Paris, Riviera & Provence — 10 Nights

Met at the airport and driven into the city, with the first evening along the Seine and dinner near the hotel. Overnight in Paris.

A morning route through the Louvre with a timed entry, and an afternoon with the Impressionists at the Musée d'Orsay across the river — two collections in one day, neither attempted in full. Overnight in Paris.

Sacré-Cœur and the Montmartre lanes in the morning, the Marais and the Place des Vosges in the afternoon, and the Eiffel Tower with pre-booked tickets as the lights come on. Overnight in Paris.

Under three hours down the Rhône valley to Avignon. The Palace of the Popes and the half-bridge over the river in the afternoon, and dinner inside the walls. Overnight in Avignon.

A private car east into the Luberon: Gordes on its ridge, the ochre cliffs and red-painted village of Roussillon, and the abbey of Sénanque in its valley. Lunch in a village square, and a slow drive back. Overnight in Avignon.

From late June to mid-July, the lavender plateaus at Valensole or Sault, with the fields in full flower. Outside that window, the Roman aqueduct at the Pont du Gard and the market town of Uzès — a different day, and a good one. Overnight in Avignon.

East along the coast by train to Nice, with the old town, the flower market and the Promenade des Anglais on arrival. Overnight in Nice.

The clifftop village of Èze and its garden above the sea, then Monaco for the harbour, the old town on the rock and the palace square. Back to Nice for the evening. Overnight in Nice.

The Croisette at Cannes and the old port at Antibes, with the Picasso museum in the castle and the light along the coast that brought the painters here. Overnight in Nice.

Nothing scheduled. The beach at Villefranche in the next bay, the Matisse and Chagall museums up in Cimiez, the Saturday antiques market — or a long lunch and the sea. Overnight in Nice.

A private transfer to Nice airport for your flight home.