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Autumn colors in the four corners of Provence

October 10 – 18, 2024
8 nights / 9 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,100€ EUROS
1,100€ EUROS single room supplement
*Prices converted to USD three months prior to tour date

Plunge into the beauty of the countryside during the autumn glimmer. Stroll the markets abundant with fall produce and artisan craftsmanship. Taste the exquisite flavors of Provençal cuisine. Discover the Luberon region where hilltop villages & vineyards create an array of textures. The Alpilles & Camargue region, also Saint-Remy & Les Baux-de-Provence are a part of the journey. The last part of the week will be in the vibrant city of Aix-en Provence and along the blue of the Mediterranean. The contrasts in nature from these areas in Provence offer a unique Provençal experience.

fall tree colors in in Provence

Tour Notes

This Tour is a nice mix of culture, alluring atmospheres, history, relaxing time (spa options) and time to shop in the cities and at markets. 

Should you enjoy relaxing at the spa, the hotel the last four nights is one of the best intimate spas in the region. The hotel is located next to Cezanne’s mountain, Sainte Victoire…a truly inspirational backdrop to our breakfast, dinners and relaxing time.

Itinerary

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

Day 1 (Thursday, October 10)
Pont du Gard Roman bridge on Provencal tour of Roman roads

Pick-up at Avignon TGV train station around 10:30 am (time to be confirmed once all arrival times are gathered). You may choose to arrive in Provence the day before and be picked up at your Avignon hotel. 

We’ll start our group tour in the center of Avignon for a historic walking tour. UNESCO sites Pont d’Avignon and Popes Palace and some off-the-beaten-path spots in the center (does not include the inside of the Popes Palace). After lunch in Avignon we make our way to the Pont du Gard – (30 minute drive from Avignon). Marvel at this Roman masterpiece and the story behind it. A 30-minute drive from Avignon will take us to Saint Remy. Arrival around 4:30 pm with time to settle in and relax (or walk into the town for some boutique shopping on your own). Dinner arrangements for the group in Saint Remy.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 2 (Friday, October 11)
Lourmarin village guided tour

Today is market day in Lourmarin. You’ll have free time to roam the market and also be guided on a short historical tour of the village. Picnic lunch together with your market goodies near a Romanesque chapel (should the weather not be good we’ll have a bistro lunch). Return to Saint Remy area for exploring the world of Van Gogh at Saint Paul de Mausole where Van Gogh stayed for a year after his time in Arles. Relaxing time back at the B&B and then dinner arrangements together in Saint Remy.

Lunch (a sharing of our market goodies) & dinner included

Day 3 (Saturday, October 12)
Camargue landscape on custom tour of Provence

In the morning we’ll drive south to the Camargue region (classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO) to connect with nature and wildlife. The fresh water from the Rhone and the saline waters from the Mediterranean Sea create a mosaic of ecosystems unique to the area. Flamingoes, herons, white Camargue horses & bulls along our off-the-beaten-path routes. Autumn is a unique time in the Camargue with the flora turning to its winter colors and the arrival of many birds for spending winter or resting on their route further south. We have a private ranch tour at Manade Laurent. Lunch at La Telline to taste the specialties of Camargue and then we lunch plunge into the Roman world in Arles and the footsteps of Van Gogh who lived here from 1888 to 1889. Dinner arrangements for the group in Saint Remy.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 4 (Sunday, October 13)
facade of old house in Provencal village

Explore the Luberon and two exceptional villages for their geographical layout and historical anecdotes: Gordes & Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Lunch will be memorable at a farmhouse restaurant. Our last stop is in Isle sur la Sorgue, known for its canal-lined streets and antique shops. The Sunday flea market will be set up and possibly you’ll find a unique treasure to take back home. Arrival back at B&B around 5:30 pm with relaxing time and dinner at your leisure.

Lunch included

Day 5 (Monday, October 14)
Marseille soap

We start the day with the inspiring sound & light show in a former rock quarry near Les Baux-de-Provence: Carrières de Lumières. Before leaving the Alpilles region we’ll stroll through the village Les Baux and also taste the best olive oil in the world at nearby mill. Light lunch before leaving Les Baux. Changing regions after lunch making our way to the vibrant city Aix-en Provence, we’ll stop at one of the original soap making factories to learn the story of Marseille soap and traditional fabrication process. Around 5 pm, check in to our luxury hotel Les Lodges Saints Victoire. Time to settle in and perhaps you’ll even enjoy some spa time. Dinner at the fabulous hotel restaurant (Michelin).

Lunch & dinner included

Day 6 (Tuesday, October 15)
top ten places to visit in provence

Time to explore Aix markets (flower market, Provencal market, fruit & Vegetable market, flea market). Emily will explain where the markets are, give you maps, you can explore at your leisure. At 12:30 we meet up for lunch at an 18th century tea salon. Then we meet our expert city guide for a 2 hour walking tour taking us to the secret story spots of the city. Later afternoon we return to our hotel to relax (spa time can be scheduled) before our evening meal outing.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 7 (Wednesday, October 16)
top ten places to visit in provence

We escape to the sea today. Peaceful strolls with the sounds of seagulls and and boat flags swooshing in the breeze. The fishing village Cassis along with the limestone inlets, known as Calanques, always capture the heart. The Cassis tour includes the Wednesday market, a boat tour and lunch on the port. On our way back to Aix, we stop at a Santon shop to see the detailed work of these hand sculpted figurines so popular in Provence at Christmas. Evening group dinner outing in Aix.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 8 (Thursday, October 17)
French cooking lessons on custom tour of Aix

Cooking lesson & winery tour near Aix-en-Provence; Chef Gilles will guide us through the produce market and then to a winery to pick up our wine. At his house we will learn the art and simplicity of Provencal cuisine. The feast usually doesn’t end til mid-afternoon and the rest of the day will be enjoyed at the foot of Saint Victoire (spa time or countryside walk at the base of the mountain). Free evening for dinner at the hotel You may not feel like dinner this evening (we finish full and late lunch). There is the hotel bar restaurant for snacks and drinks should you like (not included in package price).

Cooking lesson lunch

Day 9 (Friday, October 18)

After breakfast, transfer to Marseille airport or Aix TGV for you return trip home.

Activities & Sites Included

  • Country walks, sometimes a little off-the-beaten-path to get up close to the fauna and flora 
  • Olive oil mill tour/tasting 
  • Cooking lesson 
  • Provencal markets (Lourmarin, Cassis, Aix) 
  • Flea market Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Boat tour in Cassis 
  • Santon artisan shop 
  • Marseille soap factory tour 
  • Carrières de Lumière sound & light show 
  • Guided tours – learn the historical & cultural anecdotes that shaped the sites, towns, villages, and region as a whole

Places Visited

  • Avignon 
  • Pont-du-Gard 
  • Arles 
  • Camargue region 
  • Lourmarin 
  • Saint Remy 
  • Les Baux de Provence 
  • Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Gordes 
  • Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 
  • Aix 
  • Cassis

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

Vincent Van Gogh

(Photo: Fall view from mountain top by Emily Durand.)

Includes

  • All breakfasts (8) 
  • All lunches (8) 
  • 6 Dinners (two dinners not included; one in St Remy and last night at Saint Victoire/Aix hotel) 

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Provence, Avignon 
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
  • October 2014 Day Tour of the Luberon

    ""We spent a wonderful day with Emily as our guide touring the “Hill towns of the Luberon”. Our time with Emily was like spending a day with a family friend who gave us a personal tour of her adopted home. If you want an intimate and memorable time in Provence, we recommend Emily and Your Private Provence."Larry and Kathy Huhn, Oregon"
  • 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..."
  • Honeymoon in Provence Tour, April 2015

    ""Emily set-up an incredible getaway! We chose France for our honeymoon (I’ve been dreaming about Provence for years) and my husband stumbled upon Emily’s website. Wow, we are so happy we found her. After a Skype chat, we knew we made the right decision in going with Your Private Provence.She was flexible, sweet, knowledgeable, and accommodating from the very start. In the beginning, we filled out a form so she could determine what kind of experience we were looking for: museum/history hea..."
  • Wedding in Provence, 2018

    ""I used Emily through Your Private Provence to help me plan my small wedding/elopement and tours for my family while we were in the area.The experience went so smoothly in the amazing hands of Emily. She offered several options from vendors for the ceremony, restaurant choices, lodging, and tours throughout the Provence region. She thought of details for the wedding and the tours that would not have even crossed my mind! She was always in touch and responded promptly.She took into con..."
  • Provence Over 10 Days – April 2019

    ""We had found Emily Durand on the web and had a wonderful time corresponding with her while preparing a detailed itinerary based upon our interests and requirements. She was very prompt and very precise in her responses which we liked very much.She was even more pleasant in person and we throughly enjoyed spending ten days with her in Provence. She knew the area very well including hotels/B and Bs, restaurants ( my wife is vegetarian but that was no problem for Emily!), parking and gettin..."
  • 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..."
  • July Lavender & Photography Tour 2021

    ""I have recently returned from the Provence Lavender Photography Tour with Emily Durand of Your Private Provence and Raina Stinson of Raina Stinson Photography.  I highly recommend this tour!  Simply put, Emily and Raina guided our small group on a remarkable journey of discovery.  We visited lavender fields, explored medieval villages, gazed at the moon and stars.  We feasted on fresh produce and French bread from the village markets as well as gourmet fare at restaurants with breathtaking v..."
  • June 2022 Heritage Sites & Lavender Tour

    ""Provence is just magical! Emily weaves history, culture, nature, and gastronomy throughout the week. All the little things add up to an amazing experience that is not possible with a large tour company. It is like traveling with a friend. Provence is a feast for the senses!"Anne Benik, Colorado"This was our third tour with Emily and it won’t be our last.The itinerary takes you off the beaten path as well as to the must see places. You will be amazed at all you learn! We didn’t kn..."
  • 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"
  • 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..."