Discover Provence: Self-Launched Edition
7 days · Provence, France
Exodus charges £2,820
No-markup version: ~£735 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the guided minibus and explore the very best of Provence on your own terms — same lavender plateaux, ochre cliffs, medieval villages and vineyard tastings, but booked independently for a fraction of the price. Starting in Forcalquier, winding through the Luberon, Avignon and finishing in Aix-en-Provence, this self-launched itinerary swaps private coach transfers for local buses and rental cars, and boutique group hotels for well-rated guesthouses and budget hotels. All the markets, cheese tastings, wine tours and hiking are bookable directly or via GetYourGuide — no tour leader required.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Forcalquier
Forcalquier
Fly into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) and take the Cartreize/Zou! regional bus service towards Manosque, then connect to Forcalquier by local bus or a pre-booked shared taxi (approx. £20-25 total). The journey takes around 1.5–2 hours. Check in to your guesthouse, take an evening stroll around Forcalquier's cobbled centre, and grab dinner at a local bistro on Place du Bourguet — try the lamb or local charcuterie.
🚌Regional Zou! bus from Marseille + local taxi to Forcalquier (~£20-25pp)
🛏La Bastide des Oliviers or Le Temps Libre guesthouse, Forcalquier (~£40-55/night)
- →Arrive at Marseille Provence Airport (MRS)
- →Take regional Zou! bus to Manosque then local bus or shared taxi to Forcalquier (~£20-25)
- →Check in and explore Forcalquier old town on foot
- →Dinner at a local bistro on Place du Bourguet
Forcalquier Market, Lurs Village & Olive Oil Workshop
Forcalquier / Lurs
Head to Forcalquier's famous Monday market — one of the largest in Haute-Provence with over 200 stalls — to pick up picnic supplies: charcuterie, cheese, olives and fresh bread. Take a local taxi or hire a bike (several rental shops in town) to Lurs village (15 mins), a serene hilltop settlement with sweeping views over the Durance valley. Enjoy your market picnic before a 6km walk through the Lurs area. In the afternoon, book an olive oil tasting and workshop directly with a local producer such as Moulin de Haute Provence (bookable via their website or GetYourGuide). Return to Forcalquier by early evening.
🚌Local taxi or bike hire to Lurs (~£8-12 return)
🛏La Bastide des Oliviers or Le Temps Libre guesthouse, Forcalquier (~£40-55/night)
- →Browse Forcalquier's weekly market (200+ stalls, free entry)
- →Buy picnic supplies from market stalls (~£8)
- →Taxi or bike ride to Lurs village (~£8-12 return)
- →6km walk through the Lurs area with Durance valley views
- →Olive oil tasting and workshop with a local producer (~£15-20pp, book via GetYourGuide or direct)
Luberon Villages, Banon Cheese & Provençal Colorado
Banon / Rustrel / Lourmarin / Bonnieux
Today is best done with a hire car (book from Manosque or Forcalquier, ~£45/day) to cover the Luberon's scattered villages at your own pace. Drive 30 mins to the medieval village of Banon, walk from the new to the old town (45 mins), visit the 14th-century Old Church, and seek out a local producer for a Banon goat's cheese tasting (~£8). Then drive to Rustrel (35 mins) for a picnic and a 2km hike through the extraordinary ochre landscape of the Provençal Colorado (free entry). Continue to Lourmarin (40 mins) to wander its narrow lanes, then finish in Bonnieux, walking from the Low to the High Church for panoramic Luberon views. Return to Forcalquier.
🚌Hire car from Manosque or Forcalquier (~£45/day including fuel)
🛏La Bastide des Oliviers or Le Temps Libre guesthouse, Forcalquier (~£40-55/night)
- →Drive to Banon medieval village (30 mins)
- →Walk from new town to old town, visit 14th-century Old Church (free)
- →Banon goat's cheese tasting with local producer (~£8pp)
- →Browse Banon's weekly market
- →Picnic lunch at Rustrel
- →2km hike through Provençal Colorado ochre cliffs (free entry)
- →Stroll through Lourmarin village
- →Walk from Low Church to High Church in Bonnieux
Les Grandes Marges Farm, Valensole & Sisteron
Valensole / Sisteron
Continue with your hire car for another stunning day. Drive 30 mins to the Valensole Plateau — the lavender capital of Provence, stunning in June–July. Visit Les Grandes Marges farm and boutique directly (book a guided walk and wine/lavender oil tasting via their website, ~£15-20pp). Then drive 50 mins north to Sisteron — the 'Pearl of Haute-Provence' — perched dramatically above the Durance. Explore the Citadelle de Sisteron (entrance ~£8), stroll the old town, and see the distinctive rock formations at Les Mées on the return drive to Forcalquier.
🚌Hire car (continued from Day 3, ~£45/day)
🛏La Bastide des Oliviers or Le Temps Libre guesthouse, Forcalquier (~£40-55/night)
- →Drive to Valensole Plateau (30 mins)
- →Guided walk and wine/lavender oil tasting at Les Grandes Marges farm (~£15-20pp, book direct)
- →Drive to Sisteron (50 mins)
- →Visit the Citadelle de Sisteron (~£8)
- →Stroll Sisteron old town along the Durance
- →Stop at Les Mées rock formations on return
Travel Day to Avignon & City Exploration
Avignon
Return your hire car and catch the Zou! regional bus or a direct train from Manosque to Avignon (approx. 2 hours, ~£15-20). Upon arrival, check in to your hotel near the city walls. Book a walking tour of Avignon via GetYourGuide (~£15-20pp) to take in the Palais des Papes, the famous Pont d'Avignon and the historic ramparts. Stop at Les Halles d'Avignon covered market for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Palais des Papes independently (entrance ~£12) and explore the charming Rue des Teinturiers. Dinner at a bistro in the old town.
🚌Zou! regional bus or train Manosque–Avignon (~£15-20)
🛏Hotel D'Angleterre Avignon or equivalent budget hotel (~£55-70/night)
- →Bus or train from Forcalquier/Manosque to Avignon (~£15-20)
- →Book a walking tour of Avignon via GetYourGuide (~£15-20pp)
- →Visit Les Halles d'Avignon covered market for lunch
- →Visit Palais des Papes independently (~£12 entrance)
- →Walk to Pont d'Avignon and along the city ramparts
- →Explore Rue des Teinturiers
Aix-en-Provence, Cézanne's City & Vineyard Wine Tasting
Aix-en-Provence
Take the direct TER train from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence (approx. 1hr 10min, ~£12-15). Check in to your hotel near Cours Mirabeau. Join a self-guided or GetYourGuide walking tour of Aix's elegant boulevards, fountains and landmarks (~£12-18pp). Visit Cézanne's studio, Atelier Paul Cézanne (entrance ~£8). In the afternoon, book a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard — Château La Coste or similar — either via GetYourGuide or direct (£15-25pp, accessible by taxi ~£20 return). Return to Aix for a celebratory farewell dinner at a brasserie on Cours Mirabeau.
🚌TER train Avignon–Aix-en-Provence (~£12-15)
🛏Hôtel des Augustins or equivalent central hotel (~£70-90/night)
- →TER train Avignon to Aix-en-Provence (~£12-15)
- →Walking tour of Aix historic centre via GetYourGuide (~£12-18pp)
- →Visit Atelier Paul Cézanne (~£8)
- →Taxi to Château La Coste or similar vineyard for wine tasting (~£15-25pp + £20 taxi return)
- →Farewell dinner on Cours Mirabeau
Departure from Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence / Marseille
Enjoy a final breakfast in Aix before making your way home. The Le Coq bus runs directly from Aix-en-Provence bus station to Marseille Provence Airport in around 40 minutes (~£8). Alternatively, take the TER train to Marseille Saint-Charles (~£6) and connect to the airport via shuttle. If time allows before your flight, explore the vibrant Cours Julien neighbourhood in Marseille.
🚌Le Coq bus to Marseille Airport (~£8) or TER train (~£6)
- →Final breakfast in Aix-en-Provence
- →Optional morning stroll around Cours Mirabeau
- →Le Coq bus from Aix to Marseille Airport (~£8) or TER train to Marseille (~£6)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£735 | £2,820 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,085 per person (74%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£735
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover Provence: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £735 per person for 7 days in Provence, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,820 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £735 — a saving of roughly £2,085 (74%) per person.
How long is the Provence, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Provence, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, slow-travel trip through Provence, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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