Itinerary – Provence

We’ll meet in the beautiful city of Arles, France in Provence during the best time of the year – the first weeks of the famous Rencontres d’Arles photography festival. It’s almost impossible to get a place to stay here during this time but not if you join this tour!  Many travelers begin or end their stay in France with a few days in Paris then take the fast train (TGV) to Provence. You may also fly directly to various towns in Southern France.  These include Nice, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille which are also interesting destinations that you may want to explore before or after our workshop. Yolande at Enchanted France, our travel specialist, will aid you in all your travel plans when booking this workshop and can provide related ideas and itineraries.

Monday DAY ONE

• Meet in Arles, France at our hotel by 6pm
• Check into 3star hotel (tba) in Arles, France (yes, there’s a swimming pool) – upgrade to 5 star available for supplement.
• Group welcome dinner included

Tuesday DAY TWO

• Meet for breakfast and our itinerary
• Walking tour of Arles, France with our cameras for location scouting including Les Arenes and Cathedral St. Trophime.
• Lunch on our own (usually the group prefers to eat together – your choice)
• Recontres d’Arles Photo Festival Festivities and tours led by Erika with the group
• Dinner on our own (usually the group prefers to eat together – your choice)
• Evening optional editing and feedback session on images

Old train station, Arles, France.

Wednesday DAY THREE

• Meet for breakfast and our itinerary
• Photograph the Boulevard des Lices’ Farmers Market and gather up picnic items for our lunch
• Excursion #1: 4:30pm-10:00pm+
  Depart in the afternoon for a day in the beautiful area of Uzès, photographing ancient ramparts, sunflowers and the late night sunset over the famous Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard.
• Picnic dinner on location with items we’ve gathered in the morning
• Late evening: optional editing and feedback session on images

Thursday DAY FOUR

• Meet for breakfast and our itinerary
• Excursion #3 Early departure (7:30am-2pm): Camargue
  
• Visit a traditional “Mas” where we will see bulls, white horses and hopefully cowboys at work.
• Visit Salin de Giraud -the famous salt flats and keeping our eyes out for flamingos.
• Drive to the medieval fortified town of Aigues-Mortes for lunch and a walk on the old ramparts.
• Lunch on location (included)
• Evening: Optional editing and feedback session on images
• Optional: Attend a concert in the Ancient theatre.

Lavendar fields in the Luberon

Friday DAY FIVE

• Excursion #2, Early departure:
  Early departure to catch the sunrise over Gordes via hot air balloon (optional).
• Excursion to Gordes, Abbaye de Sénanqueand, Roussillon village (if time) and Lavendar fields, Luberon, Provence.
• Lunch on location with the group
• Return by 2pm
• Siesta and Optional editing and feedback session on images
• 5:15 Course Camargue aux Arenes – “Bull Games” (optional $15)
• Dinner on our own (usually the group prefers to eat together – your choice)

Saturday DAY SIX

• Meet for breakfast and our itinerary
• EARLY: Shop the large and lovely Arles market for our picnic lunch items
• Excursion #3: 11:00am, Full day excursion
  Photograph the famous hospital of Vangogh and the picturesque town of St. Remy de Provence where we’ll enjoy a walk, coffee, ice cream and shade.
• Cool down in the Carrières de Lumières  – a drilled quarry on which large images are projected, photograph the grand spectacle.
• 5:30 pm Tour and climb Montmajour Abbey for a lovely arial view as the light goes down, see photography festival exhibitions.
• Lunch and Dinner on our own (usually the group prefers to eat together – your choice)
• Evening: Optional editing and feedback session on images
• See and Photograph Bastille day (Fete du Nationale) festivities and fireworks

Sunday DAY SEVEN

Sunset over the sunflower fields.

• Free day in Arles
• Work on editing final slideshow
• Farewell dinner included

Monday  LAST DAY

• After breakfast – our tour ends.
• Optional wine tasting day with our guide (supplemental price of $150 include addt night stay- depart 10am)
• Many students choose to extend their stay in Arles to see remaining exhibits or continue to have stays in other areas of Provence or Paris. Myself & Yolande our travel specialist can help make recommendations. Suggestions:
  •  Enjoy the morning at Les Alycamps
  • Recontres d’Arles exhibitions
  • Visit Foundation Vincent Vangogh

*Itinerary subject to modifications as needed including weather and unforeseen closures.

Additional photographic stop recommendations on your own en route to or from Paris:

• Visit the Maison de Nicéphore Niepce Saint-Loup de Varennes as well as the Musée Nicéphore Niepce in Chalon-sur-Saône.
• Explore the charming village of Chalon-sur-Saône with your camera
• Travel by train and stop and photograph the beautiful, fortified city of Avignon, France including the medieval Pope’s Palace and St. Benezet Bridge

Inclusions

• Expert Instruction and critiques by your leader, Erika Gentry and local expert guides and speakers
• 7 nights hotel in three star hotel near Arles city center
• 3 days of guided tour with guide by minibus (Mercedes van):
  • Full day tour of the Alpilles -Abbaye de Montmajour, St. Remy de Provence and Carriers de Lumiere, Abbey de Montmajour
  • SUNSET: Sunflower fields, Ancient Ramparts, Pont du Gard, if time Uzès or surrounding villages
  • SUNRISE: Full day visit Gordes with hot air balloon ride, Roussilon and Perched villages and Abbaye de Senanque (if surrounded by lavender fields), Ochre path (4:00am – 2:00pm)
• Walking tour of Arles (4 hours)
• Arles monument pass; entries fees to Montmajour Abbey, Carriers de Lumiere, and Recontres d’Arles Photography Festival (day exhibits only) and St. Remy Hospital.
• Two formal dinners as indicated on the itinerary
• All breakfasts