Provence Lavender Tour
Provence Lavender Tour
July 5 – 11, 2021 (6 nights / 7 days)
1 spot left
The Provence Lavender tour starts and ends at the Avignon TGV train station
Price per person – $2,650 based on double occupancy
($475 supplement for single occupancy)
Provence Lavender Tour includes:
- All transportation
- Private local guide
- 6 nights lodging in a charming and luxurious Provencal Mas in the Luberon
- 6 gourmet breakfasts, 5 dinners, 4 lunches (1 dinner & 2 lunches on your own)
- Garden and chapel tour followed by a catered picnic
- Olive oil mill
- Wine tasting at local domaine
- Carrières de Lumière sound and light show in Les Baux
- Truffle hunt with champagne and truffle hors-d’oeuvres
- Private tours with lavender growers
Provence Lavender tour does not include:
- 1 dinner and 2 lunches
- Airline / Train tickets
Tour Highlights
- Meet local lavender growers and explore the lavender off-the-beaten-path
- Tour the distilleries to understand the method of extracting essential oils
- Leisure walks in the Provencal countryside with your local guide
- Truffle hunting tour
- Market in Gordes
- Roussillon, Menerbes, Gordes and Lourmarin – villages rated as most beautiful in France
- Wine tasting
- Tour designed to give you the perfect mix of being on your own and being guided by a local
Payment for Provence Lavender Tour
$250 deposit (non-refundable) to reserve spot, full payment due 30 days prior to day one of tour. You may reserve your spot by emailing Emily –
Credit card payment via PayPal (link will be sent) or US check made out to:
Your Private Provence, LLC, 2450 Taylor Rd, Central Point, Or 97502
Provence Lavender Tour Itinerary
Monday, July 5th – 10:30 pm pick-up at Avignon TGV train station
Your Provence Lavender Tour will start with a short drive to Les Baux de Provence. Discover the old rock quarry turned into a sound and light show displaying art from different artists each year (Carrières de Lumière).
After some free time in the village of Les Baux we’ll cross the Alpilles Mt Chain to Saint Remy de Provence and visit the clinic where Van Gogh stayed in 1889 as well as some of France’s best preserved Roman monuments.
Then off to our Provencal Mas in the Luberon located between Bonnieux and Lacoste, surrounded by the magic of hilltop villages lit up at night and the cicadas singing during the day.
You will have the rest of the afternoon to relax by the pool or in the garden before our special (private) Mediterranean dinner by Giuseppina at her beautiful village home in Goult (not far from the B&B).
Tuesday, July 6th
We will start our journey before most tourist today to reach one of the most photographed monuments of Provence, the Abbey of Senanque. Surrounded by lavender fields that the monks cultivate, we’ll enter this haven of peace to explore its cultural and historical elements. Next stop is the village Gordes for the market and a private garden picnic.
After lunch in Gordes, enjoy time at the B&B to relax until the early evening when we will take off to explore the area around Roussillon (wine tasting at Luberon winery and scenic lavender route to the village). You will have leisure time in Roussillon to capture the ochre colors with your camera (Roussillon is very photogenic) and boutique shop until our dinner meeting time in the village.
Wednesday, July 7th
Today’s focus is on capturing the iconic lavender picture with the village in the background. Simiane-la-Rotonde is the perfect place for this and is also one of the best villages for door and cobblestone photography. A few minutes down the road from Simiane, we’ll be greeted by the master gardner to learn the unique history of this spiritual place. There will be a special surprise for you in the garden’s chapel.
Lunch will be a catered picnic on site.
After a refreshing break back at the B&B, we will venture across the Luberon mountain range to Lourmarin – village rated as most beautiful in France. Enjoy strolling through this picturesque village until we meet to make our way to our Truffle Hunt. Embrace the land of Provence and all its richness with this guided walk to discover truffles, olive trees, herbs and cultivating secrets. The evening will be topped off with champagne and truffle hors-d’oeuvre.
Provencal munchies back at the B&B if you are still hungry after the truffle appetizers (very likely you won’t be hungry after the truffle/Champagne hors-d’oeuvres)
Thursday, July 8th
Experience the agricultural aspect of Lavender; how it is cut, sold and distilled.
Our first lavender farm visit will be in the valley of Sault. Here you will learn the different steps of harvesting lavender and see first hand the process of assembling bouquets of lavender that are shipped throughout the world.
After our picnic lunch at the lavender farm, we will visit a distillery to see the process of extracting the essential oils.
A tour to the Sault lavender valley wouldn’t be complete without a stop in the medieval village of Sault for some ice-cream.
Dinner outing in Bonnieux (village next to the B&B)
Friday, July 9th
You have always dreamt of having yourself photographed in a sea of lavender. This lavender tour is all about making those dreams come true. The plateau of Valensole is where the blue sky and purple fields meet.
Before arriving on the plateau, we’ll make a stop at the Occitane Factory for a tour to see how this company grew worldwide and how the products are made. Lunch will be bistro style in the center of the village Valensole.
On our drive back towards the B&B, we will stop near Cereste for ice-cream at Scaramouch (founded by Elizabeth Bard and her husband, author of A Picnic in Provence).
Dinner tonight in the quaint village of Menerbes with outdoor seating looking over the Luberon valley
Saturday, July 10th
We’ll start the day by walking by the cool waters of the Sorgue River in the village Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. This water source has been sacred since prehistoric times giving rise to many enchanting legends.
Then we’ll make our way down the river to the popular town, often known for its many antique dealers, L’Isle sur la Sorgue. Here you will have free time for boutique shopping, antique browsing, and lunch at one of the many restaurants by the river.
Just before returning to the B&B around 4 pm, we’ll visit the medieval village Lacoste where the Marquis de Sade castle ruins have been catching your eye ever since your arrival at the B&B.
Tonight’s dinner will be at the B&B, poolside, with a Provencal buffet catered to us by the chef who greeted us the first night at her home.
Sunday, July 11th
Your guided Provence Lavender Tour has come to end. After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the Avignon TGV train station (departure around 10 am from the B&B with a 1-hour drive back to the train station – train departures at 11 am are perfect timing).
While you wait for the adventure to start – imagine the dream-like setting that will be yours for the stay…
Luciane
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HI! I want To GO this year. Send all information for my email.
Thank you!
Reply
Emily Durand
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Bonjour – I’ll be sending you more information via email. Thank you!
Reply
Sylvia Goodman
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My husband and I are very interested in your tour. Please keep in touch.
Reply
Sharon Chandler
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We may be interested in joining you next year…can you please let me know further details. Thank you…
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Janifer Eales
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Hello,
Do you still have one spot left on your 2020 Lavender tour commencing July 6th.
Kind Regards
Janifer Eales
Reply
Emily Durand
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Hi Janifer, Thanks for your interest in my tour. The July 6th tour has been filled. I have 2 spots on the June 27 – July 3 tour though.
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Lorraine Chickering
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I am interested in learning more about your Photographers’ Tour for 2021. Thank you.
Reply
Emily Durand
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Thank you Lorraine for you interest in the Photographers’ Tour! The dates will be July 13th – 18th. Details will be published on my website in the next couple of weeks. Best – Emily
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