Day 1:  Paris for 3 nights

Meet & greet private transfer from airport to hotel

1 superior double room, breakfast & taxes included at Hotel Four Seasons George V*****

Just steps from the Champs-Elysées, with private terraces with commanding Paris city views, signature lavish flower displays, top-of-the-line spa treatments and Michelin-awarded dining, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris redefines luxury in the City of Light. Parc des Princes Stadium is 3.7 miles from this luxury property.

The palatial rooms and suites, many with private terraces overlooking the city of Paris, are fitted with an interactive TV, CD/DVD player and library and WiFi access. Espresso coffee machine with complimentary coffee pods, safe, mini bar, and in-room bread toasting service are standard.

Classic French cuisine and lighter menus have earned Le Cinq restaurant two Michelin stars. The chic La Galerie is a favourite spot among fashionable Parisians for a drink or light bite. Le George offers light Mediterranean cuisine designed for sharing. Le Bar proposes cocktails and light meals and its large windows open on to the famous Avenue George V.

The hotel’s spa offers saunas, whirlpools, an indoor pool and a menu of body treatments. Around the clock, Four Seasons can assist you with business, entertainment or travel arrangements.

http://www.fourseasons.com/paris/

 

Day 2:

Day at leisure

Day 3:

Champagne Cruise with Capitaine Fracasse

Captain Fracasse offers you a selection of top-quality dinner-cruises on the Seine. Enjoy the best views of the City of Lights, discover the beauty of Parisian monuments illuminated at night and savour a 3-course dinner prepared onboard by the renowned Chef Martial, winner of the prestigious title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France.

 

Day 4:  Burgundy for 2 nights

Private transfer from hotel to train station

1st class train from Paris to Dijon with seat reservations

Departure at 10:23 am, arrival at 11:59 am

Pick up car in Dijon at the train station Opel Astra Sport Tourer or similar Midsize Class – Manual Transmission unlimited mileage CDW & theft included

1 double room, grand cru, breakfast & taxes included at Hotel Le Cep****

Located in the heart of the historic town of Beaune, in the Burgundy Wine Region Hôtel Le Cep offers accommodation with a luxury spa and restaurant. Beaune owes its charm and warm atmosphere to the union of many old homes built between the 14th and the 18th centuries.

All rooms and suites are air-conditioned and each one is unique. They are furnished with antiques and are named after famous Burgundy wines. Each room has a private bathroom with bath, shower and complimentary toiletries.

The hotel’s gastronomic restaurant Loiseau des Vignes managed by the famous Groupe Bernard Loiseau proposes gourmet cuisine and a wide range of wines.

Guests can enjoy a wide range of spa treatments and massages at the hotel’s spa, Marie de Bourgogne. Additional facilities include the Philippe Le Bon meeting and banqueting space, which includes 4 adjustable rooms that can host up to 80 people.

http://www.hotel-cep-beaune.com/fr/

 

afternoon at leisure to explore

Dijon:  visit to the Ducal Palace, the market and the Grey Poupon mustard shop.

Hospices de Beaune:  15^th century charity hospital for the poor showcases one of the best examples of the colourful Burgundian-till roof.  You will visit the main hospital ward, kitchens, pharmacy and see the treasure of the Hospices, The Last Judgment altarpiece painted by Van der Wyden in 1443.

« Cotes de Beaune and Hautes-Cotes de Beaune » vineyards. The day starts with a visit of Beaune, a lovely old town, and its famous Hospices. Wine tasting of local wines and grands crus at the Reine Pedauque’s cellars.

Day 5:

Full day private guided tour Cote de Nuits with lunch included

We start the day with a private guided visit of Château du Clos Vougeot. Historical home to the wines of Burgundy since it was established by the monks in the 12C, this Renaissance chateau was lovingly restored in the 19C. See the giant wine presses used by the Cistercian monks and marvel at the remarkable engineering prowess of the Middle Ages.
We then have a private wine tasting in a boutique winery in the Cote de Nuits followed by lunch in a typical regional restaurant. Alternatively you may prefer a wine tasting lunch at a local vineyard with the opportunity to taste up to five Grand Cru wines with your lunch, the choice is yours.
A stroll past the famous vineyards of Romanée Conti will help settle our lunch while we examine the vines and the ‘terroir’ of this famous wine making region. A second visit to a Cote de Nuits cellar for a private wine tasting will round of the day perfectly.

Day 6:  Provence for 3 nights

Drive to Provence about 238 miles or 3h38 minutes

On the way, go through several of the villages which impart their names to the fruity, light red wines of the Beaujolais region, such as Fleurie, Julienas, St. Amour and Morgan., have wine tasting and learn about Brouilly wine

OR

Northern Provence Drome area

Head north into the Drome Provencal where most of the gastronomic riches of Provence come from.

You could visit the truffle capitols of the Drome, Richerenche, and Vaison La Romaine and the historical capitol of Grignan before heading to Nyons the olive oil capitol of France where you will visit an AOC oil mill and a lavender distiller.

This is in the southern Rhone – vineyards grow along the Rhone river and amidst a patchwork of lavender fields, and olive, almond and pear orchards.

Whilst wandering throughout the vineyards of the Côtes-du-Rhone, visit one of the most spectacularly preserved feats of the Roman Empire: the Roman theatre of Orange.

1 grand deluxe room, breakfast & taxes included at Hotel La Mirande*****

La Mirande, dating back to 1309, is a hotel located in Avignon’s city centre. It offers 18th-century style guest rooms with views through the antique windows overlooking the Palais des Papes. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and private parking is available on site.

Each of the soundproofed air-conditioned guest rooms at La Mirande are decorated with a different wall tapestry, and have oak-wood parquet flooring and silk-lined curtains. All rooms have a private marble finish bathroom and some offer a view of the Palais des Papes.

In the morning, there is a choice of an American or a continental breakfast served either in the hotel’s restaurant or in the privacy of the guest’s room. Guests at La Mirande can enjoy gourmet cuisine or relax with a drink in the hotel bar in the evening. Guests can also take cooking lessons at La Mirande.  Calvet Museum is just 985 feet away. There is a valet parking service available on site.

http://www.la-mirande.fr/

 

Day 7:

Day at leisure to explore

Avignon, 14th century walled city of Avignon, once home to the Catholic popes and the city became the capital of Christianity. The presence of the Church transformed the appearance of the old medieval city and the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) dominates the old historic core of the city.  Another ‘must see’ is, of course, the St Bénézet Bridge (Pont St-Bénézet), known to generations of school children who have learnt to sing that catchy tune ‘Sur le pont, Avignon…’.

Gordes:  Gordes is a colorful village whose twisted narrow cobblestone streets circle a rocky bluff above the Imergue Valley.

Then visit the Cistercian Abbey of Senanque.

Lubéron villages:  Cross the vine planted plains to arrive at the ochre tinted rock village of Roussillon, continue on to Bonnieux « les portes du Luberon ». Marvel at the breath taking views from the village.

Fountaine of Vaucluse. View the emerald green water springs of the river Sorgue.

Day 8:

Half day private wine tour Chateauneuf du Pape

Looking for wine tours in Avignon? One of the most famous wine regions in the world, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has no rival when it comes to producing world class red wines (10% of the production is high-end white wine, rosé is not grown in Châteauneuf-du-Pape) is located just 20 minutes from Avignon.  A Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine tour of  is full of top-rated wines and rolling hills of vineyards. Wine in Provence tours can take you into the caves and tasting rooms that most visitors are only able to drive by.

Day 9:

Drop off car at Marseille airport