La Valette Boutique
Sanilhac-Sagriès, 30700 Gard, France
A market town, a Roman aqueduct, a papal city and a limestone gorge, none of it more than thirty-five minutes away. A day-by-day plan for a first visit, built around a base in Uzès rather than constant repacking.
This plan covers three full days from a single base near Uzès: the town itself and the Pont du Gard on day one, Avignon on day two, and the Gorges du Gardon on day three, with a swim built into two of the three. Total driving across all three days stays under 150 kilometres, and nothing on the plan is more than fifty minutes from your bed. Swap the order freely; nothing here depends on the day of the week except the Uzès Saturday market, which is worth arranging day one around if your dates allow it.
| Best season | April to October |
|---|---|
| Total driving over 3 days | Under 150 km |
| Pace | One easy day, one full day, one active day |
| Suggested base | Uzès or the countryside just outside it |
| Day one | Uzès and the Pont du Gard |
| Day two | Avignon |
| Day three | Gorges du Gardon and Collias |
| Nearest airport | Nîmes (FNI) |
| Extend to 4 days with | Arles or Saint-Rémy-de-Provence |
Day one
Day two
Day three
Three days, one base, and nothing further than fifty minutes away turned out to be the right amount of ambition, not too little and never rushed.La Valette Boutique, the Gard
Beyond the plan
When to take this trip
The plan works from April to October; the swimming and kayaking days lose their point outside that window, though Uzès and Avignon remain worthwhile year-round.
Warm enough to swim and paddle comfortably, without the peak-July crowds at the Pont du Gard or the kayak base.
Workable, but everything gets busier and hotter. Start day one and day three early, and book the kayak and any Pont du Gard tickets in advance.
Uzès and Avignon both work well in winter with far fewer visitors, but swap the Gorges du Gardon day for something else; swimming and kayaking are not realistic in this window.
Practical information
Yes, for a first visit covering the essentials: the town itself, the Pont du Gard, Avignon and the Gorges du Gardon. A fourth or fifth day lets you add Arles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence or a slower pace, but three days already covers the highlights without feeling rushed.
Yes. None of the three days are realistic by public transport from a base near Uzès, which has no train station and limited bus service.
Yes. Walk the Pont du Gard's paths instead of swimming on day one, and take one of the marked hiking trails above the Gorges du Gardon instead of kayaking on day three. Avignon on day two needs no adjustment either way.
May, June and September give the best balance of warm water, manageable crowds and comfortable walking weather. July and August work with earlier starts and advance bookings; outside April to October, skip the water-based day three.
Easily. A fourth day to Arles or Saint-Rémy-de-Provence fits the same base without adding significant driving, and a fifth could add Aigues-Mortes and the Camargue or La Roque-sur-Cèze.
There is no wrong order. Many visitors start with Uzès and the Pont du Gard since it is the shortest drive and eases you in gently, but Avignon first works just as well if you would rather do the bigger city day while fresh.
La Valette Boutique is in the Gard, five minutes from Uzès, fifteen from the Pont du Gard and the Gorges du Gardon, thirty-five from Avignon. Two boutique apartments in an 18th-century stone house.
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