The Essence of Provence

April 16-22, 2026

We are delighted to return to Provence with a new itinerary for 2026. Join us on this tour of our favorite provencal experiences: strolling hill top towns, hunting for treasures at antique markets, enjoying leisurely lunches, visiting a local pottery studio, and much more. Our hotels are located in charming walkable towns full of shops and restaurants.

DETAILS

Double Occupancy (2 people in 1 room): $5,900 per person

Single Occupancy (1 person in 1 room): $7,200 per person

Dates: Tour begins the afternoon of April 16th. You can depart anytime on April 22nd. Please see below for information on travel logistics.

Length: 6 nights

Group Size: Maximum 12

Tour Themes: Art. Antiques. Gardens. Food.

To Sign Up, please fill out the following form or contact laura@wingbacktravel.com. A deposit of $2,000 per person and a signed Terms & Conditions are both required to secure your place. Your spot is not reserved until these are received.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • ANTIQUE MARKETS

    Hunting for treasures at the markets is Provencal past time. Whether you are shopping or just strolling, market day is a quintessential experience. This tour visits Provence’s top two antique markets with Laura and Ross at your side to assist with translation.

  • LEISURELY LUNCHES

    A leisurely lunch combines many of things we love about Provence: the food and wine, but also the scenery and landscape. We select restaurants not only for the quality of food, but also for their atmosphere and location. After a morning sightseeing or shopping, nothing is better than a relaxing lunch!

  • CHARMING VILLAGES

    We are fortunate enough to stay in two charming towns during this tour (Arles and Lourmarin) and you will have plenty of time to explore both. We will also visit several hill top towns with spectacular views and local shops.

ITINERARY

Subject to change.

Thursday, April 16

  • This afternoon we will meet at our centrally-located hotel in the town of Arles. After settling in, Laura will lead a walking tour of the historic city center and then we will enjoy dinner together tonight at our hotel.

Friday, April 17

  • This morning Laura will guide us through Arles’s most important sights: the serene Cloister of St. Trophimeand the ancient Roman city center. After this historical immersion, we will enjoy a leisurely lunch at the Chateau d’Estoublon, a winery and olive-oil producing estate with a fabulous shop.

Saturday, April 18

  • This morning we hunt for treasures at our favorite antique market in Provence. Afterwards, we venture into the charming town and visit the Abbaye St. Andre. Our charming guide will take us inside the sumptuous palace (usually closed to the public) and the lush gardens. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy lunch together at the abbey. It’s a short ride back to Arles and you will have the afternoon free.

Sunday, April 19

  • This morning we check out of our hotel and make our way to the Luberon, one of the most beautiful parts of Provence. But first, we spend the morning at the market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Known as the antiques-center of Provence, the town itself is full of charm and you can also visit the food market. Visit the spectacularly located Senanque Abbey before settling into to our hotel for the next three nights.

Monday, April 20

  • Today we delve deeply into the Luberon village. First, we meet a talented artisan who is one of the last producers of terre melee pottery. With our shopping bags full, we head to the hill top town of Saignon where we enjoy lunch with never ending views. In the afternoon, enjoying a wine tasting at a nearby rose winery.

Tuesday, April 21

  • Today we make the most of our last day in Provence. We begin with a special visit to a private garden followed by lunch in the idyllic village of Cucuron.

Wednesday, April 22

  • Our tour officially ends this morning and you can depart anytime today. We can arrange a transfer to the Marseille airport (1 hour) or to the Avignon TGV train station (1 hour).

FAQs

  • This is a slower-paced tour with leisurely lunches and leisurely sightseeing. This tour takes you to the quintessential Provencal spots: the region’s best antique markets, lunches at wineries, visits to several charming hill top towns. We also explore several historical sights and a visit a local artisan’s studio.

    Travelers on this tour will have several afternoons to explore the towns we are staying in. We are typically together in the morning and at lunch, returning to our hotel in the early afternoon.

    While this is a slower paced tour, travelers should be comfortable staying on their feet for 1-2 hours at a time and to walking over uneven terrain.

    • 6 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels.

    • Two full-time expert guides: Laura, an art historian, and Ross, an antiques expert

    • Private transportation by minibus.

    • All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

    • Admission and private guide fees at all included sites.

    • Exclusive visit to a terre melee studio

    • Assistance with buying and translation at antiques markets.

    • Airfare

    • Travel Insurance. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.

    • Any meals or activities not listed on the itinerary.

    • A tip to our driver

    • There are two easy ways to travel to Provence: you can take the high-speed from Paris or you can fly to Marseille (with a layover in Paris).

    • If you can lift your own suitcase, we recommend flying into Paris a few days before the tour starts and then taking the train to Provence on April 16th.

    • If you cannot lift your suitcase, you should fly in and out of the Marseille airport for this trip.

    • We recommend flying out of the Marseille airport on departure day.

      Whatever you choose, we can arrange private transfers to and from the Marseille airport and the Avignon-TGV train station at an additional cost.

    • One suitcase! Each traveler is permitted one suitcase measuring no more than 26 × 18 × 12 inches.

    • We are offering a group transfer from Paris to Arles on the day the tour begins. You will meet Laura and Ross at Paris’s Gare de Lyon train station the morning of April 16th and take the high-speed train to Provence. The train is a quick and comfortable 2.5 hours and there is a restaurant car with food and beverages (and wine!). On arrival, our driver will meet us at the train station to take us to our hotel in Arles.

    • Additional cost. Includes First Class train ticket and private transfer to Arles.

    • **To take the train you MUST be able to lift your luggage on and off the train, without assistance, in one go.