Lavender Lifestyle Tour

Pick-up around 10:30 at the Avignon TGV train station (or at your Avignon hotel should you arrive the day before).  We kick off the week of inspirational travel at the impressive Carrières de Lumière sound & light show in a former rock quarry.   Then on to tracing the footsteps of Van Gogh in Saint Remy with a picnic lunch on the site before visiting the asylum.  We’ll arrive at our « heaven on earth » B&B in the Luberon around 4 pm.  Relaxing time to take in the beautiful estate and settle into a magical week in Provence.  Village dinner outing in Goult.  

Picnic Lunch & Dinner included

It’s market day in Gordes.  The morning is yours to enjoy at your leisure with market shopping, strolling, or perhaps a little photography to capture this idyllic Provencal setting.  Then we move across the valley to a Luberon AOC winery for a tour revealing both the historical anecdotes and the aromas.  Catered lunch at the winery.  Later afternoon is yours to keep cool by the pool or a nap under a tree.  Our evening outing takes us to Bonnieux for some amazing views with the soft light and a little pre-dinner stroll (lavender field pictures as well).  Dinner in the village Bonnieux.  

Winery lunch & dinner included

Our first village today in Roussillon.  Here we’ll explore the ochre rich lands learning about the industry that shaped the village and landscape.  Then we make our climb to the High Provence Lavender region.  At the crest, we stop for lunch at a gourmet bistro…in the middle of nowhere.  Then on the the lavender distillery and farm to learn all we need to know about lavender.  Sault is the lavender capital of Provence, and before our descent back down to the Luberon, we’ll make a little stop in the village for a little ice-cream treat.  After a busy day, nothing better than relaxing poolside this evening with local rosé and gourmet alfresco goodies for dinner. 

Countryside bistro lunch & alfresco dinner at the B&B

It’s prime time for tasting summer truffles and this morning we have an appointment with a truffle hunter and his dogs.  This is educational, fun, and oh so gourmet (did I mention all you want champagne?!).  The charming village Lourmarin isn’t far and we’ll be sure to talk about the powerful lords who ruled here and built their Renaissance chateau.  R&R back at our luxury B&B until our dinner outing.  We’ll be going back to Gordes…(you’ll see more of Gordes without the market going on and we’ll make the drive down the canyon to the iconic Abbaye de Senanque – after most of the tourist have left).  A surprise dinner in Gordes awaits you – views exclusively for us!    

Truffle hunt tasting & Dinner included

One of the quieter villages in the Luberon, Oppede-le-Vieux, is close to our B&B.  This morning we’ll walk the cobblestone to the ruins of the chateau at the top, learn the fascinating anecdotes of why the « old » village was abandoned.  Our gourmet activity today is around olive oil.  Next to the olive groves, in a Mediterranean garden, we’ll partake in a workshop to make our own blend of olive oil.  Naturally, an olive oil lunch to follow.  Before going back to the B&B to cool off by the pool, We make a stop at the Lacoste village viewpoint and then on to enchanting Abbaye Saint Hilaire.  Definitely off-the-beaten-path and always a very serene feeling with very few people who come here.  This evening you will be wined and dined by an amazing local chef who comes to the B&B to prepare us the best of his creations.  

Lunch & Dinner included

Magical morning walk along the Sorgue River at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and then on to the charming town built by the river, L’Isle Sur la Sorgue.  Legends and a rich industrial heritage make this area of Provence unique.   Lunch will be Provencal tapas style at a quaint Epicierie in town.  This afternoon is our culinary workshop at Marie’s house.  This mini-cooking workshop will teach us how to make an impressive Provencal apero-dinner.  Simple but oh so Frenchy.  On our way back to the B&B (with our creations and other gourmandises Marie will have prepared for our poolside dinner) we’ll make a stop at a lavender field for those last soft-light-lavender field pictures.  Time now to savour our dinner creations…one last evening in Provence Paradise.  

Lunch & Dinner included