IMPORTANT NEWS!
We no longer offer the 7 day South of France tour.
Our customers like the 9 day tour better.
Why only stay 7 days when you could stay 9 days!
Check out here our 9 day South of France tour HERE

7 Day South of France Tour

Provence & Occitanie Like a Local

"Touring Southern France like a local" is s much more than just a historical tour through France, it is a cultural experience, the trip of a lifetime! Sipping a coffee at a little café with freshly baked sweets in a peaceful medieval town. Looking out towards the mountains while walking along the ramparts of a magnificent castle with walls around its city 3 miles long. Sharing a delicious French meal with your tour guides and traveling companions. [popuppress id="2698"] Visiting some of the best vineyards in Southern France for a taste of their wine and touring their Chateaus. Wandering through town and discovering the city square, seeing the stately monuments and religious architecture. Exploring hidden shops in windy medieval streets of a little Provence village, perusing the French markets, and taking a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. We got rid of all the boring stuff like tourist traps, long bus rides, and big crowds so you can spend more time relaxing and experiencing the French culture, hassle-free!

WATCH: Discover some of the amazing sites in our tour video!

What's On The Tour?

See Below All The Places Included in The Tour

Starting & End Point: Montpellier Airport or Train Station
(Need help to figure how to get to Montpellier?
Email us at tripusafrance@gmail.com and we will help you find the best flight)

Carcassonne Fortified City

This magnificent city with its fortress and its castle will take your breath away. The citadel derives its reputation from

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its massive walls spanning 1.9 miles and 52 defensive towers overlooking the rest of the city. It was designated as a World heritage site by UNESCO (in 1997) and also served as a filming location for the movie Robin Hood. The church hidden behind these glorious walls was blessed in 1096 by Pope Urban II. The building combines both Gothic and Roman styles which makes it unique. It also holds splendid stained glasses.

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Les Baux de Provence

This Provencal village in the middle of Alpilles regional country park is officially classified as "one of the most beautiful

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villages of France". Its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments". (The castle at the top, the church, the houses, the town-hall and more) The landscape and the beauty of the village will take your breath away. Come with us to Provence!

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St-Paul-de-Mausole & Van Gogh

The marvelously preserved Saint Paul de Mausole monastary was built in the 11th century and is well known for being

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a sanctuary for Vincent Van Gogh in his
troubled time and its beautiful architecture of the Provençal Romansque style. The natural surroundings and the monastery complement each other's beauty to create a peaceful and inspiring sanctuary. It is here where Van Gogh recovered from his mental illness which caused him to cut off his ear and was inspired to create several famous works of art during his stay. Near his room by the cloister's walk, an art therapy workshop has been created by the association Valetudo which brings together art, research and treatment. From the top of the stairs you can see the wheat field that Van Gogh contemplated and painted during his year of confinement in the men's pavilion.

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Pont du Gard

Registered as a UNESCO world heritage as well, the Pont du Gard is a masterpiece of ancient architecture. The major arch

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gap (25 meters) is one of the greatest of the Roman world. The magnificence of this site is the remembrance of the powerful Roman empire.

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Avignon

One of the most beautiful cities of France, located in Provence, Avignon preserved its history exceptionally well which is why so

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much of it is registered on the UNESCO world heritage. The Popes' Palace (1252) and the Bridge of Avignon (XII), but also the square of the palace with the baroque facade of the hotel of currencies, the museum of the Petit Palais and the cathedral of Doms, as well as the ramparts and the garden of Doms are all listed.

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St Guilhem le Desert

Old houses with roof tiles baked by the Languedoc sun for twelve centuries and ancient alleyways. See traces of the past in their

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architecture. Built around the Abbey of Gellone, the village has kept its impressive medieval imprint and constitutes a rare, harmonious site in Languedoc. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France and today its abbey is registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

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Les Carrières de Lumières

One of the highlights of our tour, the Carrières Lumières is an art venue set in an old quarry that displays spectacular art .

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shows with music and images of famous paintings displayed on the walls. The 2018 exhibition features the works of Picasso, the prolific artist that spent most of his adult life in France

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Palavas-les-Flots & The Mediterrean

An other great reason to come to Southern France is for the sea and its seafood. Your hotel is located at the beach for you to

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enjoy it the best way. Morning strolls, swimming, tanning or even enjoy the different water activities that offer Palavas: Jet-skiing, boat ride, Paddle Board.. Or you can simply enjoy the beauty of the beach while eating an ice cream and walking barefoot in the sand! This is what makes our tour a real vacation: your hotel for 7 days at the beach. Book you spot today on our tour: "Touring Southern France Like a Local" !

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Maguelone's Cathedral

"The Cathedral by the sea." Located in a wonderful site hidden between the beach, vines and ponds in an isolated area

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on the coast. Between the 12th and 13th century in the height of its importance, the Cathedral served as a haven for several expelled Popes of Rome.

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Nimes

This authentic Southern city holds the finest collection of Roman architecture including a magnificent 2000 year old amphitheater,

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the most well-preserved Roman temple in the world and more. Apart from its Roman heritage, Nimes is worth visiting for its attractive city center and its fantastic garden, Jardin de la Fontaine, which has water flowing through the park and statues guarding since 1745. See our blog post here for the story of the Romans and the Gauls.

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Montpellier

One of the most vibrant, energetic, and cultural cities in France. The capital of Languedoc-Roussillon knows

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how to adapts to the times,by adding fresh styles of architecture and design while retaining the buildings of the past. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, monuments, and things to see here on our list to visit. You will fall in love with one of the fastest growing city of France. Read more about Montpellier here.

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Aigues Mortes

A location with over 1200 years of history. Tall fortified walls and marsh surrounding this city defended it during the Middle

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Ages. Just outside the walls is where salt production still takes place where it has been going on since the 13th century. The 7th and 8th crusades were launched from its port, ordered by King Louis the IX. The city and walls still stand looking almost exactly as it did during those times. A wonderful place to visit, walk around, and shop. One of the nicest spots of Provence.

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Chateau Jonquières & Wine Tasting

One of the highlights on the tour, the visit at Chateau Jonquières is very fun and educational due to the hospitality and

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passion of Charlotte, the current vintner of the estate. The estate has been in Charlotte's family for centuries and is well known in the region. During our visit we will follow her around to learn the process of wine making in the Occitanie region. After the very interesting tour of her artisanal winery you will enjoy a delicious wine tasting and learn the technique of tasting wine properly!

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Chateau Flaugergues & Wine Tasting

Discover one of the most famous wineries of the Occitanie region. The estate is hidden in downtown area of Montpellier

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and was built for a wealthy aristocrat during the 17th century. Our visit includes a tour of the beautiful mansion and garden and a tasting of the fabulous wine produced on site!

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Cathedral St Pierre

A treasured piece of gothic architecture and important religious site in the heart of Montpellier, this church looks almost like

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a medieval fortress with two towers overhung by an imposing porch. It was commissioned by Pope Urban V in the late 14th century and became a cathedral in the 16th century when the archbishop was transferred from Maguelone in Montpellier.

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Our Famous French Picnic

Often described as the most fun part of the tour, our gourmet traditional French picnic catered by Julia's mother Cathy provides

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an opportunity to try some traditional French food as well as meet some of the locals, as we invite our French friends and family to attend the picnic! Finish this fun experience by learning how to play Pétanque, the traditional French game played all around the South of France. After that you can definitely say that you are a true local!

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French Cooking Class

Learn some tricks and recipes that you can easily reproduce at home to impress your guests! The cooking class is always a fun

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time that allows you to immerse even more in the French culture. When traveling, learning about the culture and the traditions is also part of the discovery. Food has an important place in everyday French life. During this cooking class you will get to become a French chef for a day and understand the real meaning of food to the French.

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French Market

The French market is also a great place where you can immerse yourself with the locals. Wander around and buy some fresh

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fruits and street food or simply watch the locals do their weekly grocery shopping. There are also artisans on site selling their goods so you may find a couple of souvenirs! You will have some free time to explore the French market across from your hotel on Friday morning, as well as exploring "Les Halles" during your visit of Montpellier. "Les Halles" is the name for an indoor food market which is a staple of every big city in France and is a must visit for any tourist.

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> See the day by day itinerary schedule

Want To Stay More Than 7 Days?

Make it a 9 day tour for an extra $700. You will discover Arles and the life of Van Gogh, a Marseille soap factory, a visit to Aix-en-Provence as well as the fabulous Hotel de Caumont Art Center

Arles & Van Gogh

Historical Soap Factory

Aix-en-Provence

One Home Base Hotel For 7 Nights

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You will spend 7 nights in Palavas-les-Flots, the oldest French beach town where the French started to come on vacation since 1850. Palavas will be your home town for a week. You hotel located across from the Mediterranean sea will be the best place to relax after a nice day trip to one of the prestigious sites presented to you above. The beach town offers great activities that you can experience during your free time during the day or the night such as shopping, bars, restaurants, the casino, the beach, water sports, boat rides, mini golf, gorgeous parks, farmer market, the fair, concerts, fireworks etc... We selected the best hotel in town by the beach to enjoy your trip the best way possible. No need to pack and unpack everyday, that's definitely a true vacation!

Hotel Les Coquilles, Palavas-lès-Flots

[icon name="expand" class="fa"] Spacious Rooms: 200 sq/ft
[icon name="houzz" class="fa"] Renovated, Modern
[icon name="bed" class="fa"] Comfortable Beds
[icon name="coffee" class="fa"] Delicious French Breakfast
[icon name="snowflake-o" class="fa"] Air Conditioner

[icon name="wifi" class="fa"] WiFi
[icon name="sun-o" class="fa"] Across From The Beach
[icon name="eye" class="fa"] Sea view + Balcony (Extra)
[icon name="map-marker" class="fa"] Downtown
[icon name="glass" class="fa"] Wine Shop in The Lobby
[icon name="commenting-o" class="fa"] Rated 9.5/10 On Booking.com

french_vacation_adult_tour_hotel_beach-5

Hotel Les Coquilles, Palavas-lès-Flots

[icon name="expand" class="fa"] Spacious Rooms: 200 sq/ft
[icon name="houzz" class="fa"] Renovated, Modern
[icon name="bed" class="fa"] Comfortable Beds
[icon name="coffee" class="fa"] Delicious French Breakfast
[icon name="snowflake-o" class="fa"] Air Conditioner
[icon name="wifi" class="fa"] WiFi
[icon name="sun-o" class="fa"] Across From The Beach
[icon name="eye" class="fa"] Sea view + Balcony (Extra)
[icon name="map-marker" class="fa"] Downtown
[icon name="glass" class="fa"] Wine Shop in The Lobby
[icon name="commenting-o" class="fa"] Rated 9.5/10 On Booking.com

What's included

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Rated 5/5 Tour By Our Previous Travelers

Debra T. June 2017

"This was the first time my husband and I had travelled to France. We could not have been in better hands. We felt like we were treated as family friends, with accommodations fit for royalty. We saw so many wonderful places [...] We also saw local citizens of Palavas jousting from hand-rowed boats in the canal - amazing! Add in the chance to meet wonderful people at a picnic on the beach and at a cooking lesson (paella-yum!) in a private home - what more could we ask for?"

Kathy L. September 2016

"Julia and Stephane are delightful and very accommodating to the needs and interests of the group. The sights in southern France are varied and unique to the area. I loved eating at places frequented by the locals and the picnic lunch catered by Julia's mom at the beach was beautiful and delicious. Accommodations at the beach were fabulous, as were the authentic breakfasts provided by the hotel. We saw so much--from walled cities to medieval castles to rides on Montpellier's trolleys. Much better than fighting tourists in Paris. Wonderful vacation with a creative and energetic tour company. Thanks, Julia and Stephan!"

Mike H. July 2017

"TripUSAFrance, it is hands down THE BEST tour guide service that I have ever used in my life, very unique, very personalized [...] They are very passionate about sharing the food, wine, culture, history, language of France with their guests, you will actually feel like you are seeing France through the eyes of a French person. [...] You will be bragging for months to all of your friends back home about what a totally awesome trip you had."

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