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Magic red and spring revival

May 11-19, 2025

8 nights / 9 days

Limited to 7 guests
4,800€ EUROS per person
No single room supplement
*Prices converted to USD three months prior to tour date

The red carpet of poppies is a sight not to miss. Little by little, poppies start popping up coloring the young vegetation in the vineyards and valleys. This Provence spring tour is designed to connect you to nature and the Provencal way of life. Throughout the week you will be immersed into the savoir-faire of local artisans, farm-to-table meals, and historical anecdotes. Four distinct areas in Provence are incorporated so you can explore the diversity in Provence and the different vibes in each place.

spring Poppies glow red in a flower field on tour of Provence

Tour Notes

The tour takes place during the season when poppies are in bloom. Poppies are not harvested. They grow in fields farmers have left vacant. Every year, the spectacular poppy fields change locations. Join me on the hunt to find the red carpet magic.

Itinerary

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

Day 1 (Sunday, May 11)
Avignon table setting in sunshine

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 with a garden tour at the Abbey Saint André across the Rhone River from Avignon. After our picnic lunch we make our way to the Ventoux region (near the legendary Mont Ventoux mountain) and settle into our charming countryside B&B. Dinner this evening at a favorite restaurant for its Provencal cuisine and stunning view of the Mont Ventoux.

Picnic Lunch & Dinner included

Day 2 (Monday, May 12)
aroma plants

A beautiful 1-hour drive will take us to Brantes, a small village nestled into the slopes facing the Mont Ventoux.  Here, we’ll be guided on a foraging walk to gather our herbs and flowers for our farm-to-table lunch.  Odile’s house will welcome us for the cooking adventure and sharing of food in a setting you’ll never forget.  Lunch finishes leisurely (and usually late) so the rest of the day is just to meander a little more in the village Brantes and then make our way back to the B&B for some R&R.  This evening we’ll have pizza, fruit tarts and wine at the B&B for a casual dinner.

Cooking lesson lunch & Alfresco Dinner included

Day 3 (Tuesday, May 13)

It’s market day in Vaison-la-Romaine.  This market has been rated in France as one of the most authentic markets.  You have the morning to browse, shop, and explore the town at your leisure.  We’ll meet back up for a bistro tapas lunch in town before going to Nyons to visit the Scourtinerie: a local company who braved a crisis (1956 frost killing the olive trees).  Their creativity saved the family business and still to this day, they produce coconut fiber mats (that were once used for pressing olives)   Return to the B&B later afternoon and then our dinner outing at one of Emily’s favorite restaurants. 

Lunch & dinner included

Day 4 (Wednesday, May 14)
Spring Poppies

We change regions today.  Before arriving at our Luberon region B&B, we’ll make a stop in what is sometimes referred to as the Provencal Venice due to the water canals meandering their way through the town.  Emily will guide you on a historical tour of this charming town before we share a casual lunch with local cheese, charcuterie and homemade spreads at little « Epicerie ».  Gordes is not far away…a stop at the spectacular view point and then on to our B&B to settle in.  A special dinner by chef Antoine catered to us at the B&B awaits us this evening. 

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 5 (Thursday, May 15)
Simiane la Rotonde

This morning we have a beautiful drive to a hilltop village called Simiane-la-Rotonde… sitting up high overlooking the lavender valley.  While the lavender won’t be in bloom, you will be marveling over the flowers and roses laying a colorful backdrop to the18th century doors and cobblestone lanes.  The garden visit (next to the village) is on a site considered sacred since prehistoric times.  Our guide will reveal its mysteries and the 500 varieties of roses.  Lunch will be enjoyed on their terraced restaurant, but not before an acoustic surprise for you in the 17th abbey church.   Dinner at another one of Emily’s favorite restaurants in an old farm house. 

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 6 (Friday, May 16)
Roussillon

This morning you have free time in the charming village Lourmarin to pick up those Provencal treasures you might not have found at Tuesday’s market in Vaison.   With the food we pick up at the market, we’ll make our way to a secret picnic spot next to a Romanesque chapel.  On our way back over the Luberon mountain chain, we’ll make a couple of scenic spots to capture the Luberon valley.  Relaxing time back at the B&B before our dinner outing in Roussillon – the best time to see this ochre village (after the daytime crowds have left). 

Dinner included

Day 7 (Saturday, May 17)
Saint Paul Provence tour

After yesterday’s poppy madness inspiration, today we take our artistic eye to to paper with a painting workshop.  We’ll tour the area near Saint Remy where Van Gogh stayed for one year and then be guided by a local artist to paint what we see (no painting experience necessary).  Catered picnic nearby before going into the town center of Saint Remy for a stroll/boutique browsing.  This evening we walk into the village Gordes for dinner.

Lunch & Dinner included

Day 8 (Sunday, May 18)
Olive oil workshop

Last day! A day to relax and enjoy the flavors and savors of Provence… Charlotte, professional in the olive oil growing and tasting business will lead us in a workshop to make our own olive oil…to our style!    Then we’ll proceed to a wine tasting, vinaigrette making workshop and then to a beautiful vineyard terrace to enjoy the flavors of Provence. Our afternoon village discovery is nearby, at Oppede-le-Vieux…one of the quieter villages with many fascinating anecdotes.  Dinner this evening will be casual  at the B&B with fresh vegetables and savory tartes.

Lunch & dinner included

Day 9 (Monday, May 19)

After breakfast, transfers to the Avignon TGV.

Activities & Sites Included

  • Abbey Saint André 
  • Factory visit (last « Scourtinerie » factory in France) making mats from coconut fibers (before used to press olive oil) 
  • Painting workshop 
  • Foraging around a mountain village followed by cooking class 
  • Valsaintes Garden tour (with « acoustic » surprise in chapel) 
  • Provencal market in Lourmarin & Vaison-la-Romaine 
  • Van Gogh asylum in Saint Remy 

Places Visited

  • Avignon (from across the river at the abbey) 
  • Vaison-la-Romaine 
  • Nyons 
  • Brantes 
  • Simiane-la-Rotonde 
  • Gordes 
  • Isle sur la Sorgue 
  • Lourmarin 
  • Bonnieux 
  • Luberon hilltop villages (Roussillon & Oppede-le-Vieux) 
  • Saint Remy

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

Vincent Van Gogh

(Photo: Spring poppies in Provence by Emily Durand)

Includes

  • All transportation in Emily’s comfortable Mercedes van – pick-up & drop-off at Avignon TGV train station 
  • 3 nights lodging at charming countryside B&B near the Mont Ventoux and 5 nights at luxury B&B near Gordes. 
  • All breakfasts 
  • 7 lunches 
  • 8 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
"Christmas Cheer Tour 2023The Christmas in Provence tour was absolutely wonderful. After traveling with you on the lavender tour several years ago, I knew the trip would be well planned and include delicious food, but I wasn't sure it could match those days among the beautiful lavender fields. Once the tour began, I quickly realized that the Christmas in Provence tour was going to be fabulous! The trip included such a diverse variety of historical and cultural activities in settings from lar…"
""We had a wonderful time exploring Provence with Emily as our guide! With her intimate knowledge of the region, Emily was able to weave into the itinerary places of interest for which we had made special requests, and was able to suggest good alternatives when necessary.Emily’s deep knowledge of Provence came through best as she led us through several little villages — the little nuggets of information she shared along the way certainly helped us appreciate much better the history of the pl…"
"Thank you for everything, it was an amazing week.  The B&B was perfect as well as the whole itinerary.  It will definitely be among my most favorite trips of all time.Leslie GrizzardEmily is a kind spirit with a gift for bringing people into an authentic Provencal experience. Her planning, organization, and itinerary were perfect and she was flexible when we needed some personal time to wind down or even take a nap and recharge. Her attention to detail is impeccable and her desi…"
""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 Perfec…"
""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 e…"
"Emily introduced me to a Provence that went beyond the photo stops along the way. I saw the region in the pride of the farmers who sold their products in the markets, the love of the truffle farmer and the olive oil producer for their land, the care that a top chef takes to make each entree perfect for the diner, the joy of the innkeeper to assure that every guest felt like family. But most of all, I experienced Provence through Emily’s eyes - a woman who still marvels and delights by how fortu…"
""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. And…"
""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 and…"
"This is my third tour with Emily, so that alone says a lot. The itinerary is well organized and offers unique experiences. There is the right balance of activity and free time. Best of all the tours are fun!  You will laugh hard and eat well!! Eleanor Nazha, New York"
""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"