Provence

Day 1: Aix. Art. A mansion hotel.
Bienvenue! As it has millions of wayfarers before you – and not a few sailors from all corners of the globe – the old port of Marseille welcomes you to the south of France. And so commences a sensual journey through Provence… past lavender fields and ancient stone walls… a true feast for the senses. To the locals, Aix-en-Provence is simply “Aix.” Strolling its boulevards with a local guide, you’re taking in the same views that inspired Cézanne… Gauguin… van Gogh… Zola… no doubt ready to share your own – shall we say – impressions of this charming old university town with the world. So what will it be… a drawing? A painting? A novel? Take your time to decide. But first, join us for cocktails, canapés, and a sumptuous dinner in your 18th-century mansion hotel. There’s no hurry… this is Provence, after all.
Overnight: Le Pigonnet – Aix-en-Provence, France
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: C'est Cézanne
Walk in the footsteps of post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne through his hometown. See the landscapes he painted, and the fields where local residents became his subjects. Step into the studio where props pictured in his still-lifes remain, many just as he left them. Aix’s grandest boulevard, the Cours Mirabeau, dates back to the 17th century. Lined with plane-trees, elaborate fountains and opulent mansions, it invites a leisurely bike ride, a brisk walk, or a cognac in one of its many popular cafés. Garner a few handy phrases en Francais during a French lesson, and hike up to a favorite painting spot of Cézanne’s, Inspiration Point, where you might be inspired yourself to create a masterwork of your own. Cézanne loved the views of Mont Sainte-Victoire...
Overnight: Le Pigonnet – Aix-en-Provence, France
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Time stands still
Some call the hilltop villages of Luberon the “sentinels of time.” No wonder. Looking out over wild stretches of cedar and oak, they seem to have been here forever. Gordes, with its arcaded medieval lanes twisting, invites you to sample its cheeses, olive oils and breads on market day. Take a few hours’ walk (or a shorter walk, if you prefer) to Roussillon, where the deep ochre used in the town's architecture harmoniously blends into the warmth of the natural surroundings. Spend some time in a little café, perhaps over lunch – gossip, daydream, while away some time... Stroll among Bonnieux’s narrow streets and 13th-century walls; perhaps you'll unwind over a pastis at a café. Arriving in Joucas, you'll receive a warm welcome at your gem of a hotel, Hostellerie Le Phébus. Dine tonight at the hotel, where the chef / owner was recently awarded the "Rising Chef" award by Relais & Chateaux.
Overnight: Hostellerie Le Phébus – Joucas, France
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: Bories, Abbeys & Boules
A little morning exercise can warm you up for more adventures among the chalk cliffs, fairy tale villages, meadows and moorlands of the Luberon. In a nearby village, pick up the makings of a traditional picnic lunch – perhaps a baguette, fruits and meats, cheese, olives and, naturellement, wine… whatever tempts your palate! Today you'll take a walk to the beautiful Abbaye de Sananque; your path is a treat for the senses. Rich with color, chalk and red ochre cliffs, cedar forests, taupe moorlands and river hewn gorges surround. No matter what time you visit, during lavender season or not, your imagination can picture it in full bloom in the meadows surrounding the 900-year-old Abbaye de Senanque, still home to Cistercian monks. Picnic in a Provençal meadow, then return to Joucas. Spend an afternoon hiking, biking, riding or what-have-you (there is an exquisite spa, pool, gardens) in Joucas; and learn to play a game of boules, a Provence tradition.
Overnight: Hostellerie Le Phébus – Joucas, France
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Kayaking on the Sorgue & on to Arles and St. Rémy
After bubbling away deep beneath the hills of Provence, the most powerful spring in France bursts forth at nearly 20,000 gallons per second to feed the mysterious Sorgue River. Climb aboard a kayak and paddle along this picturesque waterway from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue... and check out the waterwheels! The Romans felt it. So did the builders of its Romanesque churches… and artists from van Gogh to Picasso, who particularly loved the pubs. And so will you – strolling its boulevards and leafy squares… lunching in one of its charming cafés… people-watching within a city of contrasts. Arrive late afternoon in St-Rémy-de-Provence and a fantastic boutique hotel. Tonight you'll discover the allure of “pub crawling” – not the tourist places, but the pubs where the locals go.
Overnight: Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues – St-Rémy-de-Provence,
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: What’s Cooking in Avignon
On market day in Avignon, partake in the process of bringing great Provençal food from the market to the plate. Join a chef on a buying trip to an Avignon market – smelling, tasting, and feeling your way through the fresh produce, breads, meats and cheeses. Learn the chef’s kitchen secrets firsthand as you help prepare a traditional meal in a hands-on cooking lesson. And after a professional sommelier guides you through a tasting of fine Rhone wines, it’s time to eat… drink… and be very merry. For much of the 14th century, the Roman Catholic popes ruled from Avignon. Take an insider’s look at the ten-towered Palais des Papes, more fortress than palace – or if you wish, explore lovely Avignon on your own. You'll have free time today to spend as you wish. A bicycle ride? A walk? A long afternoon drink in a café? In St. Rémy, after-dinner drinks often lead to lively discussions on every topic under the Provençal sun...
Overnight: Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues – St-Rémy-de-Provence,
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Van Gogh’s Footsteps in Provence
Art and beauty are one... shared with the world by Vincent van Gogh, whose work personified the region’s extraordinary light. Visit the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in St-Rémy-de-Provence, where van Gogh created over 150 works including Starry Night. Glimpse inside the artist’s mind as van Gogh scholar Mathilde Duvilliers shares insights on his complicated life, and reads from his letters, while you walk in his footsteps. Sample the fruits of the vineyards at a tasting at Chateau d’Estoublon. The setting is enchanting – Rhone wines are among the finest in France, and with olive oils, tapenades, olives and fresh-baked bread, you will also be enchanté! High atop a rocky outcrop lies the dramatic fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence; take a trip back to the 10th century... Celebrate the flavors of Provence with cocktails, canapés and a spectacular dinner of local specialties... a perfect finis to Provence travel days!
Overnight: Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues – St-Rémy-de-Provence,
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Au revoir, Provence…
Tour ends: Marseille. A transfer will be provided from Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues. The warm, inviting colors… sun-kissed meadows… those amazing Provençal flavors… intangible sensory imagery that linger not only on the return to Marseille and on your flight home… but far beyond…
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/19/2010 - 9/27/2010	$3,490
9/26/2010 - 10/4/2010	$3,490
10/10/2010 - 10/18/2010	$3,490
10/24/2010 - 11/1/2010	$3,490
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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