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The perfect mix between small town & village

April 10 – 17, 2027
7 nights / 8 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,600€ EUROS per person based on double occupancy
850€ EUROS supplement for single occupancy
*Prices converted to USD three months prior to tour date

Enjoy the first three nights in the charming town of Uzès from where we will adventure along the Roman roads in the Occitane region. Then we move into the Luberon Region after passing through Avignon for a few tales from the Popes. Lodging is a mix of small town boutique and luxury countryside B&B.

Pont Julien, an historic Roman bridge on Provencal tour of Roman roads

Tour Notes

The Luberon B&B is situated within walking distance to the village Gordes. During free time (relaxing time at the B&B) you have the possibility to walk to the village for more exploring or for those magical evening strolls.

Physical ability should be at least moderate to enjoy this tour (2-hour city tour in Nimes & Avignon as well as hilltop villages).

Flowers for you:  By mid April, the famous poppies splash the countryside with their vibrant red.  A glorious time for flower lovers.  

Itinerary

NOTE: This is a working itinerary; the final itinerary will be posted and provided to guests closer to the tour date.

Day 1 (Saturday, April 10)
Avignon gardens

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 slow travel and inspiration with a garden & abbey tour. From here we have views of the Popes Palace, the legendary Pont d’Avignon and the 14th century ramparts seen from across the Rhone River. From this fiefdom owned by the kings we’ll move into the charming town Uzès where the Duchy will greet us. Free time to explore the cobblestone lanes and boutique shop before we meet up for dinner. Lodging is in the center of Uzès at a lovely boutique hotel.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 2 (Sunday, April 11)
guided small group city tour of Nimes, France and Roman historical places

We have a short drive to the city of Nimes. Our city tour will take us through the Roman era and by the time lunch comes around, we’ll be imagining we are in togas and cheering on the Emperor (or not). A gourmet Sunday lunch in courtyard resembling a Roman villa and then on to the first public gardens created in France for a poetic stroll. This evening is yours to relax and dine at your leisure in Uzès.

Gourmet Sunday lunch included

Day 3 (Monday, April 12)
Pont du Gard

Continuing our Roman explorations, today we will marvel at one of the Roman’s best kept masterpieces, the Pont du Gard. Making our way to the different vantage points, you’ll get a sense of the sheer magnitude and incredible engineering feat leaving you to ponder how such an endeavor was possible. Lunch at small village bistro and then free time until we meet up for our evening cooking lesson with dinner to follow.

Bistro lunch & cooking lesson (dinner)

Day 4 (Tuesday, April 13)
hilltop village of Gordes in Provence, France

From the Occitane region to the Luberon we go. En route we’ll stop in Avignon where we will be greeted by Julien who will lead us on a gourmet tour of Avignon. Then on to the village Gordes to settle in to our B&B. Free time to either relax or take a short walk into the village Gordes for exploring the cobblestone lanes and vista corners. Dinner this evening at a nearby countryside bistro.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 5 (Wednesday, April 14)
macaroons at Provencal market

It’s market day in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. You have free time to stroll the market and pick up snacks for our picnic lunch in the countryside Van Gogh painted. After lunch we’ll plunge into Van Gogh’s world around Saint Remy where he stayed for a year at the private asylum. On our way back to the B&B we’ll stop at a winery nestled into the side of the Alpilles mountains for a tour and tasting. Dinner this evening in the beautiful village Gordes.  

Picnic lunch (with your market goodies) & Dinner included

Day 6 (Thursday, April 15)
amazing ochre orange-red of Roussillon region in France

It’s our hilltop village hopping day, starting with the ochre village Roussillon. We’ll start our exploring by walking the beautiful ochre trail next to the village. The village has plenty of anecdotes from the legends of why the earth is red to the stories behind the ochre industry, a major economy until the beginning of the 20th century.  A bistro lunch at a winery followed by a beautiful stroll in a unique village known as Viel Oppede – find out why this village was abandoned.  Dinner this evening at a favorite countryside restaurant.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 7 (Friday, April 16)
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a beautiful village to visit

Magical morning walk along the Sorgue River at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and then down river to the town, L’Isle Sur la Sorgue. Legends and a rich industrial heritage linked to the river here. After a casual lunch in town, we visit one of Provence’s most well known icons; the Abbaye de Senanque. Farewell dinner together at nearby village.  

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 8 (Saturday April 17)
  • Depart from B&B around 10 am for Avignon train departures
    • Other drop-off points can be arranged 
  • Choose to stay one more night at the B&B for a relaxing last day in paradise. (Payment for extra night directly with B&B…to be reserved very early on).

Activities & Sites Included

  • Abbaye Saint André
  • Pont du Gard
  • Provencal market in Saint Remy
  • Van Gogh asylum in Saint Remy
  • Wine tasting 
  • Cooking lesson
  • Gourmet tour of Avignon
  • Abbaye de Senanque 

Places Visited

  • Uzès 
  • Nimes 
  • Avignon 
  • Gordes 
  • Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 
  • Oppede-le-Vieux 
  • Roussillon 
  • Saint Remy

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

Vincent Van Gogh

(Photo: Gordes sunset by Emily Durand)

Includes

  • All transportation in Emily’s comfortable Mercedes van – pick-up & drop-off at Avignon TGV train station
  • 3 nights lodging boutique hotel in Uzès & 4 nights lodging at luxury B&B near Gordes 
  • All breakfasts 
  • All lunches 
    • 1 lunch is picnic style with a combination of your market goodies and those that your guide will pick up as well. 
  • All dinners (a variety from fine dining, local cuisine, private chefs, and unique atmospheres)

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Avignon 
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
"Emily's Lavender and Photography Tour is, as stated, a private, and I would say INTIMATE, experience in Provence.  From the first evening in L'Isle sur la Sorgue everything about the tour is carefully crafted to create a sense that one has become "at home" in Provence.  The accommodations at the converted stone farmhouse are comfortable and well appointed, creating an intimacy that speaks of "part of the family."  In addition to breathtaking venues for photography, each day provided a creative…"
"What a treasure it was  to partake in Emily’s Spring Poppy Tour. Out of the 7 of us traveling together, 5 were painters and two were not however there was something for everyone. Emily took our interests and custom designed the itinerary to meet our needs. Besides painting in breathtaking settings, some of the highlights were meeting the lovely local people and enjoying immersive experiences such as cooking in local homes,  learning about wines, and olive trees , even creating our own olive oil…"
""From the moment we met, Emily made us feel at home in Provence! Her careful selection of wine tastings and restaurants were exactly what we were looking for.  Thank you, Emily, for making our 10-year anniversary trip exactly what we wanted it to be." Michael & Lauren, San Diego, CA"
"Emily was our guide and driver for 10 days during our private tour of Provence. There were 7 of us, all friends and we have traveled all over the world for the past 50 years. Our 10 days with Emily traveling all over Provence was perhaps the finest travel experience any of us have ever had. She completely embodies all of the qualities needed to take complete strangers and make them feel as if they are part of her family. She was so professional, knowledgeable, kind, caring and flexible as well…"
"Poppy Madness Tour 2027 This was my second trip with Emily ! Cannot wait for the third! Every detail was thoughtful, personal, and beautifully curated. Emily has a rare gift for creating experiences that make you feel less like a visitor and more like you’re truly living in Provence. From the charming villages to the unforgettable meals and peaceful countryside, everything felt authentic, effortless, and incredibly special. Lysa King, California From a cooking class to painting en plein ai…"
""We just returned from a fantastic week in Provence with Emily Durand. The entire 7 days exceeded our expectations. Emily wowed us each day with visits to interesting historic sights, unique villages, beautiful views, museums, outdoor markets, and also personal discussions with individual owners of winery’s, B&Bs, lavender growers and distillers. If you want a truly meaningful Provence experience, contact Emily for a personalized tour." Bob & Terrie, New Jersey"
""Emily was our favorite guide during our 2 weeks in France. She was so personable, taking us to favorite places and making Provence come alive. We loved our vineyard picnic, our tour in Arles, wine tastings, lunch at La Madison de la Truffe, and visits to local villages and markets. Wonderful memories for my daughter and I thanks to her special care!" Marcia & Terri Hannig, Colorado"
""Finally third time was a charm! I found Emily while looking for trips to Provence to see the beautiful fields of lavender. I sent my deposit for 2020 and Covid happened so transferred it to 2021 and things were still crazy but finally 2022. There were 5 of us in our group, my daughter decided to join me and then my grand daughter joined in, and finally the lovely Carroll’s Jill and Greg. We had so much fun, so much wine and so many laughs. We showed the French how to party before midnight the…"
""We had a great trip with Emily and highly recommend her. Before we arrived, she had designed a lovely tour of Provence villages just for us. Attentive to our interests and needs, she crafted an adventure that was a highlight of a trip to France and Italy. In several days, she introduced us to the history of these hill towns, the beauty of the rural landscape, and the feel of markets, twisty streets, churches, and Van Gogh’s world. Though we saw a good deal, she also made time for little mat…"
"EMILY! A familiar shout out each morning as she arrived to lead us out on excursions throughout the Provence region. Emily Durand set up an itinerary that took us to many culture rich and diverse sites. She chose great lodging facilities in Avignon, Uzes, and a lovely and stunning B&B in Gordes. Every facility was top notched, centrally located, and extremely comfortable. Emily took care of all the details with these facilities and we didn’t have to worry about anything but enjoying our exp…"