Author: Emily Durand

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 air, walking through impossibly beautiful villages and gardens, eating divine tasting meals at charming restaurants and B&Bs and rambling through fields of poppies to get the perfect photo that would capture the joy of the moment (and that will forever remind me of it). This tour had it all and was such fun. Thank you Emily for designing and quietly guiding us through such a magical experience.

Sally Burston, Australia

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 experience.

She also selected our dining experiences..  brunches, lunches, dinner, wine and olive oil tastings, and picnics. All were excellent, and each and every dining event was a new experience in French cuisine and culture, tantalizing our senses along the way.

As a guide, Emily is engaging and entertaining as she relates the history and meaning of the sites we visited. Her passionate story telling kept us involved as we learned about French culture and history. As our guide and chauffeur, we always felt totally pampered and safe in her care. We would consider another adventure with Emily and highly recommend her to others considering a Provence experience. She is knowledgeable and you can tell how much she loves sharing Provence with you.

Steve and Eileen, California

The Truffles, Wine, and Provencal Cuisine tour was fantastic.  Emily has an in-depth knowledge of Provence, and it shows.  From the accommodations to the daily excursions, everything was top-notch and well-planned.  We had a very small group, only 3 of us and Emily; it felt like we were on a fun girl’s trip.  She invited her son and husband to dine with us on several occasions, which made us feel like we were friends of the family.  The truffle tour was a unique, educational, and gourmet experience.  We experienced private tastings at top wineries and participated in wonderful cooking classes.  When dining out, we were able to choose from any menu item and enjoy a cocktail or local wine. One of the best parts of the trip is that it was off-season for places like Aix-in-Provence and Cassis, so we were able to enjoy these beautiful places without the summer crowds.  If you want a truly memorable experience in Provence, Emily is the one!

Joyce Monich, Pittsburg

It’s an early June day in the Provence countryside. After viewing the jaw-dropping and wondrous Monet/Rousseau exhibition at Carrieres des Lumieres in Les Baux, a delightful picnic for three is set up in a nearby olive grove. This was the start of our magical 4-day adventure with our phenomenal private guide, Emily Durand. From traversing the brilliant ochre quarries to walking in Van Gogh’s footsteps in St. Remy to trying (and loving!) pork cheek, each day brought exciting new experiences in the hilltop towns of the region. Emily customized our program to expose us to the treasures of Provence. Her expertise, knowledge, kindness, sense of humor, easy-going and playful nature made our tour all the more memorable. With Emily’s assistance, we booked a fantastic bed and breakfast in Isle sur la Sorgue as our home base, as well as our dining options each evening. Emily picked us up from the train station in Avignon and brought us to the airport in Marseille at the (sad) conclusion of our tour. Every day, Emily chose a delicious spot for lunch, knew how to pace the day according to the terrain and weather, and was always open to our wishes along the way. We give our highest recommendation to Emily and hope you will take advantage of any of her group or private tours. We’d return without hesitation and guarantee that your magical tour will be the experience of a lifetime!

Barbara and John Simpson

Easton, PA

To say our tour with Emily was perfect would be an understatement. The amount of thought and preparation Emily puts into her tours is astounding. Her easy going nature and good humor sets the tone for a group dynamic that is relaxed and fun. Each experience and meal lived up to the description and left us feeling as though we truly experienced “real provence.” Not to mention Emily’s transportation and interpretation services alone made the tour worth it. We will definitely return!

Cristi & Mark Wells, Nebraska

This was our second tour with Emily and there is a reason. No one does small group tours with so much care as she. Unique accommodations, great food and good people. What more could one ask?

Greg & Jill Carol, Florida

“Emily’s Spring revival Tour was fabulous. If we had to choose one word to describe the tour it would be quality. This would cover all aspects of the tour from Emily’s Mercedes van to the outstanding accommodation, the delicious meals from picnics to fine dining restaurants and the wines Emily chose, and by the way, she has an excellent palate. She also shared impressive historical and cultural knowledge and she was very caring in ensuring all the members of our group were comfortable with the activities we were doing, and in providing alternatives where necessary. Emily is an outstanding guide who we would love to do another tour with.”

Neil & Denise, Australia

Emily was so gracious and fun and knowledgeable. I would go on another tour with her in a second! As a solo traveler I felt so welcomed and part of the group ! We saw and learned so much about Provence ! Can’t wait for my next adventure with Emily and friends!

Lysa King, California