BURGUNDY & PROVENCE, FRANCE
Itinerary

Days 1-2
We arrive in Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. We check into our hotel in the historic center of the city and explore. Tonight we enjoy one of Lyon's wonderful restaurants. In the morning we take a guided walking tour of the old town and have lunch in one of the charming brasseries in the old quarter. In the afternoon we take an excursion to the medieval hilltop village of Pérouges. This evening our Michelin starred restaurant includes a spectacular panoramic view of Lyon.

Days 3-5
Departing Lyon, we drive into the Beaujolais countryside for an entertaining (and educational!) wine tasting lunch. Next we arrive in the charming medieval wine town of Beaune, known as the wine capital of Burgundy. Our hotel for the next three nights is a dreamy, elegant inn conveniently located in the historic center. We can walk to dozens of enticing wine shops, boutiques and cafés along picturesque, narrow streets. We spend the next two days exploring Beaune, the nearby historic city of Dijon, and the beautiful Côte d'Or wine region. In Beaune we enjoy a gastronomic wine-pairing dinner at a local winery.

Day 6
Today we journey south through the beautiful Burgundian countryside to the interesting Roman town of Vienne, where we have a guided walking tour, followed by lunch. We then continue following the Rhône River south into Provence and arrive at our destination for the next four nights, the fascinating historic town of Avignon. Dinner tonight is at a fabulous Michelin-starred restaurant.

Day 7
Today we take a guided walking tour through Avignon's medieval streets and squares, the highlight of which is the magnificent Pope's Palace, a veritable maze of galleries, chambers, chapels and passages. After lunch we drive through the Châteauneuf du Pape wine region and stop at a beautiful winery for a tour and tasting. We return to Avignon for some free time and dinner.

Day 8
Today's excursion takes us to the mountainous Luberon region, made famous by Peter Mayle in his bestselling book, A Year in Provence. We visit a lavender museum and the lovely villages of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes, and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. We return to Avignon for another gastronomic dinner.

Day 9
Today we have a day to explore the nearby Roman ruins of this remarkable region. We see the amazing Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old perfectly preserved Roman aqueduct, and the beautiful Provençal Roman village of Uzès.

Day 10
This morning we bid adieu to Avignon and drive to our next destination-a lovely country inn outside the charming village of Saint Rémy de Provence. We stop at a local market to shop for the makings of a gourmet French pique-nique, which we enjoy on the beautiful grounds of our inn. After lunch, we enjoy a guided tour of a fascinating Roman village called Glanum, uncovered in 1921. The town was originally built by a Celtic Ligurian tribe several centuries before being conquered by the Romans. Tonight our hosts treat us to a wonderful repast in their lovely dining room.

Day 11
After a visit to Saint Remy's well known market, we visit the nearby medieval fortified village of Les Baux de Provence. Les Baux is set high on a mountain in the Alpilles range, with a spectacular view of the surrounding peaks and valleys. After lunch in Les Baux, we visit a winery in the Côtes du Rhône wine region for a tour and tasting. For those who like to cook, our chef invites us to assist him in preparing tonight's gourmet dinner.

Day 12
Today we visit the nearby Roman city of Arles. We have a guided walking tour of this picturesque town made famous by Vincent Van Gogh. You will recognize the subjects of a number of his paintings as we wander through his old neighborhood. Tonight we enjoy our farewell home-cooked dinner chez nous.

Day 13
After breakfast we head to the Marseille Airport for the flight home.