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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
""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 vie…"
""As we contemplated our first visit to Provence to identify a village that we might return to for an extended stay, we wanted to slow travel through several small villages with nearby vineyards. Prior to our trip, Emily created a customized itinerary to best meet our interests and needs.  To start our week together, Emily met us at the train station and then proceeded to comfortably drive us through the 2-lane backroads of Provence helping us to discover the magical villages of Provence, the…"
"We spent almost a year planning our trip with Emily by email. She was patient and thorough guiding us in creating a truly personalized tour. From amazing lodging, brocantes, lavender sites, hikes, historical sites, vineyards and top restaurants, we had the perfect vacation! This may sound unusual to say, but Emily moved each day at a great pace, neither were we hurried nor were we late to any reservation. We especially enjoyed our conversations with Emily as we traveled along the narrow Luberon…"
"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 &…"
""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"
""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…"
"I can’t say enough about our fabulous friend’s trip with Emily for 8 nights in Provence. Visiting the 3 regions was especially interesting to see their differences - from Mount Ventoux to the Luberon area and finally Les Apilles! Each was picturesque in their own way. The unique experiences Emily created for us were amazing from garden tours, cooking class, painting workshop, face cream making, galleries, private chef and walking tours. Her driving was so good from pick up at Avignon TGV to dro…"
""We had a wonderful time exploring Provence with Emily as our guide! With her intimate knowledge of the region, Emily was able to weave into the itinerary places of interest for which we had made special requests, and was able to suggest good alternatives when necessary. Emily’s deep knowledge of Provence came through best as she led us through several little villages — the little nuggets of information she shared along the way certainly helped us appreciate much better the history of the pl…"
""Thank you so much, Emily, for two wonderful days exploring the Luberon region and Cassis.  You were a wealth of information, and we learned so much from you. Our picnic outside of Gordes was delightful!  We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect guide.  We highly recommend you to anyone seeking an authentic cultural experience when in Provence." Jayne & Steve Pettler, Prince George, Virginia"
"Emily, your planning from where, when and why to our overnight accommodations could not have been more perfect! The Provence region is a must see for anyone who is interested in history, breathless scenic views and amazing food and wine all of which you delivered to us on a silver platter.  You were an exquisite host.  I wish you many more successful years hosting future visitors to your part of France. Sallie Sullivan, North Carolina Our group of 8 women had such a dreamy tour with Emily a…"