Rhone Valley and Provence

Upon arrival in Lyon, check in to our centrally located hotel. This evening, meet fellow travelers during a welcome dinner at a wine bar, where we sample a range of local dishes and wines from some of the regions we won’t get to during our trip.

Learn to cook some of the famous dishes of the region during a cooking class with a local chef. After our gastronomic adventure and lunch, head south to one of France’s most famous wine regions. Visit the famed house of Guigal in Côte Rôtie, where we enjoy a wine tasting and dinner. An icon of the region, Marcel Guigal brought the wines to new heights in the 1970s and 1980s and introduced a trilogy of single vineyard wines known as the La-Las (La Mouline, La Landonne, La Turque).

Today, we travel north to Beaujolais for a visit to Château du Moulin-à-Vent. Walk through the vineyards and delve into the terroir of Moulin-à-Vent during an in-depth tasting. We see firsthand how food-friendly these wines, made from the Gamay grape, are during lunch at the Michelin-starred Auberge du Cep. Return to Lyon for an evening at leisure.

Embark on a walking tour through old Lyon with local hosts who provide insight into this culinary capital. Next, venture outside the city to Vienne to dine at the elegant La Pyramide, a legendary 2-star Michelin restaurant close to the banks of the Rhône. Return to Lyon for another evening at leisure.

Check out of the hotel and drive south to Hermitage, long celebrated as the home to some of France’s most glorious wines. Our hosts are Chapoutier, who guide us through their vineyards and a special tasting and lunch. Next, stop at Valrhona, the most well-known chocolate producer in France, for a tour and tasting. Back on the road, continue south to the beautiful town of Avignon. Enjoy a light dinner at the hotel this evening.

Spend the day in the Roman city of Arles, walking through the old town among the places that inspired Van Gogh. Lunch today is at Jean Luc Rabanel’s Greeniotage, a bistro that specializes in vegetable-based dishes typical to this part of Provence. Visit the city’s Roman amphitheater before returning to Avignon.

After breakfast, set off for Chateauneuf-du-Pape and a visit to Chateau La Nerthe, where we get a sense of the range of soil types and grape varietals that go into the blend. Enjoy lunch at a village bistro before returning to Avignon to tour the magnificent Palais des Papes and the legendary Pont d’Avignon. Gather this evening for dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, La Vielle Fontaine.

Check out of the hotel and drive south to the coast, stopping in Aix-en-Provence for a guided tour of the old town in the footsteps of local artist Cezanne. After lunch, continue to Marseille and check in to our hotel, located in the heart of the harbor, overlooking the old port. Enjoy dinner on our own this evening.

After a walking tour of the city this morning, visit the dramatic Mucem Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean. Lunch and the afternoon are free for independent exploration. Then, gather for a special farewell dinner to toast our journey.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights returning home.