Soirée Travel Specialists presents
Delights of Provence & Paris
From the land of Ooh-la-la!, Soirée presents an exclusive custom-designed extra-small group tour of Provence & Paris
Begin in the incredible south of France where the days are sunny, the food is delectable, the views are stunning, and the wines are divine.
Discover hidden gems and delightful villages. Taste the best of French food and wines. Immerse yourself in ancient history and modern creativity as you visit Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, the dramatic Luberon Region, and more.
Then it’s on to lively Paris. Admire the magnificence of its architectural splendors, the appeal of its long tree-lined boulevards, and the draw of its vast, green parks. Nothing compares to the unique feeling of strolling through this open-air museum. Paris is a city that must be experienced first-hand.
From must-visit museums to elegant architecture, from arts to gastronomy, this itinerary will wow you without overwhelming you.
Experience the best Provence & Paris have to offer. English-speaking professional guides will bring the history, culture, and charm of France to life.
Itinerary details below.
Discover hidden gems and delightful villages. Taste the best of French food and wines. Immerse yourself in ancient history and modern creativity as you visit Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, the dramatic Luberon Region, and more.
Then it’s on to lively Paris. Admire the magnificence of its architectural splendors, the appeal of its long tree-lined boulevards, and the draw of its vast, green parks. Nothing compares to the unique feeling of strolling through this open-air museum. Paris is a city that must be experienced first-hand.
From must-visit museums to elegant architecture, from arts to gastronomy, this itinerary will wow you without overwhelming you.
Experience the best Provence & Paris have to offer. English-speaking professional guides will bring the history, culture, and charm of France to life.
Itinerary details below.
Book this private journey on your preferred dates. Inquire for Pricing
Why don't we show pricing? This incredible itinerary is customizable for your private journey, to include your preferred dates, group size (2 or more travelers), and travel style. We don't have any components of your trip on a shelf ready to be booked. We work directly with our partners in France and elsewhere to create a truly customized private experience for you. We work with you to determine a reasonable budget and we work on your behalf to negotiate the best pricing possible.
We work with travel agents!
Delights of Provence & Paris
11 days/10 nights
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Hotels:
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Highlights:
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Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrival Day
Bienvenue! Welcome to France! Your driver will meet you upon arrival at the Marseilles Airport. You’ll be whisked away to Aix-en-Provence, a short 45 minutes away. Both chic and artsy, Aix-en-Provence is pure class with its leafy streets, colorful markets, and picturesque squares. You’ll feel comfortable strolling in the pedestrianized old town around our hotel as you explore the fragrant pastry shops and stylish boutiques. |
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Day 2: Aix-en-Provence Guided Walking Tour with Markets
Enjoy a guided old town walking tour with markets. The charming center of Aix-en-Provence hosts a daily market teeming with olives, oils, lavender products, cheese, breads, honey, and so forth, but that’s not all. Antiques, crafts, clothing and flowers all have their own market stalls within the historic heart of the city. Balance of day for Independent Exploration |
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Day 3: Guided Luberon Region with Wine Tastings & Lunch; Avignon
In the morning, embark for the neaby Luberon Region, an area known for its countryside vineyards, orchards, and postcard-worthy hilltop villages. Enjoy a lovely wine tasting, and then an lunch in Menerbes (or similar), a classic perched village and officially one of The Most Beautiful Villages of France. After another Wine Tasting following lunch, it's onward to Avignon. Your base for 4 nights, Avignon, in the region of Provence, is a rampart-ringed old town with a medieval bridge, leafy squares and superb restaurants. |
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Avignon & the Pope’s Palace; Optional: Included Dinner
Your guide will share the secrets of Avignon along with the Pope’s Palace. Built in the 1300’s, the Pope’s Palace is one of the largest gothic cathedrals in Europe and was home to 7 popes before the papacy returned to Rome. Offering countless and incomparable riches, as much architectural as pictorial, the Palace plunges visitors into the heart of the splendor of the papal court. Enjoy time for Independent Exploration this afternoon Optional: La Table Haute is an exclusive place in a medieval setting that takes you back in time. In an old kitchen from the middle of the 19th century, on a venerable wood-fired cast iron range, surrounded by antique cutlery, beautiful earthenware, and an enormous wooden table, a private chef will cook for a very small group. The meal, based on products from the market and from nearby farms, is cooked in copper pots before your eyes. Delight in the flavors of Provence around a large guest table as you enjoy a perfect blend of hospitality and food and wines from the Rhone Valley. |
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Day 5: Independent Exploration in Avignon
You may go for the storied architecture and endless panoramas, but you’ll love Avignon for the buzz and warmth of this creative city. Whether you’re into ancient cathedrals, food markets, medieval bridges, sipping coffee or wine in shady squares, birdwatching, or biking, there are many lovely ways to explore independently today. And we can help. |
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Day 6: Châteauneuf du Pape Wine Day Tasting & Pont du Gard
Discover Provence’s ancient roots and winemaking traditions in the Rhone Valley where the wines are full-bodied and high-quality. This day is all about scenic views and delicious flavors. After your Châteauneuf du Pape wine tasting, visit Pont du Gard. This masterful and artful bridge built during the 1st century AD, is a 3-level, 50-km-long aqueduct allowing water to flow across the Gardon river, originally to supply an ancient Roman colony. |
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Day 7: To Paris
This morning you can sit back and relax on a high-speed train to Paris. The City of Light is a vibrant metropolis in constant change. Though monuments like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral are a must, as are world-renowned museums such as the Louvre and Versailles, there are wonders to be found on every corner. From the trendy bars, boutiques and galleries, to grandiose elegance, there is plenty for all tastes, a full range extending from earthy grit to over-the-top sophistication, but always with a distinct Parisian flavor. |
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Day 8: Louvre Museum
Visit the most famous museum in the world with skip-the-line tickets. Your expert guide will lead you to the highlights of the museum, such as the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa and so much more, all the while sharing stories that make the art and the museum come to life. The Louvre, which began life as a military fortress, was soon turned into a luxurious royal residence by King Charles V and his successors, opening as a museum in 1783. Afternoon for Independent Exploration. Why not visit Montmartre?Centuries ago this charming quarter was just a little hilltop village in the country. Today, Montmartre is famous for its Bohemian vibe, artists, bustling sidewalk cafés and scenic vantage points. It’s also home to stunning Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Wander the narrow, winding lanes, shop, dine, and explore on your own. |
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Day 9: Palace of Versailles
Follow your guide inside the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palace of Versailles and discover the Royal Chapel, the State Apartments, the incredible Hall of Mirrors, and the Queen’s bedchamber before exploring the beautiful gardens. It took around 50 years to build the largest royal residence of the world between 1661 and 1710. With its 700 rooms, 67 staircases and 352 fireplaces, Versailles represents the height of French Classical Architecture. It remained a residence of the royal family until the Revolution of 1789. Back in Paris, you can explore at your Leisure. Why not visit the famed Laduree, where the macarons are exquisite and the coffee is divine? Taste the classic French Macaron like a true Parisian in the stylish Champs-Elysees cafe. These butter-creamed filled cookies are equal parts magic, light, elegance, and lusciousness. |
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Day 10: Paris Independent Exploration & Siene River Dinner Cruise
Be it for shopping, dining, or sightseeing, it is hard to find a better place than this, the world’s most visited city. Explore the city like a local and discover the top things to do and see in Paris with our helpful suggestions. Share an amazing experience together with the full splendor of a panoramic view aboard an all-glass boat in the heart of Paris. A Siene River Dinner Cruise offers traditional French cuisine, elegant and refined, freshly prepared on board using seasonal produce. Laugh, indulge, and reminisce as you dine together and celebrate your adventures in Provence & Paris. |
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Day 11: Departure
Airport Departure Transfers can be included for you return flight home.
Airport Departure Transfers can be included for you return flight home.