Lavender & Heritage Sites Tour
Lavender & Provence’s best heritage sites
SOLD OUT
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
(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)