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Secret Provence is here on this tour…your lens will tell the story

July 9 – 15, 2024
6 nights / 7 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,500€ EUROS per person
No single room supplement
*Prices converted to USD two months prior to tour date

More than a photography tour, this is a true Provençal lifestyle tour. Provence will be forever captured in your artistic eye as well as in your heart. The region explored on this tour is not one you find in many guide books on Provence…and that’s what makes it so special. It’s almost like going back in time…before all the tourist came. I won’t say much more so as not to have everybody flock to this hidden area of Provence. Just know that from the lodging, the local chef’s catering many of our meals, and the magical lavender spots next to charming villages unspoiled by mass tourism…your pictures will tell a magical story of the « other » Provence.

tour guide Emily Durand of Your Private Provence on her lavender and photography tour

Tour Notes

The tour has been designed to give rest time at the B&B every day. Summers in Provence can be quite hot. The advantage in High Provence is the cooler temperatures – but nevertheless, it can get hot. Please be prepared to sweat a little. Outside of the photography and lavender elements, you will enjoy this tour if you love the wilderness, relaxing and cooling off at the pool (one of the best pools in all of Provence), love to take nature walks, and contemplate the stars and moon.

This tour covers a part of Provence many tourist have yet to discover. A popular tour for those who have done « lower » Provence and what to come back to see the « other » Provence. 

PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION: Raina is an American international award winning portrait photographer and has been living in Provence for the past two years. She worked as a registered nurse for 34 hears and decided to take an early retirement to follow her dreams of living in France and pursuing her photography career full-time. Raina is a fun a social person and loves to meet new people from all over the world. She feels quite lucky to be able to live in France. Raina will be sharing her process of how to tell a unique and powerful story through your travel photography. She will teach you different ways of seeing and shaping light, composition, and how to connect to your environment so that you can create interesting travel images. Her instruction will deepen your visual awareness while imparting skills that will make your photography more satisfying and fun. As a gift to all participants Raina will be taking a portrait of every participant in the beautiful lavender fields of Provence for you to take home. Learn more about Raina and see her gallery of Provencal images on her website.

Itinerary

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

Day 1 (Tuesday, July 9)
Montbrun B&B pool with view

The pick-up place for High Provence Lavender & Photography Experience is at the train station in L’Isle sur la Sorgue (or your lodging in the town should you arrive the day before – recommended!). Pick-up time at 11 am. Our first stop, en route to our retreat location, is lunch at a rustic farm restaurant in the high hills of lavender country. After lunch, and some lavender photo shoots, we’ll settle into our accommodations. Free time to enjoy the amazing pool and quietness of the domain. Before our dinner outing at the nearby village Montbrun-les-Bains, we’ll choose one of the quaint sitting spots at the B&B to go over the photography & tour highlights of the week.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 2 (Wednesday, July 10)
rows of lavender in bloom with stone hut

After breakfast at the farm house, the journey to wide open lavender fields and authentic Provencal villages begins. We will be capturing the lavender fields, Medieval villages (Banon & Simiane-le-Rotonde), ancient doors, colorful shutters, and so much more. Lunch today will be at small village café. At 2 pm we will step into a unique workshop and be guided by Theo to make our Provencal Gin infusing it with herbs from Provence (make your own creation!). Later afternoon, back at the B&B, refresh by the pool before a workshop with Raina to go over the editing of your pictures. We will not venture out again so you have plenty of time to unwind (rest, swim, nature walks). Optional trail hike leaving from the B&B to a chapel looking out over the valley. This evening you will enjoy a catered dinner at the B&B by local chef Alexandra.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 3 (Thursday, July 11)
gourmet French picnic spread on tablecloth

Our day will begin in a stunning mountain village, Brantes. We will meet Laurie & Odile who will guide us on a foraging walk. We will need some flowers and herbs in order to make our farm-to-table lunch. The whole setting is one photographic moment after another. From the quaint village house where we make lunch to the table set out on the patio, not to mention all the food prepared with beautiful herbs and flowers. Later afternoon back at the B&B to relax. 7 pm – Dinner right at 7…at a small village retro bistro (leaving in time to catch the sunset…) 8:45 pm – an evening photo shoot at an amazing location (near the bistro) where the lavender rolls up to the sky.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 4 (Friday, July 12)
small group guided Provence lavender photography tours

An optional morning photography outing for those who wish to capture the magic of the rising sun over lavender fields. After breakfast, we’ll meet Nicolas who will come along with his dog so we can find truffles in the back property of the B&B. We’ll then have a truffle tasting to learn the different ways of savoring the aromas (truffle tasting and other snacks casually at the farm house for lunch). Afternoon excursion to the lavender distillation plant: learn more about this aroma plant, how the oils are extracted, how it is harvested, and the uses. We will meet with a lavender grower to get all the answers and see first hand. Stroll through the charming village Sault (Provence’s lavender capital) with a stop for ice-cream and some artful village photography. Free time back at the B&B. During this time, one-on-one appointments with Raina will be set up so you have an opportunity to dig into questions pertaining to your personal pictures. This evening we will enjoy another evening meal catered to us at the B&B. Manu is from Argentina and the best BBQ chef in the world!

Truffle and snack lunch & dinner included

Day 5 (Saturday, July 13)
Provencal hilltop village of Montbrun

Today is market day in Montbrun-les-Bains. You have time this morning to roam the market at your leisure and also with Raina for capturing compelling market images. Lunch will be in the village after the market at Alexandra’s Salon de Thé (vegetarian home cooked meals and the best ice-cream in France). The afternoon is set aside for relaxing by the pool, photography at the domain, and time for storytelling through our pictures. There’s an optional chateau visit for those wishing to explore the heritage of the powerful lords once in this area. This evening is the village festival (pre-Bastille Day party). Choose to stay around after dinner and partake in this Provencal small village festive atmosphere (you may want to wear your disco dancing dress 😉 …last few years we’ve had a few kick off the party on the dance floor!).

Lunch included & Dinner included

Day 6 (Sunday, July 14)

This morning we’ll venture into the larger town in the area; Vaison-la Romaine. Here, our photography contemplation will take us back to the Roman era. The town is known for one of the largest open air Roman archeological sites in France. Lunch in the town together. Later afternoon will be free time at the B&B to make the most of your contemplative time before the end of the tour. Dinner outing at nearby village Time to celebrate France’s Bastille Day: some French music & a game of Pétanque required!

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 7 (Monday, July 15)

Enjoy your last leisurely breakfast, a last mindfulness walk in the inspiring lands of High Provence. Drop-off at Avignon TGV train station at 12 pm.

Transfers to Marseille airport can be arranged should you have a flight out later evening (price supplement).

Activities & Sites Included

  • Photography mentor & instructor for the full tour (workshop sessions at B&B and out in the field) 
  • Foraging & cooking lesson with local herbs and flowers 
  • Lavender distillery & farm tour 
  • Gin making workshop 
  • Truffle hunt with local and his dog (near the grounds of the B&B) 
  • Guided visits with cultural and historical anecdotes in the villages by your local guide/chauffeur, Emily 
  • Provencal market in Montbrun-les-Bains 
  • Time to relax, unwind, enjoy the pool and summer life at the lovely B&B

Places Visited

  • Monbrun-les-Bains (classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France) 
  • Simiane-la-Rotonde 
  • Banon 
  • Aurel 
  • Sault 
  • Brantes 
  • Vaison-la-Romaine 
  • And many scenic routes passing through other High Provence villages

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

Vincent Van Gogh

(Photo: Between lavender rows by Emily Durand.)

Includes

  • All transportation – pick-up at L’Isle Sur la Sorgue train station or hotel. Drop-off at Avignon TGV. 
    • Contact Emily for pre-tour arrangements (recommended to stay at hotel in L’Isle sur la Sorgue the night before) 
  • 6 nights lodging (Domaine de la Done
  • All breakfasts (6) 
  • All lunches (6) 
  • All dinners (6) 
  • Local wine provided with meals 
  • Emily as your private chauffeur & guide for the full tour 
  • Raina as your photography mentor & instructor for the full tour (workshop sessions at B&B and out in the field) 

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
  • June 2018 3-day custom tour

    ""We had a great trip with Emily and highly recommend her. Before we arrived, she had designed a lovely tour of Provence villages just for us. Attentive to our interests and needs, she crafted an adventure that was a highlight of a trip to France and Italy.In several days, she introduced us to the history of these hill towns, the beauty of the rural landscape, and the feel of markets, twisty streets, churches, and Van Gogh’s world. Though we saw a good deal, she also made time for little m..."
  • June 2014 Private Provence Tour

    ""Thank you for making our recent visit to Provence a delight. Your attentive and engaging personality made it so enjoyable, and you were incredibly gracious. The Melon and Truffle Experience day was a favorite; your culinary talents exceeded any expectation we had. Thank you for the special melon macarons, too. What a treat!We were impressed with the history and anecdotes you shared with us at every place we visited; you made these places we’d only read about much more real, and alive. An..."
  • 4-Day Private Tour, May 2021

    ""Despite being a frequent traveler, I am not a usual writer of reviews. But this case, deserves one. My wife and myself just spent 5 days in French Provence. This trip was our first to this gorgeous part of France. We were suggested various tour operators. Finally chose the person I will describe for the speed and care she devoted during the pre-engagement phase, very different from the others.If you are looking to visit the region and wanting a guide that really knows the place and its i..."
  • May 2017 Day Tour in the Luberon

    ""Emily, thank you for giving us a wonderful day touring poppy fields. Over the years, I have admired paintings of fields of poppy flowers and you made my dream come true. It was a picture perfect day. Thank you for finding my fields of dreams!"Mary Adam, Michigan"
  • July Lavender Tour 2021

    ""A traveler is always faced with this secret dilemma…..once you have experienced the perfect tour, in the perfect place, arranged  by the perfect host, do you tell the world or do you try and keep it a secret just a while longer?Such is my dilemma having just returned from that 'perfect' week in Provence. I have decided to be magnanimous and share.  After all, the world needs as much 'perfect' as it can find right now.Emily’s Private Provence could just as easily be named Emily’s Perf..."
  • 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..."
  • May 2023 – Poppy Madness Small Group Tour

    "I can’t say enough about our fabulous friend’s trip with Emily for 8 nights in Provence. Visiting the 3 regions was especially interesting to see their differences - from Mount Ventoux to the Luberon area and finally Les Apilles! Each was picturesque in their own way. The unique experiences Emily created for us were amazing from garden tours, cooking class, painting workshop, face cream making, galleries, private chef and walking tours. Her driving was so good from pick up at Avignon TGV to d..."
  • 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..."
  • June Private Week-long Tour

    ""We just returned from a fantastic week in Provence with Emily Durand. The entire 7 days exceeded our expectations. Emily wowed us each day with visits to interesting historic sights, unique villages, beautiful views, museums, outdoor markets, and also personal discussions with individual owners of winery’s, B&Bs, lavender growers and distillers. If you want a truly meaningful Provence experience, contact Emily for a personalized tour." Bob & Terrie, New Jersey"
  • May 2017 3-Day Tour in Provence

    ""Emily was our favorite guide during our 2 weeks in France. She was so personable, taking us to favorite places and making Provence come alive. We loved our vineyard picnic, our tour in Arles, wine tastings, lunch at La Madison de la Truffe, and visits to local villages and markets.Wonderful memories for my daughter and I thanks to her special care!"Marcia & Terri Hannig, Colorado"