Luxury Self Drive Holiday: Avignon to Carcassonne

Day 1: Welcome to Avignon

After self-driving to Provence, you will check into a fantastic five-star hotel in the heart of Avignon for the next two nights. There’s no need to worry about your car, the hotel has secure parking where you can leave it during your stay.

Remarkably preserved, Avignon has a fascinating, rich history and much architectural beauty. Set on a charming cobbled lane in the medieval city centre, the hotel, housed in a lovely 16th-century building, is just a stone’s throw away from key sights such as the famous Avignon bridge and the Palais des Papes, one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe.

In the evening, you will enjoy a fabulous chef’s table gastronomic experience set in the 19th-century kitchen of a historic mansion. As the chef cooks over an old wood stove with copper pots, creating delicious dishes inspired by the fresh ingredients from the day’s market, he will enthral you with his anecdotes and exuberant personality. You will relish the friendly discussion across the large wooden table, savouring wonderful local wines.

Day 3: Self-Drive from Avignon to Montpellier

After enjoying the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, you will have the morning to relax, enjoying the hotel, or perhaps taking a nice walk around the city of Avignon. It’s a delight to just stroll, taking in the beautiful historic buildings and squares, and there are museums, churches, cafes and bars to explore.

You’ll then self-drive approximately an hour west, towards Montpellier, spending two nights at a luxurious spa hotel, set on its own wine estate. This gorgeous 16th-century country house is set in the centre of magnificent landscaped grounds and is a supremely relaxing, tranquil retreat just minutes from Montpellier city centre.

The hotel estate has a lovely spa with a heated indoor pool, Turkish baths, saunas and two outdoor pools. You can visit the 13-hectare vineyard, making use of the complimentary bikes.

Day 5: Oyster Farm & Picpoul de Pinet Tour

After another delicious complimentary breakfast at your hotel, meet with your guide for an invigorating hike through local vineyards awaits, where you’ll try lovely examples of white, rosé and red wines from the estate along the way. After the walk you will be able to enjoy a winemakers’ picnic prepared with local products and paired with wine from the estate.

In the afternoon your guide will take you to the edge of the Thau lagoon, considered the second largest lake in France. Wildlife-rich – especially its birdlife including pink flamingos and herons – it is known for its oyster and mussel farming. On a one-hour boat trip on the lagoon, you will be able to the see the oyster beds and find out all about the work of this sought-after shell, then enjoy them freshly out of the water with a local specialty, a crisp glass of Picpoul de Pinet.

Day 7: Private Minervois Wine Tour

This morning, you will be picked up by your chauffeur guide to start the day with a wine tour of Minervois. The beautiful Minervois region is a short drive from Carcassonne and an area of outstanding beauty. It possesses some of the most picturesque vineyards in the Languedoc wine region are found here as well as some of France’s finest wines.

At a visit to a top-class winery in the cru appellation you will learn what it is that makes this wine so special. Following this, you will find out why lunch is such a special part of this tour, enjoying a delicious three-course menu accompanied by fine wines from the region.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the appellation of Corbières. The vineyards of Corbières are perched on rocky hillsides among winding roads and have a fascinating history. The area has been used for viticulture since Roman times and some of the vineyards in the area are more than a century old.