France 11 days, 10 nights

Itinerary – Touch down in Nice, clear customs, and meet your tour manager.   Your adventure begins with a walking tour of Nice. Discover the old town and the famous Promenade des Anglais.

This afternoon, transfer to your hotel in Antibes/ Juan-les Pins. (approx. 30 mins).  This small Mediterranean town has a long and interesting history that stretches back thousands of years. Due to its naturally protected port, Antibes has long been an important trading center. The town has retained much of its ancient charm, which makes it one of the more special towns along the famous French Riviera.

Check in to your hotel and enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Overnight:  Antibes/Juan-Les-Pins

Meals – Lunch & Dinner (based on arrival times)

Itinerary – After breakfast, participate in a French language class.   Practice your vocabulary and pronunciation with native French speakers.

This afternoon, travel to Grasse, “the World Perfume Capital,” and visit a historic perfume factory in the heart of the Old Town. The perfume industry began in Grasse in the 16th century. Take some time to explore the Old Town. Tiny streets wind forever between the 17th and 18th-century buildings, up and down ancient steps, passing through arched tunnels, and sometimes opening out onto large squares. The principal square near the top of the old town is the Place aux Aires.

Later this afternoon, participate in a perfume-making workshop.

Overnight:  Antibes/Juan-Les-Pins

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Continue practicing your French at a French language class.

This afternoon, journey to Cannes and meet your local guide for a walking tour.  Today, everyone sees Cannes as the world capital of cinema.  However, Cannes endured centuries of isolation in which generations of inhabitants – farmers and fishermen, experienced a harsh, insecure, and often dangerous life.  Learn about the history of Cannes and experience its magic.

Overnight:  Antibes/Juan-Les-Pins

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Check out of your hotel after breakfast and transfer to Salon de-

Provence. (approx. 2-2.5 hours).  En route, visit the Rocher Mistra. This thousand-year-old castle of La Barben is the center of medieval history.

After lunch, enjoy a private pétanque lesson this afternoon. This time-honored game of boules are very popular, particularly in the south of France.

Your journey continues to Salon-de-Provence (or Salon to the locals!), a delightful Provençal town. It is also known as the city of Nostradamus, the French astrologer, apothecary, and physician, who lived here in the 16th century. The area surrounding the town includes industries such as olive oil, wine, and soap production.

Overnight:  Salon-de-Provence

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – This morning, meet your local guide and enjoy a walking tour of the town before a visit to a local soap-making factory.  Participate in a private soap-making workshop.

This afternoon, continue discovering Provençal with a visit to a local olive oil factory. While here, learn about the production of olive oil and other olive-related products.  Also, learn more about the impact of climatic change on olive production.   Enjoy an olive oil tasting during your visit.

Overnight:  Salon-de-Provence

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – This morning, depart for Arles.  On arrival, enjoy a walking tour where you will discover the Amphitheatre.  The city was dubbed “the little Rome in Gaul” during Roman times, and its ancient buildings are UNESCO World Heritage monuments.  The city is also closely connected with Vincent Van Gogh. Although the painter only lived in Arles for 15 months, he found the city light so inspiring that he produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his stay!

After lunch, travel through olive groves and vine-covered hills to Les Baux-de-Provence. Enjoy the spectacular natural fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence and the ruins of its castle dominating the Alpilles valley.  This castle and village originated the Court of Love in the 12th -13th centuries.  And where troubadours composed their passionate verses for ladies of the court.

Visit the Santons Museum. Santons are small nativity scene figurines traditionally produced in Provence. The museum showcases a collection of 17th-century Neapolitan santons and 19th-century church santons whose faces of painted card and eyes of glass were the work of the Carmelite convent in Avignon.   Enjoy a Santon-making workshop this afternoon.

Overnight:  Salon-de-Provence

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – After breakfast, travel to a local school to meet with students for a cultural exchange.

After lunch, meet your local guide for a tour of the historic town of Avignon. See the Pont St Bénézet, made famous by the song ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’.  Visit the Palais des Papes. One of the grandest buildings of its time, the palace is a veritable fortress where nine popes ruled the Roman Catholic World from 1309 to 1403.

Overnight:  Salon-de-Provence

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary –  Check out of your hotel after breakfast and begin making your way to Nice.  Along the way, make a stop in Aix-en-Provence. A local guide will take you on a walking tour of the city – this is a chance to travel through time. The city’s architectural and cultural heritage is accessible to everyone. Stroll through the Cours Mirabeau and past the fountains, walk the streets of the Mazarin Quarter, and admire the Gothic cloisters of the Cathedrale St Sauveur.

Visit Paul Cezanne’s studio. Many places in Aix-en-Provence are associated with the famous painter, but this is where you can feel his spirit at its strongest. Cezzane painted dozens of works while he lived here, many of them are on display in the great museums of the world, including his last, Large Bathers.

Enjoy lunch in Aix-en-Provence before continuing your journey to Nice.

Overnight:  Nice

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Depart for the glamorous Monaco via the panoramic coastal road. The principality of Monaco is a self-governed sovereign nation under the protection of France and has been ruled by the Grimaldi family for the past 700 years.

Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town. Visit Monaco Cathedral, home of the burial places of past sovereigns, including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace Kelly.  Monaco is divided into several quarters, one of which is Monte Carlo. Take some time to window shop!

Return to Nice after lunch.  This afternoon, enjoy a fun scavenger hunt in Vieux Nice. In teams, you will compete for prizes as you explore the old city on foot.   Test your map-reading, photography, and teamwork skills!  Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the scenery and the brightly colored buildings as you go.  Beware, there is a time limit!! Your walking tour on Day 1 may help you. What do you remember?

Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner before returning to your hotel.

Overnight:  Nice

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning, say au revoir to France.   Check out of your hotel and transfer to the Nice airport for your flight home.

Meals Included:  Breakfast (additional meals depending on flight time)