# A 10 day road trip in the Vaucluse > "This summer, we're visiting France!". With the health crisis, like many French people in 2020, we chose to drop our bags only a few hundred kilometres from Paris and rediscover Provence. Source: https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/blog/10-day-road-trip-vaucluse/ Published on 30 August 2020 "**This summer, we're visiting France!**". With the health crisis, like many French people in 2020, we chose to drop our bags only a few hundred kilometres from Paris and rediscover **Provence**. As we only had one week off, we wanted to visit a small region so as not to do too much driving each day. So we set our hearts on the **Vaucluse** and more particularly the **Luberon regional nature park**. A [protected nature reserve](https://www.parcduluberon.fr/) and a UNESCO global geopark, the Luberon stretches across the departments of the Vaucluse and the Alpes de Haute-Provence, from Cavaillon to Forcalquier. _**To find out more about the region, [also have a look at the website dedicated to the Luberon](https://www.destinationluberon.com/).** You'll find all the information you need to organise your stay there, on top of our blog._ *The prices mentioned in this article are those of 2020 and are therefore given as a guide. ## Getting to the Vaucluse from Paris At the start of July, we booked our train tickets taking advantage of the [oui SNCF](https://www.oui.sncf/) deals, which offered plenty of cheap tickets. The **Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon TGV** return cost us only **77€ per person**. We chose Avignon station to start our trip because it's rather practical for getting around the Vaucluse and above all, that's where many car hire companies are, unlike Orange station for example. We hired our **car** with [AVIS](https://www.avis.fr/) and paid **350€** for a Renault 208, all insurance included, for 9 days. For information, AVIS is right outside the station, alongside all the other car hire companies. On the way back, we had planned to spend our last day in the centre of Avignon. So we returned the car the day before our departure at **Avignon TGV station**, 6 kilometres from the centre, and took the **TER** (**1.20€** for a one way ticket, one stop) to get to **Avignon centre station**. Full circle! ## Our programme for 10 days in Provence **Day 1** 21 August - Orange: visiting the town centre and the Roman theatre, and dinner - Night in Le Barroux **Day 2** 22 August - Malaucène, Crestet, Vaison-la-Romaine, Séguret, Gigondas, La Roque-Alric, Suzette - Night in Le Barroux **Day 3** 23 August - Le Barroux, Caromb, Crillon-le-Brave, Mormoiron, Nesque Gorges, Monieux, Sault - Night in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt **Day 4** 24 August - Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Lioux cliffs, Murs, Joucas, Roussillon - Night in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt **Day 5** 25 August - Roussillon Ochre Trail, Gordes, Sénanque Abbey, Village des Bories, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Fontaine de Vaucluse - Night in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt **Day 6** 26 August - Goult, Lacoste, Ménerbes, Bonnieux - Night in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt **Day 7** 27 August - Provençal Colorado of Rustrel, Viens, Oppedette Gorges, Caseneuve, Saignon - Night in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt **Day 8** 28 August - Luberon cedar forest, Lourmarin, Lauris, Ansouis, Cucuron, La Tour d'Aigues, Etang de la Bonde - Night in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt **Day 9** 29 August - Oppède le Vieux, Avignon - Night in Avignon **Day 10** 30 August - Avignon - Back to Paris ## Our budget for 10 days in Provence - **Train**: 156.40€ for two (78.20€ per person) - **Hire car**: 349.20€ for the 9 days for two (insurance included) - **Petrol**: 53.70€ - **Accommodation**: 802€ for 9 nights for two (3 different places) - **Restaurants/snacks**: about 315€ - **Visits**: 32€ (including paid car parks) A total of about **1850€** for 10 days for two (that is **925€ per person**). ## Our accommodation in Provence To visit the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux region, we decided to stay **two nights in a bed and breakfast**, between Le Barroux and Malaucène. We first found the room "[Aux Ambrosis](https://www.auxambrosis.com/)" on [Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/34762616?checkin=&checkout=&adults=1&children=0&infants=0&source_impression_id=p3_1599336355_BClf5vQQVUiKmvh0), but preferred to book directly to avoid the platform's fees. The value for money is unbeatable, especially in the middle of August and in Provence: we paid **64€* a night with breakfast** _(*2020 price, update 70€ a night in high season in 2023)_. The owners, farmers by trade, are really charming. The big plus: the large heated pool with a stunning view over the whole region. We can only recommend this bed and breakfast! We then stayed **six nights in a detached house** in the heart of the Luberon, in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt. As with the bed and breakfast, we first spotted the house on [Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/39857698?checkin=&checkout=&adults=1&children=0&infants=0&source_impression_id=p3_1599336908_q8wF2rIfCkjUPmlb) but, by searching a bit harder on Google, we found the owners' site [Luberon Home Sitting](https://www.luberonhomesitting.fr/propri%C3%A9t%C3%A9s-%C3%A0-louer/escapade-%C3%A0-deux-en-luberon/) (much cheaper than Airbnb). The house with a pool cost us **608€* for the six nights**, that is 101€ a night (_*2020 price, update 130€ a night in high season in 2023_). The view is splendid here too, over the Luberon hills! For our last night in Provence, we had chosen to sleep in the heart of Avignon to discover the city. Unfortunately, the place we booked on Airbnb didn't live up to our expectations, so we won't share it here. ![Turquoise pool and sun loungers facing the orange sky at dusk](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/10-jours-en-provence-dans-le-vaucluse-02-a4ed65eb.webp) ![Woman lying on a sun lounger at the edge of the pool at sunset](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/10-jours-en-provence-dans-le-vaucluse-03-e68c0a19.webp) ![Pool and sun loungers overlooking the hills from the terrace](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/10-jours-en-provence-dans-le-vaucluse-04-e2746672.webp) ![Lone sun lounger at the edge of the pool under an orange sky](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/10-jours-en-provence-dans-le-vaucluse-05-1705dcc0.webp) ![Grey map marking the three stages of the stay in the Vaucluse](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/10-jours-en-provence-dans-le-vaucluse-06-1da4e8fa.webp) ## Our favourite spots in Provence ### Food and drink - ❤️ **[Au Petit Patio](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Au+Petit+Patio/@44.1356656,4.8033048,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12b5974dd47da441:0xb4863b4e925bef75!8m2!3d44.1356618!4d4.8058797!16s%2Fg%2F1td55hsk?entry=ttu) in Orange**: excellent place for lunch or dinner, with a very pleasant terrace. 30€* for the starter, main, cheese and dessert menu _(*2020 price, update 38€ for the menu in 2023)._ - **[Thé chez toi](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Th%C3%A9+Chez+toi/@44.2389368,5.0721663,21z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x12ca7f6fcf10c817:0x6008b4e9a29b3585!8m2!3d44.2390069!4d5.0722504!16s%2Fg%2F11cmk16w9_?entry=ttu) in Vaison-la-Romaine**: small tea room offering light, fresh dishes at lunchtime. 29.50€ for the two of us for an iced tea, two dishes of the day (quiches) and two desserts. - **[André Boyer](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Confiserie+Andr%C3%A9+Boyer/@44.0916919,5.4067837,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12ca428e1d451cff:0xb323c38fc205be85!8m2!3d44.0916881!4d5.4093586!16s%2Fg%2F1tdjd__p?entry=ttu) in Sault**: a must for eating an ice cream or buying nougat (7€ for 4 scoops). - **[Maison Brémond 1830](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Maison+Br%C3%A9mond+1830/@43.902484,5.2906795,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12ca13e6b38260c1:0x4ad1a5c2cf0c0ffd!8m2!3d43.9024802!4d5.2932544!16s%2Fg%2F11b6dp17lt?entry=ttu) in Roussillon**: fine grocery of regional products that also offers very good artisan ice creams. 4€ for 2 scoops. - **[Pâtisserie Eugénie](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Eug%C3%A9nie/@43.9187777,5.0535018,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12b5f54d6e9bd60b:0x21bcc82552a7a89e!8m2!3d43.9187739!4d5.0560767!16s%2Fg%2F11hyctd6sp?entry=ttu)** **in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue**: excellent patisserie offering trompe-l'oeil desserts and very good iced teas with fresh fruit. - **[Le Sanglier Paresseux](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Le+Sanglier+Paresseux/@43.8865765,5.4809359,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x12ca3bfdd1927ba7:0x3267204be7c2657!4m6!3m5!1s0x12ca3bfdc5362ae1:0x3a8b1ae35c260391!8m2!3d43.8865727!4d5.4835108!16s%2Fg%2F1vnnfk_j?entry=ttu) in Caseneuve**: gourmet restaurant with a lovely view from the terrace. 47€ for the starter, main and dessert menu. - ❤️ **[Maison Ripert](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Maison+Ripert/@43.947725,4.8060567,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12b5eb87d9de3c1d:0xcc18700018444c46!8m2!3d43.9477212!4d4.8086316!16s%2Fg%2F1tf0b0p6?entry=ttu) in Avignon**: excellent gourmet restaurant with original combinations, a favourite! 39€ starter, main, dessert. - **[Vivotto Café](https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Vivotto+Avignon/@43.9453418,4.8047941,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12b5eb88fd2a53f1:0x2f445842c83c7965!8m2!3d43.945338!4d4.807369!16s%2Fg%2F11b6dfv5wg?entry=ttu) in Avignon**: good place for lunch or an iced tea. Set menu at 10.95€ or 12.95€. ### Bringing back souvenirs - **Charcuterie du Ventoux "Yves et Virginie"**: delicatessen and fine grocery with good regional products. - **[Bastide du Laval](https://www.bastidedulaval.com/fr/) in Cadenet**: olive oil mill offering a discovery tour of how the oil is made, a tasting and a shop. Rather upmarket oils, some of them certified organic. - **[Il était une fois](https://www.epicerie-terroir-provence.com/) in Apt**: wine merchant with a wide choice of local beers and wines as well as regional products. - **Confiserie Marcel Richaud in Apt**: to bring back candied fruit or nougat, two specialities of the Apt region. ## What we thought of the Vaucluse Even if these ten short days of holiday went by at a fast pace, we were still able to discover a large part of the Vaucluse department and in particular the Luberon park. Given the countless number of villages to visit, hikes and natural sites to see, you need to devote at least a few days to it, if not one or two weeks! The Luberon is a very pretty micro region that's worth the detour and offers very beautiful landscapes. **A tip, if you can go out of season, go for it! Because, during the summer months, this region is literally invaded by tourists, French and foreign. So remember to book your accommodation and restaurants in advance** **because everything gets taken pretty quickly...** Need ideas for your weekends and holidays in France? Read [our articles about our beautiful country](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/destinations/france/)! ![Couple seen from behind in front of the ochre cliffs, title Vaucluse](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/10-jours-en-provence-dans-le-vaucluse-07-64644432.webp)