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Time to soak up the lavender aromas…slow travel at its best

July 1 – 7, 2024
6 nights / 7 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,650€ EUROS per person based on double occupancy
950€ EUROS supplement for single occupancy
*Prices converted to USD two months prior to tour date

Sometimes you really need a vacation, time to relax but also be inspired. The Lavender Lifestyle Tour is designed for you to settle into your luxury B&B, savor the tastes of the markets, the regional wines, & local olive oil. A time to connect with the slow Provençal lifestyle and the people who will share their craft, art and story with you. Of course we don’t stop there because the lavender is in full bloom. Explore lavender fields where earth meets sky, the lavender rolling up hills with Medieval villages in the background, and off-the-beaten-path spots for getting pictures showing secret Provence. Time to get away to let your senses be renewed.

Lavender lifestyle tour featuring lavender fields in full bloom

Tour Notes

The 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.

The tour takes place during the peak of lavender blooming. We will have lavender fields on every route and many opportunities for pictures in both the popular spots and also the more secret spots.

Itinerary

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

Day 1 (Monday, July 1)
Gordes, France cobblestone walkway with valley view

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. We’ll arrive at our « heaven on earth » B&B near the village Gordes around 4 pm. Relaxing time in the gardens & by the pool with incredible views of the Luberon Mountains. Dinner this evening will be enjoyed at local chef’s house.

Picnic Lunch & Dinner included

Day 2 (Tuesday, July 2)
top ten places to visit in provence

It’s market day in Gordes, just a short walk from the B&B. The morning is yours to enjoy at your leisure with market shopping, strolling, or perhaps a little photography to capture this idyllic Provencal setting. Just before lunch hour we’ll head off to the High Provence region for lunch at a rustic farm house and then on to a distillery to learn all about the types of lavender grown in the region and the distilling process. We’ll also explore the village Sault (lavender capital of Provence) and most likely be tempted to buy ice-cream at the Maison Boyer. After a day exploring the countryside, relax this evening at the B&B. Dinner will be casual with market produce and local specialties shared together by the pool and with the sunset.

Farm lunch & Alfresco Dinner included

Day 3 (Wednesday, July 3)
springtime in French village of Saignon

Our first village today in Saignon located on an impressive rocky outcrop and with lavender fields below. From here we’ll go to a small family run Luberon winery for a visit in the cellars and a wine tasting with a view. The tasting will be followed with a casual picnic lunch on site. Time back at the B&B this afternoon to cool down before our evening outing to the ochre lands. Roussillon is best visited when the sun starts to descend and the tour buses have returned the tourists to the city. After a colorful village stroll we’ll make a short drive to a special dinner in the vineyards.

Casual winery lunch & Magical vineyard dinner

Day 4 (Thursday, July 4)
foodie tour

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 villages Lourmarin & Bonnieux will enchant us with their anecdotes and beauty. Dinner this evening at one of Emily’s favorite restaurants.

Truffle hunt tasting & Dinner included

Day 5 (Friday, July 5)
Provence Lavender Tour

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. After a casual lunch in town, we have an appointment with a local artist at his workshop to travel Provence through his eye. Some relaxing time back at the B&B later afternoon before an evening stroll next to one of Provence’s treasured icons…Abbaye de Senanque. Dinner to follow in the village in the village Gordes.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 6 (Saturday, July 6)
tiny car in French village of Oppede-le-Vieux

Today we meet up with a local chef at the small farmer’s market in a very small village (don’t blink or you might miss it). After gathering our produce and local products for making lunch, we’ll head to the chef’s house to put our culinary expertise to work. Our digestive walk will be in Oppede-le-Vieux before going back to nap by the pool. After our « hard » work in the kitchen, we’ll treat ourselves to a casual alfresco dinner at the B&B with, of course, a champagne toast to our week in Provence together.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 7 (Sunday, July 7)
  • 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

  • Truffle hunt with tastings and all you want champagne 
  • Luberon Winery tour 
  • Olive oil tasting workshop 
  • Market shopping with chef followed by cooking class and lunch at chef’s home 
  • Aroma plant distillery tour 
  • Van Gogh asylum in Saint Remy 
  • Carrières de Lumières sound & light show 
  • Abbaye de Senanque 
  • Meet the artist – home studio

Places Visited

  • Gordes 
  • Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 
  • Oppede-le-Vieux 
  • Bonnieux 
  • Saignon 
  • Sault 
  • Roussillon 
  • Lourmarin 
  • Les Baux de Provence 
  • Saint Remy

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 & drop-off at Avignon TGV train station 
  • 6 nights lodging at luxury B&B near Gordes ➢ All breakfasts 
  • All lunches 
    • 1 lunch is truffle tastings (snacks in village for more after lunch at your expense) 
  • 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
  • April 2013 custom week long tour

    ""Emily’s Your Private Provence will transport you to captivating villages filled with fascinating history and charm, to a culture that is rich with heritage, and to a land where you will feel warmth and beauty. Emily will ensure all your needs are met and her attention to detail will ensure you have a trip that will create memories to last a lifetime.The customization of our trip was tailored to meet our specific areas of interest and the opportunities for exploring areas off the beaten p..."
  • 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..."
  • May 2016 Private Garden Tour

    ""It was such a very special holiday for me. I just adored every moment and Emily made it so very special.Emily, thank you for being so accommodating with my challenging itinerary. Thank for being so knowledgeable and adding a layer of history and local insight that no guidebook could deliver. And finally, thank you for being so warm and engaging. It really felt like I was traveling with a dear friend. I could never have imagined it could be so good."Jane from Australia "
  • May 2017 Week-long Tour in Provence

    ""Emily led me on a week long tour of the Luberon, her home, in Provence. Based upon my interests and ideas and her local knowledge, Emily created the itinerary for our week. Each day was crafted as a logical driving loop to explore a portion of this magical place. Emily’s expertise allowed me to experience what I was seeing as a 'temporary local'.  I would never have gained such an in-depth understanding as a tourist on my own. And I would never have seen as much each day if not for her exper..."
  • April Artist Tour 2022

    ""Emily worked  with me to create a personalized one-week itinerary that went beyond our expectations. She handled all aspects of our trip with a professional , low-key manner.  The hotels were outstanding and dining was authentic.  The luxury vehicle was very comfortable to travel in as well. Knowing we were a group of artist, she  allowed time to see artistic points of interest.  We plan on returning and will work with Emily again."Maria Caprio-Sunta"Emily was an amazing guide an..."
  • Photography Tour plus Elopement, June 2016

    ""Dear Emily, Words cannot express our gratitude for everything that you did for us. Thank you so much for going above and beyond not just for our tour, but also our elopement! We’re touched and grateful for your attention to detail, flexibility and patience. The tour was hands down, one of the best experiences ever and we’re so thrilled we got do do it with you. Last but not least, thank you for being our officiant and “marrying” us. The entire trip is something we’ll cherish forever. "Li..."
  • Christmas Tour 2022

    ""Christmas has come and gone. New Year’s too. Today is the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas. Many of us will start to de-Christmas our homes or already have. But we learned from Emily that the Christmas season in Provence starts Dec 4 and lasts until Feb 2. Emily shared her passion for Provence with us, its customs, traditions and stories. She even had little quizzes for us so we wouldn’t forget or get them all mixed up! LOL She planned every detail to perfection to make sure we had the be..."
  • 2-Day Tour June, 2019

    ""Nick and I had a wonderful two days touring Provence with Emily! She is just EXCEPTIONAL!!! Such a darling personality, a definite understanding of the history and culture of this region and such a nice way about her—she seems more a friend than a tour guide! We plan to stay in touch with Emily because we liked her so much!   Emily asked us about our preferences and interests so she could design an itinerary which was customized just for us. We spent the day together touring different villag..."
  • June 2018 2-day custom tour

    ""It was our pleasure having you as our tour guide to discover part of Provence we haven’t been before. I definitely will recommend you to my friends who are interested in traveling to Provence.We wish you have a successful business and happy wonderful life in Provence."Wanvimon, Thailand"
  • May 2018 3-day private tour

    ""Dear Emily,The moment you returned my inquiry, your response was swift, professional and warm, a cut above and refreshingly reliable!You provided us with a jeweled itinerary, nuggets of different rich landscapes, the unknown history which made the 'to do' landmarks interesting and fun. The hiking to discover the history, the flora, was an absolute highlight, cycling along the canal, your organizing of epicurean dinners. Not to mention the accommodation you recommended, an insight int..."