, 09/08, 16/08, 30/08 and 06/09 we will stay at the Hotel L'Horloge in Avignon. 

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

In late morning after a leisurely breakfast, we board a boat for a relaxing cruise down the Rhône. Enjoying lunch on board, we sail through picturesque landscapes and past the impressive château at Tarascon that stands squarely on the riverbank.

Arriving in Arles, there's free time to explore this historic town at leisure. Blending Roman and medieval architecture, the narrow lanes of Arles are bursting with history, from the UNESCO-listed Roman arena that would have seated 20,000 people to its evocative Place de la République with its obelisk and Romanesque cathedral. The legacy of one of Arles' most famous residents, artist Vincent van Gogh, is visible in many parts of the old town. The post-impressionist lived in and painted many parts of Arles and his work is celebrated at the Van Gogh Foundation.

Alternatively, visit the Place du Forum and bask in the scene which inspired van Gogh's renowned piece 'Café Terrace at Night'. This quaint tree-covered square has many places in which to eat or savour a drink before catching the train back to Avignon for a free evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch

A relaxed breakfast precedes a walking tour of the sights of Avignon, accompanied by an expert guide.

Along the way, we see the 12th-century Pont St Bénezet, the bridge that featured in popular children's song Sur le Pont d'Avignon. All but four of its arches were washed away by a devastating flood in 1668, and the surviving arches are today an iconic symbol of the city. We also stop by the Palais des Papes (the Papal Palace), which was the seat of the papacy during the 14th century after Pope Clement V moved his court to Avignon. Forming the largest medieval Gothic palace in Europe, this incredible palace dominates the skyline in a manner befitting its importance. With the rest of the day at leisure, you could stroll through the city's tree-lined avenues or wander through the Jardin des Doms, with great views of the Rhône.

Avignon has an abundance of restaurants and bars, including on the Place de l'Horloge, Place des Corps Saints and Place Pie, all offering enticing places to eat or drink.

• Breakfast

After breakfast, we visit a nougaterie. Breathe in the scent of honey and toasted almonds on a tour of the workshop, learning about the history of nougat before sampling some ourselves.

Arriving in the beautiful Provençal village of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue at lunchtime, we have time at leisure to explore the 'Venice of Provence' and its tightly knit cluster of sun-baked pastel-coloured buildings. Surrounded by the gently babbling Sorgue river, this island village is also known as the 'antiques capital of Provence'. Our next stop is Gordes. Built on the foothills of the Vaucluse mountains, this is one of the most well-known hilltop villages in the region. Gordes is a labyrinth of beautiful cobblestone alleys, or 'calades', flanked by rustic buildings that evoke a bygone time. At the heart of the village is its 10th-century château that was renovated during the Renaissance. We have free time in Gordes to wander through its delightful streets and bask in its remarkable views.

We return to Avignon in the early evening for time to relax or head out and dine independently.

• Breakfast

Like many French cities, Avignon has a vibrant culinary scene. After breakfast at our hotel this morning, we join a knowledgeable guide who shows us round the places only a local would know as we learn to understand Avignon through its cuisine. We are introduced to artisan producers before visiting many of the different stalls at the city's renowned food market, Les Halles. On this tasty tour, we sample local olives and delicacies such as sacristain (an almond pastry), Camargue salt toffee, and callison (soft, melon-flavoured sweets).

The afternoon provides time to explore independently. You could opt to pay to enter the Palais des Papes for a tour of this spectacular palace, its fabulous decorations and the pontifical gardens. For a peaceful stroll, maybe head to the pretty cobblestone street of Rue des Teinturiers (Street of Dyers) with its graceful stream and waterwheels.

When the time is right, head to one of Avignon's beautiful squares for a meal and perhaps a glass of revered local wine.

• Breakfast

An excursion to a remarkable piece of Roman engineering follows breakfast today as we visit the iconic Pont du Gard.

Constructed in the first century AD, this three-tiered bridge was part of the aqueduct used to transport water to the Roman city of Nîmes. Standing 160ft over the Gardon river, the arched Pont du Gard is UNESCO-listed due in part to the exceptional state of preservation and is considered one of the greatest remaining structures of the Roman Empire. The water that fed the aqueduct came from springs near Uzès, and it is to this gorgeous medieval town known as the 'French Tuscany' that we move next.

There is free time in Uzès before a highlight of the holiday. Attending a cellier, we enjoy a presentation and tasting of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the most celebrated wines in the world. After hearing about the wine's heritage and the importance of the Rhône to the terroir, we are treated to a tasting of four varieties of wine. We return to Avignon in time for our final dinner together at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Avignon, with its sun-baked architecture and fantastic history, was the ideal base from which to experience the delights of Provence and the Rhône on this beautiful holiday. The Roman influences and artistic culture of Arles were explored after a serene cruise along one of France's most scenic rivers, while the ancient Port du Gard and idyllic Provençal villages were also uncovered. The region's famed gastronomy was experienced during a walking tour of Avignon, a visit to a nougaterie and a tasting at a Châteauneuf-du-Pape cellier.

Leaving Avignon after breakfast, we board the direct train to Paris. In the French capital, we switch to the Eurostar service, enjoying a light meal at our seats in Plus Class. Arriving back at London St Pancras this evening, we say farewell to our Tour Manager and our discovery of Avignon and the Rhône.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal