Highlights of Paris, Provence & French Riviera

Your 10-night journey begins with your arrival into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport where our driver will be there to welcome you and provide private transfer to your hotel in the City of Lights. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to relax and rest up for the many adventures that lie ahead. As one of the world’s most romantic destinations, you might want to soak up the enchanting atmosphere while enjoying a stroll through the neighborhood. With your hotel in posh Saint-Germaine, you’ll be steps from chic shops and trendy cafes, perfect for unwinding with a glass of wine.

A highlight on your itinerary, you’ll enjoy a half-day of sightseeing in Paris with your own private guide. As this is such a big city, we’ve included a metro card which is a much faster and more efficient way of getting around than traveling by car. The tour can be customized to your personal interests or simply take advantage of your guide’s local knowledge that ensures you’ll take in some of the best the city has to offer. Of course, you won’t want to miss the Eiffel Tower, but some of the other must-see landmarks include the gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, Palais Garnier, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur that sits atop the hill of Montmartre. 

At the end of your tour, your guide can also provide recommendations for the best restaurants and make other suggestions to help you make the most of the rest of your day.

A half-day trip with your private driver/guide brings you to the grand Palace of Versailles. You’ll get to walk the paths that wind through the magnificent gardens, created at the behest of the king who wanted them to magnify the glory of the palace. You’ll see the beautiful flowerbeds, fountains, lakes, and the canal where the king himself enjoyed gondola rides. Discover the over-the-top opulence inside the palace too, including the Hall of Mirrors with its 17 arched windows all featuring individual mirrors, and the prestigious series of seven rooms that make up the State Apartment with lavish Italian-style décor, painted ceilings, and marble paneling.

By now you should have your bearings, so we’ve left today free for you to enjoy the French capital at your leisure. If you’re in the mood for a more relaxed day, you might choose to explore one of the many food markets the city is so famous for. Or, why not take a cruise on the River Seine? Another option is a private half-day tour of the Louvre Art Museum, famous for masterpieces like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the massive Coronation of Napoleon which measures an incredible 20 x 33 feet.

After four nights in Paris, it’s time to say goodbye. Your private driver will pick you up at your hotel this morning, providing transfer to Gare du Lyon for the 3.5-hour journey south to Avignon. On arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel with time for lunch and to freshen up.

You will then enjoy a 3-hour private tour of the city with a driver/guide. Avignon is a very rich city historically. In the 14th century, it was the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe, which left an impressive legacy of ecclesiastical architecture, most notably the soaring, UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed fortress-cum-palace known as the Palais des Papes.

A full-day private tour will bring you to discover charming Provencal villages, historic towns, and landmarks in the beautiful region of Provence. Highlights include the small village of Saint-Remy, where Vincent van Gogh painted some of his most famous masterpieces. The village of Les Baux-de-Provence, located on a dramatic rocky outcrop, comes complete with a ruined castle and is consistently voted one of the most beautiful in the country. You’ll also visit the coastal town of Arles which was an important Roman settlement. It’s home to a very impressive amphitheater dating back to 90 AD. Along the way, your trip will be broken up by a gourmet 3-course lunch with wine and a visit to a local winery for a tour of the vineyards, followed by a tasting.

After a busy day yesterday, enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel. You’ll have the day free to explore Avignon, enjoying its relaxed feel at your own pace. You might want to simply wander the streets of the old town, stopping for coffee and lunch. The gardens at Rocher des Doms are lovely to stroll while the storied Avignon Les Halles street market with its cafes, vertical garden, and stalls selling local produce, meats, and cheeses is always enjoyable to explore. 

Alternatively, you can choose to take a more in-depth tour of Palais des Papes which you will have visited briefly two days ago. 

It’s time to head to your final destination of the trip, Nice, the capital of the French Riviera along the southeast coast of France. Cultural rich and glamorous, it offers a wonderful Mediterranean climate and attracts foodies from across the globe. Transfer time is three hours, but it’s a very scenic drive that will allow you to relax while enjoying the views of the dramatic countryside of Provence. Upon arrival to Nice, you’ll have time to explore a little independently and perhaps enjoy dinner along the seafront. Tomorrow you’ll get to experience it more in-depth with an expert guide

You will be met at your hotel by a private guide for a 3-hour walking tour of Nice. The city has an enticing mix of old-world charm, Mediterranean elegance, and real-city grit. Attracting tourists, including celebrities, since the 1700s, with its art and natural beauty, including beaches, highlights include the sweeping Promenade des Anglais which gets its name from the English expat patrons who funded it in 1822. Colline du Château at the eastern end of the seafront offers the best panoramic views of the city. The old town itself (Vieux Nice) is known for its maze of winding streets that creep up the hillside, a colorful flower market, and excellent fish restaurants. 

Nice’s old town is quite compact, so once you have your bearings it’s time to explore independently. Or, you might just choose to unwind with a cup of coffee in one of the many sidewalk cafes on Place Giuseppe Garibaldi. 

Today’s private tour will bring you to some of the most popular towns on the French Riviera starting with a visit to Old Town Antibes where you’ll be awed by the “floating palaces” at Billionaire’s Quay. Discover the handprints of immortalized stars in Cannes Film Festival Palace, the venue for the world-famous Cannes Festival, then travel to scenic Grass to explore its historic center. Filled with tall, narrow homes painted in bright pastel hues, ancient buildings and squares, it’s become famous for its perfume production. Your tour includes a visit to a historic perfume factory, revealing the world of perfume from antiquity to the present.

This morning your 10-night trip from the City of Lights to the French Riviera comes to an end with your private driver meeting you upon checkout to bring you to the airport in Nice. here you’ll begin your journey back home, or head out on further travels if you’ve combined this enchanting experience with another one. For those who aren’t ready to leave just yet, reach out to our travel experts who will be happy to assist in extending your time here or arranging a visit elsewhere.