A Taste of the South of France

Arrive in Nice and settle into Le Royal Hotel on the Riviera. A guided walk through Nice Old Town takes you through its winding lanes, pastel buildings and lively markets. Spend the afternoon however you like, perhaps strolling the Promenade des Anglais or relaxing at a café by the water. In the evening, the group meets for a welcome dinner at Beau Rivage Beach, a relaxed first taste of Riviera cooking with the Mediterranean at your feet.

Take a boat to Île Saint-Honorat, a peaceful island where monks have tended vines for centuries. After a guided walk, taste the wines made at the monastery's winery. Ferry back to Cannes for lunch on the waterfront and a guided walk through the famous festival town. In the afternoon, explore Antibes Old Town before returning to Nice, where you're free to find dinner on your own.

Leave the coast behind as your coach heads inland to the Var, home to much of Provence's famous rosé. At a private wine estate, tour the vineyards and cellar, then enjoy a tasting and lunch. In the afternoon, continue to Aix-en-Provence, an elegant city of fountains and tree-lined boulevards, and check in to Hotel Le Saint Christophe. The day ends with a group dinner with wine.

Spend the morning at a hands-on cooking class with a local chef and sommelier, learning the flavors and techniques of Provençal cooking. After about five hours in the kitchen, sit down to the lunch you made, served with two glasses of wine. The afternoon is free to explore Aix-en-Provence, from the cafés along Cours Mirabeau to the shops and squares of the old town. Dinner tonight is on your own.

Drive through the rolling hills, vineyards and villages of the Luberon, one of Provence's most beautiful regions. Stop in Lourmarin, a charming village known for its Renaissance château, galleries and cafés, and enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, arrive in Avignon and check in to Hotel Mercure Pont d'Avignon. In the evening, the group heads downtown for a three-course dinner with wine.

Discover Avignon on a three-hour guided tour. See the famous Pont d'Avignon and step inside the Palais des Papes, the huge Gothic palace that was home to the popes in the 14th century. The rest of the day is yours: visit a museum, wander the old city inside its medieval walls, or linger over a long lunch in a sunny square. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Spend a full day in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of France's most celebrated wine regions. Visit the castle overlooking the Rhône Valley, then taste wines at two historic estates, Château de la Gardine and Château de la Nerthe, with lunch at Château des Fines Roches. Return to Avignon for a farewell three-course dinner with wine, and raise a glass to a week of great wine, food and company.

Check-out of the hotel in Avignon (breakfast included). 9:00 AM Group transfer is included to Marseille airport (MRS) (1hr 15 min) Note: Guests should book flights after 12:00 PM.