Provence and the French Riviera

Summer is a great time to visit the South of France.  The weather is warm and the wildflowers bring color to France’s mountains and valleys.  This trip starts in Cannes along the blue waters and sandy beaches of the French Riviera before climbing into central France to the historic cities of Avignon and Lyon.  An optional excursion to Monaco will allow you to visit the second smallest country in the world, or you can use your free day to take a locally provided tour to travel into the medieval villages in Provence’s highlands.  Your return ride home will showcase panoramic views of the still snowcapped Mont Blanc and the Alps as well as Lake Geneva.

When you travel with Army Outdoor Recreation theres no need to leave your car unsecured at a park and ride over the holiday weekend or to change busses in the middle of the night at an off-post location. Our private bus will pick you up at your choice of Pulaski or Smith Barracks where both the Wagon Wheel Theater and Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation have plenty of free, on-post parking.  

4th of July weekend in the South of France will have something for everyone. Reserve your space to visit Provence with Army Outdoor Recreation today!

Estimated Itinerary

Thursday: Check in

Army Outdoor Recreation makes it easy for you to visit the South of France! After your private bus picks you up at your choice of starting points at either Pulaski or Smith Barracks all you need to do is settle into your seat, lean back and relax. Don’t forget the essentials for your overnight ride! Blankets, pillows, power banks, snacks and drinks will all help make your overnight journey to Provence more comfortable.

Friday: Nice and Cannes

Today is dedicated to visiting the Côte d'Azur, where skies are as blue as the sea. You will wake up this morning in Nice, where a city tour will familiarize you with the second largest city in the French Riviera. After lunch, you will drive the scenic coastal road to Cannes to check into your four star hotel located in the heart of the city and less than 500 meters from the Promenade de la Croisette. This waterfront playground is where the rich and influential spend their summers and festivals like the Cannes Film Festival draw massive crowds who only want to see and be seen. Two overnights in Cannes, will allow you to enjoy your evenings in Old Suquet, Cannes’ historic old city, along the 2 kilometer long beach or at the yacht filled marina. 

Saturday: Free Day or Monaco Excursion*

How you spend today is entirely up to you. After breakfast the bus will depart for Monte Carlo*, the capital city of the second smallest country in the world. Along the way you will stop at the Fragonard Perfume Museum and factory which offers deep discounts on all the classics like Amber Rose, Lavender Rose the iconic Orange Blossom and 2025’s limited edition Lemon Blossom scent. Highlights of your afternoon tour in Monte Carlo will include the burial site of Princess Grace, the Oceanic Museum and the changing of the guards at the Prince’s Palace. If you choose to stay in Cannes, maybe you will spend your day near the beach for some star-gazing along the celebrity rich promenade or you might want to use an app like Getyourguide or Viator to register for a locally operated tour to the medieval villages and lavender fields in Provence’s mountainous interior. However you choose, to spend your day, you will be sure to enjoy Saturday on France’s Mediterranean coast. 

Sunday: Avignon and Lyon

Provence’s rugged mountains and gorgeous valleys will amaze you with their outstanding natural beauty as you drive to Avignon, home of a series of 7 popes in the 14th century. Enjoy a delicious lunch and sneak in some sightseeing in this city in the foothills of the French Alps before continuing up the Rhone river to Lyon. Tonight you will dine in The Gastronomic Capital of the World, and your meal is sure to be something to “Insta” about.  Your hotel in the Sud Sainte Foy district is just uphill from the Aquarium of Lyon and the Presqui’ile, the city center, packed with a preponderance of cafes, restaurants, luxury shops, boutiques and the historic Church of St. Nizer.  

Sunday: Geneva, Neuchatel and return to Germany

Your return journey to Germany will be broken up by several stops in Switzerland. After you depart Lyon, you will follow the Rhone River to its source in Lake Geneva and see the city which shares its name with the lake. The beautiful setting of the lake at the base of some of the highest mountains in Europe will inspire amateur and professional photographers alike. Even though it is over 80 kilometers away from Geneva, Europes highest peak, Mont Blanc, is easily visible from Morges when the weather is clear. Your return trip will pass another lake, Lake Neuchatel, before an evening arrival at your starting point.

* Optional excursion at additional fee paid directly to tour manager

Price, on or prior to Thursday, May 8

• Double Occupancy: $699 per person
• Single Occupancy: $929

Price, on or after Friday, May 9

• Double Occupancy: $769 per person
• Single Occupancy: $999
   
• Up to 2 children aged 3-11 in family room or adjoining double room with 2 paid adults: $629 per child
• Infants under 3 sharing existing bedding with adult: $229
   
• Children under 12 will be accommodated in either a triple room for two adults and one child or in connected double rooms for families with multiple children.
• Infant price does not apply in triple rooms.

Deadlines and Discounts: 

• Early bird discount expires on Thursday, May 8
• Registrations made on or after Monday, June 2 may be subject to hotel rebooking fees or price supplements.

Trip Includes: 

• Round trip tour bus transportation 
• Free Parking and pick up from your choice of Pulaski or Smith Barracks
• 3 total hotel overnights with daily breakfast
  • 2 overnights at Cannes Eden Hotel & Spa**** or equivalent
  • 1 overnight at Kyriad Lyon Sud Sainte Foy*** or equivalent
• Guided tour of Nice, France

Optional Excursion, paid cash directly to tour manager: Monte Carlo - €45 per person

What to Bring: 

• Comfortable, weather appropriate shoes and clothing
• Credit/Debit Card or Euro
• Power Banks (ODR cannot guarantee charging capability on 3rd party contracted busses)
• Military ID and Passport

Departure:

• 4:30 p.m. from Wagon Wheel Theater, Smith Barracks
• 6 p.m. from Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation, Pulaski Barracks, bldg. 2905

Return: Monday Evening