Avignon, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Les Baux de Provence Tour from Marseille

Meet your guide in the morning at Marseille Vieux Port for your whirlwind tour from Marseille to Avignon, Les Baux-de-Provence, and the prestigious wine estates of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. An hour-long drive through rolling hills of lavender and vineyards brings you first to Avignon.

Though Avignon boasts an ancient Roman origin, the city is known as the home of the Papacy during the 14th and 15th centuries, when the French Popes adorned the city in opulent architecture and art. With your guide, visit Pont Saint-Bénézet – Avignon’s fabled 12th-century bridge – the lovely Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral and the lavish Popes’ Palace. Take an optional interior tour of the UNESCO-listed palace (own expense) to see fresco-adorned chapels, galleries, and the papal apartments. You’ll then have free time to purchase your own lunch before leaving Avignon.

Next, travel south to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a lovely town in the Rhône Valley surrounded by prestigious wine estates. Marvel at the rolling vineyards, learn about the region’s distinct viniculture and terroir, and stop at a charming winery to taste fine wine and tour the wine cellars. Then hop back in the coach for a short drive to the UNESCO-listed Pont du Gard – a massive, three-tiered Roman aqueduct that spans the mighty Gardon River.  

Finish your tour with a trip to Les Baux-de-Provence – a fortified medieval village perched in the Alpilles Mountains. Take some time to wander the cobblestone streets, visit the labyrinthine ruins of the Baux Castle (own expense) and snap dramatic photos from the lofty vantage point over the Luberon plains. 

After a full day of sightseeing, enjoy a relaxing ride back to Marseille Vieux Port. You’ll arrive by early evening.