Explore the Natural Beauty of France

- 7 Days
- People : 1
- Wifi Available
Description
France, the largest country in Western Europe, has long been a gateway between the continent's northern and southern regions. Its lengthy borders touch Germany and Belgium in the north; the Atlantic Ocean in the west; the Pyrenees Mountains and Spain in the south.
Wide fertile plains dominate most of the north and west, making France the agricultural epicenter of Europe. The sprawling, forested plateau of the Massif Central, a range of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes, occupies France's southern interior.
Have ten days to spend in France? With a week and a half, many travelers plan to start and end the trip in Paris, venturing into two or three additional areas for a week or so in between. One popular option for travelers who don’t want to choose between wine country and the beach is a ten-day adventure to Provence and the French Riviera. Alternatively, consider spending your time touring the castles and vineyards of Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, or take a train to the French Alps for hiking, trekking, skiing, and other outdoor sports.
France Tour Itinerary (10 days)
Experience the best of the French Riviera in 10 days. Visit Cannes, Nice, the hill-top villages of Luberon, Aix-en-Provence, and more regional highlights. Along the way, you’ll enjoy gourmet culinary tours, local culture, and charming boutique hotels.
Day 1 - Arrival in Southern France
Day 2 - Gourmet culinary tour
Nice is a densely populated city overflowing with the sights and smells of local open-air markets—perfect for a gourmet tour. You and your guide will embark in the morning for a gastronomic journey that follows the narrow streets of Nice's colorful old town, Vieille Ville. All the while, your guide will introduce you to market vendors who will treat you like a local while offering sweet and savory symbolic treats as they explain the history of Nice through food.
Day 3 - Past and present in Monte Carlo
Then, leave for an unusual medieval village, suspended above the sea, Eze. This is a city that attracts, thanks to its location and its history, many painters. As you stroll in the alleys, you will discover the famous Chapelle Sainte-Croix and the ruins of the castle testifying to the strategic importance of the city.
Day 4 - Sailing the Lérins Islands
But the real order of the day is total relaxation. The boat tour will stop at different beaches where you'll have ample opportunity to swim in crystalline waters. After teaching you the basics of some different sailing maneuvers, the skipper will then prepare a delicious lunch which you can enjoy right on the boat.
Day 5 - Epicurean break in the Western French Riviera
In the afternoon you can discover the medieval village of Grimaud overlooking the bay of Saint-Tropez. Your guide will also suggest you discover Port-Grimaud: a real Provençal Venice! Or you can continue to the wild coast of Cavalaire-sur-mer and take a break in the small village of Ramatuelle before discovering the intimate beaches of Escalet.
Day 6 - Cultural Aix-en-Provence
You’ll visit the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, a Romanesque/Gothic church built on the site of an Ancient Greek temple to Apollo. You'll also see the town hall (also known as the Hotel de Ville), which dates to the 14th century and sits on a charming old plaza. The tour includes a walk along the Cours Mirabeau, a busy thoroughfare lined with plane trees and abounding with markets and cafés—perfect for people watching. You'll even see some ruins dating back to the days of the Roman Empire.
Day 7 - Cultural tour of Luberon's hilltop villages
After lunch, you go together to discover hinterland Provence. The Luberon is a fascinating region: the spectacular countryside of vineyards and orchards, fascinating perched hill-top villages, outstanding natural produce. At your own rhythm, you will stroll around in the cool air rising from the springs at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. You will be seduced by the hill-top village of Gordes dominated by its fortified castle and church and its cobbled streets with enchanting views over the valley and the hills. You will then visit Roussillon, located in the very heart of the biggest ochre deposits in the world, which is one of the most beautiful villages of France. Discover its flamboyant colors wandering its narrow streets, squares, and steps where men have long worked in harmony with nature.
Day 8 - Hot air balloon over Haute Provence
Day 9 - Explore the Calanques from France's oldest city
After your morning walk, time to relax with a good pastis on the Vieux-Port of Marseille (the heart of the city) and an al fresco lunch in France’s oldest city. Visit the characteristic district of Le Panier and walk to Fort Saint Jean and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM) for an extraordinary mix of old and new.
Later in the afternoon, get ready for a cruise with our skipper alongside the Côte Bleue and the Calanques, with its stunning limestone creeks. You will be visiting hidden coves only accessible by boat and swimming to your heart's content.
Day 10 - Departure