Provence Road Trip Itinerary: 5, 7 and 10 Days

5 days in Provence

Four nights in Avignon, arriving and departing there. This provides three full sightseeing days. The itinerary is an editorial selection; arrival and departure are not extra full touring days.

• Day 1: Arrive, check in and take a short evening walk within the walls.
• Day 2: Avignon's old town and Palais des Papes; add Pont Saint-Bénézet if interested.
• Day 3: Gordes and Roussillon by rental car or a suitable excursion. Include Sénanque only in place of longer village time.
• Day 4: Arles by a suitable train OR Pont du Gard with transport arranged. Each is a separate destination.
• Day 5: Depart, allowing for station transfers or car return.

Without a car or organised tour, day 3 can become another city or rail outing. Leave Verdon and Valensole out of this short trip.

7 days in Provence

Six nights: three in Avignon and three in the Luberon, for example near Apt or Bonnieux. Return to Avignon on day 7.

Day 1 is arrival. Spend day 2 in Avignon and day 3 in Arles OR at Pont du Gard. Collect the rental car and move to the Luberon on day 4; a short Ménerbes visit is possible if collection and check-in leave enough time. Day 5 belongs to Gordes and Roussillon. Use day 6 for Bonnieux and a long lunch or another relaxed village outing. Day 7 is the return drive, car return and departure.

For an early flight or train, consider moving the final night to Avignon. That leaves two Luberon nights and one full village day. A market can change the order, but it does not create another day.

10 days in Provence

Nine nights: three Avignon, two Luberon, three Moustiers and one Avignon. This version includes Verdon and leaves out Aix.

• Days 1–3: Arrival, Avignon and an outing to Arles OR Pont du Gard; three nights in Avignon.
• Day 4: Collect the car, drive to the Luberon and settle in; the first of two nights.
• Day 5: Gordes and Roussillon as a full village day.
• Day 6: Transfer to Moustiers. Valensole is a stop along this drive if flowering conditions suit, rather than a separate lengthy excursion. First of three Moustiers nights.
• Day 7: Lac de Sainte-Croix, using a permitted lakeside beach or hiring a boat if conditions allow.
• Day 8: Route des Crêtes after checking access OR a second relaxed lake day.
• Day 9: Return to Avignon, drop off the car and spend the final night there.
• Day 10: Leave from your actual booked station or take your planned onward transfer.

If Verdon does not appeal, distribute those nights between the Luberon and Arles. Adding every destination on top would consume the time this plan creates.

Aix start versus Avignon start

Arriving through Marseille can favour a southern short trip: four nights in Aix, one city day, one Lourmarin/Cucuron day and another for Cézanne-related art or a permitted outing around Sainte-Victoire. Aix then replaces the Avignon base and its excursions. Simply changing the start of a loop affects the return drive and needs a revised daily plan.

For fourteen days, 13 nights could mean four Avignon, four Luberon, four Moustiers and one Avignon. This creates extra full days instead of more compulsory destinations.

Where to go next

The accommodation comparison helps with the exact location. Check car or train before booking, and use the budget guide to separate room nights, rental days and admissions.

Daily budgets are editorial planning allowances per adult for two sharing a room and transport costs, including food and selected admissions, excluding arrival travel. Check actual offers and additional activities separately.