Marseille to Arles, Les Baux and Saint-Rémy review: the ten-and-a-half-hour day
My verdict: the same three towns as the Aix trip, in the same order, run from the Vieux-Port in Marseille over a longer day. Ten and a half hours, an air-conditioned minibus of eight, an English and French driver-guide, and free time in each town. It rates 4.8 from 46 reviews with a guide sub-score of 4.9, the highest of the three day trips. The two things to know before you book: Marseille adds the best part of an hour each way to the driving, and if you go in July the heat is, in Ines from Germany’s word, challenging. No entries are included, the amphitheatre among them.
What the day is like
You meet outside the Radisson Blu on the quai Rive Neuve. On some dates the van makes a quick pass through Aix to collect passengers, which is worth knowing if you are the sort of person who counts the minutes. The first stop is Saint-Rémy, with a photo stop at Les Antiques on the way in: the Roman mausoleum and arch that stand outside the town. Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, where Van Gogh spent a year, is optional here rather than included; if it matters to you, the Van Gogh half-day is the tour that builds it in.
Then Les Baux, which Betül from Turkey calls the surprise of the day. The Carrières de Lumières are nearby and optional, and they can close in winter, so do not plan the afternoon around them without checking. Then Arles, with free time, and the entrance fees are yours: a ticket at the amphitheatre door, or an Arles pass if you think you will come back, both explained on the tickets page. Lunch is on your own in whichever town you are in when it is time. The drive back to the Vieux-Port takes about an hour.
The format is the one all three day trips share: the guide talks in the van and at the drop-off, and the towns are yours. Pita from Australia writes that there was “lots of free time which I loved”. Ines Sanchez from Argentina, who gave four stars, wanted “a little more time”. Both are describing the same day.
What works
- Guide sub-score 4.9: Lynette from Australia found Sebastian knowledgeable and fun, Ines from Germany had Thomas
- Air-conditioned van of eight, which matters on this route in summer
- Photo stop at Les Antiques, the Roman monuments outside Saint-Rémy
- Plenty of free time in each town, if that is what you want
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Worth knowing
- The longest of the three day trips at ten and a half hours, with the most driving
- July heat: Ines calls it very challenging, and she is not exaggerating
- Nothing included beyond the van and the guide; entries and lunch are yours
- Carrières de Lumières may close in winter
- Not for under-4s or for people with mobility impairments; value sub-score 4.5
What reviewers say
Van Gogh comes up more in these reviews than in the Aix ones. Ellen from the United States mentions the Van Gogh places; Nicola from Italy says that “Van Gogh lovers will really enjoy Saint-Rémy”, which is true with the caveat that the asylum is optional on this tour. Louise from Canada gave four stars and calls the villages magnificent. The most useful review is Ines from Germany: Thomas was a good guide and the July heat was very challenging. Provence in July is hot on a Roman pavement with no shade, and this day has two hill villages and an amphitheatre in it. Best time to visit goes into the months.
If you are booking for July or August, take the amphitheatre as the first thing you do in Arles and do it in the shade of the lower gallery, then find a café on place du Forum for the hottest hour. Carry water; there is nowhere to buy it on the tiers.
Who should book it, and who should not
Book it if Marseille is your base and you want Les Baux, Saint-Rémy and Arles in one day without hiring a car. The train from Marseille Saint-Charles reaches Arles in under an hour, so if Arles alone is the point, take the train and read how to get there; you will have the whole day and a walk with a local costs you an hour of it. Skip the tour if you are travelling with a child under four or anyone who finds stairs difficult, because Les Baux is a hill and the arena is stairs.
Other tours to consider
The Aix departure is the same day with less driving. The Van Gogh half-day includes Saint-Paul-de-Mausole rather than leaving it optional. The express walk is for a day you come by train.
Most bookedFrom Aix-en-Provence: Arles, Les Baux & Saint-Rémy Full-Day
Van GoghFrom Avignon: In the Footsteps of Van Gogh in Provence
Quick & localArles: Express Walk with a Local
Frequently asked questions
How is the Marseille tour different from the Aix one?
Same three towns, same order, same group size and the same free-time format. The Marseille day is two hours longer because of the drive, starts at the Vieux-Port and adds a photo stop at Les Antiques outside Saint-Rémy. The day-trip comparison puts them side by side with Arnaud’s Avignon day.
Is Saint-Paul-de-Mausole included?
No. It is optional on this tour and you would pay at the door in your free time. The Van Gogh half-day from Avignon is the one that includes the entry.
Can I visit the amphitheatre during the Arles stop?
Yes, if it is open that day and you buy a ticket at the door; the tour does not include it. Check the opening hours and the feria dates, because during the Feria de Pâques and the Feria du Riz the monument is closed to visitors.