FRANCE

  • Depart Elite Coach, 1685 West Main Street, Ephrata around 1:00 PM. American Airlines flight AA0746 from PHL at 6:15 PM. Nonstop flight to Nice, France. Multi-meals.

  • Arrive in Nice at 8:10 AM. Two-hour drive to Cassis. We will have lunch in a town along the French Riviera. Possible stops at Cannes, Èze, or Villefranche-sur-Mer along the way. We will stay in Cassis, a beautiful Mediterranean fishing port overlooked by a centuries-old chateau, known for its pebbly beaches and the calanques, which are narrow inlets framed by steep, limestone cliffs. Its harbor features pastel-colored buildings, excellent cafes, and restaurants. We will spend the evening leisurely exploring the town. Stay in Cassis for 2 nights at the 3-star Les Clos des Arômes de Cassis (www.leclosdesaromes-cassis.com/en).

  • Morning at your leisure to explore the beautiful harbor-lined town. Optional hike of the calanques in the morning.Afternoon may include a boat ride on the calanques to fully appreciate the beauty of this region. Overnight in Cassis.

  • We will drive 45 minutes to Aix-en-Provence, a town known for its elegant Baroque architecture and postcard-worthy square on every corner. We will have a few hours here to explore and have lunch. We will then drive 45 minutes to Cavaillon, in the heart of the Luberon Valley, a stunning, quintessential Provençal region known for its ancient hilltop villages, rolling vineyards, and vibrant local markets. Cavaillon is a beautiful town known for its historical heritage,including a 1st-century Roman arch, as well as the “melon capital of the world.” It is also a quaint, centrally located village from which to explore this area. Although we will visit some of the hill town villages, Cavaillon itself is flat,making it an ideal base for our stay in this area. We will stay in Cavaillon 3 nights at the 3-star Hotel du Parc (www.hotelduparccavaillon.com/en/).

  • We will have 2 full days to explore the hill towns at our leisure. Towns such as Gordes, Roussillon, Ansouis, and Apt are some of the many towns in this area worth visiting. We will get a chance to see some lavender in this area. Overnight in Cavaillon.

  • 1-hour drive to Sault, a small town that is a true gem of Provençal charm. The Sault Plateau is highly regarded as the cradle of lavender. We will spend a few hours here and have lunch. Then we will drive 1 hour to Vaison-la-Romaine, a beautiful town known for its Roman ruins and medieval town and cathedral. Stay 2 nights in Vaison-la-Romaine at the 3-star Hotel La Fête (https://en.hotellafete-provence.com/).

  • Day in Vaison-la-Romaine to tour the various Roman ruins. Another possibility is a day trip to nearby Nyons, a small village known for its olive oil production and architectural heritage. Thursday is Nyons’ market day. Overnight in Vaison-la-Romaine.

  • Drive 1 hour to Avignon, the UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its medieval walls, “the city of the Popes,” where we will explore the monumental Papal Palace and have lunch in the town. Then a 40-minute drive to Uzès. Uzès is widely considered one of France's most enchanting medieval towns, offering an unpretentious, Provençal atmosphere without the crowds of some of its neighbors. Stay 2 nights in Uzès at the 3-star Hostellerie Provençale (www.hostellerieprovencale.fr/).

  • Day in Uzès, morning to visit Uzès’ market day, considered one of the best markets in Provence. We will then travel 20 minutes to Pont du Gard, an ancient 1st-century Roman aqueduct, one of the best-preserved Roman aqueduct bridges in the world. Overnight in Uzès.

  • Drive 45 minutes to Nîmes, often called “the French Rome.” The small city of Nîmes boasts some of the best-preserved ancient monuments outside of Italy, most notably the Arena of Nîmes, a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater. We will spend a few hours touring this city and have lunch. We then have a 1-hour drive to St. Rémy-de-Provence, a quintessential Provençal town offering a perfect blend of Roman ruins, vibrant village life, and beautiful nature. Stay 3 nights at the 4-star Le Petit Hôtel (www.lepetithotel.fr/en/).

  • Morning to explore St. Rémy-de-Provence town. Possibilities include a tour of a local winery and/or a travel 10 minutes to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, a place synonymous with Van Gogh, where Starry Night was painted, and to tour the gardens surrounding the monastery. Overnight in St. Rémy.

  • A scenic drive through the Alpilles Natural Regional Park, a mountainous nature reserve famous for its limestone massif and the 16 small villages enveloped within it. We will visit 2 of these villages: Eygalières, described as a village of understated elegance, an idyllic, residential, Provençal village; and Les Baux, a village perched on a jagged, rocky plateau, known for its world-class art and medieval history. Overnight in St. Rémy.

  • Possible 30-minute drive to Arles, a city known for its remarkably well-preserved Roman monuments. We will spend a few hours exploring this city and have lunch. From Arles, it is 20 minutes to the Camargue, a beautiful wetland region known for its wild landscapes, rich biodiversity, and equestrian culture. This UNESCO site serves as a critical habitat for over 400 bird species, including flamingos, as well as free-roaming wild horses. Possibilities include a guided boat tour of this region. We will then have a 2.5-hour drive to a Nice airport hotel.

  • Shuttle bus to Nice airport. American Airlines flight AA0747 nonstop from Nice to PHL. Arrive in PHL at 1:20 PM.Return to Ephrata.

    This itinerary is subject to change.