Romantic Orange Line - seven-days France-Spain Loop Tour

Embarking a unique journey in Europe with our Romantic Orange Line, you can discover the charm and beauty of Southern France. Breathtaking cliffside village Gordes and fragrant lavender fields of Abbaye de Sénanque are extraordinarily intriguing. In Arles, following in Van Gogh’s footsteps, you can admire numerous masterpieces of this art genius. In addition, the world-class palatable wines of Bordeaux, the legendary stories of Chambord in the Loire Valley, the spectacular masterpieces of architect talent Antoni Gaudi, the passion of Pamplona - the cradle of the Running of the Bulls, and numerous delicacies of Donostia-San Sebastian are waiting for you. Come on! Join us! Departing from Southern France in the morning, we will arrive at Provence’s heartland - Avignon at nightfall. Known for the picturesque lavender fields, Provence exudes charm and allure. What will attract you the most is the air here, infused with a mixed fragrance of lavender, thyme, and pine, giving you a rare and unique experience. It becomes synonymous with sunshine, fragrance and culture, fascinating a myriad of tourists.

We’ll begin our tour at Avignon in the morning, which is reputed as the City of Popes. After the Vatican relocated here in 1309, this city witnessed the glorious history of seven popes until 1377. The famous Palais des Papes was also built during this period. Avignon is a symbolic city of French art and history. In the afternoon, we will head to the Stone Village - Gordes, which is impressive in the work A Year in Provence. Gordes is also known as the Floating Village or Sky City in that it seems to float above the ground. Built in the Middle Ages, it consists of countless stacked limestone. Afterward, the next destination is Abbaye de Sénanque, in which we can visit the Lavender Museum en route. The story line of A Year in Provence unfolds with Abbaye de Sénanque as a setting, which is also a landmark in Provence.

（Special note: Lavender is seasonal. The best time to enjoy its beauty is June, July and August. Due to climate change, growth cycle and harvest events, exuberant lavender fields can not be guaranteed.）

In the morning, we will head to Arles, a small town known as Van Gogh’s muse. As Arles was marked as a priority development city in the Roman Empire, it is home to ancient Roman heritages. The story of prestigious artist Van Gogh makes the town more vigorous. With merely a year of stay, though, Van Gogh created more than 200 oil paintings here and it marked the golden year of his creation. The Langlois Bridge at Arles with Women Washing, Cafe Terrace at Night, and Vincent’s Bedroom in Arles are the most well-known masterpieces. Visiting these sites after admiring the work mentioned above, you will amaze with the vividness and verisimilitude of his work. Next, we will stroll along the Southern France highways toward the France-Spanish Border and cross into Spanish to travel to the coastal city - Barcelona, Catalonia province. Time permitting, you will enjoy wonderful dinner at the Olympic Beach.

Complimentary Offer: one-hour city walk in Barcelona, accompanied by a local tour guide, to explore the charm of this city.

In the morning, our journey begins with the Montserrat Mountains, home to Montserrat Monastery, the holiest land of Catalonia. Here, you can closely observe the Black Madonna, a sacred statue purifying the spirit and soul of local people. Surrounded by grotesque and colossal rocks, the Montserrat Mountains is earth-shaking and sublime. At noon we will explore the charming and hospitable Barcelona and visit several tourist attractions, including the Columbus Monument and Las Ramblas. Later, the next destination is the iconic Sagrada Familia Church, an unprecedented architectural marvel by Antoni Gaudi, who is known as the Poet of Architecture. Then, we will head to the Camp Nou for photos and souvenirs. Following that we will visit Montjuic Hill, the site of the 1992 Olympic Games, where you can enjoy the panoramic views of the whole city.

(Notice: Due to strict control of the flow of visitors and long lines, we advise you to book a ticket in advance if you intend to visit the Sagrada Familia.  Visit time: 15:00 pm to 15:30 pm. Online booking website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org)

Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey requires pre-booking of tickets online at https://tickets.montserratvisita.com/en. It is recommended to visit between 09:30 AM and 10:00 AM.

*City walk reminder: As this activity is physically demanding, we advise you to wear comfortable sneakers and baggy garments; if it is disrupted by force majeure (such as bad weather, traffic restriction, or strike), we will have the right to temporarily cancel this activity and all tourist attractions are not available for the tourists.

In the morning, we will head to the northern Spanish - Basque Country and arrive at our first destination Pamplona, the homeland of renowned the Running of the Bulls. This grand Medieval city holds the most breathtaking and impressive festival from July 6 to July 14 every year. On top of this charming festival, Pamplona also is brimming with profound history and traditional cultures. The local streets and squares boast a myriad of ancient heritages and buildings, such as medieval city walls. After lunch, we will continue our journey. At twilight, we may arrive at Donostia-San Sebastian, a northern Spanish coastal city well-known for its delicacies and film festivals. Spanish royalty, writer Hemingway and painter Joaquin Sorolla also show their fondness for this sparsely populated city, with a population of nearly 200,000. Nowadays, its achievements in delicacy win the applause of the world. With most Michelin Stars in the world, Saint Sebastian is regarded as the Culinary Capital of the World. The International Film Festival here is prosperous and sensational, attracting prestigious celebrities and superstars.

This morning, we will start our journey by visiting Donostia-San Sebastian that boasts the Luna Bay, the most beautiful bay in Europe. In addition, the city is another culinary capital of the world as well as the venue for world-class European film festivals. This gleaming gem is surrounded by mountains and seas, naturally bordering France. Picturesque landscapes enchant tourists passionately. Later, we will head for Bordeaux - the homeland of wine to visit the Cathedral of Saint Andre and Place des Quinconces. Then, we will head to local chateaux, which are must see attractions. Vast vineyards witness Bordeaux’s great achievements in the wine industry. During this tour, you can personally experience the magic of making wine. Anyone who is interested in wine can savor or purchase delicious wine in the chateau.

(Special Note: Most Bordeaux chateaux are closed to visitors during August or public vacations. The tour of chateau will be canceled during these periods. Thank you for your understanding.)

In the morning, we will set off for the well-known travel destination Loire Valley, often reputed as “the Garden of France. The Loire River is the mother river of France as well as the longest French river with a length of 1,020 kilometers. Renowned and splendid Loire Chateaux stand along the river valley. In the afternoon, we will arrive at the Chambord, hailed as the King of Castles. It was built in 1519 by King Francois I to showcase royal power and national prosperity. The king invited art master Leonardo da Vinci to integrate the local architecture with the grandeur of Italian Renaissance artworks. Viewed as the national treasure of France, Chambord was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. After today’s tour, we will go back to Paris at approximately 7:00 pm.