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Roman roads and the best of town & village

April 13-20, 2024
7 nights / 8 days

Limited to 7 guests
3,950€ EUROS per person based on double occupancy
850€ EUROS supplement for single occupancy
*Prices converted to USD two months prior to tour date

I’ve put this tour together to combine regions that you don’t often see on any one tour. The first three nights will be in the charming town Uzès from where we will adventure along the Roman roads in the Occitane region. Then we’ll move into the Luberon Region after passing through Avignon with 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 and the hilltop villages).

Flowers for you:  Wisteria starts to bloom around the 1st of April, Cherry blossoms the first part of April, and poppies start blooming along the roadsides mid-April.  

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 13)
Avignon gardens

Pick-up around 10:30 at the Avignon TGV train station (or at your Avignon hotel should you arrive the day before). 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. From this fiefdom owned by the kings we’ll move into the charming town Uzès where the Duchy will greet us. Free time to explore the cobblestone lanes and boutique shop before we meet up for dinner. Lodging is in the center of Uzès at a lovely boutique hotel.

Picnic Lunch & Dinner included

Day 2 (Sunday, April 14)
guided small group city tour of Nimes, France and Roman historical places

We have a short drive to the city of Nimes. Our city guide will take us through the Roman era and by the time lunch time comes, 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 15)
walking on the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct in Provence, France

Continuing our Roman explorations, today we will marvel at the top of the Pont du Gard. Our guide will lead us through the water canal at the top from where the views amaze and the height makes you really ponder how such an endeavor was possible to build. Lunch at small village bistro and then free time until we meet up for our evening cooking lesson with dinner to follow.

Bistro lunch & cooking lesson (dinner)

Day 4 (Tuesday, April 16)
hilltop village of Gordes in Provence, France

From the Occitane region to the Luberon we go. En route we’ll stop in Avignon because Saint Benezet and the Popes have a few stories to tell. Lunch at the gourmet market known as Les Halles and then on to the village Gordes to settle in to our B&B. Free time to either relax or take a short walk into the village Gordes for exploring the cobblestone lanes and vista corners. Dinner this evening is catered to us at the B&B by a local chef.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 5 (Wednesday, April 17)
macaroons at Provencal market

It’s market day in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. You have free time to stroll the market and pick up snacks for our picnic lunch in the countryside Van Gogh painted. After lunch we’ll plunge into Van Gogh’s world around Saint Remy when he stayed for a year at the private asylum. Before going back to the B&B, an inspirational multimedia show, known as Carrières de Lumières, will have us oohing and awing and perhaps swinging and swaying as well. Dinner this evening at chef’s house.

Picnic lunch (with your market goodies) & Dinner included

Day 6 (Thursday, April 18)
amazing ochre orange-red of Roussillon region in France

The ochre village Roussillon is our first stop and you may be wanting to get your morning steps in 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. From Roussillon we’ll make a short drive to meet up with an artist in his workshop and have the privilege of seeing Provence (the world) through his eye. A catered picnic lunch and then on to two more villages each with their unique stories: Lacoste and Oppede-le-Vieux. Dinner this evening at a favorite countryside restaurant.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 7 (Friday, April 19)
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a beautiful village to visit

Magical morning walk along the Sorgue River at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and then down river to the town, L’Isle Sur la Sorgue. Legends and a rich industrial heritage linked to the river here. After a casual lunch in town, we visit one of Provence’s most well known icons; the Abbaye de Senanque. Just before dinner, a sommelier comes to our B&B for an olive oil workshop. Alfresco dinner to follow casually at the B&B with a champagne toast to our magical week in Provence.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 8 (Saturday April 20)
  • 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
  • Pont du Gard
  • Provencal market in Saint Remy
  • Van Gogh asylum in Saint Remy
  • Olive oil tasting workshop
  • Cooking lesson
  • 2-hour guided city tour of Nimes
  • Carrières de Lumières sound & light show 
  • Abbaye de Senanque 
  • Meet the artist – home studio

Places Visited

  • Uzès 
  • Nimes 
  • Avignon 
  • Gordes 
  • Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 
  • Oppede-le-Vieux 
  • Roussillon 
  • Les Baux de Provence 
  • Saint Remy

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 
    • 1 lunch is picnic style with a combination of your market goodies and those that your guide will pick up as well. 
  • All dinners (a variety from fine dining, local cuisine, private chefs, and unique atmospheres)

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Avignon 
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
  • March 2023 – A Few Days in Provence

    ""We had the trip of a lifetime with Emily! She was friendly, fun, very knowledgeable, bilingual and a very safe driver. She took us to some of the most picturesque places in Provence and even accompanied me to the doctor’s office for an emergency, AND was my translator with the doctor! She went above and beyond! Her kindness and expertise were 5 stars. We did not want to rent a car because we didn’t know the roads and having her in the driver’s seat in her beautiful van made the journey stres..."
  • July 2022 Provence Lavender Tour

    ""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 he..."
  • May 2017 3-Day Tour in Provence

    ""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"
  • June Private Week-long Tour

    ""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"
  • July Lavender Tour 2021

    ""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 Perf..."
  • June 2018 3-day guided tour

    ""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 ..."
  • May 2023 – Poppy Madness Small Group Tour

    "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 d..."
  • October 2014 Day Tour of the Luberon

    ""We spent a wonderful day with Emily as our guide touring the “Hill towns of the Luberon”. Our time with Emily was like spending a day with a family friend who gave us a personal tour of her adopted home. If you want an intimate and memorable time in Provence, we recommend Emily and Your Private Provence."Larry and Kathy Huhn, Oregon"
  • May 2018 7-day custom tour

    ""What wonderful memories were made with four high school friends in Provence, thanks to our guide extraordinaire, Emily!She planned and executed every detail, taking into consideration our personal requests, with flexibility that is impossible with a large tour group.  Our last night, while we were touring the Calanques in Cassis, Emily even prepared an alfresco poolside dinner for us.   Many thanks and high recommendations to Emily, OUR Private Provence!Emily, you allowed us to have..."
  • Family Reunion Lavender Tour, June 2017

    ""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 lo..."