Aix-en Provence Program Itinerary
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Day 1: Sunday, March 21, 2027
Meals included: Dinner Individual Arrivals with hotel check-in from 3:00 pm. Meet and mingle with your fellow travelers during a Welcome Reception and Dinner at our hotel, the 5-star Marriott Renaissance Aix, located in the heart of the city, just steps from the Grand Théâtre de Provence, location of the Festival de Pâques music festival. Blending contemporary elegance with the art of Provençal living, the hotel offers spacious, beautifully appointed rooms that invite guests to unwind and enjoy a truly relaxing stay. --> Guests enjoy a full-service spa with an indoor heated pool and hammam, a 24-hour fitness center, and a seasonal outdoor pool at the Palm’s Pool Club. The hotel also features several dining options, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, as well as a stylish bar, room service, complimentary Wi-Fi, and concierge services |
Marriott Renaissance Hotel Aix-en-Provence
Marriott Renaissance Aix - Guest Room
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Day 2: Monday, March 22, 2027
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
The best way to explore Old Town Aix is on foot, so we'll start our week with a walking tour of the Old Town, revealing the elegance of its mansions, the beauty of its architecture, and key historic sights. Nicknamed the ville d’eau, ville d’art (city of water, city of art), Aix is the earliest Roman city in France and was first recognized for its thermal waters and idyllic natural surroundings. The city grew in strategic importance as the capital of Provence, later rising to become a significant judicial and educational center, attracting attention for its Roman history, artistic connections, and thermal spas.
We'll also take a break at a café in the main square to experience a key pastime in the culture of Aix!
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
The best way to explore Old Town Aix is on foot, so we'll start our week with a walking tour of the Old Town, revealing the elegance of its mansions, the beauty of its architecture, and key historic sights. Nicknamed the ville d’eau, ville d’art (city of water, city of art), Aix is the earliest Roman city in France and was first recognized for its thermal waters and idyllic natural surroundings. The city grew in strategic importance as the capital of Provence, later rising to become a significant judicial and educational center, attracting attention for its Roman history, artistic connections, and thermal spas.
We'll also take a break at a café in the main square to experience a key pastime in the culture of Aix!
Return to the Marriott Renaissance Hotel for lunch (included).
FREE AFTERNOON.
DINNER IS ON YOUR OWN.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
FREE AFTERNOON.
DINNER IS ON YOUR OWN.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
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Day 3: Tuesday, March 23, 2027
Meals included: Breakfast & Food Tour with Tastings Born and raised in Provence, local food specialist Thomas Garcin will provide a delicious introduction to Provençal culture, combining tastings of local specialties with visits to markets and beloved neighborhood shops. Along the way, we'll meet passionate artisans, discover hidden culinary gems, and learn the stories behind the region’s food traditions. |
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In the afternoon, we'll visit the Musée Granet, one of the leading art museums in France. Named after one of its most generous benefactors, the painter François-Marius Granet, the museum owes its origins to the local nobility who cultivated a taste for the arts and history. They assembled remarkable art collections throughout the 17th and 18th centuries to display in their private mansions, making them the pride of the city. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Paul Klee, Fernand Léger, Piet Mondrian, Alberto Giacometti and, of course, Cézanne.
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Vue du Jas de Bouffan - Paul Cezanne
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We'll also visit the Collection Planque, showcasing the truly magnificent collection of Jean Planque (1910-1998), a major Swiss collector. It includes some 300 paintings, drawings and sculptures from the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (Cézanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas) to the major artists of the 20th century such as Bonnard, Picasso, Braque, Léger, de Staël, and Dubuffet.
Option to visit the collections on a guided visit or "on your own." |
Paysage, Marine - Nicolas de Staël
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DINNER IS ON YOUR OWN.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
Cosquer Méditerranée
Day 4: Wednesday, March 24, 2027
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
FULL DAY EXCURSION TO MARSEILLE AND CASSIS
Marseille is only a 30-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence! Our tour will start with a walk through the old, preserved Panier district in Marseille. After a walk up and down its quaint streets, we’ll will visit the Vieux Port (Old Port) and its fish market before heading to the south bank of Marseille where we’ll find artists’ workshops and the oldest church in the city. Then on to the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica and its breathtaking view over the city. This is THE best viewpoint in Marseille, with views of the Friouls Islands and Château d’If (known to readers of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo). We’ll also visit the Cosquer Méditerranée, a large-scale replica of an amazing prehistoric cave. Hidden for 30,000 years at a depth of 37 meters beneath the sea, the story of the Cosquer Cave and its discovery is told on three floors with an ‘underwater’ replica of the prehistoric cave, which can be explored on board exploratory vehicles.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
FULL DAY EXCURSION TO MARSEILLE AND CASSIS
Marseille is only a 30-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence! Our tour will start with a walk through the old, preserved Panier district in Marseille. After a walk up and down its quaint streets, we’ll will visit the Vieux Port (Old Port) and its fish market before heading to the south bank of Marseille where we’ll find artists’ workshops and the oldest church in the city. Then on to the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica and its breathtaking view over the city. This is THE best viewpoint in Marseille, with views of the Friouls Islands and Château d’If (known to readers of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo). We’ll also visit the Cosquer Méditerranée, a large-scale replica of an amazing prehistoric cave. Hidden for 30,000 years at a depth of 37 meters beneath the sea, the story of the Cosquer Cave and its discovery is told on three floors with an ‘underwater’ replica of the prehistoric cave, which can be explored on board exploratory vehicles.
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After lunch in Marseille, it's time to drive south to Cape Canaille (the highest maritime cliff in Europe) where we’ll be able to admire an exceptional view over the Bay of Cassis and the Guardiole mountain range. We’ll then visit Cassis, a charming old fishing port that is today one of the most beautiful and emblematic villages of Provence with its colorful buildings on the harbor. Weather-permitting, we’ll enjoy a boat cruise to discover the famous Calanques with their small ports and lovely beaches.
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Calanques along the Mediterranean coastline
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Dinner will be at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel (included).
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
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Day 5: Thursday, March 25, 2027
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch Famous 19th century post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne lived and worked in Aix-en-Provence as he was native to the area, and today, this is a source of pride for the city. We'll visit the Atelier Cézanne, the studio in Aix where he created a majority of his works. The room provides visitors with a true idea of what his working life was like. It’s the perfect place for anyone who enjoys art but wants to see something more intimate than a museum. |
Atelier Cézanne
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For lunch, we'll visit the Domaine de Terre de Mistral winery, located a short drive from Aix-en-Provence, with the legendary Mont Sainte-Victoire as a backdrop. Terre de Mistral is the story of how two families who share the same passion for Provence came together, with a strong desire to share and pass on their expertise. This estate is dedicated to the production of wine and top-quality olive oil.
After lunch, we'll enjoy a tour and tasting in the winery. |
Vineyards of Terre de Mistral winery
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DINNER IS ON YOUR OWN.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
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Day 6: Friday, March 26, 2027
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch Today we'll visit the Luberon Valley to learn about how colors are made. The Ôkhra Ecomuseum in Roussillon is housed in a former ocher factory which produced around 1000 tons of ocher per year between 1921 and 1963. Washing systems, the kiln, and mills have been restored to help visitors understand the different stages of ore processing, from extraction to shipping. This tour will introduce you to the history, the use, and the materials of colors from prehistoric times to the present day. You'll also learn about the production of ocher and the use of coloring materials in various applications: buildings, commercial paints, paper-making, and artist materials. |
Ôkhra Ecomuseum - color pigments
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We'll have lunch at a restaurant in the countryside near Roussillon, in the Luberon Valley.
After lunch, we will visit the Sentier des Ochres, where a scenic trail winds through former ochre quarries carved by centuries of mining and natural erosion. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and pine forests, the trail reveals a spectacular palette of golden yellow, orange, and deep red hues, offering a memorable glimpse into one of Provence’s most distinctive natural landscapes.
After lunch, we will visit the Sentier des Ochres, where a scenic trail winds through former ochre quarries carved by centuries of mining and natural erosion. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and pine forests, the trail reveals a spectacular palette of golden yellow, orange, and deep red hues, offering a memorable glimpse into one of Provence’s most distinctive natural landscapes.
Sentiers des Ochres
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Sentier des Ochres
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DINNER IS ON YOUR OWN.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
EVENING ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES PERFORMANCES.
Day 7: Saturday, March 27, 2027
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
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VISIT TO THE VASERELY FOUNDATION
Welcome to the geometric and colorful universe of Victor Vasarely, the Hungarian-born mastermind of the Op Art movement. From his beginnings as a graphic designer to his utopian project of a "polychrome city of happiness," his work is characterized by optical games and abstraction. The building is made up of interlocking, honeycomb-like galleries displaying Vaserely's soaring, kaleidoscopic, and mind-bending geometric art. |
Fondation Vaserely
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LUNCH IS ON YOUR OWN.
FREE AFTERNOON.
FREE AFTERNOON.
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EVENING: Farewell Dinner at Domaine Gao
Our stay will finish with dinner at this charming 18th-century Provençal bastide set amid the peaceful countryside. Surrounded by olive trees, gardens, and the natural beauty of the estate, the on-site Gaodina restaurant offers a creative, seasonal menu inspired by local ingredients, making for a memorable evening in the heart of the Provençal countryside. |
Domaine Gao
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Day 8: Sunday, March 28 , 2027
Meals included: Breakfast
Individual Departures - Check-out by 12 noon.
Meals included: Breakfast
Individual Departures - Check-out by 12 noon.
ADDITIONAL PRE- AND POST-PROGRAM TOURS
REGISTER BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2027 FOR THESE TOURS
These tours are offered at an additional fee and are not included in your program registration fee.
REGISTER BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2027 FOR THESE TOURS
- Avignon and Les Baux de Provence
- Roman Provence: Arles and the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct
These tours are offered at an additional fee and are not included in your program registration fee.
Avignon: Palais des Papes
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Roman Provence: Pont du Gard
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