Provence Itinerary 2012
 

France Trip 2012

I'm new at this and it was suggested I posted this as a Trip Report and should have been posted as a general inquiry. So here goes again.

The following is my proposed visit in May / June of 2012. I would like to get some opinions on the pacing and whether I am too ambitious or could add more. I've tried to leave time to get back to home base each day for a late evening dinner, but I am flexible, in that if we are somewhere interesting we will stay. I will have a rental car for all times in Provence and will avoid cars in Paris.

If you see a day with some potential or know of something I should see along the way, please comment.

Any and all comments would be appreciated. Good, Bad or Indifferent.

Thanks

Proposed Itinerary

Friday, May 25
Arrive Paris CDG
TGV to Avignon
Rental Car to Saint- Remy-de-Provence (Stay 6 Nights in Saint Remy)
Take it easy – Jet Lag day

Saturday, May 26
Arles

Sunday, May 27
Sunday was a problem -
Aigues Mortes
Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer (potential for some Roma event around this date)
Chateau Tarascon in late afternoon (before 6PM)

Monday, May 28
Orange
Chateauneuf du Pape (Check out some vineyards)
Avignon (late afternoon & evening)

Tuesday, May 29
Nimes - AM
Uzes - PM
Pont du Gard - About 5 PM

Wednesday, May 30
Saint Remy (Wander around) (Market Day)
Glanum
Les Baux de Provence in late afternoon & evening
(Pretty slow day overall)

Thursday, May 31
Pack up and spend morning in Avignon
Check out Cavaillon in afternoon
Finish in Aix-en-Provence (base for for 2 nights)

Friday, June 1
Cassis – for the day
Aix-en Provence for late afternoon & evening

Saturday, June 2
Aix-en Provence for morning (market day)
Move on to Apt – late morning (market potential in Apt if we make it – but no hurry)
Saignon – for lunch
Finish in Bonnieux about 4 PM
Check in - base for 7 nights

Sunday, June 3
Coustellet (market)
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (market)
Fontaine de Vaucluse – check out golf course near Avignon and step on the 18th
Lacoste - Stay for dinner?

Monday, June 4
Sault
Gorges de la Nesque
Mont Ventoux (lunch time picnic on the peak)
Carpentras

Tuesday, June 5
Goult
Gordes
Roussillon

Wednesday, June 6
Oppede le Vieux
Menerbes
Some Wineries in area

Thursday, June 7
Foret de Cedres
More Wineries
Seems like a slow day

Friday, June 8
Bonnieux market
Lourmarin market
Cucuron
Pertuis
Cadenet

Saturday, June 9
Head to Avignon – early morning
TGV to Paris – 3 nights
Tour Paris

Sunday, June 10
Versailles in AM
Paris in PM and evening

Monday, June 11
Tour Paris

Tuesday, June 12
Fly Home

June 4th looks like a bit much; otherwise you've done a really good job of organizing your time.

We did much the same years back, but spent only 2/days in Aix; most of the rest we did out of St. Remy, before moving farther west towards Carcassone and ending at Toulous. Instead of the train, we flew to Marseilles, vehicle pick-up and concluding at Toulous, turned in car and flight to CDG for home

Hey, by the time you're finished you'll know those roads quite well. Felt like a local after 2+/weeks.

Good work first time out!!

Plan to spend a couple hours in St Remy after you've had your fill (literally and figuratively) of the market. Go to the tourist office, get directions, and WALK along the country road to the hospital where Van Gogh lived, along the way you see information boards of his paintings. I found it very moving to be on the quiet country path where Van Gogh had walked .
We went to Isle sur la Sorgue, but not on market day (it was pouring) Advice on Fodors is ALWAYS to get to the Sunday market very, very early.

You may be picknicking in your vehicle on the top of Mt.V.
Every time I've been up there it's been v. cold and v. windy.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Immimmi:I hadn't considered the elevation and the wind poential on Mont Ventoux. We'll pack somethging that will keep the cold & wind out. We will just be coming out of winter, so the sweaters should still be somewhere in the house.

Underhill: I'm not sure how to shorten the day other than keeping track of time and making a decision on Carpentras as we go.

Thanks again

Hi J,

Nice plan.

Gorge de l'Ardeche when visiting Uzes?

((I))

We drove up to the top of Mont Ventoux this summer, ascending on the road from Sault.

There are a couple of picnic areas with tables near the bottom, after you pass through the lavender fields. We ate at a spot on the right, at a curve in the road, with about five tables... very pleasant. You could enjoy a nice picnic here. Up at the top it was much cooler and windy and also pretty busy.

Kathy

ira: I'm planning to spend a few hours in Gorge de la Nesque near Monieux when I drive up Mont Ventoux, and the Gorges de l'Ardeche would add about 2 1/2 hours of driving to an already busy day when I'm at Nimes, Uzes, Pont du Gard. Can anyone comment on whether I punt Nimes and visit l'Ardeche as well?

Kathy: Thanks for the input. I will think about the timing once we hit Sault.