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Our Best of the French Alps and Provence Tour is designed to show you the ‘real’ France in all its stunning beauty. See two of the most beautiful regions of France in one tour. From majestic mountains to crystal clear lakes, you will come to love the breathtaking alpine views. The colors of Provence with its blue shutters and red ochre hills will enchant you. The cuisine is excellent too, as demonstrated by our cheese, wine, and olive oil tastings. The history will seduce you with the regions’ Architecture and Art, Old Towns, Roman Ruins, and Medieval hilltop villages. And as if that wasn’t enough, see pastures filled with colorful flowers while listening to the sounds of Alps cow bells, or violet fields near a famous Abbey. This tour savors the gentleness, lifestyle and beauty of the French Alps and Provence in the same way you would savor a fine wine. You’ll come to agree this is a unique tour not to be missed!

Below is our basic itinerary for the tour however, we make of habit of surprising our guests with additional special moments and events, when the time and opportunity arise. But that will remain a secret!

Day One, Saturday – Pick Up and Yvoire on Lake Geneva

Pick up from the Geneva Airport or Hotel or the Annecy Train

Station between 9am and 11am. We recommend that you arrive

the day before due to the early pick-up and because this day will

be spent touring.

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After pick-up, we'll take a drive through the

historic center of Geneva and then head to

Yvoire, a French medieval village which sits

on Lake Geneva. We'll explore the town and

have lunch before heading back to your

Aravis Chalet Lodge in the mountains

overlooking Annecy, France.

A welcome dinner will be served at the hotel.

Meals at the lodge are prepared by a

professional chef and are not typical hotel

cuisine. Coq au Vin, wild berry tartes, lamb chops smothered in fruit and rosemary

sauce - these are samplings of previous tour meals.

Day Two, Sunday – Mountains and Glaciers

In the morning we will do a sightseeing tour of the stunning scenery of the Col des Aravis on our way to Chamonix. In Chamonix, you'll take the cable car up to the top of Aiguille du Midi (left photo), a 12,600 foot mountain in the Mont Blanc mountain range, to see the magnificent views. There are several viewing platforms where you'll see breathtaking views, so bring your

camera.

In the afternoon, you’ll take the train up a mountain to the Mer de Glace (Glacier) where you'll have the opportunity to walk through the glacier's colorfully lighted cave of ice or just view the Glacier itself from the observation decks.

Note: The Mont Blanc tours are dependent on weather and rock slide conditions and is subject to occasional closures of the cable car and train for safety reasons. These closures are rare in June or September, but we need to mention it anyway.

Day Three, Monday – Local Food Specialties, History and Medieval Annecy

Today, we’ll take a tour of the Maison de Patrimoine, a restored ancient chalet/farm and, time permitting, visit a pottery workshop of a local artist, where you’ll have the opportunity to buy pottery at below market rate prices. We'll visit the village of Grand Bornand and then take a driving tour of the local Alps landscape and visit a traditional fromagerie (cheese making farm). June is ‘flower season’ so you’ll see many varieties of rare and colorful flowers dotted throughout the pastures and mountains on our drive. In

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September, the vineyards are harvested and the autumn colors begin to show their beauty.

You will have lunch at the farm's restaurant, Rustic Refuge, and indulge in the local cheeses of the Col des Annes, including Reblochon and Tomme de Savoie. Savoie is known for some of the best cheeses in the world.

Then on to the Medieval town of Annecy, known as the Venice of the French Alps with its numerous ancient canals running throughout the town. Annecy is surrounded by majestic mountains and sits on one of the most beautiful lakes in France. After an orientation tour, you have the opportunity to visit inside the famous Isle de Palace Museum, one of the most photographed

buildings in France, or wander on your own.

The day will end with a boat ride on the cleanest lake in France, Lake Annecy. The boat drops you off in Talloires, a quaint, ancient town with a 16th century Abbey which has been turned into an exclusive hotel.

Day Four, Tuesday – To Provence - Wine Tasting and Visit to Historic Avignon

Today we leave the majestic Alps and drive to the rolling violet hills of Provence. We will arrive in Chateauneuf du Papes for a wine tasting at Verger des Papes, located just yards from the ruins of the Pope’s Palace, which date to the 1300’s. The Popes of Rome moved to Avignon during the 14th century and built their Palace in the city and their vacation homes in the vineyards. The views from the ruins are stunning and the wines you’ll taste are among some of the best in this famous wine region. While enjoying the views, you’ll be served a

picnic lunch provided by the Lodge chefs. Chateauneuf du Papes was the first region in France to launch the AOC regulatory institution to ensure the quality of its wines.

The final stop of the day will be the historic city of Avignon. Once a tiny port town on the Rhone, the arrival of the Popes in the 14th century transformed the village into a powerful center of politics and religion. The magnificent Popes Palace, historic architecture, street performers and lovely shops will enchant you. You’ll have time to visit the city on your own before we head to our new accommodations.

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Our accommodations are usually at a lovely hilltop boutique hotel with rooms built into the hillside, and includes exceptional dinners and a pool. Our Provencal accommodations reflect the warmth, quaintness, and character of the Provence region and are well-located to keep our driving times to a

minimum. Dinners will feature the specialties and local products of Provence.

Day Five, Wednesday – Ancient to Modern History, Romans to Van Gogh

The morning will be spent following the footsteps of the Romans from the 1st Century BC, and Van Gogh of the 19th Century AD. Wander the narrow streets of Saint Remy de Provence, discovering squares, attractive boutiques, street performers, and art galleries that make the town’s historic center so appealing and lively.

Outside the city is the Saint Paul Hospital/Mausole where Van Gogh spent his final days. It is also where he painted 150 of his paintings. You will see some of the very scenes that he painted onto his canvases, and have the option to go into the Hospital to see the room where he stayed. Across from the Hospital are two of the largest monuments of the Glanum Ruines, dating to the Romans in the 1st Century BC. We’ll make a photo stop before moving on to Nimes.

Nimes is a typical Provencal city with some of the finest Roman architectural remains in existence, including the Amphitheatre and the Maison Carrée. The Maison Carrée is one of the best preserved temples to be found anywhere in the territory of the former Roman Empire. Also, well-preserved is the Amphitheatre which dates from the end of the 2nd Century AD. If you are a history buff, you’ll enjoy this visit immensely.

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Not to be missed is the Pont du Gard, just outside of Nimes. The Pont du Gard aqueduct is a 31 mile structure built by the Romans to carry water from a spring at Uzès to the Roman colony of Nimes. The aqueduct was primarily built underground and took a long, winding route that crossed the gorge of the Gardon, which required the construction of an aqueduct bridge. Thus the Pont du Gard was born. Dating to the 1st century AD, it is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved. After our visit we’ll head back for a Provencal dinner and an evening of relaxation.

Day Six, Thursday – Luberon and Lavender

This morning, we’re off to see the lavender fields of the Senanque Abbey. The fields have the enviable reputation of being the most beautiful lavender fields in Provence, particularly from a photographer’s perspective. We’ll stop for a photo opportunity before

moving on to visit the characteristic, Provencal hilltop town of Gordes, which dates back to pre-Roman times and was a religious center until the 12th Century. Today it is known for its scenic views, medieval streets and quaint shops. Lavender fields cannot be guaranteed since it depends on the season we visit – lavender begins the end of June through mid-August.

Next is Roussillon, another lovely hilltop town with stunning views, each framed by the red ochre cliffs for which the city is so famous. Stroll the city and, if you don’t mind pink feet, take a 30 minute easy walk on the ochre trail to get an up-close look at this amazing red clay which was used for centuries to make red paint.

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Day Seven, Friday – Les Baux de Provence and Arles

Les Baux de Provence offers scenic views, unique shops, and ancient architecture. The town is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. The hilltop town’s outstanding Medieval and Renaissance heritage, combined with a sense of hospitality, make it the "Flagship of Provence". Outside the town are olive groves, olive oil mills, and vineyards. A special treat, also minutes away from Les Baux de Provence, is the Carrieres des Lumieres, a stone quarry turned into an art gallery. This is a ‘must-see’ event. The exhibits change seasonally but the concept remains the same: projecting works of art onto towering white blocks of stone, creating a unique and dramatic work of art.

The afternoon will be spent in Arles, another historic, walkable town. The visit will include the Roman Arena and the Roman Theatre, as well as walking in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh.

This evening is special. You’ll be saying au revoir to France with dinner at a Provencal Michelin Star restaurant, prepared by a renowned French Chef. This is one of the finer restaurants in Provence so it will be a memorable meal and evening, and a wonderful way to end your delightful week in France.

After breakfast, transfers to Avignon where you can take the TGV Bullet trains to Paris (2.5 hours) or south or west France. If you are flying out of Geneva, we will drive you to Geneva, arriving in the early evening so you can either take a red-eye flight out or stay the night and fly out or continue your travels the next day.

Au Revoir and Bon Voyage!

******************************************************************Practical Information:

Dates: June 10 – 17th, 2017 (early booking for this tour is February 28th)

Prices: 2,800 or 2,670 Euros for Early Booking

250 Euros for Single Supplement

Day Eight, Saturday – Departure

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What’s included in the price:

Pick up from Geneva hotel or airport or Annecy train station; Drop off at Avignon in the morning on departure day Your hotels/accommodations Your guides and drivers and transportation All of your dinners, all of your breakfasts and 2 lunches Wine and local product tastings Your boat ride between Annecy and Talloires All of your entrance fees to activities, unless you choose something not on the itinerary or an optional activity Your airfare and transportation to Annecy or Geneva are not included.

Guests Quotes:

“The highlight of the tour was the fact that a lot of the places we visited were not the typical tourist

places. We saw and experienced more of the way French live in the areas visited. Yvoire, the cable car

to Aigulle du Midi, market in Saint Remy de Provence, and the market visit and dinner with Chef David

were all very memorable, as was the visit to the potter in Grand Bornand. So were the meals prepared by

the chefs at Hotel Les Aravis and the lunch at La Cle des Annes.” Glenn, United States

“Each day's itinerary was full, but when we'd had enough, that was recognised and the programme was

adapted. There was a good mixture of whole-group times and individual exploration. It was a first-rate

tour, and we were sorry when it ended. When the Alps part of the tour finished, we felt that nothing could

equal it, but then we went to Provence and it was equally wonderful!” Jan and Jackie, New Zealand

“I keep thinking of things we did on the tour with pleasure. The trip exceeded my expectations. I think

that area is my favorite part of France. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I also thought the tour was very

well-organized. I loved the accommodations at Paul's charming hotel and, of course, the delicious

food. Cynthia and Paul took us to lovely out-of-the-way places that I would never have found by

myself. I particularly enjoyed the drive up into the mountains past the pastures filled with wildflowers

and cows wearing bells. I enjoyed watching the cheese being made. I loved just driving around that

beautiful countryside.”

For further information or to book a trip, contact us:

Email: frenchalpstours@yahoo.com

Call: 213-985-3123 (USA number; Voicemail which diverts to our phone

worldwide)

Visit our website: www.frenchalpsandprovencetours.com