Overview
Provence and the Alps don’t usually get paired – most itineraries pick one – but a single train leg from Avignon to Annecy (via Lyon) connects them well enough to justify combining a market-and-hill-towns week with a mountains-and-lakes week. This route bases twice (Aix-en-Provence, then Annecy) rather than moving every night, which keeps 12 days from feeling rushed.
The figures below are illustrative, per-person estimates for a mid-range trip – not live pricing. Run this route through the planner for current, itemized numbers.
Day by day
| Day | Stop | Notes | Est. cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Aix-en-Provence (base) | Markets, Cézanne sites | 220–390 |
| 3 | Gordes and the Luberon | Day trip, rental car or organized tour | 150–280 |
| 4 | Avignon | Palais des Papes, day trip from Aix by train | 100–170 |
| 5 | Arles | Roman sites, day trip from Aix by train | 100–170 |
| 6 | Travel day | Train Aix → Lyon → Annecy, ~4h total | 80–130 |
| 7–9 | Annecy (base) | Old town, lake, one full unplanned day | 280–530 |
| 10 | Talloires or Menthon-Saint-Bernard | Lakeside villages, short local bus | 100–180 |
| 11–12 | Chamonix (day trip + buffer) | Mont Blanc views, cable car optional | 170–320 |
Total does not include international flights in/out.
Why this route works
Basing in Aix and Annecy instead of moving hotels every night or two cuts real cost (fewer bookings, no daily re-packing) and gives each half of the trip its own rhythm – Provence by day trip, the Alps by lake and mountain air – without turning 12 days into a checklist.
FAQ
Do I need a car for Provence? Helpful for Gordes and the Luberon villages, optional otherwise – Avignon and Arles are both direct trains from Aix.
Is Annecy walkable without a car? Yes, the old town and lakefront are compact; a car only helps for Chamonix or the more remote lake villages.
What’s the best season for this pairing? Late spring or early autumn – Provence avoids peak summer heat and crowds, and the Alps still have clear day-hiking and cable-car weather without full winter conditions.