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France and Spain: Paris, Provence, Barcelona and the Basque Country
12 days by fast train from Paris to Avignon, Barcelona and San Sebastián, with three nights in each of the first three bases and a last morning at the Guggenheim in Bilbao.
12 jours · Paris à Bilbao · jusqu'à 12 voyageurs
The Pont Royal and the Musée d'Orsay at dusk, Paris Photo: Pierre Blaché from Paris, France, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pont_Royal_and_Mus%C3%A9e_d%27Orsay,_Paris_10_July_2020.jpg)
Les faits
En bref
- Durée
- 12 jours, 11 nuits
- Départ et arrivée
- Paris à Bilbao
- Taille du groupe
- 7 à 12 voyageurs
- Niveau d'activité
Modéré
City walking days of about 8 to 12 km on cobbles, steps and some hills (Montmartre, the Rocher des Doms, Park Güell, Monte Urgull), with 3 to 5 hours on your feet. Three train days of about 2.5 to 6.5 hours seated. Every climb has an easier choice, and you can sit out any afternoon walk.
- Repas compris
- 11 petits-déjeuners, 7 repas du midi, 3 repas du soir
- Chambre individuelle
- + CAD 1,150 (prix estimé)
- Saison
- April to June and September to October
Points forts
Pourquoi ce voyage
- The Louvre on a 9 am timed entry and the Musée d'Orsay at opening the next day
- The Palais des Papes at opening, before the tour groups, then a tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- The Pont du Gard early in the morning and Roman Nîmes: the Arena, the Maison Carrée and the Tour Magne
- The Sagrada Família on the first slot of the day with a local guide, and Park Güell before the heat
- Fast trains for the long legs, with our van meeting every train and carrying your bags
- A pintxos evening in San Sebastián's old town and a walk up Monte Urgull above La Concha
- The Guggenheim at opening on the way to Bilbao airport
Ce qui distingue ce voyage
Le temps libre fait partie du programme
Le temps libre et les choix sont indiqués les jours où ils ont lieu.
En solo, sans pénalité
Une chambre individuelle coûte + CAD 1,150 (prix estimé).
Jour par jour
Itinéraire
Touchez une étape de la carte pour ouvrir ce jourCliquez sur une étape de la carte pour ouvrir ce jour
Arrive in Paris
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to your hotel in central Paris
- Welcome dinner
- Nuit : Paris
- Environ 1 h de route

Fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG).
Soir
A driver meets you in arrivals for the drive into the city, about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, and the rest of the day is yours until the evening. Plan to land by about 3 pm (confirmed with your final itinerary) to settle in before the evening briefing. Your See Sight Tours guide meets the group at the hotel to run through the twelve days: the train days, the early entries and how luggage moves. Then we walk to the Seine and follow the quays as the light goes, past the Pont Royal with the Musée d'Orsay lit on the far bank, where we return on day 3. Dinner is a welcome meal together at a neighbourhood bistro, the first chance to meet over a proper French table.
Compris
- Pick-up at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk along the Seine quays
- Welcome dinner at a Paris bistro
Temps libre : Free until the 6 pm briefing
The Louvre at opening, Montmartre in the afternoon
The Louvre and the Tuileries, then Montmartre
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du midi
- Nuit : Paris
- En train
We walk to the Louvre for a 9 am timed entry, the quietest hour of the museum's day. Your guide takes you to the pieces most people come for, the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo, before the galleries fill, then leaves time to find your own corner of the collection.
Après-midi
We come out through the Tuileries garden and sit down to lunch at a bistro near the Palais-Royal. After lunch we take the metro up to Montmartre and walk its lanes from the bottom of the hill: the Place des Abbesses, the windmills of the Moulin de la Galette, the small Clos Montmartre vineyard and the Place du Tertre with its painters. We finish at the Sacré-Cœur, where the steps look out over the whole city in the late afternoon light.
Soir
The evening is free.
Compris
- The Louvre on a 9 am timed entry with your guide
- Walk through the Tuileries garden
- Sit-down lunch near the Palais-Royal
- Montmartre walk: Abbesses, the Moulin de la Galette, the Clos Montmartre vineyard, the Place du Tertre and the Sacré-Cœur
Option plus facile : Take the Montmartre funicular up from the foot of the Sacré-Cœur instead of walking the lanes uphill.
Option plus active : Climb the Sacré-Cœur dome for the highest view in Montmartre (ticket on site).
Temps libre : Evening free
Activité : About 10 km on foot including the museum, with a steady climb in Montmartre.
The Musée d'Orsay and the Seine to the Trocadéro
The Musée d'Orsay, along the Seine to the Palais Galliera gardens and the Trocadéro
- Petit-déjeuner
- Nuit : Paris

The Musée d'Orsay opens at 9:30 am and we are at the door for it. The former Beaux-Arts railway station holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, and the fifth-floor galleries, with Monet, Renoir, Degas and Van Gogh, are calmest in the first hour. Look out through the great clock face towards the Louvre and the Sacré-Cœur, where you stood yesterday. We then walk west along the Left Bank, cross at the Pont de l'Alma and climb into the quiet garden of the Palais Galliera, the city's fashion museum, before reaching the terraces of the Trocadéro for the classic view across the river to the Eiffel Tower.
Matin
That is where the guided morning ends.
Soir
The afternoon and evening are yours: a Seine boat, the Eiffel Tower, the Marais or a long lunch.
Compris
- The Musée d'Orsay at 9:30 am opening with your guide
- Walk along the Seine to the Pont de l'Alma
- The Palais Galliera garden
- The Trocadéro terraces and the view of the Eiffel Tower
Activités en option
- Eiffel Tower summit (timed ticket, booked through your guide)
- Seine boat cruise from the Pont de l'Alma
Option plus facile : Take a taxi or the metro from the Musée d'Orsay to the Trocadéro and skip the riverside walk.
Option plus active : Walk up the Eiffel Tower stairs to the second floor in the afternoon (ticket on site).
Temps libre : Afternoon and evening free
Activité : About 6 km of flat walking after the museum.
TGV to Avignon
Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon TGV by high-speed train, then into the walled old town
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du midi
- Nuit : Avignon
- Environ 30 min de route

Matin
Our van takes the bags to the Gare de Lyon after breakfast and we board a direct TGV south, about 2 hours 40 minutes through Burgundy and down the Rhône valley, watching the roofs turn from slate to terracotta. The van meets us at Avignon TGV station and runs us into the walled old town in about fifteen minutes, where we stay three nights.
Après-midi
Lunch is at a bistro near Les Halles d'Avignon, the covered market with its green wall of plants. In the afternoon your guide walks the group around the old town to get your bearings: along the Rue de la République, through the garden of the Square Agricol Perdiguier with its ruined Gothic arches, to the Place de l'Horloge, and up to the ramparts that still ring the city.
Soir
The evening is free for a first Provençal dinner on a terrace.
Compris
- TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon TGV, second class reserved seats
- Van transfers at both stations with your luggage
- Sit-down lunch near Les Halles d'Avignon
- Orientation walk of Avignon's old town and ramparts
Temps libre : Evening free
The Palais des Papes and Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Avignon's Palais des Papes and Pont Saint-Bénézet, then Châteauneuf-du-Pape and back
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du midi
- Nuit : Avignon
- Environ 1 h de route
We are at the Palais des Papes when it opens, before the tour groups arrive. For most of the 14th century the popes lived here rather than in Rome, and this is one of the largest Gothic palaces in Europe; the palace, the cathedral and the bridge are listed together by UNESCO as the historic centre of Avignon. Walk the great halls, the papal chambers with their painted walls and the roof terrace, then climb to the Rocher des Doms garden for the view over the Rhône. From there it is a short walk down to the Pont Saint-Bénézet, the half bridge of the song, which stops mid-river.
Après-midi
After lunch in the old town our van drives about 30 minutes north to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the village the popes planted with vines, for a tasting at a family estate among vineyards covered in large round stones. We are back in Avignon by late afternoon.
Compris
- The Palais des Papes at opening with your guide
- The Rocher des Doms garden
- The Pont Saint-Bénézet
- Sit-down lunch in Avignon
- Wine tasting at a family estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Option plus facile : Skip the tasting and stay in Avignon for a free afternoon, with time for the Collection Lambert or the Musée Calvet.
Option plus active : Walk the ruined castle hill above Châteauneuf-du-Pape for the view across the vineyards to Mont Ventoux.
Temps libre : Evening free
Activité : About 3 hours on foot in the morning, with stairs inside the palace.
The Pont du Gard and Roman Nîmes
Avignon to the Pont du Gard, then Nîmes, and back to Avignon
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du midi
- Nuit : Avignon
- Environ 2 h de route

We leave Avignon early so the Pont du Gard, about half an hour away, is still quiet when we walk down to the river. The three tiers of this 1st-century Roman aqueduct bridge stand nearly 50 metres above the Gardon and have been on the UNESCO list since 1985. Walk across, look back from the riverbank and see the museum if you like. Another half hour takes us to Nîmes. The Arena, built in the late 1st century, is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere, and the Maison Carrée, a temple with its columns intact, was added to the UNESCO list in 2023.
Après-midi
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the old town. In the afternoon we walk through the 18th-century Jardins de la Fontaine and up Mont Cavalier to the Roman Tour Magne before driving back to Avignon.
Compris
- The Pont du Gard site early in the morning
- The Arena of Nîmes
- The Maison Carrée
- Sit-down lunch in Nîmes
- The Jardins de la Fontaine and the Tour Magne
Activités en option
- Kayak on the Gardon under the Pont du Gard in the warmer months (priced on site)
Option plus facile : Stay in the Jardins de la Fontaine while the group climbs Mont Cavalier, or return to Avignon after lunch with the van.
Option plus active : Climb the spiral stair inside the Tour Magne for the view over Nîmes.
Temps libre : Evening free in Avignon
Activité : About 6 to 8 km on foot with a short steep climb up Mont Cavalier.
By train to Barcelona
Avignon to Barcelona Sants by train, then the Gothic Quarter
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du midi
- Nuit : Barcelona
- Environ 30 min de route
Matin
After breakfast the van takes us and the bags to Avignon TGV station for the train to Barcelona. The direct Renfe high-speed service takes about four hours, but it runs about once a day and not on every date; when it does not suit our date, we change once at Montpellier or Perpignan, which adds an hour or two. We confirm the train and its times with your final itinerary. The line runs past Nîmes, Montpellier and the lagoons of the Languedoc, then crosses the Pyrenees into Catalonia.
Après-midi
Lunch is a picnic on board that your guide picks up from an Avignon bakery and deli in the morning: bread, cheese, charcuterie and fruit. Our van meets the train at Barcelona Sants and takes us to the hotel, where we stay three nights. In the late afternoon your guide walks the group through the Gothic Quarter, the medieval core of the city, past the cathedral, the Plaça del Rei and the old Jewish quarter, and down to the Born.
Soir
Dinner tonight is your own choice.
Compris
- Train from Avignon TGV to Barcelona Sants, direct where it runs or with one change, reserved seats
- Van transfers at both stations with your luggage
- Picnic lunch on board
- Gothic Quarter walk with your guide
Temps libre : Evening free
Activité : About 4 hours seated on the direct train, or 5 to 6 hours with one change. The exact train and times come with your final itinerary.
The Sagrada Família and the Passeig de Gràcia
The Sagrada Família, then the Passeig de Gràcia
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du midi
- Nuit : Barcelona
- En train
Matin
We take the first entry slot of the day at the Sagrada Família, with a local guide, while the low morning sun lights the stained glass on the east side of the nave. Antoni Gaudí worked on the basilica for over forty years until his death in 1926, and building still goes on. Your guide explains how the forest of columns carries the vaults and how the Nativity and Passion facades tell the story in stone. From there we walk to the Passeig de Gràcia for the Modernista houses along it: Casa Batlló, with its bone-shaped balconies, and Casa Milà, La Pedrera, with its rippling stone front.
Après-midi
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the Eixample, the 19th-century grid of the new city. The afternoon is free: the Picasso Museum, the beach at Barceloneta, or a slow coffee in a square.
Compris
- The Sagrada Família on the first slot of the day with a local guide
- Walk along the Passeig de Gràcia: Casa Batlló and Casa Milà from outside
- Sit-down lunch in the Eixample
Activités en option
- Casa Batlló or Casa Milà interior (timed ticket, booked through your guide)
- Picasso Museum
Temps libre : Afternoon and evening free
Activité : About 5 km on foot in the morning.
Park Güell, Gràcia and a tapas evening
Park Güell, the Gràcia quarter, then La Boqueria and the Born
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du soir
- Nuit : Barcelona
Park Güell runs on timed tickets and we take an early one, before the heat and the crowds, for the Monumental Zone: the mosaic dragon on the stairs, the hall of columns, and the long curving bench on the terrace with the city and the sea below. We walk down through Gràcia, a village swallowed by Barcelona that still keeps its small squares and local shops, and stop for coffee in the Plaça del Sol.
Après-midi
The rest of the day is yours, with lunch where you like.
Soir
In the evening we meet again at La Boqueria market off the Rambla and walk into the Born, past the Gothic church of Santa Maria del Mar, for a tapas dinner together: pa amb tomàquet, croquetes, grilled vegetables and fish, with a glass of cava or vermouth.
Compris
- Park Güell Monumental Zone on an early timed entry
- Walk through the Gràcia quarter
- La Boqueria market and Santa Maria del Mar
- Tapas dinner in the Born
Activités en option
- Montjuïc by cable car
- Palau de la Música Catalana guided visit
Option plus facile : Our van drops you at the upper entrance of Park Güell, so you walk down rather than up.
Option plus active : Walk on from Park Güell up to the Bunkers del Carmel viewpoint for the widest view over Barcelona.
Temps libre : Middle of the day free
Activité : Park Güell is on a steep hillside, with slopes and steps.
A free morning in Barcelona, then the train to San Sebastián
Barcelona Sants to San Sebastián by train, via Zaragoza and Pamplona
- Petit-déjeuner, repas du midi et repas du soir
- Nuit : San Sebastián
- Environ 30 min de route
Today is the longest travel day, and we do it by train rather than on a coach for about 570 km of road.
Matin
The morning is free in Barcelona while the hotel holds the bags. The direct Renfe train to San Sebastián runs about once a day and takes about six and a half hours; published departure times vary, so we confirm the exact time at booking. If it is not running on our date, the plan is to fly Barcelona to Bilbao, about 1 hour 10 minutes, and drive about 100 km to San Sebastián.
Après-midi
Our van takes the bags to Barcelona Sants, and lunch is a picnic from a Barcelona deli, eaten on board. The line crosses the dry Ebro valley to Zaragoza, then climbs through Navarre past Pamplona into the green Basque hills. The van meets us in San Sebastián and we check in for two nights.
Soir
If we arrive in time, your guide walks the group into the Parte Vieja for a pintxos dinner: small plates on the bar, a glass of txakoli, and on to the next bar. On a late arrival, dinner is at a bar near the hotel.
Compris
- Train from Barcelona Sants to San Sebastián, reserved seats (or the flight to Bilbao and the drive, if the train is not running on our date)
- Van transfers at both ends with your luggage
- Picnic lunch on board
- Pintxos dinner in the Parte Vieja with your guide
Temps libre : Morning free in Barcelona
Activité : About 6.5 hours seated on the direct train. The time is confirmed at booking; if the train is not running, we fly to Bilbao and drive about 1 hour 15 minutes.
San Sebastián: the market, Monte Urgull and the bay
La Bretxa market, the Parte Vieja and Monte Urgull, then a free afternoon
- Petit-déjeuner et repas du soir
- Nuit : San Sebastián
We start at La Bretxa market as the stalls fill with Cantabrian anchovies, hake, peppers and sheep's cheese, and your guide explains how a city of under 200,000 people became a byword for eating well. From the old town we take the paths up Monte Urgull, past the old fortifications to the castle and the statue of Christ at the top, with views over La Concha on one side and the open Bay of Biscay on the other.
Après-midi
The afternoon is free for the beach, the Aquarium, the San Telmo Museum or the Zurriola surfers in Gros.
Soir
In the evening we meet for a farewell dinner together, at a cider house in the hills when it is the txotx season (roughly January to April) or at a Basque grill in town the rest of the year.
Compris
- La Bretxa market with your guide
- Walk up Monte Urgull to the castle
- Farewell dinner at a cider house or a Basque grill
Activités en option
- Basque cooking class
- San Telmo Museum
Option plus facile : Ride the funicular up Monte Igueldo at the other end of the bay for the same view without the climb.
Option plus active : Walk the cliff path from the Paseo Nuevo round Monte Urgull before the climb.
Temps libre : Afternoon free
Activité : About 6 km on foot with a steady 30 to 40 minute climb up Monte Urgull.
The Guggenheim and home from Bilbao
San Sebastián to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, then Bilbao Airport
- Petit-déjeuner
- Environ 1.5 h de route
Matin
After breakfast our van drives about an hour and a quarter west along the motorway to Bilbao. We walk into the Guggenheim Museum when it opens at 10 am. Frank Gehry's titanium-clad building, opened in 1997, is as much the reason to come as the collection: walk around the outside past Jeff Koons' flower-covered Puppy and Louise Bourgeois' giant spider Maman, then go in for Richard Serra's huge steel spirals in the long ground-floor gallery. On a Monday outside summer, when the museum is usually closed, we walk the riverside and the Casco Viejo instead. Around 1 pm the van takes you to Bilbao Airport (BIO), about 20 minutes away, and your guide sees you to check-in. Book a flight leaving after about 3:30 pm; for an earlier flight we drive you straight to the airport.
Compris
- Drive from San Sebastián to Bilbao
- The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao at opening
- Drop-off at Bilbao Airport (BIO)
Activité : Book a flight from Bilbao leaving after about 3:30 pm to see the Guggenheim.
- Paris3 nuits
- Avignon3 nuits
- Barcelona3 nuits
- San Sebastián2 nuits
- Bilbaoarrivée
- Étape avec nuitée
- Excursion d'une journée
- En bateau ou en train
Faune et météo : Spring and autumn bring mild days of about 15 to 25 °C. July and August are hot in Avignon and Barcelona and crowded everywhere. The Basque coast is greener and wetter, so pack a light rain jacket in any month.
Vous voulez recevoir ce programme par courriel?
Recevez l'itinéraire jour par jour par courriel, ou posez-nous vos questions sur ce voyage. Un conseiller en voyages vous répond le jour même ou le jour ouvrable suivant.
Avant de réserver
Ce voyage est-il pour vous?
Ce voyage vous convient si vous recherchez
- A first trip to France and Spain that sees the big four places properly
- Travellers who prefer trains to long coach days
- Art and architecture: the Louvre, the Orsay, Gaudí and the Guggenheim
- Food lovers: Provençal markets, tapas and pintxos
- A mix of guided mornings and free afternoons
Ce voyage ne vous convient pas si vous recherchez
- Travellers who want the Loire, Normandy or the Riviera (see our other France trips)
- Step-free access: cobbled old towns, hills and stairs every day
- A lavender-field or beach holiday
- Travellers who want to see Madrid or Andalusia on the same trip
Réservez vos vols une fois votre place confirmée.
11 nuits
Où vous logerez
Vos hôtels sont nommés dans la confirmation de votre voyage.
- Paris3 nuits
- Avignon3 nuits
- Barcelona3 nuits
- San Sebastián2 nuits
Un seul prix
Ce que le prix comprend
Compris
Hébergement
- 11 nights in central hotels of 3-star-plus standard: 3 in Paris, 3 inside the walls of Avignon, 3 in Barcelona, 2 in San Sebastián
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- We name each hotel when we confirm your dates
Transport
- Pick-up at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and drop-off at Bilbao Airport (BIO)
- Trains with reserved seats: the TGV from Paris to Avignon, Avignon to Barcelona (direct where it runs, or with one change) and Barcelona to San Sebastián (or a flight to Bilbao and the drive, if that train is not running on our date)
- Our van and driver at every station, with your luggage carried between station and hotel
- Our van for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Pont du Gard and Nîmes days and the drive to Bilbao
- Metro and local transport on the city days
Votre guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip
- Local licensed guides where sites require them, including the Sagrada Família
Activités
- Paris: the Louvre on a timed entry, the Musée d'Orsay, Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur, the Seine walk to the Trocadéro
- Avignon: the Palais des Papes, the Pont Saint-Bénézet, the Rocher des Doms and an old-town walk
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape: a wine tasting at a family estate
- The Pont du Gard
- Nîmes: the Arena, the Maison Carrée, the Jardins de la Fontaine and the Tour Magne
- Barcelona: the Sagrada Família with a local guide, Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter, the Passeig de Gràcia, Gràcia and La Boqueria
- San Sebastián: La Bretxa market, the Parte Vieja and Monte Urgull
- Bilbao: the Guggenheim Museum
Repas
- 11 breakfasts
- 7 lunches, including picnics on the two long train days
- 4 dinners: a welcome dinner in Paris, tapas in Barcelona, pintxos in San Sebastián and a farewell dinner
Non compris
- International flights to Paris and from Bilbao
- Travel insurance
- ETIAS travel authorisation, if it applies to your dates
- Meals not listed
- Drinks other than those with the included meals and the wine tasting
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Optional activities, such as the Eiffel Tower summit, Seine cruises and the Casa Batlló interior
- Personal expenses
Suppléments
- Chambre individuelle
- CAD 1,150 (prix estimé)
Quand partir
Dates et prix
Choisissez votre date de départ au moment de votre demande de réservation. Nous vérifions cette date et la confirmons dans votre devis.
Vous préférez voyager sans groupe ni guide? Demandez-nous d'organiser vos hôtels, vos transports et vos visites de ville pour voyager en autonomie.
Avant de réserver
Conditions de réservation
Rien n'est facturé maintenant. Les conditions complètes et le barème d'annulation accompagnent votre devis, avant que vous acceptiez.
Adresses de l'entreprise
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Avis des voyageurs
Ce que disent nos voyageurs
Avis de voyageurs ayant participé à nos visites d'une journée.
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Bon à savoir
Questions
What does the price include?
Eleven nights in central hotels, 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners, airport transfers at both ends, all three long-distance trains with reserved seats, our van at every station with your luggage, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, local guides where sites need them, and every entry in the day plan, from the Louvre to the Sagrada Família and the Guggenheim.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That is small enough to fit one carriage on the train and one table at lunch, and to hear your guide inside the Louvre or the Sagrada Família. Some big-brand trips in France and Spain run with 16 to 18 travellers.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group for all twelve days, on every train and every walk. At sites where local rules or the depth of the visit call for it, such as the Sagrada Família, a licensed local guide joins us. Our own van and driver meet every train and airport.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. City days mean about 8 to 12 km on foot with cobbles, stairs and some hills, such as Montmartre, Park Güell and Monte Urgull. Every climb has an easier choice, like the Montmartre funicular or the Monte Igueldo funicular, and you can skip any afternoon walk and rest at the hotel.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own costs from CAD 1,150 more for the whole trip, and that price is shown before you book, with no surprise at the end. Solo travellers join the same group, tables and activities as everyone else, and our hotels are chosen with proper single rooms, not box rooms.
When is the best time to go?
April to June and September to October. Days are mild, the museums are calmer than in summer and the Basque coast is at its greenest. July and August are hot in Avignon and Barcelona and crowded everywhere. Lavender in Provence blooms from late June into July, an hour or more from our Avignon base.
How does booking work?
Choose a date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 6,795 per person sharing a room, taxes included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle, from CAD 12,230 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote hotels, trains and transfers for you.
Do I need a visa for France and Spain?
Canadian, US, UK and Australian passport holders visit France and Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days, as both are in the Schengen area. The EU's ETIAS travel authorisation is planned but has no confirmed start date; we tell you at booking if it applies to your dates.
Why trains and not a coach between France and Spain?
Because each long leg is 470 to 690 km by road, well past our four-hour daily driving cap. Paris to Avignon, Avignon to Barcelona and Barcelona to San Sebastián go by train instead, which is smoother and lets you walk about. Our van meets each train and moves the bags, so you only lift your case onto the rack.
Will we see lavender in Provence?
Not as a planned stop. The lavender fields bloom from late June into July, mostly on the Valensole plateau and around Sault and the Luberon, an hour or more from Avignon. On late June and July departures, skip the day 5 wine tasting (the easy option) and your guide can help you arrange a lavender trip that afternoon, priced on the day.