This holiday can be taken at any time between the months of March to October. We can arrange any day of week to start your holiday but the itinerary has been planned for arrival on a Sunday. The day by day itinerary may change slightly according to your choice of arrival date and will be subject to availability of our wine guide and chef for the cooking class. |
Your Accommodation click >>Accommodation
To book this holiday click >>How to Book |
For the first three nights of your holiday you will be staying in Cotes du Rhone area of the Dentelles in a 4* hotel in the village of Crillon le Brave.
Arrive here in time to enjoy the relaxing ambience of the hotel with its pretty gardens and pool with lovely views across countryside.
During your stay you can choose to dine either in the excellent hotel restaurant or at a nearby restaurant – recommendations will be included in your Route Book. |
This morning a short drive to the wine village of Gigondas. Here you will be met by your wine guide Olivier who will accompany you on a lovely relaxing walk through vineyards into the Dentelles mountains. He will explain what makes Cotes du Rhone wines unique and you will enjoy tastings of the local produced wines during your picnic lunch. Local cheeses, cold meats and salads make a perfect accompaniment for a unique way to sample the wines of the area. If you prefer not to walk or if the weather does not permit the walk, Olivier will accompany you on guided visits of two of the best of the Gigondas domaines and an excellent local restaurant will be recommended for lunch.
In the afternoon a short drive to nearby Orange for your visit to the impressive Roman theatre. The visit is self guided with an andio guide which will lead you around the theatre to explain the history of this fascinating building. Then visit also the interesting Museum. |
This morning enjoy the lively weekly market in nearby Vaison la Romaine. All the scents and colours of Provence with stalls of local produce, provencal fabrics and local pottery.
If you wish, you can enjoy a provencal cooking class giving you the chance of some hands on experience of preparing some tasty provencal dishes. The venue for your cooking class will be according to availability on your chosen holiday dates and will be followed by a relaxing lunch in the chef’s kitchen or restaurant.
This afternoon time to explore the fascinating Roman excavations in Vaison la Romaine and the historic medieval Haute Ville above the town. Take a scenic drive through the Dentelles mountains including some of the prettiest and most picturesque of the Dentelles villages. |
This morning, your wine expert Olivier will take you on a guided wine tour of Tavel wines. The village of Tavel is widely regarded as producing some of the best rosé wines in the world. Olivier will explain how Tavel’s unique vineyard “terroir”, the vigneron’s skill and the local grape varieties combine to generate wines of amazing complexity, balance and length. These are serious wines! A local restaurant will be recommended for lunch.
After lunch drive to the historic city of Avignon for your next two nights.
Arrive in time for a stroll through the lively streets and maybe an aperitif in the one of the cafes in the colourful Place de L’Horloge. Avignon has a wide choice of good restaurants for dinner and our recommendations will be included in your Route book. |
A whole day to explore Avignon. Massive ramparts punctuated vy seven gates surround the medieval city centre with the magnificent guildings of the Papal Palace at its heart. This morning enjoy a personal guided tour of the Papal Palace and the famous ‘Pont d’Avignon’ bridge, the Pont St. Benezet.
Enjoy lunch at your choice of one of the many cafes and restaurants and this afternoon take time to stroll the narrow streets of the old town, the old city walls and the hillside gardens of the Rocher des Doms with panoramic views of the surrounding area, the town and the river. Or maybe visit one of the many interesting art galleries or museums
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Leave Avignon this morning and drive to nearby Chateauneuf du Pape where you will stay on a wine domaine for 3 nights. This morning your wine guide, Olivier will accompany you on guided visits to the vineyards and cellars of two top private wine domaines in Chateauneuf du Pape. As you visit different remote vineyards belonging to the two domaines, Olivier will demonstrate how the unique characteristics of Châteauneuf “terroir” explain the fantastic the quality and reputation of its wines. Olivier will also explain how different winemaking methods can also influence the characteristics of the wines that you will taste as you visit the cellars. After your wine tour enjoy lunch maybe in Chateauneuf village and then drive to your hotel for the rest of the day at leisure. |
This morning visit the Castelain Chocolaterie in Chateauneuf village for a tour of the chocolate workshop. You will find a superbly tempting choice of chocolates with a rich range of flavours produced by this artisan Chocolatier and enjoy a fascinating tasting of wine accompanied by chocolate.
This afternoon drive the short distance from Chateauneuf into the countryside of the Gard to visit the spectacular Roman aqueduct of the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO world heritage site. The Pont du Gard was built over the Gardon river to bring water to the nearby city of Nimes and the construction is a stunning testament to the art of Roman building skills. |
Depart this morning after breakfast. |
The holiday described has been planned with hotel accommodation in three locations.
Hostellerie de Crillon de Brave, a luxurious 4* hotel with a relaxing and informal ambience perched in a small village surrounded by vineyards and pretty countryside in the Cotes du Rhone area. The charming rooms are spread over seven village houses and the hotel has lovely courtyards and gardens, a swimming pool and small spa. Accommodation is in a twin or double room with private facilities.
Hotel Cloitre St. Louis, a comfortable 4* hotel right in the heart of Avignon and ideally placed to explore the city with all the major sights just a short walk away. The comfortable rooms are charmingly decorated and the hotel has an excellent restaurant and an outdoor roof top swimming pool for the warmer months. Accommodation is in a twin or double room with private facilities. |
Chateau des Fines Roches, 4* hotel, Chateauneuf du Pape. Built in the 19th century, this hotel and wine estate has a gastronomic restaurant and terraces and swimming pool have panoramic views across the vineyards of Chateauneuf. The comfortable bedrooms are decorated in traditional provencal style. Accommodation is in a twin or double room with private facilities.
The final choice of hotel for your holiday is determined by availability according to your holiday dates. If we cannot secure accommodation in the hotels as described, we will advise you immediately, suggest an alternative, and advise any supplement or reduction that may be applicable. |
In addition to our pre-planned wine and culture holiday, we can plan a holiday tailor made to your own particular preferences and to any duration, including a choice of wine tours of the southern Rhône and visits to the best of the sights of interest in Provence.
We can include walks or relaxing strolls in the beautiful countryside and recommend or book restaurants for |
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