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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
  • High Provence Lavender Tour – July 2022

    ""Finally third time was a charm! I found Emily while looking for trips to Provence to see the beautiful fields of lavender. I sent my deposit for 2020 and Covid happened so transferred it to 2021 and things were still crazy but finally 2022. There were 5 of us in our group, my daughter decided to join me and then my grand daughter joined in, and finally the lovely Carroll’s Jill and Greg. We had so much fun, so much wine and so many laughs. We showed the French how to party before midnight th..."
  • June 2013 Private Custom Tour

    ""This summer my wife and I had the pleasure of being introduced to Provence by Emily Durand. It was truly amazing. Emily’s attentiveness and insights to the history and culture made Provence our favorite portion of a four-week eight-country trip. We had the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation taking in the ruggedly beautiful terrain and sampling the best food I have ever had.Thank you Emily we look forward to our next trip to Southern France with Your Private Provence."Peter &..."
  • June 2018 Lavender & Cultural Tour

    ""Thank you, Emily, for all your help in arranging my trip and transporting me before and after the tour.  Also, the tour was so special.  I enjoyed it all.  You are a great guide to all the special things, places, foods, and experiences in this area of Provence."Diane Logon, Florida"Our group consisted of six women and one very brave gentleman with of a wide range of ages, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities. We toured the historic Chateauneuf Du Pape. We visited a Winery, A..."
  • 5 Day Tour – September 2017

    ""Thank you so much for all you did to make our trip to Provence EXTRA special!  Rosamond, the Babbs, the Murfees, and the Youngs all had a grand time and loved our whirlwind tour of the Provence area.  It was a special treat to have a guide who knew the area so well, as well as someone we could understand!  We felt like we were with an old friend!""Emily, Thank you for driving and guiding my friends and me around Provence.  You are charming, knowledgeable and punctual and we all enjoyed o..."
  • May 2018 7-day custom tour

    ""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..."
  • Wine Tour, September 2021

    ""What a beautiful day with Emily and Your Private Provence wine tour. Having been to the region before, two friends and I were interested in a deeper dive into what made this region so well suited for wine. She really listened to our interests and designed a really fun, insightful and rich day. We honestly expected a driver to just drop us off at several wineries and got so much more. Loved the cultural and geological history, the insights of a local to life in Provence, and a diverse samplin..."
  • May Day Tours & Biking the Luberon

    "We booked Emily for a day trip to Avignon & the Pont du Gard. She was wonderful. She picked us up & dropped us off at our accommodation near Gordes. She accommodated all our requests to the point that the tour was extended at no cost. We had a lovely day visiting the main sites in Avignon and a lovely walk around the Pont du Gard. Her restaurant recommendations were terrific for both the day we spent with her and then her great recommendations for other restaurants in other towns we w..."
  • Girlfriends in Provence, June 2017

    ""I can not recommend Emily highly enough.  I knew from the moment we started planning our Girls Trip to Provence together that she was going to make our trip so memorable.The attention to detail in planning our wonderful week in Provence was so appreciated and covered incredible fun filled days of exploring Provincial Markets, Private Wine Tastings, Eating, Drinking, Shopping, Cooking up a storm in a Michelin star restaurant, exploring stunning French villages and even cruising the French..."
  • September 2018 2-day custom tour

    ""Hi, Emily I just wanted to thank you and let you know how pleased we were to meet you and were so impressed by the tour you took us on around Avignon! You were very warm and knowledgeable about the area and answered all of our questions. Your van was top of the line as well as your service!! I will not hesitate to recommend you to friends and family visiting the area!"Connie Schuler – Alberta, Canada"We had the best time with you on our tour of the Provence region! You planned out th..."
  • 2019 Lavender Tour

    ""If you want the best tour of Provence, choose Emily as your guide.  My husband and I enjoyed this years Lavender and Cultural Tour so much that the day before it ended I signed up to bring my 2 daughters next year!  As a local Emily knows the history of the towns we visited as well as the best places to explore, eat and shop. She has a nice group of friends – chef Giuseppina cooked a delicious lunch and Raina took beautiful photos of my husband and I in the lavender fields. There were so man..."