10 ways to enjoy summer in Provence

Stones crunching under feet, walk along the Provençal countryside in the warm sun

Now's the time to book a summer holiday in Provence by train. Train tickets have just gone on sale for Eurostar's direct summer service from London to Avignon. > Book now for tickets from £109 return. Connecting fares are also available from over 200 locations across the UK, including Birmingham from £133 return, Cambridge from £131 return, Bristol from £139 return and Newcastle from £149 return. For more information, see: How to take the train from the UK to Avignon.

Summer Holidays in Provence
Between its lavender fields and sun licked heather hills, much has been said and thought about this region. And yet there is still something about the Summer here that can only be understood when you’re there, when you’re actually living that diet of baguettes, fresh goat’s cheese and local wine. When it reaches four o’clock there’s a certain scent in the air, a certain type of sunlight so that everything just clicks into place. You then understand why ochre clay was used to colour buildings, why the locals regularly walk the area yet never tire of it, and why that man can sit on a terrace with only his coffee and his moustache for company and be perfectly content. 

Here's our pick of the best summer trips in Provence, all reachable by train from the UK:

A look out onto the quietly green landscapeHeart of Provence Cycling, France
Visit the unspoilt and stunning on this cycling tour that will show you that the heart of Provence is as serene and freeing as you'd expect it to be. See peaceful chapels, abbeys and châteaux while sailing along on your bike then relax in lovely traditional hotels, all offering private swimming pools: outdoor of course. 

Price: From £878 tour only.
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Every two days from Apr 3 to Oct 16

For full listing and booking details: Heart of Provence Cycling, France 

Provence Gastronomic Cycling, France
Travel across deeply historical and stunningly beautiful areas deep in Provence, such as Mont Ventoux, on this lush holidays that guarantees great food and a real taste of Provence. Stopping off at local hotels, generally family-run, you’ll get the chance to eat perfect Provençal cusine and to see, well, taste, for yourself what it is that makes this cusine world famous. 

Price: From £1117 tour only.
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Every two days from May 1 to Oct 8

For full listing and booking details: Provence Gastronomic Cycling, France

I wonder what's down this side street....Secret Provence Cycling, France
See Provence as it is to those who live there. Away from the tourist traps, become familiar with the vineyards, poppy fields and wooded hillsides that are tucked away from the beaten track. Discover “perched villages” with monuments over 2,000 years old, les Gorges du Verdon and excellent wine tasting opportunities. All this, with a scent of lavender.

Price: From £1059 tour only.
Duration: 9 days 
Departures: Every two days from Apr 3 to Oct 14

For full listing and booking details: Secret Provence Cycling, France

Landscapes of the Luberon Walk, France
The Luberon is one of the most stunningly parts of the Provençal landscape, a rich imposing collection of mountains, it defines and shapes the surrounding countryside and is quite a sight to behold. A natural paradise made of wild herds, lavender, bright flowers and a harsh beauty. These easy walking paths follow quiet country lanes taking you along the intoxicating landscape to the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, where an emerald-green river, la Sorgue, flows from a subterranean reservoir. 

Price: From £888 per person, tour only.
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Every two days from May 1 to Oct 18.

For full listing and booking details: Landscapes of the Luberon Walk, France

Looking out from Bonnieux, the Luberon can be seen in the distanceWalk the hill-top villages of the Luberon, France
 This holiday will not only take you up onto the timeless Massif but beyond to the nearby vineyards and orchards and to the untouched villages that crown the surrounding hills. Stroll through the peaceful landscape under that endless cerulean sky… 

Price: From £950pp (including rail) based on 2 people sharing
Duration: 7 days
Departures: 1 April-30 June & 1 September-16 October 2011

For full listing and booking details: Walk the hill-top villages of the Luberon, France 

Walking in Provence, France

Leisurely wander along Provence’s fragrant landscape, taking the time to enjoy the smells of its fresh herbs and crisp scent of the local flowers. This laid back walk will take you to Provence’s quiet side, from the rugged summit of Lure to the wooded sides of the Luberon. 

Price: From £876pp (including rail) based on 2 people sharing 
Duration: 6 days
Departures: 1 April-10 July & 1 September-18 October 2011 - start any day

For full listing and booking details: Walking in Provence, France

"We want to go that way" "No! We want to go this way!"Une Campagne en Provence, France
If all these active holidays sound like a bit too much, why not just kick back and spend a week on a traditional farming estate? This homely campagne is in the heart of the French wine country, with local vine growers a stone’s throw away and the home made cooking made with ingredients fresh from your host’s local gardens. There’s also a large swim pooling to cool off in after a hard day in the sun and, as always, stunning countryside. 

Rooms: 5 guestrooms: 3 large beds, 2 twins/ doubles & 3 hol homes
Price: 92 € guestroom, 120 € guestroom, 135 € guestroom per night incl breakfast, 640 € selfcatering apartment per week
Meals: 33 - 36 Euro per 4 course dinner including drinks and wine

For full listing and booking details: Une Campagne en Provence, France

Midi Provence - Languedoc and Provence by Rail
Starting in the historic Narbonne, this trip will take you to scenic Avignon, quaint Orange and Arles’s Roman quarters. Easy cycling routes will have you following le Midi’s undulating rural roads, passing by the Bages and Peyriac lakes with their abundance of vibrant wildlife on the way, and just generally soaking in the atmosphere and the sun. 

Price: From £630 (From £899 including rail travel from London) 
Duration: 8 days 
Departures: 2010 departures: 21 Aug & 18 Sep. 2011 departures: 20 Aug & 17 Sep

For full listing and booking details: Midi Provence - Languedoc and Provence by Rail

For an idea of what it's like to be next to the Pont du Gard, look at the canoes' sizeWalk to the Pont du Gard in Provence, France
One of Provence’s most mesmerising natural sites is also home to one of it’s most historic features. Le Pont du Gard is a prestigious aqueduct dating back to Roman times, found at the crossroads of the Gardon river leaving its gorges to flow into the Rhone. Discover this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its incredibly beautiful surrounding countryside by gently walking through lush hills and botanical trails. And at the end of the day, relax with world class cusine, including two Michelin star restaurants. 

Price: From £1332pp (including rail) based on 2 people sharing 
Duration: 6 days 
Departures: 1 April-2 July

For full listing and booking details: Walk to the Pont du Gard in Provence, France

Walking from the Alps to the Mediterranean
Go from mountain to the coast in this enchanting holiday that will take you through some of the world’s most amazingly diverse countryside. See woodland, hillsides, soft peaks and the self descriptive Vallée des Merveilles. On the knife’s edge between Italy and France, see the blend of Mediterrean culture (and the resulting fantastic food) in both the villages and the area's rich history.

Price: From £722pp (including rail) based on 2 people sharing
Duration: 6 days
Departures: Any day from 1 April -31 July & 1 September-31 October 2011

For full listing and booking details: Walking from the Alps to the Mediterranean

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