Testimonials

“Provence is just magical! Emily weaves history, culture, nature, and gastronomy throughout the week. All the little things add up to an amazing experience that is not possible with a large tour company. It is like traveling with a friend. Provence is a feast for the senses!”

Anne Benik, Colorado

“This was our third tour with Emily and it won’t be our last.The itinerary takes you off the beaten path as well as to the must see places. You will be amazed at all you learn! We didn’t know our fellow travelers until the tour but soon made good friends of each of them. Interesting conversation, laughter and such delicious food and wine!!! On top of this Emily is an excellent driver and a lovely person! Book a tour with her!”

Ellie Nasha, New Jersey

“Emily, your leadership was superb! You treated us to so many unique experiences which we probably could not have found on our own. Michael has told many people that your tour is the best he’s ever been on. That is saying a lot, as he has travelled all over the world for many years.”

Michael & Diane, New York

“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 worked  with me to create a personalized one-week itinerary that went beyond our expectations. She handled all aspects of our trip with a professional , low-key manner.  The hotels were outstanding and dining was authentic.  The luxury vehicle was very comfortable to travel in as well. Knowing we were a group of artist, she  allowed time to see artistic points of interest.  We plan on returning and will work with Emily again.”

Maria Caprio-Sunta

“Emily was an amazing guide and hostess.  Her knowledge of the history and culture of the region was phenomenal! Our accommodations and food experiences were unrivaled. There is nothing I would have changed, we were able to tour and relax, not an easy achievement.  This was a trip of a lifetime and she helped to make it the best it could be.  I definitely would book another tour with her.”

Lynda Schiappa

“Starting with our first day with Emily, she was a godsend, don de Dieu! We were stranded at the train station in Carcassone, due to a train strike, and the overloaded trains.  Emily found an amiable driver with a 9 passenger van, who took us to Nimes, where Emily met us.  From then on, we knew we were in good hands.

Every detail of our trip was handled so beautifully, our accommodations, our dining, our tours of the ancient cities and villages.  And our wonderful cooking class in Uzès.  I cannot wait to return to beautiful Provence.”

Cynthia Weglarz

“What a beautiful day with Emily and Your Private Provence wine tour. Having been to the region before, two friends and I were interested in a deeper dive into what made this region so well suited for wine. She really listened to our interests and designed a really fun, insightful and rich day. We honestly expected a driver to just drop us off at several wineries and got so much more. Loved the cultural and geological history, the insights of a local to life in Provence, and a diverse sampling of the region’s best varietals. As someone who creates custom travel workshops, I look forward to working with Emily again! She can customize a variety of tour experiences from one day to a full weeklong adventure. Highly recommend, can’t wait to go back!”

Kirah Van Sickle, Colorado

“A traveler is always faced with this secret dilemma…..once you have experienced the perfect tour, in the perfect place, arranged  by the perfect host, do you tell the world or do you try and keep it a secret just a while longer?

Such is my dilemma having just returned from that ‘perfect’ week in Provence. I have decided to be magnanimous and share.  After all, the world needs as much ‘perfect’ as it can find right now.

Emily’s Private Provence could just as easily be named Emily’s Perfect Provence. Delight in her itineraries, pour over the possibilities and once you commit to the trip know that you will not be disappointed. The food, the pace, the accommodations, the history, the little surprises, the attention to details, the sights and sounds and most enjoyably, the people of Provence, will all be there for you to enjoy. You will have not just visited a place for a week, you will have lived it and that is a next level experience. I’m confident, you will return home contemplating the same dilemma… ‘share or not to share’?”

Peggy Devoy, Illinois

“Emily, I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful tour last week. It was far and away above my expectations and I had no doubt it would be wonderful!

Every small special detail just added to the overall experience. Your fun personality as our tour guide, the amazing meals in such unique locations, the unbelievable beauty of Provence, and the superior lodging all added up to a trip of a lifetime. I will certainly treasure our time together.”

Joan Aaron, Illinois

“In 2019, my parents toured Provence with Emily and could not stop raving about the vacation. Before the tour was even over, my mom secured our spots for the next year. This is a true testament at just how memorable and magical a week with Emily in Provence is. While COVID delayed the trip and plans changed, I am so happy I was finally able to travel to Provence during lavender season!

Experiencing Provence with Emily is unlike anything else because of all her unique local touches and wealth of knowledge. Eating a gourmet meal in the most beautifully decorated house in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is just one example of an incredible experience that would not have been possible without Emily! Each meal was better than the last and the BnB was spectacular. I already can’t wait to return to that little slice of heaven but until then I will look through all of the amazing photos from our trip.”

Noelle Nazha, Texas

“I have recently returned from the Provence Lavender Photography Tour with Emily Durand of Your Private Provence and Raina Stinson of Raina Stinson Photography.  I highly recommend this tour!  Simply put, Emily and Raina guided our small group on a remarkable journey of discovery.  We visited lavender fields, explored medieval villages, gazed at the moon and stars.  We feasted on fresh produce and French bread from the village markets as well as gourmet fare at restaurants with breathtaking views.

We drank in the perfume of the lavender and the Spanish broom.  We foraged for herbs and flowers on the steep hillsides of the stunning medieval village of Brantes to make a delectable lunch that we savored on a terrace built into the rocky slope overlooking spectacular Mont Ventoux.  We reveled in the stimulating conversation spurred by the incredible kinship we developed with fellow travelers–new-found friends.

And in every part of our amazing adventure, under Raina’s expert tutelage, we experimented with different ways to document in photographs the story of our journey.  On reflection, I am reminded of a quote from Marcel Proust:  ‘The real voyage of discovery consists of not seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.’

Merci beaucoup to Emily and Raina for giving me the opportunity to see with new eyes!”

Anne Newtown, Houston, Texas

“I just returned from a small-group tour organized and hosted by Emily Durand of Your Private Provence and Raina Stinson of Raina Stinson Photography.

I’ve traveled to France often and this is, by far, the best guided experience I have ever had there   The focus of this tour was lavender in bloom and photography,  but I’m very confident that touring with Emily in Provence would be EXCEPTIONAL no matter what the focus were. Here are some highlights of the experience:

• All logistics, accommodations and meals were handled by Emily, from arrival to departure. That’s a real treat!  Nothing to worry about!
• Beautiful, charming b&b that felt very private, had perfect owner/hosts, lovely breakfasts and great views.
• FANTASTIC choices by Emily of restaurants (and a chef’s private home) for our lunches and dinners, exposing us to the cuisine of different villages in the area, some restaurants with breathtaking mountain landscape views from our table!   Each meal was unique and highlighted local, in-season elements, and EVERY menu selection exceeded my expectations.
• Unique, local daily experiences, including a mountain-top astronomical Observatory trip, foraging in a quaint village for fresh herbs, veggies, fruits  and flowers for a private, Chef-prepared lunch in the chef’s home, a private tour of a lavender farm and distillery, and much more!
• Extraordinary photo-taking venues on our schedule every day, with continuous hands-on guidance from Raina about looking for great shots, framing shots, setting our cameras and iphones (yes, iphones!) for the best shots and then using editing apps to maximize the impact of our photos.  My confidence in my ability to take exceptional photos has grown exponentially!

Many thanks to Emily and Raina!  I wouldn’t dream of returning to Provence without first connecting with them.”

Carol Abbott, Atlanta