I really enjoyed this trip. It provided the right blend of organisation and flexibility to suit my preferences. All of the hotels were excellent and everyone was friendly and helpful. When I needed support, the response was swift. The walking instructions were usually clear and the downloaded GPX files allowed me to double-check when I was unsure. For me the estimated times were more than enough for breaks and photos. I would happily use them for any other walking holidays. Thanks!
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Avignon, Provence, Saint-Rémy-de
Avignon, Provence, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux-de-Provence, Maussane, Chapelle Saint Gabriel
Discover the beauty of the hinterland of Provence, from Marseille to Aix-en-Provence, on this 5-day trip. Accompanied by a professional and knowledgable guide, visit the charming city of Aix-en-Provence and the natural park of Luberon; two must-see places that will make your experience unforgettable. During your trip, cycle in the footsteps of Cézanne, dive into the heart of wine-making in the region and explore Roussillon, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
This combination of cultural and outdoor activities, while enjoying the high quality of service in the hotels during your itinerary, will give you a taste of the authentic life of southern France in the heart of Provence.
The bikes were great and the GPS worked almost all of the time. The gravel paths were very bumpy and sometimes quite slippery. The accommodations were friendly and in great locations. The luggage transfers were very efficient.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Alsace & Lorraine, Provence, Bar
Alsace & Lorraine, Provence, Barbentane, Tarascon, Les Baux, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
A gorgeous corner of France to explore at walking pace. Many of the paths were timeless and the views spectacular. All luggage and personal transfers worked smoothly.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Hut
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Provence, Isle Sur La Sorgue, Go
Provence, Isle Sur La Sorgue, Gordes, Bonnieux, Buoux
Overall the trip was excellent. The walking was demanding but fair. The walking notes were easy to follow. Accommodations and other arrangements were generally excellent.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Provence, St Andre-les-Alpes, Ca
Provence, St Andre-les-Alpes, Castellane, Rougon, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Moustiers, Riez
Our second trip with Explore, and both have been Fantastic. We had an excellent group to ride with, the bicycles were great, and the location, Provence, was amazing and beautiful. But what really pulled it together was our great team leader, Erwin. He was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, provided excellent guidance throughout this journey. And beyond that, he has a passion for Provence, its people, and its history, that he was able to effectively share with the group. He clearly spent the time researching and exploring the area to ensure we had the very best experience! We hope, and would feel very lucky, to ride with him again! Thanks!!!
Bicycle toursFood tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Avignon, Provence, Port Saint Lo
Avignon, Provence, Port Saint Louis Du Rhone, St Remy De Provence, Pernes-les-fontaines, Carpentras, Chateau Pesquie, Marseille
Ride your way through neat rows of vineyards, beneath towering aqueducts and past verdant forests on an eight-day active cycling adventure through Provence. This journey through Southern France is the perfect blend of scenic trail riding, historical sightseeing and indulgent wine tasting. Visit the serene gardens of St Remy to see where Vincent van Gogh created his famous works, savour regional red wines at a vineyard outside Avignon and walk the cobbled streets of Les Baux to the top of the limestone cliffs. With a handful of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Roman history and serene landscapes where wild horses roam free – what more does a European cycling adventure need?
Bicycle toursAdventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
14-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Avignon, Provence, Uzes, Saint-R
Avignon, Provence, Uzes, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Discover the authentic Provence combining style and refinement, a cruise brimming with splendid scenery and great food as well as a once-in-a-lifetime evening at a Paul Bocuse restaurant.
Itinerary was very full of wonderful activities and sights to see! You're up and going early every day but it's well worth it to get going to be first in line ahead of the many other tour groups that follow.
Wine tasting toursFood tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Albi, La Roque Gageac, Ro
Paris, Albi, La Roque Gageac, Rouen, Gold Beach, Saint-malo, Loire Valley, Dijon, Chamonix, Grenoble , Nice, Provence, Aix En Provence
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
From the sunlit shores of Côte d'Azur to the enchanting streets of Paris, the "Crossing France" city sightseeing tour offers eight days of relaxed exploration for seniors. Enjoy the beauty of Provence and the allure of Paris, guided by experts who handle all accommodations, transport, and meals. The easy pace and carefully selected destinations are ideal for travelers who prefer unhurried discovery. What distinguishes this trip is its seamless blend of scenic and urban France, making for a delightful and memorable journey.
We loved it. We like the smaller group tours. The experiences were hit and miss. The Tours manager Christina was outstanding. She was charming and helpful and knowledgeable. She managed the different personalities of people on the tour making, I think, everybody happy.
I like the fact that there was a good amount of free time on the tour, and we stayed three or four nights in each location.
There were three nights in Paris, but we added an extra night at the tour hotel-Paris Renaissance Republque Rep Hotel. We love this hotel -best breakfast of the trip. It is within walking distance of Le Marais which has great food, but the area near the place de Republic where the hotel is actually located is also wonderful. The tour included a walking tour of Le Marais, the Latin quarter and boat ride on the Seine. The day had a lot of walking, but it was worth it.
The next day we were on our own. We did not go on the optional excursion to Versailles as both my husband and I had already seen it on a prior trip.
We went to the musee d’orsey which for me was a highlight. There are no museums included on the tour. So if your museum person like me, probably need to get your own tickets for independent time. I figured out three weeks before the tour that everything is closed May 1 for Labor Day in France and it turns out most of Europe -that was one of our free days (actually our pre-tour day that included a tour dinner.) We walked. I would’ve liked to have more time that I could’ve gone to museums on that day, but it wasn’t possible.There are several days where you have late afternoons or half days on your own, which is one of the reasons I really like the tour. I also like that we had somr dinners that were on our own too.
From Paris, we took the high speed train to Marseille and then a bus to Aix-en-Provence where we stayed at another wonderful hotel. Word about the train-you are on your own with the luggage. Do not overpack. You will regret it on this train trip. We had smallest suitcases, which still did not fit in the overhead rack. Many people on our tour did not listen to the advance instructions and really had a lot of trouble with their suitcases. I wish the Tours had included a trip to the Popes palace in Avignon. We saw it from the train, but I would’ve preferred that to the farm experience.
The hotel in Aix en Provence was Grand Hotel Roi Rene. It was walking distance from the main area. Tons of great food options and museums within walking distance. First night in each city usually included a Tour dinner. In Paris, the restaurant was called Habile and i cannot recommend it. The food was under seasoned. The Tour dinner in Aix-en-Provence was excellent, although it took a while, but this is Europe and service is often slow. My husband was very frustrated with this though -it didn’t seem like there were enough servers. The tour dinner the first night and Nice was excellent. The final meal lunch in Cap Ferrat was delightful.
We did not go on the farm excursion. My husband and I love cheese, but we don’t care how it’s made and don’t really have any desire to hug a sheep or goat. There is one more reason to eliminate these farm experiences. When you return to United States, they ask you if you’ve been in contact with farm animals. We could honestly answer no. But the people on the tour would have to lie.I understand it was muddy and they gave you booties. Since I only brought one pair of tennis shoes I’m glad we missed it. We spent the day in Aix-en-Provence and it was wonderful. We went to museums and walked around.
The next day was one of the best days on the tour where we visited Cassis and took a boat ride. Great seafood. One of the most beautiful places we visited. Saint Paul de Vant was also pleasant.
The next day, my husband and I did go on the optional excursion to a market in St. Remy, an old midieval Walled town called Les Baux and an illumination experience in a cave of the projected paintings of Monet. The first two were wonderful. I enjoyed the illumination experience, but you really don’t have to go to France to get this experience. These illumination experiences are available all over the USA with different artists. I have always wanted to go to one though so I was very happy. My husband was a bit bored.
The next day was not so great for me or my husband. The tour included a visit to a parfumarie (a place that makes perfume) in Grasse. We visited this on our way to our next stop -Nice -so we couldn’t miss the perfume experience. The problem for me is I’m very allergic to perfume. So I stayed on the bus and walked around the parking lot. It took two hours. My husband did go on the tour was very unhappy with the perfume experience as were many of the husbands. He said it was too long. It could’ve taken a half the time.The town of Grasse was wonderful, however, the perfume experience was outside of town and they couldn’t leave me in Grasse, which was too bad because I could’ve definitely used a couple of hours more there. I had told Collette about my problems with perfume before going and they told me to talk to the Tour manager. The tour manager did everything she could do. I would suggest in the future Collette go to a perfumery in the town of Grasse.
We really enjoyed Nice. We stayed at a Best Western very close to the center of Nice and the promendpade and the beach. One day the tour went to Cap Ferrat  which is where I want to retire if I win the lottery.
This is our third tour with Collette so we must like it. The hotels are usually excellent. You don’t have to carry your own luggage and my spouse and I have bad backs so this is a real benefit. And the tour managers are usually very good although I will say Christina was outstanding.-one of the best ever.
Bon vacance!
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa, Resort
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Provence
Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Provence, Villa Ephrussi De Rothschild, Aix En Provence
History and authenticity will be on the program throughout your cruise on the Rhone. You will discover cities with rich historical and cultural pasts such as Lyon with its famous 'traboules' - secret passages. Visit the Cluny Abbey, which has had an exceptional political, artistic and religious influence on Europe, then admire the castle of Tournon which stands upright on its majestic rock in the heart of the town and houses a museum labeled "Museum of France" since 1927.