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 village gourmet bistro in Goult. 

Picnic Lunch & Dinner included

It’s market day in Gordes.  The morning is yours to enjoy at your leisure with market shopping, strolling, 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 B&B atmosphere as you desire.  A memorable dinner outing awaits us in Bonnieux.  Our drive to dinner will take us by lavender fields for some pictures with the setting sun. 

Winery lunch & gastronomic dinner included

Our first village today in 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…in the middle of nowhere.  Then on the the lavender distillery and farm to learn all we need to know about lavender.  Sault is the lavender capital of Provence, and before our descent back down to the Luberon, we’ll make a little stop in the village for a little ice-cream treat.  After a busy day, nothing better than relaxing poolside this evening with local rosé and gourmet alfresco goodies for dinner. 

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 rules here and built their Renaissance chateau.  R&R back at our luxury B&B until our dinner outing.  We’ll be going back to Gordes…(you’ll see more of Gordes without the market going on and also with the soft evening light).  Dinner to follow our evening village stroll in Gordes.  

Truffle hunt tasting & Dinner included

Magical morning walk along the Sorgue River at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and then on to the lively town, L’Isle Sur la Sorgue.  Legends and a rich industrial heritage make this area of Provence unique.   Then on to a reputable hotel and restaurant for a mini-cooking lesson with a Michelin chef.  This 3-hour workshop will teach us some tricks from one of France’s top chefs. After savoring our creations and enjoying a refreshing glass of wine in a beautiful setting, we’ll top off any lingering appetite back at the B&B with Provencal treats and wine by the pool. 

Lunch & Dinner included

One of the quieter villages in the Luberon is close to our B&B,  This morning we’ll walk the cobblestone 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.  Last day for R&R at our luxury estate…then off to our farewell dinner in the village Menerbes. 

Lunch & Dinner included