Carcassonne, Avignon and Beautiful Provence

Carcassonne, Avignon & Beautiful Provence

The rolling countryside of Languedoc and Provence, with their historic, UNESCO-listed crowning glories, all thrillingly brought to life. Including a guided tour of walled fortress-citadel Carcassonne – one of France’s greatest medieval glories – as well as visits to the stunning papal city of Avignon, with its monumental Palais and fabled bridge, the spectacular Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and a cruise on the tree-lined Canal du Midi, this is a hugely popular escorted tour to one of France’s most scenic corners. An optional tour takes in beautiful coastal Collioure and former Roman capital Narbonne.

Highlights

Experience a full day visit to majestic Avignon and the stunning Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard
Board a delightful cruise on the tree-lined Canal du Midi
Set off on a guided walking tour of historic, walled Carcassonne, including the inner Chateau and the beautiful church of St Nazaire
Join an optional tour of Collioure and Narbonne and enjoy wine tasting

Inclusions

Five nights’ carefully chosen bed and continental breakfast accommodation at the Ibis Carcassonne Est Hotel, Carcassonne (upgrade hotels available for a supplement)
Return flights to France
Walking tour of Carcassone
Pont du Gard tour
Included Avignon tour
Canal du Midi cruise
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Fly to France - Upon arrival meet your friendly tour manager and make the scenic transfer to Carcassonne and your hotel. Accommodation is reserved on a bed and breakfast basis, giving you the opportunity to dine out and discover some exceptional local cuisine during your stay.

Day 2

Included walking tour of Carcassone - Join our guide for a fascinating included walking tour of the mesmerising city of Carcassonne, one of the most striking walled settlements in the whole of Europe, with its remarkably preserved, double-walled Cité the jewel in a sparkling crown. Restored in the mid-19th-century, the fairy-tale bastion includes the inner Château Comtal and the beautiful church of St-Nazaire, from the tower of which the views over the fortress are spectacular. Wander the narrow, sometimes steep, streets of this medieval enclave, with its colourful cafés, restaurants and craft shops squeezed into its tiny buildings, or perhaps take in the views from the city walls. After the tour, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your leisure. Beneath the turrets of the Cité and across the languid River Aude, the equally charming Ville Basse, the second of Carcassonne’s two ‘towns’, offers a wider variety of places in which to enjoy lunch or dinner in charming surroundings.

Day 3

Optional tour of Narbonne, Collioure and wine tasting - Continue your exploration of historic Carcassonne under your own steam or join today’s optional full-day escorted excursion to France’s south-west corner, beginning with a visit to Narbonne – once the Roman capital of all of southern Gaul. Here, you can explore the town's imposing 13th-century cathedral, walk along its central canal and discover the sections of the famed Roman road, Via Domitia, hidden beneath the main square. After free time in Narbonne, continue to the exquisite port-town of Collioure. Once the home of Henri Matisse, and with its palm-fringed promenade curving around the bay, this is an especially attractive coastal settlement, overlooked by the monumental Château-Royal. You'll then take to historic Domaine de l'Hospitalet, high up on the protected limestone massif of La Clape, overlooking the Mediterranean, for a tasting of various regional wines, before returning to Carcassonne for the evening.

Day 4

Included Canal du Midi cruise - Today brings the delight of an included cruise on the tree-lined Canal du Midi, part of the 150-mile-long waterway constructed in the 17th-century to connect the Atlantic with the Mediterranean, and now a hugely popular choice for boating holidays. The cruise may take place in the morning, or afternoon, or in some cases earlier during your holiday, depending on local conditions.

Day 5

Included Pont du Gard and Avignon tour - Another unforgettable, full day awaits you, as you board the coach to journey to two of southern France’s most sparkling jewels. Take in first the breath-taking, three-tiered Roman aqueduct, the stunning Pont du Gard, the towering stone watercourse straddling the River Gard granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985 and regarded as a masterpiece of Roman engineering. Continue to historic Avignon, encircled by its ancient low walls, and dominated by its monumental centrepiece, the fortified Palais des Papes, 14th-century home to popes, cardinals and a court of assorted princes, barons and other nobility who helped the city build a dubious reputation as one of medieval Europe’s most decadent and ‘colourful’ enclaves. Don’t miss the curious half-bridge of St-Bénézet – the ‘Pont d’Avignon’ of the famous French folk song – that juts out into the fast-flowing waters of the River Rhône, as it winds its way towards the Mediterranean. Avignon’s bustling main square, the place de l’Horloge, is lined with cafés and restaurants, perfect places in which to rest and relax awhile.

Day 6

Return to the UK - Bid au revoir to Carcassonne, transferring to the airport for the return flight to the UK, at the end of a wonderful holiday in a truly beautiful corner of the world.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from Toulouse Airport to your hotel is approximately 90 minutes. From Carcassonne Airport, it is approximately 15 minutes.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.

Canal du Midi cruise

Your cruise may take place in the morning or afternoon of Day Six (or occasionally earlier during your holiday) depending on local conditions.

Visas & Passports

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

European Entry/Exit Scheme (EES)

EES is a new digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of most European countries. Once introduced, when you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will also have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system will register your entry on arrival and your exit when departing. You will only need to do this on your first entry into Europe after the scheme starts. The EES scheme is not live yet - the latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live, ensure you are familiar with the process. For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operational at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side. For further information please visit the ABTA website here. Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS)

Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen counties. The ETIAS system is not live yet - the latest information can be found at www.etias.com. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live (and if applicable to you), apply for your ETIAS in good time prior to travel. Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service here. Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.