My husband and I are renting a house in Carpentras for two weeks in early September. We%26#39;ll have a rental car and plan to do lots of touring on our own -- but, we%26#39;d also like to take a few day tours to eliminate the need for driving and navigating on a daily basis. Does anyone have experience with organized day tours - which companies are best - which tours. My husband is interested in history -- we both enjoy walking/hiking so we thought an organized walking tour might also be fun. We%26#39;d appreciate suggestions -- I%26#39;m feeling a bit overwhelmed thinking about the logisitcs of how to experience the area without overstressing my husband with needing to behind the wheel of the car everyday. Thanks.
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I am afraid I know nothing about organised walking tours but a lot about driving in the region.
My wife too worries about overstressing me but I have never really felt any stress driving around the region providing I am sensible and do not do too much in one day.
We used to rent before buying our own place in the region and made sure we had access to a pool or shaded terrace to relax after a %26quot;tour%26quot;.
Carpentras is probably a very good base to explore.
To the north and west are the vinyards of Cotes du Luberon and Cotes du Rhone - both with clearly marked toursit routes and wine tastings.
To the sounth is the Luberon National Park with lots of Chateaux and small hill towns - ideal for independant walking.
All the villages in the region have a weekly market on a different day (I seem to remember Carpentras is on Friday). My favorite is in a little village called Bedoin about 10 km from Carpentras at the foot of Mont Ventoux that dominates the area.
Avignon is a short drive from Carpentras and worth a visit - Palais de Papes, full of history. You might like to search the Avignon tourist office web page for details of locally organised tours.
All of the above (with perhaps the exception of the Luberon) can be done in half days leaving time for R %26amp; R.
For longer trips there is the Camargue to the south west, including Arles and Nimes with their Roman history and artefacts.
Also just outside St Remy de Provence again to the south west of Avignon is an important Roman archetectrial site but its name escapes me and Les Baux just down the road which is a great place to walk around and has as I recall connections with the Cathar sect.
One final thing I notice is that many of the car hire companies now offer satalite navigation upgrades for their cars ant a modest extra charge.
Hope that gives you a few ideas - have a great trip.
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