Lavender Lifestyle Tour

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 at the vibrant sound & light show at Carrières de Lumière.  Here music and art will surround you in the former rock quarry.  Then on to tracing the footsteps of Van Gogh in Saint Remy with a picnic lunch on the site before visiting the asylum.  We’ll arrive at our « heaven on earth » B&B in the Luberon around 4 pm.  Relaxing time to take in the beautiful estate and settle into a magical week in Provence.  Dinner outing at a small nearby village.

Picnic Lunch & Dinner included

It’s market day in a nearby village called Saint Saturnin Les Apts.  The morning is yours to enjoy at your leisure with market shopping, exploring the castle ruins, or perhaps a little photography to capture this idyllic Provencal setting.  Then we move across the valley to a Luberon AOC winery for a tour revealing both the historical anecdotes and the aromas.  Catered lunch at the winery.  The later afternoon is yours to soak up the luxury atmosphere at the B&B.  Our dinner outing is near the charming hilltop village Bonnieux (time to explore a part of this village before dinner).  Our drive to dinner will take us by lavender fields for some pictures.

Winery lunch & dinner included

Our first village today is Roussillon.  Here we’ll explore the ochre rich lands learning about the industry that shaped the village and landscape.  Then we make our climb to the High Provence Lavender region.  At the crest, we stop for lunch at a gourmet bistro.  Our drive continues on in the High Provence lavender region taking us to a lavender distillery where we can see how the distillation is done.  Sault is the lavender capital of Provence, and before our descent back down to the Luberon, we’ll make a stop in the village to pick up gourmet desserts to accompany our alfresco dinner, poolside at the B&B. 

Countryside bistro lunch & alfresco dinner at the B&B

It’s prime time for tasting summer truffles and this morning we have an appointment with a truffle hunter and his dogs.  This is educational, fun, and oh so gourmet (did I mention all you want champagne?!).  The charming village Lourmarin isn’t far and we’ll be sure to talk about the powerful lords who ruled here and built their Renaissance chateau.  R&R later afternoon back at our B&B until our dinner outing.  This evening we go to Gordes (after the mass of tourists have left)…photos at the iconic Abbaye de Senanque and then a surprise dinner in a secret garden in the village. 

Truffle hunt tasting & Dinner included

One of the quieter villages in the Luberon is close to our B&B (Oppede-le-Vieux).  This morning we’ll walk the cobblestone lanes to the ruins of the chateau at the top, learn the fascinating anecdotes of why the « old » village was abandoned.  Our gourmet activity today is around olive oil.  Next to the olive groves, in a Mediterranean garden, we’ll partake in a workshop to make our own blend of olive oil.  Naturally, an olive oil lunch to follow – in a dreamy setting.   Later afternoon some time to cool off at the pool.  This evening we have a village tour in Menerbes then back to our B&B for a catered dinner – exceptional chef!

Lunch & Dinner included

This morning we put our lavender inspiration to the canvas.  We will be led by a local artist to do a plein-air painting in a lavender field.  Next, we journey on to the quaint village of L’Isle Sur la Sorgue.  Legends and a rich industrial heritage with water canals winding through makes this place unique in Provence.   Lunch next to the river at an épicerie (local spreads, cheeses, charcuterie and salad).  Free time after lunch to boutique shop (antique shops and other quality Provencal products).  Back at the B&B, enjoy some free time to cool off at the pool and do your packing (yes, tomorrow is departure day).  Our farewell dinner at one last quaint Provencal village. 

Lunch & Dinner included