Itinerary - 5 Night Holiday by Rail

Day 1

London to Nimes

Take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord and connect onto the high speed TGV service from the Gare de Lyon to Nimes.

On arrival in Nimes, check in at the De La Baume Hotel Nimes where you will stay for 3 nights.

Nimes became a Roman colony at some time before 28BC and evidence still remains today of the colony's heyday when an aqueduct was built to bring water from the hills and fortifications were made around the city. Two gates have survived from these original ramparts and the spectacular Pont du Gard outside the city is testament to Roman ingenuity.

Days 2 and 3

Nimes

Spend two full days enjoying the sights of Nimes.

Visit Roman monuments such as the Maison Carrée, a small Roman temple built in 19BC and France's best preserved amphitheatre which is still used as a venue for outdoor events. More recent structures such as the Gothic Cathedral and lovely 18th century Jardins de la Fontaine are also well worth a visit.

During your stay, you might also want to take the opportunity to explore outside the city. Discover the stunning countryside and hilltop villages of Provence or head for a daytrip to Avignon, Orange or Aix en Provence.

Day 4

Nimes to Arles

Spend another morning in Nimes and enjoy time for lunch before heading back to the station for your onward service to Arles (journey time just over 30 minutes). On arrival in Arles, check in at the Best Western Atrium Arles for a 2 night stay.

Spend the afternoon and evening wandering around the narrow streets of this beautiful, historic city. Discover where painter Vincent Van Gogh drew his inspiration and perhaps spend an evening in a restaurant not unlike that in his famous work Café Terrace at Night which was painted here.

Day 5

Arles

Enjoy a full day exploring the city and surrounding area. Arles was an important Roman settlement and there are still plenty of monuments from the period to see, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage listed. You can also see some of Van Gogh's works at the Espace Van Gogh, a former hospital where the artist stayed on a couple of occasions.

Out of Arles, the Camargue National Park is a stunning wetland area stretching to the coast where you can spot flamingoes and wild white horses.

Day 6

Arles to London

After breakfast this morning, take the train back to Paris, passing through Avignon. Stop for a lunch in the French capital or connect straight onto your Eurostar back to London.