Enjoy the perfect day trip for travelers who love to combine history and good wines. On this excursion, we will visit the ancient city of Avignon - home of the 14th-century papacy. We will explore the grounds of the Pope's palace while learning about their life there. The afternoon will be spent strolling through the Chateauneuf vineyards and enjoying the fruits of its labor.

We'll meet at your accommodation in Marseille or nearby as we set out for our time together. To begin the day, our expert guide will take you on a walk through the historic streets of Avignon, up onto the city walls and show you fantastic views of the River Rhone and famous bridge. We will then be led down to the Popes Palace - the 14th-century abode where no less than 7 previous Popes chose as their place of residence. The grounds are enticing - a huge banquet room, colored floor tiles, and beautiful frescoes that give us an immersive learning experience. 

In the afternoon, we will travel north of Avignon and continue on to the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here we will learn the process of traditional wine production and discuss the cultural relevance of the trade. We are then invited to a private wine tasting to try the renowned reds and whites produced. The Grenache variety is the favored wine of Châteauneuf but is also blended with other grape varieties to complement the flavor and create a range of wines that suit several palates. Syrah and Mourvèdre are the preferred blends, but there are 13 other grape types sometimes used - unusual for traditional vineyards. We'll leave the wines behind, more educated than we first arrived and continue to discuss the sites and sounds of the day on our drive home with our historian or cultural expert.

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits in your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

How many people can fit in the vehicle? 

Our vehicles can comfortably fit 7 passengers. 

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to be prepared; we encourage keeping an eye on the weather and bringing along an umbrella, sunscreen, water, or a hat as needed.

Yes, absolutely. We can adjust the time (if desired) and the content to be more appropriate for younger learners. 

We do cover quite a bit of ground on this tour and therefore we recommend contacting us with any mobility questions; we will be happy to advise if the itinerary will be appropriate for you or propose modifications where necessary. Please feel free to contact us.