Luxury Provence France driving holiday

At a glance

Trip Summary

Upon arrival in Champillon, check into your Champagne Junior Suite at the breath-taking 5* Royal Champagne hotel and spa. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to enjoy the beautiful views from the hotel’s spa or if the weather is pleasant, from the infinity pool. In the evening, we would be pleased to reserve you a table at the hotel’s on-site gourmet brasserie or Michelin-starred restaurant if required.

After breakfast on day two, check out of the hotel and drive to Les Baux-de-Provence. The drive is just over seven hours and we would be pleased to suggest a stop en-route if you would prefer to break up the journey. Upon arrival in the charming town of Les Baux-de-Provence, check into your Deluxe room at the 5* luxury farmhouse Domaine de Manville. The evening will be free for you to relax and do as you please. We would be delighted to suggest a restaurant and reserve you a table for dinner if required.

After breakfast on day three, you will be met at your hotel by an English-speaking specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis.

During the course of the day, your guide will regale you with fascinating facts and anecdotes about the region and its history and culture. The stunning landscape of Les Baux-de-Provence exhibits a raw beauty, and the multi-faceted character of its soils produces characterful wines, as well as renowned AOP olive oils. You will be taken to two local wineries for tours of their estates and cellars, with extensive tastings as well as at an olive oil mill to sample some local olive oil. You will have free time for lunch today, and your guide will be more than happy to recommend a suitable restaurant depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day. You will be taken back to the hotel at the end of the day.

In the evening, a six course gourmet dinner paired with wine will be served in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

After a leisurely breakfast on day four, check out of the hotel and drive to Le Castellet. The drive is approximately one and a half hours. Upon arrival, check into your Prestige room at the luxury 5* Hotel & Spa du Castellet. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to do as you please. You may wish to make the most of your hotel’s superb facilities such as the beautiful spa, the impressive golf course or the comfortable bar. We would be pleased to suggest a restaurant and reserve you a table for dinner if required.

After breakfast on day five, your private chauffeur / guide will return and accompany you on a second day of tours and tastings. Today will be spent visiting three wineries of the Bandol appellation to learn all about these famous wines. You will be given some free time for lunch in the lovely, medieval village of Le Castellet and your guide will be more than happy to recommend a suitable restaurant depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day. You will be taken back to your hotel at the end of the tour.

In the evening, a six course mouth-watering gourmet dinner expertly paired with wine will be served in the hotel’s triple Michelin-starred restaurant.

After a leisurely breakfast on day six, check out of the hotel and drive to Flayosc. The drive is approximately one and a half hours. Upon arrival, check into your Deluxe room at the stunning 18^th Century Château de Berne. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to do as you please. You may wish to relax at the hotel’s top facilities including the 800m2 spa and wellness centre and the large infinity-edge pool. Alternatively, you may wish to explore your lovely surroundings independently, the hotel is surrounded by footpaths and hiking trails taking you at the heart of the Provençal countryside. We would be pleased to suggest a restaurant and reserve you a table for dinner if required.

On day seven, a private VIP tour of the on-site winery of the Château de Berne will be arranged for you. You will discover the full wine-making process from vine to bottle. As well as exploring the picturesque vineyards and learning about the work that takes place here, you will also have the chance to explore the cellars and barrel rooms. Following the tour, an extensive commented tasting session of no less than eight wines will take place paired with local cheeses and cold cuts. The remainder of the day will be free for you to do as you please.

In the evening, a delicious seven course gastronomic dinner including cheese board and paired with wine will be served in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

After a leisurely breakfast on day eight, check out of the hotel and drive to Saint-Raphaël. The drive is just under an hour. Upon arrival, check into your Superior room at the luxurious Villa Mauresque. The hotel offers two outdoor pools, two Jacuzzis, a sauna, a fitness centre as well as a boathouse and a private port with an extensive range of water sport equipment at the guests’ disposal. Alternatively, the hotel is surrounded by beautiful creeks and beaches and only a short walk from Boulouris village and port with its good range of cafes and restaurants. La Villa Mauresque has a charming seafront gourmet restaurant on site and we would be pleased to reserve you a table for dinner if required.

Day nine will be free for you to make the most of the lovely Provençal weather and of course, your picturesque surroundings. Why not take a thirty minute boat trip to Saint Tropez or drive to Cannes for the day? As always, we would be delighted to suggest a restaurant for dinner.

On day ten, after breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Gilly-lès-Cîteaux in Burgundy. The drive is just under six hours. Upon arrival at the Château de Gilly, check into your Superior room. The remainder of the day will be free for you to do as you please. The Château de Gilly boasts a lovely gastronomic restaurant located in the former cellar of the Cistercian monks of Gilly. We would be pleased to reserve you a table for dinner if required.

After breakfast on day eleven, check out of the hotel and drive to Calais. The drive is approximately five and a half hours. Make your way back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone at your convenience. If you would like to extend your trip to France and visit other regions (for more wine or just to relax), we would be delighted to provide inspiration.

Outline Itinerary

France Driving Holiday – Day Three

• After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking specialist/driver guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. Your tour day will comprise of:
• Tours and extensive tastings at two local wineries,
• A visit to an olive oil mill,
• Some free time for lunch
• You will be taken back to your hotel at the end of the day.
• In the evening, a six course dinner paired with wine will be served in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

France Driving Holiday – Day Four

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Le Castellet.
• The drive is approximately one and a half hours.
• Upon arrival at the Hotel & Spa du Castellet, check into your Prestige room.
• The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to do as you please.

France Driving Holiday – Day Five

• After breakfast, your driver / guide will return to take you on a second day of tours, this time exploring the Bandol appellation.
• Your tour day will comprise of:
• Tours and extensive tastings at three local wineries,
• Some free time for lunch in the medieval village of Le Castellet
• You will be taken back to your hotel at the end of the day.
• In the evening, a six course dinner paired with wine will be served in the hotel’s triple Michelin-starred restaurant.

France Driving Holiday – Day Six

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Flayosc.
• The drive is approximately one and a half hours.
• Upon arrival at the Château de Berne, check into your Deluxe room.
• The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to do as you please.

France Driving Holiday – Day Seven

• Today, we will arrange a private VIP tour of the Château de Berne’s winery for you followed by an extensive tasting session of the estate’s wines served with local cheeses and cold cuts.
• The remainder of the day will be free for you to do as you please.
• In the evening, a seven course dinner paired with wine will be served in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

France Driving Holiday – Day Eight

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Saint-Raphaël.
• The drive is just over an hour.
• Upon arrival at la Villa Mauresque, check into your Superior room.
• The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to as you please.
• The hotel boasts a gourmet seafront restaurant and we would be delighted to reserve you a table for dinner if required.

France Driving Holiday – Day Nine

• Today will be free for you to explore independently.

France Driving Holiday – Day Ten

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Gilly-lès-Cîteaux in Burgundy.
• The drive is just under six hours.
• Upon arrival at the Château de Gilly, check into your Superior room.
• We would be pleased to reserve you a table at the hotel’s restaurant for dinner if required.

France Driving Holiday – Day Eleven

• After a leisurely breakfast and check out, make your way back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone at your convenience.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Package Prices

• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.

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