Home / Tours / Escorted Tours / Provence by Rail Tour 2026
Avignon

Avignon

Avignon

Avignon

Avignon

Avignon

Avignon

Avignon

Escorted Tours

Provence by Rail Tour

Quintessentially French, Provence is one of the most alluring regions of France, immortalised in countless films and books, and full of sleepy villages, scenic beauty and captivating vistas.

The region is a delightful mix of the ancient, the traditional and the modern. You’ll find beautifully preserved Roman sites, fragrant vineyards and orchards, and elegant, historic cities packed with world-class museums and galleries.

We will be based for 6 nights in the heart of Avignon at the four-star Hotel Cloitre Saint Louis, located just inside the city walls.

From

£1,839

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts and one light lunch (including wine tasting).
  • Handpicked Accommodation
     Six nights’ accommodation at Hotel Cloitre St Louis, Avignon, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room.
  • Discover Provence by Rail
    Explore the landscapes, Roman heritage and hill towns of Provence from a central base in Avignon. Travelling by Eurostar and TGV, this relaxed rail tour includes Uzès, the Pont du Gard, Orange, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence, the Camargue, Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon village of Gordes.
  • Transfers & Tours
    All transfers, tours and entrance fees     as outlined in the itinerary. Tour Manager accompanying throughout.
  • Rail travel from the UK
    Return Eurostar and TGV from London St Pancras to Avignon via Lille 
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Lively summer scene at an outdoor cafe in Avignon, France, with people dining under umbrellas.

Day 1: Journey by Rail to Avignon

On arrival, transfer by coach to the Hotel Cloitre Saint Louis. This evening there will be a welcome reception at the hotel with drinks and some nibbles included. 

PONT DU GARD

Day 2: Uzès, Pont du Gard and Avignon at Leisure

The delightful hilltop town of Uzès sits on the source of the Eure, the river that supplied the Roman town of Nimes via the Pont du Gard aqueduct in the 1st century BC. Its narrow streets are wonderfully atmospheric and perfect for strolling. The Pont du Gard is a remarkable symbol of the engineering capabilities of the Romans. Built over the Gardon River in 19BC and remarkably preserved, at 48 metres, it is the highest bridge the Romans ever constructed.

The afternoon will be at leisure back in Avignon for you to explore independently. 

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Day 3: Orange, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

From the lovely town of L’Isle sur la Sorgue, known for its excellent antiques market, we approach Orange through the countryside. Home to two of the finest Roman monuments in Europe; the Theatre Antique d’Orange and the Arc de Triomphe, Orange’s old town is also worth exploring with its Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral and peaceful shady squares.

The Popes of Avignon built Châteauneuf (new castle) and the surrounding vineyards which now produce one of the finest Côtes du Rhône red wines in the world. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy a light lunch in an old castle Wine Cellar on a Châteauneuf-du-Pape property, where you will see the vineyard but also have a wine tasting comparing a few different wines.

CAMARGUE

Day 4: Arles, Les Baux and Camargue Boat Cruise

Arles is best known for its fine Roman arena, baths and theatre – there are lovely views over the town from the arena’s top tier. It was also the sometime home of artists Van Gogh and Gauguin. The ancient, ruined citadel of Les Baux clings to a high ridge of the Alpilles range, a stark contrast to its bustling, Renaissance other half situated just below.

An area of outstanding natural beauty, the Camargue is a nature-lover’s paradise, famed for its flamingos and white horses. We will have a short boat cruise while in the Camargue. 

Avignon

Day 5: Avignon at Leisure

Avignon is perhaps the most rewarding city in Provence. Home to Popes in the early part of the Middle Ages and a centre of art for centuries, the old is separated from the modern by the restored medieval ramparts. Within you’ll find the impressive Palais des Papes, excellent museums and lovely old churches.

Fountain in Aix-en-Provence

Day 6: Aix-en-Provence, the Luberon and Gordes

The elegant city of Aix-en-Provence is immediately attractive with its medieval centre a knot of grand architecture and atmospheric lanes, peppered with fountained squares. Home to artist Paul Cézanne, you will find his studio preserved exactly as he left it on his death in 1906. There are many lovely cafes to sit in and watch the world go by along the Cours Mirabeau.

A spectacular area, the Luberon starts out as lush foothills covered with vineyards and farmland before peaking in an area of rugged cliffs, rough-hewn gorges and rustic villages. Like many of the region’s villages, picturesque Gordes tumbles down the Luberon foothills and makes a wonderful place to wander.

Day 7: Return by TGV and Eurostar

Transfer by coach back to Avignon station to catch the return TGV to Lille. At Lille, board the return Eurostar service to St Pancras.

Availability

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Date
Departing From
Price From
Availability
02/10/2026
London St Pancras
£1,839
Book Now
Solo Traveller Supplement From: £485
Destination
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Cloitre Saint Louis, Avignon

The four-star Cloitre Saint Louis is located directly inside the old city walls and a 10 minute walk to the main square. The hotel was built in 1589 originally as a Jesuit novitiate building, and over the centuries has been a convent, hotel and hospital, before being registered as a Historical Monument in 1950. A blend of Baroque and classical styles, with a beautiful cloister courtyard, the hotel also features a chapel dome and vaulted ceilings in the old wing. The comfortable bedrooms include an en-suite bathroom, flat TV, telephone, wifi, safe, tea/coffee making facilities and hairdryer. 
Hotel Website 

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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