Morning:   Welcome to the drop-dead gorgeous south of France.  The tour begins in the breathtaking resort of Antibes.  (It is strongly advised that you arrive the day before to avoid any missed connection with the group and to allow extra time for jet lag.)  One of the most renowned towns on the Riviera, Antibes oozes charm with its cobblestone old town, 5^th century ramparts overlooking the sea, and lavishly landscaped promenades.  Our hotel is on the famous “Cap d’Antibes,” a magnificent piece of “lifestyles of the rich and famous” real estate filled with luxurious villas.

 Afternoon:   The afternoon is free to explore the town’s huge array of attractive boutiques.  Otherwise, chill out at the nearby beach or at the hotel’s pool.

Morning:  Biot is one of the most legendary cities in Europe for glass production.  Artisans produce a collection of “take-your-breath-away” pieces that can be shipped back to the US---or carried in your suitcase!  We’ll visit one of the artists’ workshops and observe the fascinating process of making this highly coveted “bubble glass.”   As Biot has retained much of its natural charm and feeling of antiquity, there will be time allowed to explore this tres picturesque setting.

Afternoon:   Free.  Recommend you head to Nice or Cannes---both can be easily reached by local train in <30 minutes.  Or, if you can tear yourself away from the charming village of Biot, visit the town’s famous Legér museum, world renown for its collection of modern art.

Morning:  Today is the city’s thriving outdoor market replete with a rainbow of organic picked-this-morning produce, artisanal cheeses, and a plethora of freshly baked breads in every size and shape.  Oh, yes, and there will be many vendors selling the very popular and utterly irresistible fabrics from Provence.

Afternoon:  Free time.  Suggest the Picasso museum (the painter, who could have lived anywhere in the world, chose Antibes).   Or, take a walk along the ancient town’s ramparts overlooking the Mediterranean.

Morning:  Bid your adieu to the spectacular Riviera as we journey to an equally enchanting location, Provence.   En route we’ll stop mid-day in the internationally esteemed wine-making town of Chateauneuf de Papes where we’ll have a private tour and tasting at one of the most highly regarded wineries of the district.   

Afternoon:  Our home for the next four days will be a picture-perfect Provençal village with a beautiful Renaissance castle.  This historic village has a labyrinth of narrow winding streets and quaint flower-filled squares that are reminiscent of a bygone era.

Morning:  The town of Nyons is the olive capital of France.  Today is the weekly market of Nyons, one of the best in Provence.  You will find a mind-blowing assortment of olive products ranging from sumptuous cosmetics and hand-carved wooden bowls, to an abundance of culinary treats (tampenade, an olive spread, is one of the specialties of Provence).    Moreover, you’ll discover a mesmerizing selection of Provence’s colorful fabrics, and vendors selling the area’s succulent melons, strawberries and cherries.   Then, there’s the market butcher, baker and the candlestick maker…

Afternoon:  Today we’ll visit a family-run company who has received the gold medal from the French Government  for the country’s finest olive oil.   During our private tour, there will be a tasting of the different olives, as well as oils and tapenade.

Morning:  The papacy was moved from the Vatican to Avignon in the 14^th century where it remained for >70 years.  Today, we’ll tour the fabulous palace built to house the popes during their sojourn in Avignon.   Plus, there will be time for shopping as the city offers numerous stores of great interest for the foodie, including several killer wine stores showcasing the best of the Chateauneuf du Papes & Rhone Valley, a dreamy kitchen supply shop, an awesome cheese shop, and a stupendous patisserie (bakery).                                                                           

Afternoon:  Next we’ll visit a Master Chocolatier’s workshop…but not any Chocolatier.   Gourmet selected this one’s chocolate as the magazine’s best chocolate.

Morning:  Free.   Suggest a stroll through the cobblestone streets of our “movie set” medieval town.  Or, use one of the hotel’s bikes to explore the scenic countryside.

Afternoon:  Vaison le Romaine was an important Roman settlement in the 1^st and 2^nd centuries and boasts one of the most outstanding ruins in all of France.    We will tour this impressive archeological site with a local guide. 

Morning:  It will be hard to tear yourself away from Provence, but you’ll have to do so as we journey back to the sea for our last few days.   Cassis is a very special place off the usual tourist circuit for Americans…but not for the French.  It is St Tropez without the leather-clad poodles and Cannes without the orange tans.  This colorful fishing village is the perfect spot to relax and soak up the Mediterranean splendor before returning home.

All day is Free:  You do not want to miss the super-amazing Calanques, dramatic fjords carved into the crystal clear Mediterranean.   Located just outside Cassis, you can walk to them, or you can do it the easy way and take one of the frequent harbor boats that visit these extraordinary natural wonders.