CLASSIC FRANCE

Day 1 Arrive in Paris

Paris is an intoxicating city, and your first hotel will plunge you straight into its wonders with aplomb. There are few Parisian addresses more enviable than La Réserve - a 19th-century establishment beloved by A-listers and keen shoppers alike, separated from the Champs-Élysées only by the Jardins des Champs-Élysées. It emanates Belle Époque glamour and calm in equally expert measure: opulent salons with deep armchairs, roaring fires and gilded antiques serve a generous dose of grandeur; while its spa, wine cellars and two sharp restaurants (one Michelin-starred) make an authoritatively polished mark. Each apartment-style room and suite is utterly chic and contemporary yet exquisitely characterful. All have dedicated butlers and many possess magnificent views of the Eiffel Tower.

Overnight: La Reserve Paris

Day 2 Paris

This is a city that rewards wandering feet. Spend the morning exploring: enjoy pastries in the Latin Quarter, then admire some of the city's world-class art, architecture and archaeological treasures. The Musée Rodin will delight sculpture enthusiasts with casts of The Thinker and The Gates of Hell alongside hundreds of lesser known works by the sculptor, including ceramic experiments and masterful drawings; while the Centre Pompidou houses a modern art lover's fantasy - thousands of masterpieces that span Fauvism to Abstraction.

After lunch at the Impressionist and post-Impressionist haven of the Musée d'Orsay, stay for a concert from musicians whose performances take inspiration from a certain artistic movement or bring an interpretation of the life and times of a particular painter, such as Picasso, to reality. Take the rest of the afternoon to wander at leisure.

Overnight: La Reserve Paris

Day 3 Paris Food Tour

Your final day in the capital will begin in the company of a local guide, who will lead the way by bicycle or in a classic Citroën 2CV to reveal something of Parisian food culture - which runs far deeper than baguettes and brioche (albeit expertly baked here), as stepping inside any boulangerie will soon prove. Later, allow serendipity to strike as you continue to explore at leisure, hopping from the first arrondissement across the Seine to the Left Bank, and further afield.

Overnight: La Reserve Paris

Day 4 Paris to Provence by rail

Spend today traversing France with a scenic view, travelling on the fast TGV train to Avignon. Having picked up your hire car, in less than an hour you will be in the heart of rural Provence and checking in at Crillon Le Brave: an enchanting hotel spread across eight stone houses in a sleepy 17th-century hilltop town. At once completely relaxed and consummately smart, this is a terracotta-tiled destination that sparks the imagination, inviting you to wander its stony alleys and admire the vineyards and hills beyond the restaurant’s terrace and infinity pool. Its understated rooms are presented with a little Provençal flair – simple, but by no means plain. After settling in, the hotel’s chef will share a few of his secrets as you join him for a cookery class, creating dishes inspired by local produce

Overnight: Hotel Crillon Le Brave

Day 5 Provence

Start your day with a leisurely game of pétanque - a form of boules that gained popularity in the early 20th century - at Crillon Le Brave's beautiful gardens. Later, take to serene waters, kayaking from Fontaine de Vaucluse to Isle sur la Sorgue along the Sorgue: the river that runs between the Alps and the Rhône, passing quiet towns on its beguiling waterway.

Overnight: Hotel Crillon Le Brave

Day 6 Provence

Explore the Crillon Le Brave village and surrounding area by electric bicycle this morning. Make your way through vineyards and ochre coloured quarries – accompanied by a pitstop or two for winetasting (the village is particularly close to the domaines of Ventoux, Alpilles and Châteauneuf-du-Pape). In the afternoon, relax at the hotel and perhaps unwind with a treatment beneath the 18th-century vaults of the former stables, where an expert spa champions holistic methods.

Overnight: Hotel Crillon Le Brave

Day 7 Self-drive to the Riviera

Spend half the day enjoying a leisurely drive towards the Saint-Tropez peninsula, passing Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and some stunning scenery. Your final hotel is just 20 minutes south of Saint-Tropez and presents a peaceful retreat with supremely stylish pedigree. La Réserve Ramatuelle takes French Riviera hideaways to new heights: little compares to the way that the scent of lavender is carried on the breeze, through billowing white curtains into rooms that offer clean lines and a fresh, contemporary simplicity. Its 14 villas are the epitome of Provençal living, with private pools and endless views of the sparkling Mediterranean.

Overnight: La Réserve Ramatuelle

Day 8 Île de Porquerolles

Set sail southwards to the Île de Porquerolles, a quiet island fringed by white sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. This exceptional spot is largely pedestrianised and boasts scenic cycling routes of the highest order. Here you will discover the Fondation Carmignac: a contemporary art museum that defies expectation on a seven-hectare property – including a sculpture park and underground extension – with an invitation to enter barefoot. Linger over 300 works that impressively span artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, David LaChapelle and Gerhard Richter, all from the private collection of the eponymous Édouard Carmignac.

Overnight: La Réserve Ramatuelle

Day 9 Ramatuelle

La Réserve Ramatuelle calls for countless, dreamlike days of relaxation – and accompanied by such finessed service, its chic invitation is impossible to resist. Spend today at leisure, revelling in the rolling countryside that promises all manner of outdoor adventure; dining at its Michelin-starred restaurant; or perhaps indulging in a treatment at its remarkable spa, carved into the rocks underneath the hotel.

Overnight: La Réserve Ramatuelle

Day 10 Depart

Drive to Marseille or Nice airport for your flight home.