Explore the Gems of the Mediterranean Coast and the Verdon Gorges

Welcome to France! Your romantic journey starts in Marseille, a historic Mediterranean city. "Historic" might even be an understatement—with 2,600 years of history, this is France’s oldest city, founded on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Massalia around 600 BCE.

On your arrival at the airport of Marseille - Provence, you pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel.

We recommend exploring Marseille's most impressive and historic neighborhoods, like the colorful district of Le Panier. This is the "old Marseille", where the city was founded. It's a working-class enclave on the central port and the picture of Mediterranean beauty, with old plazas, ancient churches, and brightly colored facades on tenement buildings. You also find a lot of street art on the walls in the form of colorful frescoes. 

Other must-visit areas of Marseille include the waterfront, the hilltop basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, and the Roman monastic foundation of Saint-Victor Abbey. You can also follow a walkway to Fort Saint-Jean, a fortification dominating the harbor that was built in 1660 by Louis XIV. Be sure to pay a visit to the fascinating Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (MUCEM), which features permanent exhibits devoted to the history of these regional societies from ancient times to the present day.

In the department of the Bouches du Rhône, a few kilometers from Marseille, Cassis inevitably evokes a colorful fishing port, the rocky inlets of the Calanques and the poet Frédéric Mistral. His famous quote. "One may have seen Paris, but if one hasn't seen Cassis, one hasn't seen anything" is not just typical Provençal exaggeration...

Cassis is also one of France's outstanding wine-growing areas. All three colors are offered but the majority of the production is white wines.

The caliber of its entire landscape is exceptional: Cassis is built like an amphitheater by the sea between Cap Canaille and the rocky inlets of the Calanques. A mineral gem in a green setting mounted on the blue water of the Mediterranean. The ochre color of the impressive cliffs of Cap Canaille, the highest in France (363 meters at Cap Canaille, 399 meters at the Grande Tête), contrasts with the white of the mountains of the Calanques. These two listed natural sites count amongst the most beautiful on the Mediterranean Sea.

Board a small boat and leave the quaint port of Cassis. Your cruise visits Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau, l'Oule, Devenson, l'Oeil de Verre, Sugiton and Morgiou 'calanques' before returning to Cassis.

Early in the morning, drive to Aix en Provence (approx. 45 min) for a tasty experience.

Spend the morning in Aix en Provence for a historical and gourmet tour.

Start your gourmet walking tour in the historical center of Aix en Provence. Thanks to your guide, you are able to discover this charming Provencal town and also to please yourself with the various scents and flavors of the region. Let your senses be amazed by the colors and the smells of the local products, be tempted by some Calissons, the sweetest candy of all time created in Aix en Provence, appreciate a toast of green or black tapenade, taste a piece of delicious cheese or a good glass of wine from one of the local wine appellations. Everything is made for you to discover what Provencal gastronomy truly means. The tour ends in the old town of Aix.  

After lunch, drive to Moustiers Sainte Marie, the gate of the Verdon Gorges (approx. 1.5 hours).

This is the biggest canyon in Europe and an exceptional natural site. Straddling the departments of the Var and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Verdon is home of splendid villages such as the picturesque Bauduen and Ste-Croix-du-Verdon, the very high hilltop village of Aiguines, Moustiers Sainte Marie, known for its fine porcelain, Castellane... With the beaches, the aquatic activities on the lake of Sainte-Croix, hiking and canoeing-kayaking, sport and adventure lovers live their dreams. Check in to your hotel at the end of the afternoon. 

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the Verdon Gorges by foot (you can also opt for a trekking guide, please ask us).

Come and (not literally) be swept off your feet in the Verdon Gorges. Stretching over 50 km and with cliffs that drop down by 700 meters in some places, the Verdon River has carved out the largest canyon in Europe! Many walking routes take you close to the Verdon, with breathtaking views, and all within a protected area. The most popular route is the Blanc-Martel trail (between La Palud-sur-Verdon and Rougon); a 15 km walk which takes you into the heart of the Verdon Gorges and to the foot of sheer cliffs. You can also try the more challenging Imbut trail, which takes you to some hidden treasures in the canyon (8 km / between 4 and 6 hours), or hit the road to the highest bridge of Europe.

There are two options to explore the Verdon Gorge by road: 

The Rive Droite which starts in the north, by the Point Sublime (the first viewpoint). Then you can stop at various points along the Route des Crêtes to take in the views: You are able to admire the largest canyon in Europe from the top of the cliffs, and try to spot the vultures.

Or from Lake Sainte Croix, you can make your way back to Castellane along the Rive Gauche. Go from the southern side and stop off at all the viewpoints until you reach the Balcons de la Mescla.

Today, you have the opportunity to visit the beautiful towns of the French Riviera. Take this occasion to walk on the world famous red carpet covering the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

Follow the sea side towards Antibes and discover the old town surrounded by ramparts. They were built in the medieval period to protect the city from the barbarian invasions of the Goths, Visigoths and other Saracens. Antibes has become a focus of contemporary art thanks to Picasso who spent a part of his life there. Also, look at the Cap d'Antibes peninsula between Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, famous seaside resort.

Enjoy one of the most visited places in France: Saint Paul-de-Vence. This magnificent fortified village dating from the 11th century became over time the appointment for painters (Chagall, Picasso, Matisse), authors (Prévert, Pagnol) and actors (Signoret, Montand). At the entrance of the city, right next to the old wash house of the 17th Century, La Colombe d'Or hosts the biggest names of our time and past time: Henry Matisse, Roger Moore, Tony Curtis, etc.

On the set of Le Puy, you can pay tribute to Chagall who chose to rest here with his wife and brother.

Stroll along the ramparts and cobbled streets inside the walls and discover the shops and art galleries punctuating the village.

End this day trip in Nice which sits at the northern end of the French Riviera, near the border with Italy.

After an early breakfast, make your way to meet your chef near the Cours Saleya market to take advantage of the fresh morning breeze and best selection of product. 

Wander through the narrow maze of centuries-old streets in the Vieux Nice to find the market, which is lined with bars, cafés, fish restaurants, and market stalls. Although the bigger stalls command large crowds thanks to their dazzling product displays, your destination is the small producers' stalls. The fruit and vegetables here are not as uniformly shaped, but everything found here is sourced regionally (and most of it is organic.) Depending on the season, you find organic lemons (perfect for making a local lemon tart), wild asparagus, fragrant Mara des Bois strawberries, vine-ripened tomatoes, juicy peaches, and of course the famous mesclun salad mix (no Niçois meal would be complete without it!)

Select the perfect meat to go with your meal—lamb from the nearby Alpes de Haute-Provence or Mediterranean Sea bass (or choose an entirely vegetarian menu.) Regardless of the main course, make sure to choose the real stars of French cuisine: the wines and selection of fine cheeses.

From the market, continue to a bright apartment in the heart of Nice for your private cooking class. Discuss local cooking techniques and traditional recipes with your chef before diving into the cooking portion of the course. Prepare a traditional meal, then sit down for the best part of the day—your delicious lunch! Enjoy your creation, paired with a glass of bright Rosé wine. 

A vacation in the south would not be complete without a visit to Monaco! Monaco is one of the world's smallest countries and is considered a city-state. Visit the famous Monte Carlo district with its legendary casino and see Prince Rainier's car collection, then continue to the Rock of Monaco (Rocher de Monaco in French.) This is the location of the town's oldest neighborhood, the medieval Old Town. From here, the views of the sunny coast are unparalleled. Learn about this incredible community's history and anecdotes about the dynasty which has reigned there for decades. 

From here continue to the medieval village of Eze, which perches high above the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to its location and history, it's a popular destination with painters and artists. Explore the famous Chapelle Sainte-Croix and the ruins of the ancient castle, which allude to the city's strategic location on the coast. Stroll through the town's peaceful gardens and soak in the sunshine.

Take a camera or phone and stock some great photos as a reminder of the easy day of adventure, and a memento from your trip.