Provence Car Tours: Top 5 Unforgettable Road Trips

Dreaming of sun-soaked hills, pretty lavender fields, plus seriously old villages? That kind of France feeling isn’t just a dream, you see. A car tour of Provence is how it comes to life, you know. The region is like, practically built for scenic drives, what with its winding roads and sights at every turn, too. I will talk about five amazing car routes, almost each promising its own slice of Provençal happiness. So, from tasting famous wines to checking out Roman history, we’re plotting trips that could just change you, apparently.

1. The Lavender Route: A Scented Adventure

Picture it: miles, you see, and miles of fields sporting vibrant purples, almost under the clear sky. The Lavender Route does what it says on the tin, is that right? It’s very much a sensory overload in the best way. Start in, like, Sault, the ‘Lavender Capital,’ then, you know, drive down to the Valensole Plateau. The time to travel is late June to early August, apparently, so the lavender is out in full bloom, too.

In that case, you can stop at distilleries to check out the method for turning this fragrant flower into important oils, then visit local markets to purchase bags and bags of dried lavender. Beyond just, really, the fragrant landscapes, you have the quiet charm of villages that sort of punctuate the route. So, like, spend some time looking round Gordes, perched like a beacon on a hillside, its honey-colored stone buildings giving that look that’s oh-so-Provence, you know.

Why this tour? This route’s seriously about experiencing that specific sight of Provence; its iconic flower is really out there doing it’s work, alright? If taking cool pictures of amazing landscapes is important, plus you love all-natural perfumes, so this road tour will create core memories for years, very true.

Read our full review: Lavender Route in Provence Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Valensole Plateau)

2. The Luberon Valley: A Taste of Authentic Provence

The Luberon Valley really sort of promises a dive into the real beating heart of Provence, seemingly. This driving route would bring one by picturesque hilltop villages, through gorgeous vineyards, too, not to mention across areas dense in that distinctive scrubland vegetation of Provence, alright?

So, get going in Apt, well known for its amazing Saturday market, so stocked with regional products that one simply must bring reusable shopping bags for all the olive oil, cheeses and tapenades that might tempt you, in that case. The route has to include stops at Bonnieux, Ménerbes (once described as one of France’s “most beautiful villages, very beautiful”) plus Roussillon, so noted for its bright red ochre cliffs, you just have to get some pictures. Walk through these villages, check out shops and taste regional food, as a matter of fact.

But, this tour’s just not beautiful villages, is that so? This has, you know, historical depth too; The Abbaye de Sénanque (near Gordes) provides peace as well as views that practically beg you to just draw or take photographs or simply stop thinking. I mean, so stop by wineries, sample great wines like the Côtes du Luberon and Ventoux wines, obviously, at the many wineries along the route.

Why this tour? The Luberon Valley just gives a full vision of Provence: from history and stunning scenery and obviously fine wine too, you know? It suits someone keen to find an genuine taste of Southern France.

Read our full review: Luberon Valley car tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Saturday market)

3. Wine Route: Côtes du Rhône Vineyards

If, that is, enjoying wines, so it means more than simply tilting a glass, that;s right, this tour’s something that can very well excite your heart, literally. Côtes du Rhône is almost as well known a vineyard spot in France, too, after Bordeaux; it offers quite some chance to drink and also check out various wines. Get going at the north, at Vienne, and also drive south, basically sampling, well, various villages that boast amazing wines.

The wine-tasting road is like, really something. At the very top, go to Côte-Rôtie, that’s the name, if your taste runs towards great reds made up of the Syrah grape. Afterwards move down to Hermitage, where really big wines, that’s the goal for people here, seem quite typical. Continue going on, heading towards Châteauneuf-du-Pape; very different, as it permits lots of grapes but brings forth reds of depth and various layers. Besides tours of the vineyards themselves, loads provide courses concerning how wine is crafted.

Also consider something: these locations offer lots to check out. Vienne has Roman age treasures. Châteauneuf-du-Pape sports the village as well as that very château looking down to fields which seem pretty grand in themselves, actually. This tour, basically, really joins nature’s vistas with delicious pleasures and old stories.

Why this tour? It is all on wine – really deep insights that mix it with background on making of wine plus history, basically. Excellent if your curiosity spans all that winemaking has that’s cultural and epicurean.

Read our full review: Cotes du Rhone vineyards tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Côtes du Rhône vineyards)

4. The Verdon Gorge: Provence’s Grand Canyon

Think, basically, the south region has simply some mild landscape with soft flowers. You have not visited Verdon, you see. Frequently styled ‘France’s Grand Canyon’, those high limestone cliff drop really much, just very very impressively for anyone that likes drama with their views. Travel across here, along a route where many of those cliffs stand tall right beyond you and down below that lies something turquoise that’s Lac de Sainte-Croix – it is magical actually!

A lot, naturally, stop around Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Called, pretty often that “starry village,” apparently that village offers narrow walking lanes along plus ancient tile working. Driving those rim roads – Route des Crêtes for that southern view or Corniche Sublime out east gives you a number of stopping spots and overlooks really. You can, certainly, decide what looks the best!

For something a bit hands-on, you know, get a kayak, maybe try sailing or go swim just at the lake. A couple of climbing options show up, so. Plus several trail tracks running close around – thus bringing opportunities mixing some sporty effort plus landscapes that might stay fixed within your mind always really.

Why this tour? Those tours deliver an opportunity mixing activity outside as also outstanding sightseeing spots that come unlike everything throughout Provence too, probably – excellent specifically who fancy sightseeing plus feeling that adrenaline thing quite fully!

Read our full review: Verdon Gorge driving tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Route des Crêtes)

5. From Aix-en-Provence to the Camargue: A Coastal Escape

If a mix showing city experiences merging wild settings, seemingly sounds pretty okay, plan such route linking the sophisticated charm one discovers with Aix going to something naturally unvarnished out upon where those Camargue marshes seem to begin to be real. Commence upon those Cours Mirabeau where Aix offers elegant trees lining cafes then travel southeast so that, little by little the scenery reveals that rustic feeling.

Something to just add: travel towards Arles because that provides a taste involving the past displaying various bits with Rome standing near landscapes van Gogh colored onto maps for history’s archive actually. Those following drives might show glimpses displaying ponds scattered amongst that land, very seemingly as wild white equine roams then pink flamingo flocks crowd those ponds as really living things.

Around Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer which stands basically central onto that wild piece called Camargue offers experiences unique which involves shores not much ruined along paths so you spot bird kind within all corners truly.

Why this tour? A trip joining nicely urbane sophistication coming alongside those wild allure coming around coastlines proves that France comes versatile indeed: so satisfying if something is really being required displaying balance going social plus landscape.

Read our full review: Camargue coastal road trip Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Cours Mirabeau)