Testimonials

“Christmas has come and gone. New Year’s too. Today is the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas. Many of us will start to de-Christmas our homes or already have. But we learned from Emily that the Christmas season in Provence starts Dec 4 and lasts until Feb 2. Emily shared her passion for Provence with us, its customs, traditions and stories. She even had little quizzes for us so we wouldn’t forget or get them all mixed up! LOL She planned every detail to perfection to make sure we had the best and most memorable Christmas in Provence tour. Charming hotels, Provençal lunches, a courtyard afternoon tea, gourmet dinners with regional wines. Fabulous city guides and even a Tuk tuk tour and picnic lunch by the sea. Christmas, farmers and flower markets bursting with colour and bustling with fun shopping for fruits and nuts to recreate the Thirteen Desserts when we returned home. Searching for Vin Cuit. Magical hilltop villages with lovely shops, starting our Santons collections. Museums, a light show, a concert. Truffle hunting and tasting with champagne. Stamping our own Marseille soap at the oldest 120 year old factory. The BEST 4 minute Christmas night parade EVER! Santons…did I mention Santons? We love them!

LOL And even a few Christmas miracles along the way. l could go on and on but I don’t want to give away all the secrets Emily has planned for you on this wonderful tour. She is the very best host/guide you could ever hope for. Caring, calm and you’ll leave Provence with an amazing new friend. Thank you, Emily, for the most memorable time in your most perfect Provence. It won’t be long before I return!”

Janet Round, Canada

“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 night before Bastille Day, found out we could not sing La Marseillaise worth a darn and went truffle hunting, our sweet truffle hunting dog found one so we learned how to eat truffles and had a cooking lesson from a delightful French chef! We did so much more, it was truly a memorable trip. Much of the Lavender had been harvested early due to drought but we still saw some beautiful fields. I would love to return one day! Emily is truly a wonderful host and fun travel buddy.”

Barbara Thorson

“This small group tour with Emily was perfect for us. We’ve always toured on our own, so if we were going to book a tour, we wanted  a more personal and thoughtful tour with someone who knew Provence and could share their knowledge of the area with us. Not only did we get someone with knowledge but we got someone who had a love for what she did. We truly felt like we wee on a tour with a close friend who was sharing her love for the area with her clients.

We had great expectations going into this trip because we had always done our own research, developed an itinerary and made our own arrangements. This trip with Emily showed us that there are real advantages to traveling with a tour guide who has a passion for what she does. She was knowledgeable, kind and became more like a friend sharing her Provence with us. We are so grateful for our time with her.”

Greg & Jill Carol

“Experiencing the lavender fields of Provence was just part of a fabulous week with Emily. From truffle hunting, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, visiting hilltop villages, to lovely breakfasts at an idyllic B&B, casual picnic lunches, and first class dining, Emily provided us with an off the beaten path adventure of a lifetime. Her knowledge of the history of the area made for an educational as well as rewarding and fun trip. She was well organized and such a delight to travel with in her comfortable van. I would highly recommend any of her tours to anyone wanting to visit Provence.”

Jeanne Morgan

“Emily introduced me to the idea of ‘slow travel ‘. She purposely planned time into each day so guests could reflect and ruminate about sights we saw and experiences we had. I can’t wait to return.”

Sheila Campbell

“I went to Provence and I saw…some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.  Field after field of lavender and sunflowers. Charming villages and shops.  The most incredible B&B owned by a charming couple (and Owen). Wonderful women to share the experience with. And, most of all, Emily – a natural, laid back guide who took exquisite care of us and crafted an incredible itinerary!

I highly recommend taking one of Emily’s tours and will refer her to anyone who tells me they are interested in visiting Provence.  Her itinerary was well curated to give us the opportunity to experience more than just lavender and wine – which, I assure you, there were plenty of both. The end of our tour came too quickly and it was difficult to say goodbye to this idyllic countryside as well as the new friends made.”

Debra Umhofer

“The best way to live out your dreams of summertime in Provence during lavender season is to explore with Emily! She is very personable and has a wealth of knowledge, and creates a thoughtful itinerary to show you so many gems while somehow maintaining a leisurely speed that allows you to truly savor all of the sights and experiences. She also has excellent taste in food, which is such an integral part of travel. Her love and appreciation for the region is evident through her dialogue and attentive planning. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to discover Provence properly.”

Emme Wong

“It was an awesome time together, it was more than I could have ever imagined.  The lavender was beautiful. the food was amazing and the ladies were fun to be with.  It was like two pea’s in a pod, but there was six pea’s in a pod and we all got along so beautifully.  I want to come back to Provence…some day!”

Sibyl Roche

“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