Final-year school trip to Provence and the French Riviera: Avignon, the Pont du Gard, Arles, Marseille, the Calanques, Nice and Monaco (9 days)

Day 1: Departure from your school and overnight stop in Burgundy

• Departure from your school early in the morning, at the time agreed with you.
• Daytime drive via Luxembourg and Lorraine (about 550 to 650 km depending on your school, 6 h 30 to 7 h 30 of driving excluding breaks).
• Our drivers drive for a maximum of 3 hours, then take a 30-minute break, day and night.
• Free lunch during a motorway break.
• Arrival in the late afternoon in the Beaune area: check-in at the hotel for the overnight stop, dinner and quiet evening.

Day 2: The Rhône valley and Avignon

• Departure after breakfast through the Rhône valley (about 400 km, 4 h 30 excluding breaks).
• Free lunch during a break on the way, arrival in Avignon in the early afternoon.
• Visit to the Palace of the Popes, the largest Gothic palace in the world, and the Pont Saint-Bénezet, the famous “Pont d’Avignon” (on request).
• Walk up to the Rocher des Doms garden and its view over the Rhône and Mont Ventoux.
• Check-in at the accommodation in or near Avignon for two nights, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 3: The Pont du Gard and Roman Arles

• Drive to the Pont du Gard (about 25 km) and visit to the site of the Roman aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (on request).
• Drive to Arles (about 1 hour) and free lunch on the Place du Forum.
• Visit to the amphitheatre and the ancient theatre of Arles (on request).
• Walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh, from the Espace Van Gogh to the banks of the Rhône, then return to Avignon.
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 4: Marseille, from the Old Port to the “Bonne Mère”

• Check-out after breakfast and drive to Marseille (about 100 km, 1 h 15).
• Climb to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, the “Bonne Mère”, and its panorama over the city, the harbour and the Frioul islands.
• Free lunch, then a walk around the Old Port and through Le Panier, the oldest district in the city.
• Walk across the footbridges and gardens of Fort Saint-Jean (free access) and visit to the MuCEM, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (on request).
• Check-in at the accommodation in or near Marseille for two nights, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 5: Calanques cruise and Cassis

• Boat cruise from the Old Port along the Calanques National Park: white limestone cliffs, coves and turquoise waters.
• Free lunch, then drive to Cassis (about 45 min).
• Walk around the colourful fishing port at the foot of Cap Canaille and supervised free time on the beach.
• Return to Marseille, dinner and last supervised evening in Marseille.

Day 6: Cannes and arrival in Nice

• Check-out after breakfast and drive to the Riviera (about 180 km, 2 hours).
• Stop in Cannes: the Croisette, the steps of the Palais des Festivals and the old town of Le Suquet; free lunch.
• Drive to Nice (about 35 km) and a walk along the Promenade des Anglais.
• Check-in at the accommodation in or near Nice for two nights, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 7: Old Nice and Monaco

• The Cours Saleya market and the lanes of Old Nice, then a climb up Castle Hill for the view over the Baie des Anges (free access).
• Free lunch, then drive to Monaco (about 20 km, 40 min) along the coast.
• The Rock: the Prince’s Palace square, the cathedral and the Saint-Martin gardens.
• Visit to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, perched above the sea (on request), then a stop at the Monte-Carlo Casino square.
• Return to Nice, dinner and last supervised evening on the Riviera.

Day 8: Drive to the overnight stop near Lyon

• Departure after breakfast, around 8 am.
• Daytime drive through Provence and the Rhône valley (about 470 km, 5 h 30 excluding breaks).
• Free lunch during a break on the way.
• Arrival in the late afternoon in the Lyon area: check-in at the hotel for the overnight stop, dinner and quiet evening.

Day 9: Return to your school

• Departure after breakfast.
• Daytime drive to Belgium (about 650 to 750 km) with regular breaks.
• Free lunch during a break on the way.
• Arrival at your school in the evening.