Self-Launched: Paris to Provence — 22 Days Across France

Arrive in Paris at any time. Check in to your budget hotel or hostel near a central metro stop — areas like République, Bastille or Montmartre offer great value. Get your bearings with an evening stroll along the Seine. Pick up a Navigo Découverte weekly metro card (around £22) for unlimited travel across Paris.

🚌Airport to city centre: RER B train from CDG to central Paris, ~£11

🛏Generator Paris or similar hostel/budget hotel (e.g. ibis Styles Paris République) — approx. £30–45/night

• →Arrive and check in
• →Evening walk along the Seine
• →Pick up a Navigo metro card

Spend the day exploring Paris on foot and by metro. Visit the Eiffel Tower (book timed entry online in advance, ~£20), stroll through Le Marais, and explore the Musée d'Orsay (~£13). In the evening, head to Montmartre for dinner with views over the city.

🚌Metro/walking throughout the day

🛏Generator Paris or similar — approx. £30–45/night

• →Eiffel Tower visit (pre-booked timed entry)
• →Walk through Le Marais district
• →Musée d'Orsay
• →Evening in Montmartre

Morning at the Louvre (book online, ~£17). Afternoon wander through the Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens. Take a Bateaux Mouches Seine river cruise in the evening (~£15 via GetYourGuide). Pick up a baguette, cheese and wine for a picnic-style dinner by the river.

🚌Metro/walking

🛏Generator Paris or similar — approx. £30–45/night

• →Louvre Museum (pre-booked entry)
• →Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens walk
• →Seine river cruise
• →Picnic dinner by the Seine

Take a direct SNCF train from Paris Montparnasse or Paris Austerlitz to Tours or Blois, the gateways to the Loire Valley (approx. 1–2 hrs, ~£25–40 booked in advance via SNCF Connect or Trainline). Check in to a guesthouse or budget hotel in Tours. Head out for an orientation walk along the Loire riverfront and a relaxed dinner in the old town.

🚌SNCF train Paris → Tours, ~£25–40

🛏Hôtel Val de Loire or similar budget hotel/guesthouse in Tours — approx. £35–50/night

• →Morning train Paris to Tours/Blois
• →Afternoon orientation walk along the Loire
• →Dinner in Tours old town

The Loire Valley is UNESCO-listed and famously cycle-friendly. Rent a bike in Tours (~£15/day) and ride the Loire à Vélo route to visit Château de Chambord (entry ~£14) and Château de Cheverny (~£11). Pack a picnic from the local market. Return to Tours by early evening.

🚌Bicycle hire for the day, ~£15

🛏Hôtel Val de Loire or similar — approx. £35–50/night

• →Bike rental along Loire à Vélo route
• →Visit Château de Chambord
• →Visit Château de Cheverny
• →Picnic lunch from local market

Visit the stunning Château de Villandry, renowned for its formal Renaissance gardens (~£12 entry). In the afternoon, join a self-booked Loire wine tasting session at a local domaine in Vouvray or Chinon — many offer free or low-cost tastings. Explore a local village market if timing allows.

🚌Local bus or taxi to Villandry, ~£8 return

🛏Hôtel Val de Loire or similar — approx. £35–50/night

• →Château de Villandry and gardens
• →Loire wine tasting at a local domaine
• →Village market visit

Travel from Tours to Bordeaux by SNCF train (approx. 2.5 hrs with a change, ~£30–50 booked ahead). Arrive in Bordeaux and check in. Spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed city centre — Bordeaux's 'Golden Triangle' and the Miroir d'Eau water mirror are must-sees. Enjoy an affordable meal in the St-Pierre quarter.

🚌SNCF train Tours → Bordeaux, ~£30–50

🛏Auberge de Jeunesse Bordeaux or budget hotel like ibis Bordeaux Centre — approx. £30–45/night

• →Morning train to Bordeaux
• →Walk the UNESCO city centre and Golden Triangle
• →Miroir d'Eau water mirror
• →Dinner in St-Pierre quarter

Join a shared wine tour of the Médoc or Saint-Émilion wine regions, bookable via GetYourGuide or Viator for around £35–55 per person. These include vineyard visits, tastings and a guide. Alternatively, take the train to Saint-Émilion independently (~£8 return) and visit châteaux on foot — many offer walk-in tastings.

🚌Train to Saint-Émilion, ~£8 return (or shared tour, ~£35–55 incl.)

🛏Auberge de Jeunesse Bordeaux or similar — approx. £30–45/night

• →Day trip to Saint-Émilion or Médoc wine region
• →Vineyard visit and wine tasting
• →Explore Saint-Émilion village and limestone caves

Spend the morning at the Marché des Capucins, Bordeaux's famous covered food market — perfect for local cheeses, oysters, and charcuterie at rock-bottom prices. Visit the CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art (free on first Sunday of the month, otherwise ~£6). Walk across the Pont de Pierre and explore the Chartrons antiques quarter. Evening: craft beer on the quayside.

🚌Walking and tram (city tram day pass ~£4)

🛏Auberge de Jeunesse Bordeaux or similar — approx. £30–45/night

• →Marché des Capucins food market
• →CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art
• →Chartrons antiques district walk
• →Evening drinks on the Quai des Chartrons

Take the SNCF train from Bordeaux to Bayonne/Biarritz (approx. 2 hrs, ~£20–35 booked ahead). Biarritz is France's surf capital — check in to a surf hostel and head straight to Grande Plage or Côte des Basques beach for an afternoon dip. The town has a fantastic free coastal path with dramatic Atlantic views.

🚌SNCF train Bordeaux → Biarritz/Bayonne, ~£20–35

🛏Biarritz Surf Hostel or Villa Koegui hostel — approx. £25–40/night

• →Morning train to Biarritz
• →Grande Plage or Côte des Basques beach
• →Coastal path walk with Atlantic views
• →Explore Biarritz town centre

Book a surf lesson on Côte des Basques beach through one of the many local surf schools (~£35–45 for a 2-hour group lesson). In the afternoon, visit the Musée de la Mer (ocean museum, ~£14) or the free Rocher de la Vierge cliff viewpoint. Try pintxos (Basque tapas) in the old town for a cheap and delicious dinner.

🚌Walking

🛏Biarritz Surf Hostel or Villa Koegui hostel — approx. £25–40/night

• →Group surf lesson at Côte des Basques
• →Musée de la Mer or Rocher de la Vierge
• →Pintxos dinner in the old town

Take a short local train to the charming harbour town of St-Jean-de-Luz (~£4 each way), a beautifully preserved Basque fishing village. Explore the harbour, the ornate church where Louis XIV married, and the market. Return to Biarritz for a sunset walk along the coastal promenade.

🚌Local train Biarritz → St-Jean-de-Luz return, ~£8

🛏Biarritz Surf Hostel or Villa Koegui hostel — approx. £25–40/night

• →Train day trip to St-Jean-de-Luz
• →Explore the harbour and Basque market
• →Visit the Louis XIV wedding church
• →Sunset coastal walk back in Biarritz

Travel from Biarritz to Pau by train (approx. 1 hr, ~£12–18). Pau is a handsome Belle Époque city at the foot of the Pyrenees, with views of the peaks from its famous Boulevard des Pyrénées. Visit the Château de Pau — birthplace of Henri IV — with entry at around £6. Stroll the boulevard at sunset for the famous mountain panorama.

🚌SNCF train Biarritz → Pau, ~£12–18

🛏Hôtel le Bourbon or similar budget hotel in Pau — approx. £30–45/night

• →Morning train to Pau
• →Château de Pau visit
• →Walk Boulevard des Pyrénées for Pyrenean mountain views
• →Explore the city centre

Take a local bus or taxi to the Pyrenees National Park for a day hike. The Vallée d'Ossau is easily accessible and offers spectacular scenery. Alternatively, hire a car for the day (~£35–45) to visit the dramatic Cirque de Gavarnie (a UNESCO site) or the Grottes de Betharram cave system (~£12 entry). Return to Pau for the evening.

🚌Local bus or car hire for Pyrenees day trip, ~£15–45

🛏Hôtel le Bourbon or similar — approx. £30–45/night

• →Day hike in Vallée d'Ossau or Pyrenees National Park
• →Optional: visit Cirque de Gavarnie (UNESCO site)
• →Optional: Grottes de Betharram cave tour
• →Dinner with mountain views in Pau

Visit Pau's vibrant Wednesday or Saturday market at Place de la République for local produce, mountain cheeses and charcuterie. Explore the Palais des Pyrénées and the historic old town. In the afternoon, visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts (~£3) or walk the free Parc Beaumont. Easy, relaxed day before the long journey east.

🚌Walking

🛏Hôtel le Bourbon or similar — approx. £30–45/night

• →Pau morning market at Place de la République
• →Old town and Palais des Pyrénées exploration
• →Musée des Beaux-Arts
• →Parc Beaumont walk

Travel from Pau to Toulouse by SNCF train (approx. 1.5–2 hrs, ~£15–25). Toulouse — the 'Pink City' — makes a great overnight stop en route to Provence. Explore the Capitole square, walk along the Canal du Midi, and visit the Saint-Sernin Basilica (free). Dinner in the buzzing Place du Capitole area.

🚌SNCF train Pau → Toulouse, ~£15–25

🛏HI Hostel Toulouse or budget hotel (ibis Toulouse Centre) — approx. £28–42/night

• →Morning train to Toulouse
• →Place du Capitole and the Pink City architecture
• →Canal du Midi walk
• →Saint-Sernin Basilica
• →Dinner in Toulouse

Take the SNCF train from Toulouse to Montpellier (approx. 2 hrs, ~£20–35). Montpellier is a vibrant, student-filled city on the doorstep of the Mediterranean. Explore the grand Place de la Comédie, the medieval Écusson old town and the Promenade du Peyrou. Excellent and affordable restaurants in the old quarter for dinner.

🚌SNCF train Toulouse → Montpellier, ~£20–35

🛏Hostel Oops Montpellier or ibis Montpellier Centre — approx. £28–42/night

• →Train to Montpellier
• →Place de la Comédie and Écusson old town
• →Promenade du Peyrou and aqueduct
• →Dinner in the old quarter

Take a short train to Sète (~£7 return), the 'Venice of Languedoc', a working fishing port on a strip of land between the sea and a lagoon. Explore the canals, eat freshly caught seafood at the port, and walk up Mont Saint-Clair for panoramic views. Return to Montpellier for the evening. Alternatively, take a bus to the nearby Carnon or La Grande-Motte beaches (free entry, ~£3 bus).

🚌Train to Sète return, ~£7

🛏Hostel Oops Montpellier or ibis Montpellier Centre — approx. £28–42/night

• →Day trip to Sète by train
• →Canal walks and fishing port
• →Seafood lunch at the port
• →Mont Saint-Clair viewpoint

Train from Montpellier to Arles (~£15–20, approx. 1 hr). Arles is a treasure trove of Roman monuments and was Van Gogh's home for over a year. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre (~£9), walk the Roman Theatre, and follow the Van Gogh trail around town using the free map available from the tourist office. Dinner in the shaded Place du Forum.

🚌SNCF train Montpellier → Arles, ~£15–20

🛏Hôtel de l'Amphithéâtre or Auberge de Jeunesse Arles — approx. £28–42/night

• →Train to Arles
• →Roman Amphitheatre visit
• →Van Gogh trail self-guided walk
• →Roman Theatre and old town
• →Dinner at Place du Forum

Take a half-day guided jeep or horse tour into the Camargue delta — a wild wetland famous for white horses, pink flamingos and black bulls (approx. £30–50 via GetYourGuide or local operators in Arles). Alternatively, hire a bike (~£12/day) and ride the cycling paths into the Camargue independently. Return to Arles for an evening stroll through the old town.

🚌Bike hire or shared jeep tour, ~£12–50

🛏Hôtel de l'Amphithéâtre or Auberge de Jeunesse Arles — approx. £28–42/night

• →Camargue Nature Reserve tour (jeep/horse or self-guided bike)
• →Spot flamingos, white horses and bulls
• →Evening stroll through Arles old town

Take the bus or train from Arles to Aix-en-Provence (approx. 1–1.5 hrs via Marseille, ~£12–20). Check in to your accommodation and immediately dive into Aix's legendary old town — the Cours Mirabeau, a grand tree-lined boulevard lined with cafés and fountains, is the perfect place to decompress. Visit the Atelier Cézanne (~£7) where Paul Cézanne painted Mont Sainte-Victoire. Evening dinner at an outdoor café.

🚌SNCF train/bus Arles → Aix-en-Provence, ~£12–20

🛏Hostel Aix or Hôtel du Globe Aix-en-Provence — approx. £32–48/night

• →Train/bus to Aix-en-Provence
• →Walk Cours Mirabeau boulevard
• →Atelier Cézanne visit
• →Provençal dinner at an outdoor café

End your 22-day French adventure in the best possible way: browse Aix's famous morning market (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday on Place Richelme) and stock up on lavender, local olive oil and Calissons d'Aix sweets as gifts. Take a final walk through the old town and visit the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral (free). Depart or extend your stay — Marseille airport is 30 minutes away by shuttle bus (~£8).

🚌Shuttle bus to Marseille airport ~£8, or taxi ~£30

🛏Check out

• →Morning market at Place Richelme
• →Saint-Sauveur Cathedral
• →Final walk through old town and fountain trail
• →Depart from Aix or Marseille airport