About this trip.
Avignon and the light that drew Van Gogh
Provence has been painted, written about and walked through for centuries, and the stretch along the lower Rhône remains its most concentrated core. Avignon anchors the region — a walled city that spent the fourteenth century as the seat of the papacy, and the Palais des Papes still dominates the old town. South and east of it, the landscape opens into the Provence that Van Gogh came to in 1888 and painted obsessively for nearly two years: olive groves, cypresses, ochre villages, and the particular hard light that made him work faster than he ever had before.
This is one of the most heavily visited parts of France, and the towns know it. What carries the trip is that the history and the atmosphere are genuinely there — not staged for visitors but simply present, in the stonework, the rivers and the agricultural rhythm that still shapes the land beyond the town walls. It is a region to travel through slowly rather than tick off.
Along the Rhône by train
A rail-based trip suits the area well. The Rhône valley is one of the spines of French train travel, and Avignon sits on the TGV line from Paris — roughly two and a half hours from Gare de Lyon and you are in Provence. Regional services fan out from there, which is how most of the onward travel works: Arles, Nîmes and the smaller Provençal towns are all within easy reach without needing a hire car.
The river itself is the other thread. The Rhône has carved this corridor since Roman times, and the railway largely follows it; much of the time on the train, the view out of the window is of vineyards, limestone outcrops and the river working its way south towards the Camargue.
The practical side
This runs as an escorted rail holiday, with a tour manager, set departure dates and the trains, hotels and most transfers arranged in advance. It is aimed at travellers who like their logistics sorted and their group small enough to feel considered — the train-and-coach model rather than self-guided rail. Meals and entries are partially included; check the specific departure for what is and isn't covered.
It suits people who want to see Provence without hiring a car, and who are happy with a moderate pace: walking through old towns, some longer days on the train, and evenings in hotel dining rooms rather than late-night restaurant hopping.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for rail holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Rail tickets on the published route, in the ticket class booked
- ✓Hotel accommodation between rail days, breakfast included
- ✓A tour manager throughout on escorted departures
- ✓Luggage handling between hotels on escorted tours
- ✓Some meals — typically breakfasts and a few set dinners; check the day-by-day
- ✓Any included excursions or entrance fees listed on the itinerary
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the start city
- ×Travel insurance with rail-protection cover (strongly recommended)
- ×Most lunches and some evening meals — eat at stations or in town
- ×Upgrades: first-class legs, sleeper cabin upgrades, single rooms on shared departures
- ×Drinks on board beyond anything stated in the itinerary
- ×Tips for the tour manager (customary but discretionary)
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1Do I have to change trains?
On most escorted tours, yes — the route is the point, not a single through-train. A tour manager handles the connections and your luggage. Independent itineraries come with pre-booked tickets and detailed routing, but you work the changes yourself.
Q2Are meals included?
Breakfasts at hotels are usually included. Dinners and lunches vary by tour. Many scenic day services have a dining car or trolley you can pay for on board. Check the day-by-day — escorted tours list every meal that's included.
Q3Is luggage handled?
On escorted tours your main bag is moved between hotels while you carry a day bag on the train. On independent itineraries you move your own luggage — pack a case you can lift onto a train without help.
Q4First class or second?
First class on European trains is wider seats, quieter carriages, sometimes complimentary drinks. Second class is perfectly fine and about a third cheaper. Upgrades to first are usually £50-150 per leg on longer routes.
Q5Can I travel solo?
Escorted rail tours suit solo travellers well — there's a tour manager, a set schedule, and shared hotel dinners most nights. Single-room supplements apply (typically £300-600 on a 10-day tour). A handful of departures are marked 'no single supplement' — watch the operator's calendar if you want to save.
Q6Is it slower than flying?
Yes, and that's the point. London to Zurich by train is 8 hours via Paris and the TGV, versus 2 hours in the air plus 3 hours of airport on each side. The difference is how you arrive — rested, in the middle of the city, having watched the journey.
Q7What if a train is cancelled?
Escorted tours have tour-manager contingency — the operator rebooks and absorbs the cost. Independent itineraries depend on your ticket type (flexible versus advance) and whether you have rail-protection insurance. Take it.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a 20-25% deposit at booking, balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. Rail tickets are a sunk cost once issued, which matters on longer trips. Travel insurance with rail cover is sensible.
Three rail holidays, side-by-side.
Other rail holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
