Friday
US departure day
Guests depart the USA for overnight flights to arrive in Marseille on Saturday for the beginning of your Provence Adventure… Of course, guests have the option to fly over early to spend a few days in areas like Paris, Avignon, Marseille, Aix or Barcelona before the Tour begins on Saturday.
Day 1 - Saturday
Welcome to Provence
Arrival day – Pick up your prearranged rental car at the airport when you arrive Saturday for your amazing drive through Provence to the Villa… Whether you choose to get a French classic like a Renault, Citroen, or Peugeot… or perhaps a sporty Mini-Cooper Cabrio convertible, you’re sure to have a great time driving the winding roads thru The South of France to The Villa… All guests should plan to arrive at our Villa between 4pm to 6pm for check-in. There will be free time to relax, perhaps take a nap, freshen up, and meet with others as we’ll get together at 6:30pm for our “Welcome to Provence” orientation party on the Grand Terrace and around the pool… We’ll enjoy a little Champagne, some fine French Wines and sample some local Provencal specialties as we get acquainted with each other, stroll around the Estate, and tour the Villa as we outline our amazing adventure for the upcoming week. We’ll stop by the kitchen to introduce you to our Chefs Damien and Coralie, and get a sneak peak at what they’re preparing for tonight’s Mediterranean feast… Our dinner this evening will be served outside on the Terrace. After tonight’s dinner we’ll get together with guests on the Terrace over a glass of wine to discuss people’s experiences on their trip over to France, and also discuss what to expect for tomorrow’s adventure, and how to get the most out of your Villa vacation here in Provence. Our included Wine, Champagne & Beer bar will, of course, be open throughout the evening and the excitement of our first day arrival always ends up as a very festive party!
Day 2 - Sunday
Gordes, The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, Roussillon
We’ll have our coffee and juice bar available early this morning, and our Provençal Breakfast Buffet… Today there will be an all day excursion into the amazingly beautiful Villages of Gordes, Roussillon and the famous Abbaye de Senanque… We’ll line up our cars rally style, turn on our two-way radios and motor out of the Villa at 9:00 am… After a quick orientation to The Village, we’ll give you free time to wander throughout Gordes, enjoy the Village, the shops, the incredible views and grab some lunch. Lunch today will be on your own. On the way out of Gordes, we’ll stop by The Famous Abbaye for a quick stop, enjoy the Lavender Fields and photo opportunities before heading off to Roussillon . We’ll head back to Château du Soleil in the late afternoon for some free time at The Estate to perhaps relax or enjoy the wonderful pool. We’ll have Happy Hours & Appetizers followed by another of Chef Fabien & Coralie’s magnificent Alfresco Dinner Parties… And of course the Wine, Champagne & Beer Bars will be open throughout all of the evening’s activities!
Day 3 - Monday
Arles, the home of Van Gogh, Les Baux-de-Provence and the famous Carrières de Lumières ~ where it all started
We’ll have our coffee and juice bar available early this morning, followed later by our wonderful Provençal Breakfast Buffet . Today there will be an excursion to the amazingly beautiful Village of Arles (where Vincent Van Gogh did most of his paintings) and the incredible Medieval hilltown of Les Baux-de-Provence… We’ll line up our cars rally style, turn on our radios, and motor out of the Villa between 8;30 – 9:00 am… We’ll meet our amazing Adventures to Provence Tour Guide Isabelle just outside the walls of Arles for a wonderful 2 hour walking Tour of the city and then give you free time for shopping & lunch! Later this afternoon we’ll head over to the incredibly quaint & charming hilltop village of Les Baux-de-Provence where we’ll give you a little free time for touring the Village, and shopping before we get together to head over for the amazing 3D Light Show at Carrières de Lumières, the massive, sprawling underground marble and limestone quarries (turned Theater) where the famous Van Gogh Experience got it’s start! When we get back to Chateau du Soleil, there will be time to freshen up for the evening’s grand event, our La Fête Blanche (the White Party) around the pool with Live Acoustic Band (we encourage everyone to dress in white for tonight’s party). This is all inclusive Provence at its very best! This outdoor BBQ party Under Provence’s Stars will be a memory of France you’ll never forget…
Day 4 - Tuesday
Le Provencal Classique Road Rally to Mount Ventoux, Mountain Chalet Luncheon, and The Lavender Fields of Provence
The coffee and juice bar will be available early this morning, and later enjoy our Provencal Breakfast Buffet. This morning we will leave for our all day Le Classique Provençal Road Rally… an exciting experiential excursion up to The Summit of Mont Ventoux – one of the largest mountains in the Alps in The South of France, famous for the Tour de France Bicycle Race! We’ll line the cars up rally style out in front of the Villa… we’ll outfit each car with our official “Rally Decals” and one of our nifty two way radios, and the Road Rally will take off! Our Mont Ventoux Road Rally is a non-competitive fun rally specifically laid out for exploration, discovery and tons of fun throughout the amazing back roads, hamlets, vineyards and quaint villages of Provence including our ultimate stop and Champagne Toast at the Summit of Mont Ventoux in The Alps. We’ll follow each other caravan style thru these winding back roads, through Vineyards, Olive Groves, National Parks & Lavender Fields keeping in constant touch on our two-way radios… We’ll of course stop at The Summit for all the great vistas, selfies and a really fun Group photo… Before we begin to head down off of Mont Ventoux, we’ll stop in to the famous mountain chalet, just off the summit, ~ Le Chalet Reynard for an outstanding Luncheon… As we resume our Rally down off the mountain, we’ll Tour the famous Lavender Route through one of Provence’s most beautiful, colorful and fragrant plateaus ~ The Sault Lavender Fields! We’ll head back to The Villa in the afternoon for a quick dip in the pool and Happy Hours! Tonight, Chefs Fabien & Coralie are sure to delight us with more of their French Culinary skills. We’ll head back late afternoon to Château du Soleil for Happy Hours & a swim… This will be an incredibly action-packed day, and for those that want to savor every minute, we’ll gather out on the Terrace after dinner, for some music, wines and discuss the days highlights and our plans for tomorrow’s activities… With it’s magnificent ambience and it’s incredible views, every evening at Château du Soleil turns into a party!
Day 5 - Wednesday
La joie de vivre ~ L’art de ne Rien Faire
Today we’ll celebrate Summer In The South of France, and we’ve got a much more relaxing day planned! There will be no rushing around to get ready to go anywhere… It’s a “free day” so it’ll be a more relaxing morning for those who might enjoy sleeping in… We’ll open the coffee and juice bar a little later this morning, and our Provençal Breakfast Buffet will follow. After yesterday’s busy day in Arles & Les Baux-de-Provence, today will be a day that the French have so famously described as La joie de vivre (The Joy of Life) or L’art de ne Rien Faire…” (the art of doing nothing). This is a free day! Some of our guests choose to go to Avignon to tour The Summer Palace of The Popes… Some choose to go shopping in nearby villages… Some prefer to head off early for the wonderful Market Day and amazing shopping opportunities in St Remy! We have suggestions for all kinds of activities for your free day! This day has always been a favorite of our groups! As always, Chefs Fabien & Coralie are sure to surprise us with another fabulous Provencal Dinner Party tonight! And of course, the bar will be open and it will undoubtedly turn into another festive party!
Day 6 - Thursday
The Pont du Gard
We’ll have the coffee and juice bar open by 7, and the breakfast buffet open from 7:30 – 8:30. This morning we will leave for another incredible excursion… We’ll be going to one of France’s National Parks and one of its most famous sights the Pont du Gard. Guests may want to consider bringing swim suits/water shoes for a quick dip into the Garde river, or good walking shoes for the multitudes of hiking trails… They’ll be free time or hiking or swimming… and lunch will be on your own and at your leisure in the Park. We’ll head back in the afternoon for Happy Hours… And tonight we will celebrate our Summer in The South of France with another magnificent Alfresco Provencal Dinner Party!
Day 7 - Friday
The Tastes of Provence at The Château Pesquie Wine Estate and our Celebration of Provence Party
Today, we will celebrate the incredible Mediterranean lifestyle with a visit to one of Provence’s famous Wine Estates, ~ Château Pesquie! (Pez-key-ā) We’ll enjoy a Tour of Château Pesquie’s Wine Estate, followed by a Guided Tasting of their Wines, and then for something really special, we’ll enjoy an amazing grand Pique-Nique Champêtre Français (French Country Picnic) in their beautiful private grove aside the Chateau in the shade of 300 year old Plane Trees! Afterwards we’ll head back to The Villa for Happy Hours, Dinner & our special Summer in Provence Party tonight!
Day 8 - Saturday
Au Revoir Provence!!!
Today is our last day at the Villa, and we’ll want to be up early to enjoy this last Mediterranean sunrise… We’ll have the coffee and juice bar open early today at 6am, and the Breakfast Buffet open from 7:00 – 8:00. We’ll get together out on the Terrace for our official “Adventures to Provence” group picture at 9:00am. We’ll get the cars lined up for our departure as check-out time on Saturday is 9:30am.
