Simply France with Dawn
Simple Pleasures of Provence
The "Simple Pleasures of Provence" experience immerses my guests into the Provencal lifestyle. We achieve this by keeping the groups small, staying in a lovely villa, interacting with locals and working with a knowledgable guide. Our small groups are able to experience special places and activities, like exclusive vineyards, quaint restaurants, and having lunch with a local winemaker. Cultural and historical activities are woven into the itinerary to provide a complete French experience. Sample itinerary below.
Saturday/Day 1: Arrive in Avignon or Marseilles where you will be met at the train station/airport and brought to the villa via an air-conditioned vehicle. Welcome toast and a chance to get settled into your beautiful new surroundings. Dinner on the terrace at the Villa.
Meals included: D
Wednesday/Day 5: Off to Vaison-la-Romaine. A city walk to tour the amazing Roman ruins and the medieval city with our guide. Plenty of great shopping here, they have an amazing chocolate and cheese shops! Lunch will be provided at a lovely cafe in Cairanne.The afternoon will be devoted to tastings of the Gigondas, Rasteau and Cairanne wines.
Meals included: B,L,D
Sunday/Day 2: Breakfast at the villa and then off to the market at the village of St. Remy. Delight your senses as you experience the sights, sound and aromas of a typical Provencal village market. The afternoon will include a trip to the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct.
Meals included: B,L,D
Monday/Day 3: Exciting day visiting the bustling city of Avignon. Explore The Pope’s Palace followed by a leisurely walking tour of the city with our guide. Lunch at the Place Crillon. Some wine tastings in the afternoon in the Chateauneuf du Pape vineyards. Return to villa for a swim, simply relaxing or perhaps playing a game of Boules. Dinner on the terrace with Chateauneuf du Pape wines.
Meals included: B,L,D
Tuesday/Day 4: Another exciting day as we tour the city of Arles. A visit to the Museum of Antiquities where you will see an ancient Roman boat resurrected from the Rhone river. We will also see the ancient Roman Arena and walk the same streets that Van Gogh once walked. Back to the villa for some relaxtion and a nice glass of Rose by the pool.
Meals included: B,L,D
Thursday/Day 6: A day in the Luberon! We will visit the gorgeous village of Gordes and Rousillon where you will have a chance to shop and eat a quick lunch. The afternoon we will further explore this area taking in the natural scenic beauty and maybe a wine tasting at a local vineyard.
Meals included: B,D
Friday/Day 7: We start the day at the ancient village of Les Baux de Provence and it's hilltop chateau with panoramic views. We will make our way back towards St. Remy where we will have a quick lunch and then onto St. Paul de Mausolee. This monastery is a prime example of Provençal Romanesque style in the neighborhood of the Roman-Gallo site of Glanum. Back to the villa where we will dine on a gourmet Farewell Dinner prepared by our chefs.
Meals included: B,L,D
Saturday/Day 8: Depart the villa in the morning and travel to Avignon or Marseilles where sadly our time together will end. You may wish to spend more time in France with an extension to Paris or the French Riviera. Simply France with Dawn can assist you with these plans too!
Meals included: B
The above itinerary is a sample of the many activities available to our guests while in Provence. Any itinerary can be customized to accommodate the activities that your group desires.