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Lavender & Provence’s best heritage sites

June 19 – 26, 2025
7 nights / 8 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,400€ EUROS per person based on double occupancy
950€ EUROS supplement for single occupancy
*Prices converted to USD three months prior to tour date

This tour is designed to immerse you into the historical past of Provence, taking you to the most captivating sites for both their cultural heritage and stunning architecture. Along the routes, you’ll plunge into the beauty of 3 different regions, marvel at the blooming lavender, stroll the markets abundant with local produce and artisan craftsmanship, and taste the exquisite flavors of Provençal cuisine and wine.  

Saint Paul UNESCO World Heritage site in Provence on lavender tour

Tour Notes

Tour before the summer crowds arrive – this tour is the perfect timing to get in your lavender viewing (and cultural sites) before the official French school holidays start.  

Lavender blooms from mid-June to mid-July. Depending on the spring (warmer or colder) there can be a slight variation to the blooming season. With the climate change, lavender tends to be earlier than the traditional past dates of July.  

Itinerary

NOTE: This is a working itinerary; the final itinerary will be posted and provided to guests closer to the tour date.

Day 1 (Thursday, June 19)
Avignon historic square

Today is arrival day…pick-up at the Avignon TGV at 10:30 am (or at your Avignon hotel should you arrive the day before).  We’ll embark on a journey to the 14th century to get the full story of why the Popes made the biggest Gothic palace in Europe here in Avignon.  After our historical tour and lunch in the gardens of the Abbaye de Saint André (opposite Avignon) we make our way to our B&B in Saint Remy. You have time to relax in your private courtyard or at the pool.  The center of Saint Remy is just a short walk should you feel like boutique browsing or just soaking up the atmosphere of the charming town.  Dinner this evening together in the center.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 2 (Friday, June 20)
Camargue Ranch

We drive south to the Camargue region (classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO) to connect with nature and wildlife. The fresh water from the Rhone and the saline waters from the Mediterranean Sea create a mosaic of ecosystems unique to the area.  Flamingoes, herons, white Camargue horses & bulls along our off-the-beaten-path routes.  We discover all this on a private manade (ranch) tour.  An unforgettable lunch awaits us at a tiny restaurant in the middle of the Camargue.  Then on to Arles for a 2-hour walking tour to explore both the Roman era and trace the footsteps of Van Gogh.  Dinner together in Saint Remy.

lunch & dinner included

Day 3 (Saturday, June 21)
cooking in provence

Today we start in the kitchen…no it won’t be too much work, promise.  French cuisine, Provencal cuisine, the flavors of the south need to be explored.  Morning cooking lesson near Saint Remy followed by lunch.  Some R&R is merited after our master chef experience…relax by the pool.  Evening outing to visit the Carrières de Lumière multi-media show and then dinner near the village Les Baux de Provence. 

Lunch & dinner included

Day 4 (Sunday, June 22)
hilltop village of Gordes in Provence, France

Bags packed – changing regions today.  Today is market day in L’Isle sur la Sorgue (also known as the little Venice of Provence with its charming canal-lined streets).  You have free time to explore the market and the town before we meet up for a casual lunch (a sharing of local cheeses, spreads, charcuterie and salad).  Next up is stunning Gordes, with a stop at the view point for some pictures.  After settling into our accommodations near Gordes, you have free time to walk to the village for more exploring.  Catered dinner at the B&B this evening.

lunch  & dinner included

Day 5 (Monday, June 23)
Provence Lavender Tour

Before the crowds come, we make a peaceful stop at the Abbaye de Senanque – taking in the lavender aroma and the sound of silence (time for a tour inside the abbaye as well).  Next stop is at a dreamy Mediterranean garden and olive grove.  Alexandra & Charlotte will lead us on an épicurien journey through herbs, plants, and olive oil.  You’ll even get to make your own blend of olive oil!  Lunch will be served on site.  Our afternoon village tour is at the refeshing water source of the Sorgue River in the village Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.  

This evening we head off for some evening lavender photos and dinner in a small village nearby

lunch & dinner included

Day 6 (Tuesday, June 24)
Roussillon

We start the day with a spectacular drive by lavender fields along the sides of the Luberon mountain.  After a few lavender photo stops, we explore the charming village Saignon with its impressive Romanesque church for such a small village.  Then on to a Luberon winery…both the wine and the history behind this estate will impress you.  The visit ends with a casual catered lunch at the winery.  A little bit of rest time back at the B&B to get ready for our evening outing to see Roussillon, the ochre village, and enjoy a lovely dinner together among the ochre hues.  

lunch & dinner included

Day 7 (Wednesday, June 25)
Oppede le Vieux

Last but not least – more lavender bliss! We embark on a mountain drive to the high lavender region near the village Sault. After a couple of stops for pictures we visit a small lavender farm to learn about the cultivation, harvesting and different lavender products sold around the world.  Caterd picnic lunch at the lavender farm. Next door is the local distillery where we’ll have a guided tour to see how the oils are extracted from the plants. Farewell dinner with a magical view in the village Gordes.  

 

Catered picnic lunch & dinner 

Day 8 (Thursday, June 26)

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to the Avignon TGV train station.

Activities & Sites Included

  • Cooking workshop
  • Luberon winery visit/tasting
  • Tracing the steps of Van Gogh 
  • Roman ruins
  • Olive oil workshop 
  • Lavender farm & distillery tour
  • Provencal market (Isle sur la Sorgue) 
  • Guided tours – learn the historical & cultural anecdotes that shaped the sites, towns, villages, and region as a whole

Places Visited

  • Avignon 
  • Camargue region
  • Arles 
  • Saint Remy 
  • Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Gordes 
  • Roussillon 
  • Saignon
  • Abbaye de Senanque
  • Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 
  • Sault

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

Vincent Van Gogh

(Photo: Provence lavender field by Emily Durand.)

Includes

  • All transportation in Emily’s comfortable Mercedes van
    • Pick-up either at Avignon TGV train station or Avignon hotel 
  • 3 nights lodging at charming B&B in Saint Remy (cottage style rooms) & 4 nights lodging at Luberon countryside B&B (walking distance to Gordes)
  • All breakfasts 
  • All lunches 
  • All dinners (a variety from fine dining, local cuisine, private chefs, and unique atmospheres)

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Avignon TGV (or hotel) 
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
"Emily's Lavender and Photography Tour is, as stated, a private, and I would say INTIMATE, experience in Provence.  From the first evening in L'Isle sur la Sorgue everything about the tour is carefully crafted to create a sense that one has become "at home" in Provence.  The accommodations at the converted stone farmhouse are comfortable and well appointed, creating an intimacy that speaks of "part of the family."  In addition to breathtaking venues for photography, each day provided a creativ..."
""I used Emily through Your Private Provence to help me plan my small wedding/elopement and tours for my family while we were in the area.The experience went so smoothly in the amazing hands of Emily. She offered several options from vendors for the ceremony, restaurant choices, lodging, and tours throughout the Provence region. She thought of details for the wedding and the tours that would not have even crossed my mind! She was always in touch and responded promptly.She took into con..."
""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, t..."
""Thank you Emily! I have to say this was one of the highlights of our stay in Provence. I will always remember that day and it was made possible because of your connections. Otherwise we would not have experienced that glorious day. It was such a “provencal” thing to do!!"Doris and Vanessa Cotric, Montreal "
"Christmas Cheer Tour 2023The Christmas in Provence tour was absolutely wonderful. After traveling with you on the lavender tour several years ago, I knew the trip would be well planned and include delicious food, but I wasn't sure it could match those days among the beautiful lavender fields. Once the tour began, I quickly realized that the Christmas in Provence tour was going to be fabulous! The trip included such a diverse variety of historical and cultural activities in settings from l..."
""I’m so thrilled that I found Emily as she added so much value to our 8 night trip to Provence. We hired Emily to assist with our transfers and added touring to our transfer days… Brilliant Plan! In the end we hired Emily for 3 of our 8 days.She is extremely honest, reliable and her prices are very fair. She accepts credit cards and does everything possible to ensure your comfort. Emily picked us up at Marseille Airport and transferred us to our AirBNB in St. Remy. She organized a unique ..."
""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..."
"This is my third tour with Emily, so that alone says a lot. The itinerary is well organized and offers unique experiences. There is the right balance of activity and free time. Best of all the tours are fun!  You will laugh hard and eat well!! Eleanor Nazha, New York"
""Despite being a frequent traveler, I am not a usual writer of reviews. But this case, deserves one. My wife and myself just spent 5 days in French Provence. This trip was our first to this gorgeous part of France. We were suggested various tour operators. Finally chose the person I will describe for the speed and care she devoted during the pre-engagement phase, very different from the others.If you are looking to visit the region and wanting a guide that really knows the place and its i..."
"Thank you for everything, it was an amazing week.  The B&B was perfect as well as the whole itinerary.  It will definitely be among my most favorite trips of all time.Leslie GrizzardEmily is a kind spirit with a gift for bringing people into an authentic Provencal experience. Her planning, organization, and itinerary were perfect and she was flexible when we needed some personal time to wind down or even take a nap and recharge. Her attention to detail is impeccable and her de..."