(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis) Paris, Versailles, Provence
This private luxury tour combines the culture, cuisine and lifestyle of sophisticated Paris with the beautiful landscapes and traditional villages of Provence.
Begin with three nights in Paris. With your own private guide, enjoy the very best of Paris according to your interests. First-time visitors may wish to tour major attractions such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower, the Luxembourg and Tuileries Gardens, and major museums such as the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Other possibilities include an epicurean tour of specialty chocolate shops, fromagerie (cheese shops), copperware stores and tea sellers; walking tours through the exclusive residential streets on Ile St-Louis, the old Jewish quarter in the Marais, the former art colony of Montmartre, the medieval streets of the Latin Quarter, or to Left Bank cafes made famous by poets and philosophers; and shopping for antiques in flea markets or haute couture in fashionable boutiques.
One day, enjoy a private excursion to Versailles to tour Louis XIV’s opulent palace and extensive gardens. Alternatively, continue your city touring. One evening, enjoy a romantic gourmet dinner while cruising on the Seine River through the heart of Paris.
Next, transfer by high speed TGV high-speed train (first-class seats) to the walled city of Avignon. During private touring, see highlights such the main market, the antiques district, and historic attractions such as the Palais des Papes, an imposing fortress-palace from which renegade cardinals once challenged the Vatican.
Continue by private transfer Les Baux de Provence, a village that’s spectacularly perched on a dramatic rock outcropping. During private touring, visit the Roman ruins, churches and museums of Arles, or drive through the vineyards and olive groves to local villages such as Fontvieille and Saint-Remy-de-Provence, where Vincent Van Gogh painted Starry Night.
Continue to the Luberon Valley for several nights at a luxurious farmhouse set among vineyards outside the village of Menerbes. During private touring, explore the surrounding countryside—some of the most picturesque in Provence—and visit markets, specialty shops, cultural sites and recommended hill towns such as Gordes, Roussillon and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Return to Paris by TGV for a final night and last-minute shopping.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1
Arrive Paris
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights
Day 2
Paris
Full-day private city tour
Day 3
Paris & Versailles
Private half-day excursion to Versailles
Day 4
Paris – Avignon – Les Baux de Provence
Private transfer and TGV train (first class) to Avignon. Private city tour on arrival. Private transfer to hotel for 2 nights
Day 5
Les Baux de Provence
Private half-day tour of region
Day 6
Les Baux de Provence – Luberon Valley
Private transfer to hotel for 3 nights with touring en route
Day 7
Luberon Valley
Private touring of local villages and markets
Day 8
Luberon Valley
Private excursion to Aix-en-Provence
Day 9
Luberon Valley – Paris
Private transfer and TGV train (first class) to Paris. Private transfer to hotel for 1 night
