16 days in France: a luxury self-drive trip

Nice - Aix En Provence

Day 1: Welcome to France!

Arrive at the airport in Nice and pick up your rental car. You'll be provided a GPS with as many destinations as possible programmed in it - especially your arrival and departure destinations each day. Depending on cost and convenience, the GPS will be delivered to your home, the car rental agency, or your first hotel.

Hit the road and self-drive to Aix-en-Provence, with great coastal views out your left window. Check into your hotel on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence and take some time to rest up - don’t snack too much, as tonight you will have dinner at your hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Saint-Estève.

Aix En Provence - Carcassonne

Day 2: A wine tasting adventure awaits

After breakfast, make your way to nearby Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade for a day of wine pursuits at Château La Coste - an estate where wine, art and architecture live  beautifully in harmony.

Begin there with a relaxed, self-guided art and architecture walk: wander at your leisure through wooded hilltops and valleys, past olive groves and vineyards, discovering the many installations of contemporary art on your way. Then, settle down to enjoy a wine tasting experience.

Next you'll drive to the sleepy, picture-book medieval city of Carcassonne and check into your hotel. Prepare for tonight's fabulous, six-course dinner at restaurant La Barbacane (drinks not included).

Carcassonne - Condom

Day 3: Visit the lovely heart of Carcassonne

Today, a local guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for a private walking tour of the old city of Carcassonne.

This two-hour tour, personalized to your own schedule and rhythm, will cover all the main sights: discover the castle and ramparts at the heart of the medieval city, explore the Saint Michael of Carcassonne cathedral and the Basilica of Saint Nazaire, and visit Porte Narbonnaise.

Later in the evening, dinner will be taken at your hotel, in a convivial atmosphere with the property owners and other guests.

Condom - Sarlat

Day 4: Drive to stunning Sarlat

After breakfast, leave Carcassonne behind and drive north to the medieval town of Sarlat. Check into your hotel and drop your bags, before spending the afternoon at your own pace, discovering the picturesque tangle of honey-hued buildings, alleyways, and secret squares. Sarlat's charms come out on market days, especially. As you explore, you'll soon find out why this town is on France's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Sarlat

Day 5: Explore the Lascaux caves of Sarlat

After breakfast, make your way to a meeting point in central Sarlat for a trip to the Lascaux 4 International Center of Cave Art, where you will start your full-day tour.

Begin at Les Eyzies de Tayac, where the first five Cro-Magnon skeletons were discovered in 1868. Then, continue to Montignac-Lascaux to visit the famous Lascaux IV Cave: a perfect reproduction of the original cave and its cave art, Lascaux IV opened in 2016 as a unique triumph of technology in the world.

You'll end your tour at Rouffignac Cave, to see original etchings and drawings, before spending the evening either relaxing at your hotel or exploring the draws of Sarlat.

Sarlat - Bourdeilles

Day 6: More cave art & village discoveries

After breakfast, make your way to the meeting point in central Sarlat for a full-day small group tour, uncovering more cave art and wonderful villages.

First, head towards the fascinating cave of Perch Merle to marvel at authentic cave drawings, paintings, and etchings. Then, depart for Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France, and spend a while there amidst its unique charms.

The tour continues on to Cahors to admire the magnificent medieval fortified Pont Valentré over the river Lot. At the end of the excursion, you'll pick up your car and bags from the hotel and drive to your next destination: the lovely village of Bourdeilles.

Bourdeilles

Day 7: Visit the markets of Bourdeilles

Spend the day at your own pace, organizing your itinerary as you see fit. You could set out on a leisurely stroll to explore Bourdeilles, or perhaps choose to spend time getting to know Périgueux, the best market town in the Dordogne region.

Bourdeilles - Brantome

Day 8: Drive to gorgeous Brantôme

After breakfast, pack up and drive on to Brantôme, to start exploring one of the most beautiful towns in the region. It sits on a small island on a bend in the river Dronne, with five medieval bridges and romantic riverfront architecture, thus earning its tagline ‘Venice of the Périgord’.

Its impressive abbey is built into a mainland cliff face, and it’s surrounded by parks and willow-filled woodlands, making this town an enchanting spot to while away an afternoon or embark on a boat ride. Later in the evening, you will tuck into a seven-course dinner at your hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant.

Brantome

Day 9: Spend a leisurely day in Brantôme

Today you’ll have free time to explore in and around Brantôme. Take the time to relax at your own pace, or book tours or a private guide to help you dive a little deeper.

Brantome - Roquemador

Day 10: Get your fill of history in Rocamadour

After breakfast, hit the road to the southeast, driving on to Rocamadour - a clifftop village filled with history and character. Check into your accommodation, a luxurious retreat offering an unforgettable stay in this legendary village. Then, set out on foot to explore the dramatic silhouette of Rocamadour’s steeples and pale stone chapels, beneath the ramparts of a 14th-century château. As you explore this ancient pilgrimage site, you will be definitely be impressed!

Rocamadour - Sainte Enimie

Day 11: Spend a day amidst chateaux & canyons

After breakfast, journey to your next accommodation in the winding wilds of the Gorges du Tarn: the riverside Château de la Caze. A special place to call home, it makes for an immersive getaway, seemingly sprung from the pages of a fairy tale. Check in and relax for a while, as you plan how you'll be spending the afternoon.

Within the unique landscapes of the Gorges du Tarn, steep cliffs carve through sparkling blue-green waters and limestone escarpments; the best way to explore this magnificent area is from the water's surface, by kayak or canoe.

Sainte Enimie - Uzes

Day 12: Journey to scenic Uzès

After breakfast, check out and make your way to Uzès. This picture-perfect town has lots of highlights for you to write home about, including the Uzès Castle, the Cathédrale Saint-Théodorit, and the arcaded central square, Place aux Herbes, which hosts a lively farmers' market every Wednesday and Saturday. For foodies, Uzès' biggest appeal is its sublime array of restaurants.

Dinner is included tonight at your hotel, and will be a wine and food pairing menu - a very special way to spend the night!

Uzes

Day 13: Artisan adventures off the beaten path

After breakfast you’ll be greeted by a local guide at your hotel in Uzès, for an off-the-beaten-path tour of western Provence, focusing on specialty food producers and artisans.

Today you’ll witness colorful markets, a mosaic of local products, and tempting gastronomical delights. You'll have the opportunity to visit a great variety of producers, to explore the secrets behind locally-made honey, cheese, olives, deli meats, beer, and even acorns. Pay a visit to one or more truffle farms, and maybe even a snail farm!

Take the time to taste some cheese under a shaded local verandah, and enjoy the cool breeze as you spend the day outdoors.

Uzes - Nice

Day 14: Journey to the mesmerizing French Riviera

After breakfast, pack your bags and drive on to Nice, the last port of call on your European escape. Check into your hotel and start exploring the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Azur - it's a must-visit for first-timers and a wonderful city to return to time and again.

A magnet for sun-seekers and high-rollers since the 19th century, this bewitching coastal hub has so much going for it! Lose yourself amidst its fabulous markets, enticing old town, glorious architecture, and wealth of fabulous restaurants.

Nice

Day 15: Relax in classy Nice

After breakfast, you will have some free time in Nice to explore at your own pace, ticking off as many or as few sights as you'd like - you could always choose to just recline on the beach and soak up the sun! Remember that you still have your rental car, so you can explore the surrounding area to your heart's content.

Nice

Day 16: Farewell, France!

Depending on your flight time, head to the airport, where you'll return your rental car and catch your flight out of the country. Safe travels, and visit again soon!