Hamilton & Chase Tours
Essence of France — Private Package 7-day France tour: Paris highlights & the lavender fields of Provence

7-Day Private Package Journey

Essence of France

Paris highlights & the lavender fields of Provence

Available as Private Semi-Private Self-Guided
From €2,690 per person 7 days / 6 nights
View Itinerary

Tour Overview

7 days across France.

Seven days that capture the heart of France — the grand monuments and intimate neighbourhoods of Paris, then south by TGV to the lavender-scented hilltop villages and ancient ruins of Provence. This is France distilled to its essentials: art, food, wine, and the kind of light that painters have been chasing for centuries.

Detailed Itinerary

Your journey, day by day.

Every day is designed with breathing room. Sleep in, take a detour, linger at lunch — the itinerary flexes around you, not the other way around.

Day 1 — Arrival in Paris
Day 1
1

Day 1

Arrival in Paris

Bonjour — your French story begins.

Your private driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your boutique hotel in the Marais — Paris's most walkable and characterful neighbourhood, where medieval townhouses sit alongside trendy galleries and the best falafel in Europe. After check-in, the afternoon is yours: the Place des Vosges is around the corner, the Seine a short walk south, and the neighbourhood's café terraces are the best introduction to the Parisian art of doing nothing in particular. In the evening, a welcome dinner at a neighbourhood bistro where the zinc bar, chalkboard menu, and house Burgundy are exactly what you came to France for.

  • Private airport transfer to central Paris
  • Welcome dinner at an authentic Marais bistro
4★ boutique hotel, Le Marais
Day 2 — Paris: Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame & the River
Day 2
2

Day 2

Paris: Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame & the River

The monuments and the magic in between.

Morning begins with summit access to the Eiffel Tower — timed to arrive as the city spreads out below you in the early light. From the tower, walk through the Champ de Mars and across the river to Les Invalides, where Napoleon's tomb sits beneath one of the most imposing domes in Paris. After a free lunch (we'll have a list of our picks in the 7th arrondissement), the afternoon takes you to Île de la Cité: Notre-Dame's exterior and reconstruction progress, the Sainte-Chapelle with its floor-to-ceiling stained glass, and a stroll along the quays of the Left Bank where the bouquinistes have been selling books since the 16th century. The evening is free — perhaps the Marais at night, when the galleries stay open late and the bars fill up.

  • Eiffel Tower summit access at sunrise
  • Sainte-Chapelle — the finest stained glass in Paris
  • Left Bank bouquinistes and Seine-side walk
Meals: Breakfast 4★ boutique hotel, Le Marais
Day 3 — Versailles & Departure for Provence
Day 3
3

Day 3

Versailles & Departure for Provence

Royal grandeur, then the TGV south.

An early start for the Palace of Versailles before the crowds arrive. Your private guide walks you through the Hall of Mirrors, the Queen's Hamlet, and the formal gardens — the architecture of absolute power made tangible. Return to Paris by early afternoon, collect your bags, and take the TGV high-speed train from Gare de Lyon to Avignon — just under three hours, watching the landscape flatten and warm as you cross into Provence. Your driver meets you at Avignon TGV and takes you to your hotel inside the medieval walls. Evening walk along the ramparts, dinner on your own at one of Avignon's lantern-lit restaurants.

  • Private morning tour of Versailles — Hall of Mirrors and gardens
  • TGV high-speed train to the south of France
  • Evening arrival in medieval walled Avignon
Meals: Breakfast 4★ boutique hotel, Avignon old town
Day 4 — Avignon & the Pont du Gard
Day 4
4

Day 4

Avignon & the Pont du Gard

Papal history and Roman engineering.

Morning guided tour of Avignon's Palace of the Popes — the largest Gothic palace in Europe, built when the papacy moved to France in the 14th century. Your guide brings the politics and pageantry alive in a way that makes the bare stone rooms feel inhabited again. Walk the Pont d'Avignon and through the old town's winding streets. After lunch, drive to the Pont du Gard — the two-thousand-year-old Roman aqueduct that still stands three tiers high above the Gardon river. There's time for a walk along the riverbank, or even a swim in the clear green water beneath the arches. Return to Avignon for a free evening.

  • Palace of the Popes — the largest Gothic palace in Europe
  • Pont du Gard — 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct
  • Pont d'Avignon and the old town
Meals: Breakfast 4★ boutique hotel, Avignon old town
Day 5 — Luberon Villages & Provençal Wine
Day 5
5

Day 5

Luberon Villages & Provençal Wine

Gordes, Roussillon, and the lavender route.

A full day in the Luberon — the part of Provence that makes people quit their jobs and move here. Morning begins at Gordes, the hilltop village that seems to grow directly from the cliff face, glowing gold in the early light. From there, the Sénanque Abbey with its famous lavender fields (blooming mid-June to early August, beautiful year-round). Continue to Roussillon, where the ochre cliffs paint the village in shades of red and burnt orange, then Bonnieux for a long Provençal lunch on a terrace overlooking the valley — roast lamb, local cheese, and rosé from the nearby domaine. Afternoon, a private tasting at a Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate with the winemaker. Return to Avignon in the golden hour.

  • Gordes hilltop village at golden hour
  • Sénanque Abbey and the lavender fields
  • Roussillon ochre cliffs
  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape private estate tasting
Meals: Breakfast 4★ boutique hotel, Avignon old town
Day 6 — Aix-en-Provence — Cézanne, Markets & a Farewell Dinner
Day 6
6

Day 6

Aix-en-Provence — Cézanne, Markets & a Farewell Dinner

The most elegant town in Provence.

Morning drive to Aix-en-Provence, the cultured, café-lined capital of Provence. Walking tour through the old town: the Cours Mirabeau — Aix's grand boulevard, shaded by plane trees and lined with 18th-century mansions — the daily market at Place Richelme, and Cézanne's studio on the hill, preserved exactly as he left it with the same view of Mont Sainte-Victoire he painted over sixty times. Free time for lunch and wandering — Aix is a town that rewards getting lost. In the late afternoon, a Provençal cooking class at a countryside mas: learning to make a proper ratatouille, olive tapenade, and lavender crème brûlée. The class finishes with a farewell dinner — your final French meal, at a long table in the garden.

  • Aix-en-Provence walking tour — Cours Mirabeau and markets
  • Cézanne's studio with Mont Sainte-Victoire views
  • Provençal cooking class and farewell dinner
Meals: Breakfast 4★ boutique hotel, Aix-en-Provence
Day 7 — Departure
Day 7
7

Day 7

Departure

Au revoir — à bientôt.

A final French breakfast — flaky croissants, good butter, apricot confiture, and coffee strong enough to make you miss it for months. Your private driver transfers you to Marseille Provence Airport for your departure flight. If time allows, we can arrange a morning stop at a local market or a last walk through the old town. Your travel specialist remains on call until you're home.

  • Private transfer to Marseille Provence Airport
  • Optional morning market visit
Meals: Breakfast

Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked hotels, every night.

We choose properties for character, location, and the kind of service that makes you feel looked after — not just checked in. Every hotel can be swapped for an alternative if you prefer.

4★ boutique hotel, Paris

Paris

2 nights

4★ boutique hotel

Le Marais

Steps from Place des Vosges, walkable to all major sites

4★ boutique hotel, Avignon

Avignon

3 nights

4★ boutique hotel

Old town (intra-muros)

Inside the medieval walls, near the Palace of the Popes

4★ boutique hotel, Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

1 night

4★ boutique hotel

Centre-ville

On or near the Cours Mirabeau

Hotels shown are indicative of the standard we book. Upon request, we will provide a detailed itinerary with specific hotel options tailored to your preferences and budget.

What's in the Price

Included

  • 6 nights in 4★ boutique hotels (double occupancy)
  • Daily breakfast at each hotel
  • Private airport transfers in Paris and Marseille
  • TGV high-speed train tickets (Paris–Avignon)
  • All transfers in air-conditioned private vehicles
  • Private expert guides in Paris, Avignon, and Provence
  • Eiffel Tower summit access and Versailles skip-the-line
  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape private wine tasting
  • Provençal cooking class
  • 24/7 travel specialist support
  • All entrance fees and museum tickets
  • Hamilton & Chase digital travel booklet

Not Included

  • International flights to Paris / from Marseille
  • Travel insurance (required — we can arrange coverage)
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses (shopping, additional drinks, spa treatments)
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers (optional but appreciated)
  • City tax (collected directly by hotels, typically €2–5 per person per night)

Good to Know

  • This itinerary is a starting point — every detail can be adjusted to your preferences.
  • Hotels are confirmed at booking. Upgrades and alternatives are always available.
  • All guides and experiences are exclusively for your party — never shared.
  • Comfortable walking shoes are essential — most days involve 3–4 hours on foot.
  • Flexible booking: adjust or postpone dates up to 60 days before departure at no charge.

Make It Yours

Optional add-ons & upgrades.

Every trip is different. These extras can be woven into your itinerary — just let your travel specialist know what catches your eye.

Seine dinner cruise

Glass-roofed barge passing Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower at night

From €180 pp

Champagne day trip

Private visit to two Champagne houses in Reims and Épernay

From €320 pp

Truffle hunting in Provence

Winter truffle hunt with a local guide and his dogs in the Luberon

From €160 pp

Professional photo session

1-hour portrait session at iconic Paris locations

From €350

"Seven days was enough to fall completely in love with France. The Eiffel Tower at sunrise, the lavender fields in Provence, and that cooking class — every single day had a moment we'll never forget."

Alison & Mark T.

Toronto, Canada · Essence of France, September 2025

Common Questions

Questions about this trip.

Can I change the hotels?

Absolutely. The hotels listed are our default selections. If you have a specific property in mind or want to upgrade, we'll adjust the itinerary and pricing accordingly.

Is this trip suitable for children?

Yes. For younger children, we'll adjust the pacing and add family-friendly activities. The cooking class in Provence is a favourite with kids.

Private Package Journey

Essence of France

7 days / 6 nights

From €2,690

per person

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