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The perfect mix between small town & village

April 10 – 17, 2027
7 nights / 8 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,700€ EUROS per person based on double occupancy
925€ 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)
Pont du Gard

Pick-up at 9:30 at your Avignon hotel (arrival the day before in Avignon is necessary).  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.  Next, we journey to the charming town of Uzès, stopping en route to visit the legendary Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard.  We’ll enjoy lunch in a picturesque medieval village.  After checking into our boutique hotel in the heart of Uzès, you’ll have free time to wander the town’s quaint streets, browse its inviting boutiques, or simply soak in the atmosphere before we gather for dinner. 

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 2 (Sunday, April 11)
Gardens Nimes

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)
door village

This morning we travel north into the scenic Ardèche region to visit one of the world’s most extraordinary prehistoric sites – Grotte Chauvet.  We’ll discover the fascinating story behind its discovery, marvel at the Ice Age artwork, and learn how this site remained perfectly preserved.  Today we will also explore one of France’s officially designated « Most Beautiful Villages », where historic homes, the castle, and winding streets leading to views of the valley make time stand still. 

Caves site lunch & bistro dinner 

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

Today we leave the Occitanie region behind and journey into the heart of the Luberon.  Along the way, we’ll stop in Avignon, where our local guide, Julian, will welcome us for a gourmet walking tour, introducing us to the city’s rich history and culinary specialties.  From there, we continue to the hilltop village of Grodes, where we’ll settle into our charming B&B.  The remainder of the afternoon is your to relax or take a leisurely stroll into the village.  Dinner this evening will be at a nearby village restaurant. 

Lunch & Dinner included

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

It’s market day in Saint-Remy!  Enjoy some free time to explore the town and wander through its lively market. For lunch, we’ll make our way to a winery nestled in the foothills of the serene Alpilles mountains that Van Gogh so often painted.  After a private tasting of the wines, we’ll be led to a secluded spot reserved just for us, where a memorable catered picnic awaits.  Before going back to Gordes, we’ll take a digestive stroll through the charming village Eygalières.  Our dinner outing this evening is a short walk from the B&B.

Catered picnic lunch & Dinner included

Day 6 (Thursday, April 15)
ochre colored Roussillon village street

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

Begin with a magical morning walk along the Sorgue River in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, following its course downriver to the charming town of L’Isle Sur la Sorgue, where legends and a rich industrial heritage are woven into the story of the river.  After a casual lunch in town, we’ll visit one of Provence’s most beloved icons, the Abbaye de Sénanque. This evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner in a 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 near Avignon
  • Pont du Gard
  • Provencal market in Saint Remy
  • Wine tasting 
  • Prehistoric Cave visit (Grotte Chauvet 2)
  • Gourmet tour of Avignon
  • Guided city tour of Nimes
  • Abbaye de Senanque 
  • Many village tours

Places Visited

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

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 
  • All but 1 dinner (a variety from fine dining, local cuisine, private chefs, and unique atmospheres)
    • 1 dinner at your leisure in Uzès

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Avignon 
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
"Our travel group of 6 seniors spent 5 days with Emily in Provence. We hopped villages in Luberon, viewed chalk cliffs in Cassis, spent time in alpilles region and Arles and St Remy. Emily is prompt and very helpful in mapping our itinerary, making sure we have different experiences in sights and meals while there. She is punctual, professional , personable and patient with in depth knowledge of the sights and history of places we visited, always with good sense of humor. An excellent driver too…"
"Private tour September 2026 “Emily Durand is an absolute treasure! We arranged a one-week private tour prior to a double Viking River Cruise - Lyon, Provence and the Rhineland - to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Starting from Aix-en-Provence, Emily designed a tour that embraced the best of the region. I traveled extensively in France while living two years in Tours during college years. We had also roamed throughout Provence some 25 years ago before attending an “en plein air” painting worksh…"
"It was such a pleasure to be with you again.  Thank you for your excellent service and guidance through all of our fun events.  Looking forward to another tour in the future. Jen & Janet, Canada Thank you for the wonderful poppy tours and the Camargue!  Once again, it was a vacation to remember with all the wondeful food, sights, culture and wine. Jake & Deb, Canada I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed my recent, small group "Poppy Madness Tour" with you. I loved every minu…"
"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 &…"
""I spent time on Google and found Emily’s Lavender Tours. Not wanting to drive this time around, Emily seemed to be the perfect solution. I wanted to spend some time in Sault, the lavender capital of Provence, as well as showing my family all Provence has to offer since most had never been there: Roman ruins, beautiful hill towns and incredible scenery, markets and lovely villages, castles and flowing rivers. Once our dates worked out with Emily and she got to know my preferences, we spent lots…"
"We booked Emily for a day trip to Avignon & the Pont du Gard. She was wonderful. She picked us up & dropped us off at our accommodation near Gordes. She accommodated all our requests to the point that the tour was extended at no cost. We had a lovely day visiting the main sites in Avignon and a lovely walk around the Pont du Gard. Her restaurant recommendations were terrific for both the day we spent with her and then her great recommendations for other restaurants in other towns we wer…"
""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…"
""Thank you, Emily, for all your help in arranging my trip and transporting me before and after the tour.  Also, the tour was so special.  I enjoyed it all.  You are a great guide to all the special things, places, foods, and experiences in this area of Provence." Diane Logon, Florida "Our group consisted of six women and one very brave gentleman with of a wide range of ages, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities. We toured the historic Chateauneuf Du Pape. We visited a Winery, Ala…"
""We thoroughly loved your tour! Every day was packed with fun things to see and do and we were also given free time to explore on our own or just relax a little. You did a fantastic job of driving  us everywhere, especially through tiny villages and narrow streets. Some of the highlights for us were getting to meet locales, a wonderful boat tour in Cassis, wonderful restaurants, and unique hotels. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience! Choose Emily as your guide and you won’t be sorry…"
""Thank you so much for all you did to make our trip to Provence EXTRA special!  Rosamond, the Babbs, the Murfees, and the Youngs all had a grand time and loved our whirlwind tour of the Provence area.  It was a special treat to have a guide who knew the area so well, as well as someone we could understand!  We felt like we were with an old friend!" "Emily, Thank you for driving and guiding my friends and me around Provence.  You are charming, knowledgeable and punctual and we all enjoyed our…"