Pont du Gard & Orange Wine Tour: Small Group, 5 Hours

Two thousand years of Roman engineering and a glass of Châteauneuf du Pape in one afternoon

A small group tour from Avignon visits Pont du Gard, the ancient aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Roman Theatre in Orange with a 15-minute virtual reality film about its history. Wine tasting takes place in Châteauneuf du Pape. The tour runs five hours with an English or French-speaking guide, includes admission to both monuments, bottled water and transport by air-conditioned minivan. Lunch is not included.

The experience

You leave Avignon in a minivan with a small group and a guide who speaks English or French. The drive to Pont du Gard takes you through the Provence countryside to the aqueduct itself: the most visited ancient monument in France and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built nearly two thousand years ago to carry water across a valley, and it still stands exactly as the Romans left it. You walk the grounds and cross the bridge itself, which spans 275 meters and rises in three tiers of arches. The guide explains how it was built without mortar, using only the weight and fit of the stones.

From there the tour moves to the Roman Theatre in Orange, where you get a 15-minute virtual reality film that reconstructs what the theatre looked like when it was in use: the stage, the audience, the performances. Then you stand in the actual ruins and see how much of the original structure survives: the stage wall still rises intact, one of the best-preserved Roman theatres anywhere. The guide walks you through the layout and the history of who performed there and how the acoustics worked.

The final stop is a wine tasting in Châteauneuf du Pape, the wine region just south of Orange. You taste wine from a producer in the area and learn about the terroir: the soil, the grapes, the style of the wines made here. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. The whole tour takes five hours from start to finish, and you're back in Avignon by early evening.

What’s included

• Admission to Pont du Gard and the Roman Theatre in Orange.
• wine tasting in Châteauneuf du Pape.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• bottled water.
• English or French-speaking guide.

Before you book

Lasts 5h, runs Monday to Saturday at 14:30, from € 95 per person, with a live guide in English and French, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 14:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Time 4 Provence.H

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon in Avignon and want to see two major Roman sites without arranging your own transport or buying separate tickets. The guide handles the route and the history, and the minivan means you don't drive yourself between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly is Pont du Gard and why is it so famous?

Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct built nearly two thousand years ago to carry water across a valley in southern France. It stands 275 meters long and rises in three tiers of arches, and it is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman engineering in the world. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the most visited ancient monument in France.

Do I get to go inside the Roman Theatre in Orange or just look at the ruins from outside?

The Roman Theatre in Orange is open for you to walk through and explore the ruins. Before you enter, you watch a 15-minute virtual reality film that shows what the theatre looked like when it was in use: the stage, seating, and performances. Then you stand in the actual ruins and see how much of the original structure, especially the stage wall, still survives.

What kind of wine do I taste and where does it come from?

You taste wine from a producer in Châteauneuf du Pape, the wine region south of Orange. Châteauneuf du Pape is known for full-bodied red wines made from Grenache and other Rhône Valley grapes. The tasting is held at a local winery where you learn about the region's terroir and the style of wines produced there.

Is lunch included in the tour, or do I need to bring food?

Lunch is not included in the tour. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, but you should plan to eat before the tour starts or bring snacks if you prefer not to stop for a meal during the five hours.

How much walking is involved, and is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk the grounds at Pont du Gard and through the Roman Theatre in Orange, but the pace is leisurely and there are no steep climbs. If you have specific mobility concerns, contact the operator before booking.