The best of Provence and the Camargue | France Itinerary

Route

You start near Orange and travel through the Luberon and Les Alpilles towards Arles and the Camargue. Villages, cities and natural landscapes follow one another along the way.

Pace

You stay in three locations, with several nights in each. This keeps the pace relaxed and gives you time to explore every region properly.

Highlights

Mont Ventoux and lavender routes, villages like Gordes and Roussillon, the Palais des Papes in Avignon and Roman sites in Arles. The trip ends in the Camargue with flamingos, white horses and wide open landscapes.

Accommodation

Three carefully selected stays, from northern Provence to the Camargue, all well located for day trips.

Profile

Do you like a bit of variety? Then this trip is a great fit. You move from villages and culture to open landscapes, with plenty of time to stop along the way and enjoy it.

Day 1: Departure to Orange

You will depart for Orange today, where your unforgettable journey through Provence begins. Near Orange, you will stay one night in a beautiful Caractère hotel.

Day 2: Mont Ventoux

On day 2, you will travel past picturesque towns like Vaison-la-Romaine to Malaucène, with ancient plane trees, old houses, fountains and wash-houses at the foot of Mont Ventoux. This 'Giant of Provence' is recognised by Unesco as a biosphere reserve. There are stunning panoramic views of the Rhone Valley and Luberon from the south side. The oldest road descends to the village of Bédoin. You will continue to Carpentras, also known for the 'Berlingot': small hard candies with thin white stripes made from fruit syrup. You will stay here for three nights in one of our hotels.

Day 3: The Luberon

After the picturesque village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, you'll visit the Luberon, a Unesco biosphere reserve: you'll enjoy picturesque landscapes with villages like Gordes and its Village des Bories, Roussillon, Lacoste, ...

Day 4: Avignon and the Pont du Gard

Visit the atmospheric papal and art city of Avignon with its rich heritage. This atmospheric city is known for its historic centre with the Palais des Papes, the Pont St.-Bénezet and its annual theatre festival. During this festival, several street artists perform in the city centre, an additional excellent reason to visit Avignon. If desired, continue to the Pont du Gard, the famous aqueduct nearly 50 kilometres long from the 1st century that transported 20,000 m³ of water daily from its source near Uzès to Nîmes.

Day 5: Les Alpilles

Past Cavaillon to the gateway of the Alpilles, St-Rémy-de-Provence: visit the Roman ruins and more. Your adventure continues to the impressive citadel of Les Baux. Via Fontvieille, you will set course for your hotel for two nights.

Day 6: Aix-en-Provence, city of Cézanne

On day 6, you will drive to Aix-en-Provence, with its numerous fountains and charming little squares, including the Cours Mirabeau, which is well worth a visit. The city of the 'calisson' is also a lively student town with brasseries and terraces where life never stops. You leave the city, via the famous Montagne Ste Victoire, a symbol immortalised more than 60 times by Cézanne.

Day 7: Arles

Stroll through this magnificent Roman city, a source of endless inspiration for numerous artists, with its ancient theatre and arena. Arles is also the gateway to the Camargue and has always preserved its traditions: the festival of the Gardians, the ferias of Easter and rice culture, the corridas in the arenas, ... Arles is also the capital of photography and organises annual international photography meetings with celebrities from all over the world. Thanks to the Parc des Ateliers, at the foot of the bold Museum Luma - a new contemporary art centre - designed by Frank O. Gehry, this ancient city has gained another modern forum. An absolute must-see! You will stay three nights at a Caractère hotel.

Day 8: The Camargue

The unique landscape of the Camargue is defined by beautiful light and vast plains, black bulls, white horses and slender flamingo silhouettes. Les Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer, an ancient fishing village, is to this day a pilgrimage site for all European gypsies.

Day 9: Aigues Mortes

Today you are free to explore the Camargue further, visiting Aigues Mortes with perpendicular intersecting streets, the Tour de Constance and the église Notre-Dame-des-Sablons. Philip the Bold had the ramparts built there in 1270, which remain intact to this day and are a fine example of 13th-century military architecture.

Day 10: Going home

Your trip through Provence and the Camargue comes to an end, as today you return home. If you fancy a longer holiday, you can of course stay a few more days in one of our Caractère hotels of your choice.

Frequently asked questions about this trip

Do you need a rental car for this trip?

Yes. The different regions are spread out and hard to reach without a car. With a car, you can easily travel between villages, nature and cities.

What is the best time to travel?

May to September works best. In June and July, the lavender fields are in bloom, while September is quieter and ideal for the Camargue.

Who is this trip best suited for?

For those who like variety. One moment you’re in a village or city, the next you’re surrounded by nature.

What makes this route special?

You experience two very different sides of southern France. First Provence with its villages and culture, then the Camargue with its open landscapes and nature.