Escape to the Highlights of  the French Riviera - French Side Travel

Escape to the Highlights of  the French Riviera

6 Days | Self-Drive Trips & Tours, Wine & Food

Coastal Wonders: French Riviera Fishing & Wine Excursion

Premium | From $3,699 pp

If you are looking for a diverse tour with the best of the French Riviera, this tour is perfect for you! You can take part in a unique traditional fishing tour, immerse yourself in the world of perfume during a workshop and marvel at the most beautiful villages to offer. Furthermore, dive into the world of wine and enjoy a wine tour, as well as a visit and tasting in a unique winery.

Day by Day

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Day 1: Sainte Maxime

Pick Up Rental Car

At your arrival, a rental car will be at your disposal for the length of your stay . Thus, you can move freely and comfortably. On the day of departure, you will drop off the vehicle.

Arrival at your accommodation

After the check-in, you will have the rest of the day to visit the surroundings.

Suggestion: Visit Sainte-Maxime

This south-facing beach town of Sainte-Maxime, on the north coast of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, is backed by hills and has almost the perfect Mediterranean climate – sunny and temperate, sheltered from northerly winds. You can visit this town on foot, letting the gentle ocean breeze relax and comfort you. The town center can get quite lively during the summer with never a dull moment. There are numerous restaurants, cafés, and shops to satisfy your every taste.

Although Sainte-Maxime is a pleasant town and makes an enjoyable break from the beach, and the walk around the port is very attractive, people don’t visit Sainte-Maxime for the town, they come for the coast and sunshine! The main beach in the center of Sainte-Maxime is nice and sandy, quality certified, and there are lots of water sports to keep you amused. As such, many visitors will not feel the need to venture further when staying in this town.

There are several other beaches close by, including Plage de la Croisette, and several beaches as you follow the coast towards Saint-Raphael including the Plage de la Mardrague, the Plage de la Nartelle, and the Plage des Eléphants.

Sainte Maxime

Day 2: Grasse

Shared Perfume workshop

Enjoy the living patrimony by creating your own customized vial of perfume from ninety essences present in the boutique. You will first attend the workshop provided by an expert perfumer and subsequently, with his help make one for your own and take it home.

Suggestion: Visit Grasse

From one perched village to the next, winding mountain roads are a dream for drivers. In spite of the many landscapes, lavender fields, olive groves, maquis, and snow-capped mountains – you never lose sight of the stunning Mediterranean in the horizon.

The quaint village of Grasse, has been a center of a prosperous perfume industry, since the end of the 18th century,its is known as the world’s perfume capital. Producing over two-thirds of France’s natural aromas it is a leader in the industry. The old town is the highlight of Grasse and has numerous ancient buildings and a great deal of character; many of the houses are painted in pastel orange colors to brighten the narrow streets, and there are numerous shops, cafes and restaurants.

Private Traditional Fishing Boat Tour in the Evening

In this unusual tour, you will get to enjoy the sunset in a boat on the water. A trip with beautiful views off the coast of Saint-Tropez. Indulge in a platter of cheese and cold cuts along with carefully selected wines. The boat is a traditional pointu (fishing boat) from Provence.

Day 3: Saint-Tropez

Half-day private guided tour of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez wine region

Discover the oldest wine-growing region in France through a walk in the vineyards, a visit to the wine cellars and an introduction to wine tasting. Whether they are located next to the sea or on the plains, whether they belong to small family farms or large estates, each winery produces wines of a particular type.

Your local wine-loving guide is ready to share her passion and show you the hidden side of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. At the heart of the Côtes de Provence AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée), there are exceptional terroirs only a stone’s throw away from the most renowned beaches of the French Riviera.

Saint Tropez, city in France

Day 4: Cote d'Azur

Entry ticket – Observatory Cote d’Azur

The Nice Observatory (Observatoire de Nice), also known as the Cote d’Azur Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Nice on the summit of Mount Gros. Built-in the end of the 19th century by Charles Garnier, who also built the famous Monte Carlo Casino. It is a working astrophysics and astronomy lab with several planet discoveries to its name. The 2-hour tour held here is in French only and takes place mostly outside of the observatory.

The observatory has a breathtaking view of the whole city as far as the Esterel mountains in the west of Cannes.

Suggestion: Day at Leisure on the Beaches of Cannes

Explore the stunning beaches in Cannes!

On foot, you can reach the beaches that spread all over the city. Here you can enjoy the sun on the beautiful Côte d’Azur, while you relax in a sun lounger and take in the Mediterranean Sea. The turquoise water and gentle slopes make it the perfect place to relax and sunbathe. If you’re looking to do some sunbathing, there are plenty of spots to set up your towel or lounge chair. Plage du Midi, Plage de la Croisette, and Plage de la Bocca are some of the gorgeous beaches.

Day 5: Saint Paul de Vence

Private Visit and Wine tasting in Saint Paul de Vence

The Cave de Saint-Paul dates from the 14th century. It is located on two levels below street level and its walls are more than one meter thick. The temperature is constant (between 12°C and 15°C) and the hydrometry is about 80%, naturally ventilated by a traditional cellar aeration. Being sheltered from the sun, the bottles are lit by special lights without producing heat.

All the wines on offer have been selected during an organoleptic tasting. This rigorous selection favours winegrowers who respect ancestral traditions, their terroir and nature.

They offer a wide range of organic wines and wines from sustainable agriculture and biodynamic farming.

Suggestion: Visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence

The Côte d’Azur is made for explorers – so when you’ve had enough of the coastal buzz, head inland to see some of the area’s most breathtaking hilltop villages. There are more than 120 scattered through the area.

Facing the Mediterranean that shimmers at its feet, Saint-Paul-de-Vence leans against the southern Alps and is a must-see for art lovers with its many galleries. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is small, and also one of the most beautiful and most visited villages in France. It is best summed up by the sign at the entrance to the village itself which reads ‘authentic and touristy, quiet and buzzing, Saint-Paul is proud of its paradoxes – they are the key to its charm and identity’. The beauty of this perched village has attracted many artists during the last century – starting with Modigliani on the 1920’s – and it now has a very high reputation as an artistic village, as well as a place of great natural beauty. Picasso, Braque and Miro are among the well known artists who stayed at Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Day 6: French Riviera

Drop off Your Car Before Heading Home

Drive to the train station or airport and return your rental vehicle prior to boarding your onward flight / your train.

what to do in the french riviera in 2022

Map

About This Trip:

    • Enjoy 24/7 English-spoken telephone assistance while traveling
    • This itinerary includes transport, activities, guides, accommodations with breakfasts, and other listed services
    • Price is in USD per person, assuming double occupancy. Note that prices and availability are subject to change.

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