How much does it cost?

From £1,599 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,160 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London St Pancras to arrival back in London, and leads all guided tours and excursions.

What hotels are included?

You stay six nights in either the Hotel Cloitre Saint Louis or the Novotel Avignon Centre, both four-star properties near Avignon station.

How many meals are included?

Breakfast each day, one lunch (on the Rhône boat on Day 2), and two dinners (one in the hotel on Day 1, one on Day 6).

Is any walking required?

Yes. A walking tour of Avignon is included, and you explore the cobblestone alleys of Gordes and wander freely through other villages and city squares.

When does the tour run?

The operator has not published a detailed departure calendar in this information. Contact Great Rail Journeys directly to confirm available dates.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Discover Avignon, the Rhone & Provence

Seven-day Provence loop from London via Eurostar, Avignon base.

Great Rail Journeys operates this seven-day escorted tour from London to Provence, departing London St Pancras aboard Eurostar and continuing by TGV rail through Lyon to Avignon, where you spend six nights in a four-star hotel. The tour balances guided experiences with free time: you cruise the Rhône to Arles to see the Roman arena and Van Gogh sites, walk through Avignon with a guide to the 12th-century Pont St Bénezet and the Papal Palace, visit the hilltop villages of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Gordes, and spend a morning at the Pont du Gard aqueduct before a wine tasting. Day 6 includes a guided food tour of Avignon's market and artisan producers, sampling local olives, nougat, and Camargue salt toffee. A UK Tour Manager travels with you throughout. This tour suits couples, history enthusiasts, and food-lovers who prefer the structure of a group tour with knowledgeable guides and pre-arranged rail travel.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £100 since 4 Jul, to £1,599.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The group size may reach 40 people; confirm the exact size before booking if you prefer a smaller party.
Only one lunch is included; most other meals are your own expense.
Five of six nights are in one hotel (Avignon); if you prefer more varied accommodation, this tour may not suit you.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Avignon
London to Avignon: Through France to Provence
Meeting the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar to Paris, then change trains to continue to Avignon, arriving in the early evening. This evening, we enjoy our first dinner together in the hotel restaurant.
Day 2railovernight: Avignon
The art and history of Arles
After a leisurely breakfast, we board a boat for a cruise down the Rhône with lunch on board, passing the château at Tarascon. In Arles, there's free time to explore the Roman arena, Place de la République and the legacy of Vincent van Gogh, before catching the train back to Avignon for a free evening.
Day 3overnight: Avignon
Avignon: The City of Popes
A guided walking tour of Avignon takes in the 12th-century Pont St Bénezet. The rest of the day is free to explore, perhaps visiting the Palais des Papes and its pontifical gardens.
Day 4overnight: Avignon
The beautiful villages of Provence
A visit to a nougaterie, then to the Provençal village of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the 'Venice of Provence', followed by the hilltop village of Gordes with its 10th-century château. We return to Avignon in the early evening to dine independently.
Day 5overnight: Avignon
A day to explore Avignon at leisure
A free day to soak up the beauty of Avignon at your own pace, exploring the Old Town, Jardin des Doms or the Rue des Teinturiers.
Day 6overnight: Avignon
Tasting Avignon and the Pont du Gard
A guided food tour of Avignon's Les Halles market, sampling local delicacies, followed by an excursion to the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and a tasting of Roman-style wines at Les Terrasses, before a final dinner together at our hotel.
Day 7rail
Homeward bound
Leaving Avignon after breakfast, we board the direct train to Paris, then switch to the Eurostar for the last leg of the journey, arriving back at London St Pancras this evening.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Eurostar departs London St Pancras, then a TGV continues through verdant fields alongside the Rhône from Lyon to Avignon, arriving in the early evening.
Day 2A boat cruise descends the Rhône past the château at Tarascon to Arles, where you visit the UNESCO-listed Roman arena and the Van Gogh Foundation.
Day 3A guided walking tour of Avignon covers the 12th-century Pont St Bénezet and other landmarks; the afternoon is free to visit the Palais des Papes at your own pace.
Day 4Visit a nougaterie, then explore L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue with its canals and pastel buildings, followed by the hilltop village of Gordes with its 10th-century château.
Day 6A guided tour visits artisan producers and Les Halles food market in Avignon, sampling local olives and Camargue salt toffee, then the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct and a wine tasting at Les Terrasses.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
6 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Standard
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,599 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,160 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London St Pancras to arrival back in London, and leads all guided tours and excursions.
What hotels are included?: You stay six nights in either the Hotel Cloitre Saint Louis or the Novotel Avignon Centre, both four-star properties near Avignon station.
How many meals are included?: Breakfast each day, one lunch (on the Rhône boat on Day 2), and two dinners (one in the hotel on Day 1, one on Day 6).
Is any walking required?: Yes. A walking tour of Avignon is included, and you explore the cobblestone alleys of Gordes and wander freely through other villages and city squares.
When does the tour run?: The operator has not published a detailed departure calendar in this information. Contact Great Rail Journeys directly to confirm available dates.