Gourmet and historic guided walking tour

Today you’ll head out and explore this historic Mediterranean city. ”Historic” might even be an understatement—with 2600 years of history, it makes for France’s oldest city. It’s so old that it was founded on the site of the Ancient Greek colony of Massalia around 600 BCE.

Meet your guide in the center of this multicultural city for three hours, wandering around and going from one neighborhood to another discovering all the little Marseillaissecrets and anecdotes…

The visit begins in the Old Port, under the modern architectural artwork, the ”Ombrière”. Here takes place in the daily fish market. A few steps away is Marseille’s oldest neighborhood, where the Greeks began the foundation of the city, Le Panier.

Try the famous navettes and the best ice cream in town, discover artisanal life, galleries & artists, the ancient fort & gardens of Fort St-Jean, the Cathédrale St Marie Majeur and the Hotel Dieu.

During this tour with a local, expect exceptional views across the bay, with interesting angles and singing accents from this colorful Mediterranean port city.

Possibles stops:

• coffee break in a typical Old Port bistro
• workshop in a Marseille soap factory and museum
• olive oil chocolate tasting
• visit 17th century Vielle Charité or the modernist MuCEM museum
• shop in artisanal boutiques and artist galleries

You’ll want to end the excursion in Vieux-Port in the heart of the city, where you can finish off the day by enjoying a good pastis or beer accompanied by a beautiful sunset.

Marseille off the beaten tracks

Explore the city of Marseille on your own. Pick from the following options to make the most of your time in the coastal town:

• Take a boat ride to the Frioul islands, located in the National Park and composed of 3 islands: Pomegues, Ratonneau, and Tiboulen. On your way to the archipelago, stop by the If Castle, a fortress offshore in the Mediterranean, source of inspiration for the famous novel of Alexandre Dumas: « The Count of Monte Cristo ».
• Stroll north of the Old Port to the Panier, the oldest district of Marseille. Like a perched Italian village, it is an interlacing of narrow streets and very old buildings. An ideal place to enjoy the fresh air and to discover a popular and invigorating Marseille
• Follow a walkway to Fort Saint-Jean, a fortification dominating the port and part of 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
• Enjoy some time on the lost bank of the port, a less-known part of the Vieux-Port neighborhood, and discover the Roman monastic foundation of Saint-Victor Abbey
• Discover Noailles neighborhood, where the scents of the souks of Africa and Asia float. It is one of the oldest streets in Marseille and one of the most lively with its popular market which swarms from Monday to Saturday
• Go up to the hilly Notre Dame du Mont and Cours Julien neighborhood, pleasant places for strolling by day: a multitude of sunny terraces, small alleys that form an open-air street art gallery, designer boutiques, and semi-pedestrian streets
• Go out of the Vieux-Port and discover l’Estaque, far from the bustle of the city center. Stroll through its alleys which have inspired so many artists, taste the local specialties, and get into the rhythm of this little fishing port which hides many treasures. L’Estaque is also the starting point of the Cote Bleue railway, which takes you to nice hikes to small rocky creeks along the Mediterranean coast.

You’ll want to end the excursion in Vieux Port, in the heart of the city, where you can finish the day by enjoying a good pastis or beer as the sun goes down behind the Bonne Mère statue.

Accommodation: Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites | Room, Marseille

Half-day cruise from Marseille!

From Pointe Rouge or Vieux Port, near your accommodation in Marseille, you’ll board an 8 to 12-seat vessel for a half-day cruise to visit a series of inlets formed by limestone cliffs, which in turn created a series of beautiful little bays. In fact, the area has a very specific ecosystem that has been protected since 2012 when the entire 20-mile stretch was designated as Calanques National Park. The park’s 21,000 acres (8,500 hectares) span between Marseille, Cassis, and La Ciotat with endless trails and places to explore for every fitness level.

It only takes a few minutes to enter the park and glimpse its stunning limestone sea cliffs and hidden coves. The waters in these famous inlets are an irresistible kaleidoscope of blues that become milky turquoise and crystalline the further you get to shore (shared activity with other participants; activity duration: 3 hours, morning).

• Great comfort on board (8, 10 or 12 spaces)
• Bathes with palms, masks and snorkels, stopovers in beautiful places
• Fresh soft drinks, wetsuits, underwater camera (due to the difficulty of Go Pro maintenance, they are not always available)
• Finding out unusual anecdotes of the coast
• Relaxation and leisure activities.

Accommodation: Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites | Room, Marseille

Private transfer from Marseille to Aix en Provence.

Free time to explore the small city of Aix-en-Provence. Pick from the following options to make the most of your time in the capital of Provence:

• Take a walk on the famous Cours Mirabeau, with its archway of sycamores shading sidewalk cafes and terraces
• Every day of the year, it’s possible to stock up regional specialties in the city’s markets. The larger markets happen three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings – Place des Prêcheurs, Place de la Madeleine and in the Encagnane and Jas de Bouffan neighborhoods), as well as the flower markets (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday across from the Town Hall).
• Visit Cezanne’s studio and garden where he painted some of his greatest masterpieces
• Spend some time visiting the Caumont Art Centre, a cultural institution devoted to the Fine Arts. It’s located in the former Hôtel de Caumont Mansion, a remarkable 17th-century building
• Visit the Granet Museum, which displays more than 12,000 works and masterpieces of 17th to 21st-century paintings from the French School, 10 paintings by Cézanne, a sculpture gallery, and rooms devoted to archaeology and the Celtic-Ligurian civilization
• Discover the Archbishops’ Palace, adjoining to the St. Sauveur Cathedral, the former palace of the archbishops of Aix-en-Provence. It houses the Tapestry Museum on an upper floor (and during the month of July, the principal events of the Festival of Song)
• Enter the Pavillon Vendôme with its magnificent French-style gardens. In addition to a beautiful collection of portraits and furnishings, the museum displays contemporary and modern art exhibitions

In the evening, enjoy dinner on your own at one of the city’s farm-to-table restaurants.

Private guided Aix en Provence visit, 2h

Your guide will take you for a 2 hours ride in the heart of the city of Aix-en-Provence to discover or rediscover the gardens and fountains of the city. Known to be a city of Art and History, it has also been a water city since its origins, which has earned it the nickname ”Cité aux Mille Fontaines”. As you visit, you will understand that water is often the common point of the big and small stories of the city …

From the famous Rotonde, you will discover at the bend of a street, on the squares or hidden in the gardens, the magnificent fountains that illustrate the wealth of the city. The Joseph Sec monument, the fountain of the Four Dolphins will soon have no more secrets for you! (2 hours walking tour – private tour)

Restaurant Jardin Mazarin | Menu des 4 dauphins

Tonight you go for dinner at the Jardin Mazarin restaurant – ’4 Dauphins’ Menu (3 courses menu, without beverage & extras).

Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Cezanne | Double Room à Aix en Provence

Luberon Markets and Villages small-group guided tour

Tickle your senses to stroll around the best village markets, part of Provence’s greatest traditions. Admire its beautiful displays of fruits, vegetables, and regional specialties. This tour takes you to visit the most authentic villages and stunning landscapes of Provence!

Spend time in the dry-stone-built village Gordes located in the heart of the Vaucluse mountains. Enjoy its market on Tuesday only. Take a stroll in the charming rocky promontory. This village dominates the plain, from there admire the breathtaking view of the Luberon mountain.

(On the other days, a photo stop will be organized.)

From mid-June to mid-July, make a quick stop at Sénanque Abbey to take pictures of the eye-catching lavender field in bloom.

The next step will be the discovery of the village of Roussillon and its colorful houses (market on Thursday).

Get a taste of Provençal life by strolling through one of the most beautiful Provençal markets in the Luberon: free time in Lourmarin (market on Friday), also famous for its Renaissance castle.

On Saturday only, discover the city of Apt, famous for the candied-fruits production (replaces the stop in l’Isle sur la Sorgue).

Off to L’Isle sur la Sorgue: walk along the various canals and discover the antique shops.

Then drive to Fontaine de Vaucluse : walk up to the cave from which the River Sorgue emerges. Admire the beautiful panorama from there.

Free time for lunch (not included) on your own during the day.

Small-group guided tour of 8 participants maximum. 9h30 duration. Meeting point at the Aix tourism office.

Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Cezanne | Double Room à Aix en Provence

Included: excursion, local guide, transport, bedroom and breakfast, tourist taxes

Paul Cezanne atelier visit

A visit to Paul Cézanne’s studio allows visitors to discover the painter’s creative world and familiar objects. Dozens of works, now in the world’s great museums, were painted in this studio of light and silence.

Free time in Aix

Free time to explore the small city of Aix-en-Provence.

Pick from the following options to make the most of your time in the capital of Provence:

• Take a walk on the famous Cours Mirabeau, with its archway of sycamores shading sidewalk cafes and terraces
• Every day of the year, it’s possible to stock up regional specialties in the city’s markets. The larger markets happen three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings – Place des Prêcheurs, Place de la Madeleine and in the Encagnane and Jas de Bouffan neighborhoods), as well as the flower markets (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday across from the Town Hall).
• Visit Cezanne’s studio and garden where he painted some of his greatest masterpieces
• Spend some time visiting the Caumont Art Centre, a cultural institution devoted to the Fine Arts. It’s located in the former Hôtel de Caumont Mansion, a remarkable 17th-century building
• Visit the Granet Museum, which displays more than 12,000 works and masterpieces of 17th to 21st-century paintings from the French School, 10 paintings by Cézanne, a sculpture gallery, and rooms devoted to archaeology and the Celtic-Ligurian civilization
• Discover the Archbishops’ Palace, adjoining to the St. Sauveur Cathedral, the former palace of the archbishops of Aix-en-Provence. It houses the Tapestry Museum on an upper floor (and during the month of July, the principal events of the Festival of Song)
• Enter the Pavillon Vendôme with its magnificent French-style gardens. In addition to a beautiful collection of portraits and furnishings, the museum displays contemporary and modern art exhibitions

If you stay in Aix for the evening, enjoy dinner on your own at one of the city’s farm-to-table restaurants.

Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Cezanne | Double Room à Aix en Provence

A cooking session with a chef

Today you experience the Provence way of life through its Cuisine! By selecting the appropriate recipes and ingredients to prepare and tasting its typical dishes, you will share a unique day with your cooking host at the Aix en Provence local food market and in his countryside home. A real foodie experience!

On the way to the old town food market, you will meet some of the local food producers in order to select all the best ingredients. As your guide will be driving you towards his familial property near the countryside, you will stop by his favorite wine Chateau to pair a wine with your meal.

You will then start the cooking session, during which you will all actively participate in a hands-on class for the preparation of our various recipes. After approximately 2 hours of cooking, you will be ready to share your culinary works of art in the most “convivial” local way. In the course of the day, you will also certainly have time to take a walk in the wild provencal “Garrigue” filled with aromatic herbs.

Later in the afternoon, back to Aix en Provence through the scenic Montaiguet Forest.

(shared activity – from 9:30 to 3:30 pm – Meeting at the Aix tourism office)

Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Cezanne | Double Room à Aix en Provence

Private transfer from Aix en Provence to

End of your stay in the South-East

This is the end of your trip, all the team wishes you a great journey back home! We hope you had a good time in the South of France.

Au revoir et à bientôt !

GEN TGV Train ticket 2nd class I Trainline

TGV train journey (2nd class, semi-flex cancelation option) from the departure train station to your next location!

Train ticket / person