q      Day 1: Flight to Marseille. Transfer from airport to railway station to Avignon. Stay inside Avignon’s fortified city for the first night.

Discover the beauty of one of Provence’s great cities. From the “Palais des Papes” to the “Pont d’Avignon,” a stroll through history. The city was a strategic site in the Rhone valley, owing its origin to the Doms rock, which made a great defensive site overlooking the river. With the arrival of the popes in the 14th Century, the city became a second Rome. It was enriched by art in the 17th and 18th Centuries and it remained Papal property up to the French revolution. Stroll around the shopping streets in the pedestrian area (Joseph Vernet and St Agricol streets), the district of la Balance and along the large Ave de Republic. You will find Provencal materials, ceramics and pottery, terra cotta figurines (santons), handicrafts, and other specialities of the region.

You may want to try a cruise on the River Rhone. There are cruises of various lengths that you can book up. There is a 1-hour cruise around Avignon to see the Bridge, the Rocher des Doms, Fort St André and Philippe Le Bel tower, in order to look at the bridge and town from the waters edge. (cruises may not operate early or late in the season). (Dinner not included). Hotel Avignon.

q      Day 2:  Saint Remy discovery walk (1 hour 30). Transfer from Avignon towards the Alpilles, (by local bus with your luggage). On your warm-up walk, discover Saint Rémy de Provence, the adopted home of the Marquis de Sade and Van Gogh. You can visit the Greco-Roman site of Glanum (entry charge, closed Mondays). Hotel Saint Rémy. (Dinner included).

q      Day 3: Saint Rémy to Saint Remy (6 hour circuit). Distance 18 km, ascent/descent 830m. Walk from St. Remy into the Alpilles, with great views of the Rhone Valley all the way to the Luberon. This is the hardest walk of the tour with some steep, stoney sections but the views are terrific! Walk up to a mountain cliff wall with holes in it for a different view of Provence. The day can be made easier and a couple of hours saved by missing out the circular ridge section of the walk.

Take the time to visit the Saint-Paul de Mausole monastery where Van Gogh created 150 paintings in a year. Hotel Saint Rémy. (Dinner included).

q      Day 4: Saint Remy  - Les Baux de Provence. Distance 10 km, 3.5 hours, ascent 650m, descent 520m. A beautiful day from Saint Rémy to les Baux. You’ll be staying in the heart of the Baux de Provence (10th century AD) at the summit of the Alpilles with views across to the Camargue. (baux means escarpment in Provencal). A wonderful hilltop town that belonged to the Grimaldi family until 1790. Today, Prince Albert of Monaco retains the honorary title of  Marquis of Les Baux. Visit the chateau ruins using the very detailed audio guide (entrance charge about 8 Euros). Hotel in the Baux de Provence. (Dinner included).

q      Day 5: Les Baux de Provence  - Maussane – Les Baux circuit. Distance 12 km, (inc. visit to Maussane), 4 hours, ascent and descent 535m. A walk in the Baux Valley, to the typical village of Maussane. Forest trails take you down through gardens and then farmlands of the Baux firld 'apron'. Once in Maussane maybe visit the central cafés, morning market (on Thursday) and producers of local wonders like the 17th century Cornille mill where you can taste one of Provence’s best olive oils or try a tapenade at 'Jean Martin'. Hotel in the Baux de Provence. (Dinner included).

q      Day 6: Les baux de Provence to Chapelle Saint Gabriel. Distance 16 km, 4-5 hours, ascent 590m, descent 770m.  Morning walk from les Baux de Provence to the 12th century Roman Saint Gabriel Chapel; a stroll on good forest trails out of the western edge of the Alpilles Massif. Afterwards, a short transfer to Arles (25 mins) and your hotel in the heart of the city to discover Van Gogh’s second home and the city’s Roman centre! It has important and well preserved Roman and Medieval sites, including amphitheatre and baths. Hotel Arles. (Dinner not included). 

q      Day 7:  Depart Arles after breakfast. Transfer not  included to Arles SNCF, for trains to Marseilles, Nimes or Avignon.