Perfectly Paired: French Vineyards, Alpine Peaks and Timeless Provence 2027

Your first day on the Paris to Nice Through Vineyards and Mountains tour begins in Paris. The City of Light. The City of Love. A city with many names, all evocative of its rich culture and centuries of epic history. Meet your Tour Leader and your small group of fellow travellers in the city's vibrant heart where we’ll share our back stories over some sumptuous French fare at a local bistro. Bon appetit! 

What better way to kick off our French adventure than with a few glasses of bubbles at an authentic Champagne winery? But first: say au revoir! to Paris and settle in for a comfortable ride to Reims. We’ll walk in the regal footsteps of France’s most famous kings as we pass beneath the splendid Gothic façade of Reims Cathedral – the historic location of royal coronations. The monument also has links to Joan of Arc, so don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the statues dedicated to the famous female warrior. 

Then, today’s pièce de résistance awaits: a family-owned winery. We’ll enjoy a masterclass in grape cultivation before sipping a trio of delicious champagnes. Salut! Feeling merry, we’ll move onto our final stop of the day: the romantic town of Troyes. The unofficial capital of Champagne, it’s awash with medieval timber-framed buildings and narrow lantern-lit lanes that will make you feel like you've stepped into a traditional Charles Perrault fairytale.  

Tonight, seek out a local restaurant to sample some tasty traditional fare – accompanied by another glass of bubbling champagne, of course! 

There’s nothing better than beginning the day with a fresh, buttery croissant smothered in jam. Once you’ve licked the last flakes off your fingers, we’ll hit the cobblestones for a walking tour of Troyes with our knowledgeable Tour Leader – soaking up key sights like the incredibly narrow Cats Alley. 

Then, you’ll be dreaming in technicolour tonight after a visit to Cite Du Vitrail. Nestled in the heart of the city, this museum is a tribute to Troyes’ mesmerising heritage of producing intricate stained-glass windows. There’ll be time to wander the town at leisure afterwards and grab yourself some lunch. Don't miss browsing the many local boulangeries for tempting treats like brioche au Chaource that’s stuffed with soft and oh-so-creamy Chaource cheese.  

And on the menu this evening? Whatever takes your fancy! There’s a plenitude of cosy cafes and intimate bistros to settle into for the night – and lots more regional dishes to devour. 

Ready for another tantalising wine tasting? Today, our path leads us out of the city and towards the vineyards of Chablis: the northernmost corner of the Burgundy region. Soak up vistas of sun-dappled vines as we glide slowly up the driveway to our next heavenly winery. The family-run estate produces several sumptuous organic wines, and we’ll savour six during a guided tasting. 

With the flavour of crisp Chablis still on our tongues, we’ll move onto nearby Beaune – our très belle base for the next few days. You’ll stumble across Gothic masterpieces at every turn in this medieval town. Spend the rest of the afternoon leisurely roaming its picture-perfect streets before we meet for another memorable group dinner. Expect to spot traditional Burgundian dishes like rich beef bourguignon on the menu – an explosion of rich flavour for your palate! 

Did you know that Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy? Or that it hosts an art museum entirely dedicated to the works of Salvador Dali? We’ll connect with Beaune on a deeper level today, including visiting the city’s crowning glory: the Hospices de Beaune. Originally founded as a hospital for the poor by the Chancellor of Burgundy back in 1443, this unique building is now a museum – and an exceptional example of 15th-century French architecture.  

Once we’ve sauntered beneath the hospice’s timbered galleries and examined the exquisite detailing of the majestic nine-panelled Beaune Altarpiece, you’ll have some free time to dive further into the city’s secrets. Peer across intricately tiled rooftops into flower-filled gardens and across serene moats while wandering around the 900-year-old ramparts. Or discover firsthand how wine was pressed in medieval times at the local Burgundy wine museum. Feeling thirsty? There’s plenty of charming little wine bars where you can pull up a stool and sample a glass or two of smooth Hautes-Côtes de Beaune.

We might be saying à bientôt to Beaune today – but there’s a tempting treat in store for us before we venture into the French Alps. If there’s time, we’ll break up the journey with a pitstop in captivating Cluny to soak up the intricate stonework and panoramic countryside views from its former Benedictine monastery. 

Then, prepare your tastebuds for utter indulgence at a vineyard that’s been owned by the same family for four generations! Gliding up the driveway of this historic winery is a moment you’ll always remember. We’ll embrace the magic further by gazing out across acres of verdant vines and up at the chateau’s enchanting turrets during a guided tour followed by an essential tasting of four sumptuous wines.  

Afterwards, we’ll settle down in the soft shade of the plane trees in the chateau’s manicured grounds for a sumptuous picnic – washed down with another glass of local wine, of course! Take another moment to soak up the peaceful surroundings before we swap southern Burgundy’s rolling hills for the jagged alpine peaks of the Haute-Savoie region.  

Annecy – the so-called ‘Pearl of the French Alps’ – is our final destination. We’ll see how it lives up to its nickname on an orientation walk around its cobbled streets which are a riot of colour thanks to sunset-hued townhouses and canal side bistros embellished with seasonal blooms. Why not find a table at one of the latter for dinner? We hear tartiflette (a delectable concoction of lardons, potatoes and melted cheese) is the local delicacy... 

We’ll be taking to the skies (well, almost) today as we ascend further into the magical French Alps to Chamonix. Bask in the crisp mountain air as you wander around the market town's quaint streets – and don’t forget to look up at the majestic Mont Blanc that looms large over the entire region like a monarch surveying its kingdom.  

Depending on the weather conditions and the time of year, we might venture even higher than Chamonix via the Brévent cable car or on the charming cogwheel Montenvers railway. Breathe in the scent of fresh pine needles and gaze out across verdant foothills that are blanketed in kaleidoscopic wildflowers throughout the summer. 

Back in Annecy this evening, we’ll clink glasses and swap stories of the day over an included group dinner. Expect to encounter more classic and utterly mouthwatering Haute-Savoie dishes on the menu such as raclette. Because who doesn't love gooey, melted cheese? 

Picture-perfect canals and a backdrop of cragged peaks – it's not hard to see why Annecy has been dubbed the ‘Alpine Venice’. Romance and mystery radiate off every cobblestone of this tranquil mountain town which we’ll have an entire day to explore – beginning with a guided orientation stroll with your knowledgeable Tour Leader. 

Then, the day’s path is yours to choose. You could easily spend a morning getting lost in the warren of lanes that make up the pedestrianised Old Town – passing pink, peach and yellow houses hosting all manner of local delights. Inhale the sweet scent of fresh brioche aux pralines and sugar-dusted beignets wafting out of the doors of the town’s boulangeries. Or soak up soul-stirring vistas of the tiny Le Palais de I'Île from the flower-dotted Pont Perrière. Magnifique! 

If you spent the night dreaming of cheese (melted or otherwise), today’s your lucky day! While we will be making our retreat from idyllic Annecy, our next stop in the heart of the breathtaking Geopark du Massif des Bauges more than makes up for it. 

Fromagerie Les Aillons has been producing traditional cheeses for decades – and we’ll learn all its secrets on a tour. Make sure you bring your appetite as we’ll also indulge in a tasting of several regional varieties, including rustic tomes de Bauges and melt-in-your-mouth val bleu. Washed down with a glass of French cider, what could be more divine?  

Then, we’ll swap the cragged French Alps for the undulating hills and aromatic meadows of the Drôme region. After settling into our hand-picked hotel, we’ll reconvene for another memorable meal in excellent company. 

Oceans of fragrant lavender. Sleepy, sun-dappled stone villages. Cypress trees swaying lazily in the warm breeze. This morning, we’re stepping into a real-life Van Gogh painting in picture-perfect Provence.  

Sisteron will be our first port of call – specifically its enchanting 12th-century Citadel. Perched on a rugged spur, this historic monument offers stunning panoramic views which stretch out over 150 kilometres towards the snow-capped Alps. Spend an hour or so exploring Sisteron’s bastions and crumbling medieval keep before seeking out some lunch. Lamb is the local meat of choice, so why not tuck into a succulent grilled chop dusted in aromatic herbes de Provence? 

Then, it’s onwards to Gréoux-Les-Bains: a tranquil spa town that’s attracted visitors to its soothing thermal waters for over 2000 years. Villa Borghese will be our home for the next two nights and it’s a true oasis of calm – with palatial gardens and an outdoor pool that’s drenched in Provençal sunshine throughout the spring and summer. 

Stomachs sated with breakfast, we’ll hop back in our luxury minicoach and prepare to soak up some pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming vistas at the Gorges du Verdon. This immense canyon is one of the largest in Europe and its scenery is utterly spellbinding – with plunging limestone walls formed by millions of years of erosion from the snaking Verdon River.   

And if that wasn’t enough, we’ll also stop to marvel the topaz-blue waters and pine-dotted shores of Lac de Sainte Croix at the very end of the canyon. You’d never guess it was a man-made reservoir and not a natural phenomenon!   

Then, our path takes us back to Gréoux-Les-Bains where one final group dinner in Villa Borghese’s restaurant awaits. Savour the fresh flavours of Provence cuisine and clink glasses as you fondly round off a wonderful journey together. Santé! 

We’ll embark on one final chapter of your Paris to Nice through Mountains and Vineyards tour this morning, pressing deeper into the exquisite Provençal countryside towards Entrevaux. En route, all our senses will ignite as we weave our way through the spectacular flower fields of the Valensole Plateau.  

When we arrive in enchanting Entrevaux, you’ll have free time to wander the fortified walkways of its medieval citadel – uncovering just why the locals proudly call it the ‘most beautiful town in France’. Speaking of beauty, the French Riviera awaits...

Golden beaches, shimmering water, glamorous resorts. As a region that’s charmed so many of the world’s greatest artists and writers over the centuries, the Côte d’Azur seems a fitting place to end our French journey! We'll arrive at its shining capital, Nice, mid-afternoon and bid a fond farewell to our fellow travellers and Tour Leader. Guests on the Paris to Nice Through Vineyards and Mountains tour will head home today, while you get to enjoy some free time in the city before beginning the Provence and the French Riviera tour tomorrow evening.   

After spending the day exploring at your leisure, you'll join the Provence and the French Riviera tour in the evening, getting to know your new group and Tour Leader over a delicious welcome meal.  

Our first stop this morning is Antibes – a walled port town with a Roman-era sea wall and a market that smells of lavender and warm bread – where old-world charm and effortless glamour live side by side. Your Tour Leader will lead us through the narrow streets and past the old port, where fishing boats have long since been outnumbered by superyachts, yet the atmosphere remains its own. The Provençal market is a feast before the feast: stalls piled with tapenade, herbes de Provence, lavender sachets, local cheeses and bolts of printed linen. Take your time, fill your bag and find your own favourite corner.

Free time follows to explore further at your own pace, and the old town opens up to those who wander without a plan. Then we'll continue along the coast to our hotel for the evening, the Mediterranean catching the last of the afternoon light as we go. 

This morning begins with an education. Provence rosé is one of the most misunderstood wines in the world – too often imitated, rarely matched. A visit to a local wine estate introduces us to the story behind one of the region's celebrated labels: a guided walk among the vines, an explanation of what gives these pale, barely-pink wines their particular character, and then the tasting, wines that somehow capture the ease of a long summer afternoon and wild thyme simultaneously. Lunch at the local wine estate is the highlight: eaten slowly in the shade, soaking up the rhythm of a Provençal afternoon.

This afternoon we'll wander through Aix-en-Provence, a graceful university town of fountains, plane trees and sun-warmed limestone where the café terraces are always full and the pace is always unhurried. Look out for calissons – the almond and candied melon sweets that Aix has been making since the 15th century – before we continue to Avignon, our base for the next four nights and one of the most storied medieval cities in Europe. 

There are landmarks you build up in your mind and landmarks that make your mind go quiet. The Pont du Gard is the second kind. Three tiers of Roman arches spanning the Gardon river, built without mortar around 50 AD and still standing with the kind of confidence that makes modern infrastructure feel slightly underwhelming. We'll have time to take it in at our own pace – the scale of it, the colour of the stone, the way it seems to belong perfectly to the landscape around it – before heading to Arles.

Arles is the city that drove Van Gogh to produce some of his most vivid and brilliant work, and the light really is different here. Our Tour Leader will take us on an orientation walk before free time to explore. You might choose the Roman amphitheatre built in 90 AD and still hosting events today, the Church of St Trophime with its extraordinary Romanesque portal, the Van Gogh Foundation, or simply a table outside a café to observe the rhythm of the city. The evening ends back in Avignon over a group dinner together, swapping favourites from a day that offered rather a lot of them. 

Seven hundred years of papal intrigue, medieval grandeur and southern French living tend to add up to something rather special. Avignon is that something. This morning our Tour Leader will guide us through the medieval streets, past cobbled squares and up to the Palace of the Popes, where a local guide will explain the significance of the largest Gothic palace in existence. For much of the 14th century this was the centre of the Roman Catholic world, and its imposing presence, with its towers, its halls, its thick defensive walls, makes the ambition of the medieval papacy suddenly very legible.  

The afternoon is entirely yours. Follow the city walls to find the best views over the Rhône, browse the antique shops along the Rue des Teinturiers, or settle in at a wine bar and debate the tasting notes of a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a plate of local charcuterie. Avignon rewards the curious. 

Today takes us out into the Alpilles for a day that moves between art, olives and Van Gogh. First, the Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux-de-Provence – an immersive light show projected across the vast walls, floor and ceiling of a former stone quarry, where you find yourself standing inside the artwork rather than looking at it. The effect is genuinely unlike anything else. Then, an olive farm where the cultivation secrets of these ancient groves are shared properly, alongside a tasting that reveals how much nuance a well-made olive oil can hold – floral, peppery, grassy, green. A picnic lunch in the grove follows, with the Alpilles as a backdrop, the air smelling of wild herbs, and nowhere else to be.

This afternoon we'll visit the Saint Paul de Mausole Monastery in Saint-Rémy, where Van Gogh spent a year between 1889 and 1890, producing over 150 paintings from his room and the garden. 20 large-scale reproductions are displayed in the field outside, and seeing them in the landscape that inspired them changes the way you look at them entirely. Make the most of the free time that follows in Saint-Rémy to explore before returning to Avignon for the evening. 

The Cistercian monks of Sénanque Abbey have been living in deliberate simplicity since the 12th century, and walking into their world this morning – lavender fields surrounding honey-stone cloisters, the silence broken only by birdsong and the distant sound of bells – it's easy to understand the appeal. The abbey is one of the most photographed buildings in France, and standing in front of it, it's immediately obvious why. Nearby, the village of Gordes clings magnificently to its rocky hillside: a maze of vaulted medieval streets, a Renaissance château and views across the Luberon valley that artists have inspired artists for centuries.

Our route then winds through Luberon itself, past hilltop villages with sun-washed walls that glow in the afternoon light, through vineyards and cherry orchards and a pastoral landscape that seems lifted from a painting. We arrive at our hotel in the Verdon Regional Nature Park, where a final group dinner together celebrates eight days well spent in Provençal France. 

The Gorges du Verdon saves its most dramatic moment for last. Known as the Grand Canyon of Europe, this extraordinary river gorge cuts through the limestone plateau for over 25 kilometres. The water far below is the colour of a tropical lagoon, the sheer walls drop hundreds of metres to meet it, and the road that traces the rim offers viewpoints that stop you in your tracks. It's a jaw-dropping finale to a tour that has moved from the glittering coast to the deep interior and back. 

From there, we'll make our way back to Nice, where our journey through Provence and the French Riviera comes to a close. The Mediterranean will be waiting, the sun will be low and golden, and there'll be just enough time to wonder what you'd do differently if you did the whole thing again. The answer, almost certainly, is very little.