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Truffles, Wine & Provencal Cuisine Tour

A Provence Gourmet Escape

February 22 – March 1, 2026

7 nights / 8 days

LIMITED TO 7 GUESTS

4,600€ per person – single room occupancy
(300€ per person discount if sharing a room) 
* prices converted to USD two months prior to tour date

Provence is one of your top destinations for tasting the Black Winter Truffle. We won’t stop with truffle pleasures though. Continue with me to the baker’s oven for making croissants, the chef’s kitchen for learning Provençal cuisine, cozy fireplaces, memorable lodging locations, and some invigorating countryside walks in the winter sleeping beauty.

freshly dug truffles on Provence truffle tour

Tour Notes

This is a perfect tour for a foodie and those who love the best of Provence off-season. Some evenings are free to enjoy at your leisure. The B&B in near Gordes is privitized offering a luxury home feeling.  In Aix, your boutique hotel is just a few minutes walk to some very good restaurants and the shops.

Dietary restrictions would make this tour less enjoyable.

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, February 22)
Gordes

Today is arrival day…pick-up at the Marseille airport or Aix TGV train station (Avignon TGV arrivals possible with cost of Uber transfer). 

Upon arrival we make our way to the Luberon Region where we’ll be staying for the first 3 nights.  A lovely B&B that feels like a home just minutes from the village Gordes offering us the luxury of the gorgeous countryside & the atmosphere of the Medieval village…both without the masses of summer tourists!  The best time to be near Gordes.  After checking into our lodging, country walks and village exploration.  Dinner this evening catered to us at the B&B by chef Antoine.

Dinner included

Day 2 (Monday, February 23)
Cotes du Rhone wine with a view

Let the celebration begin…with a day exploring the Cotes-du-Rhone wines Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas & Vacqueyras AOC wineries.  Meet the growers, private tastings, walk in the vineyards, gourmet lunch, possibility to ship wine home.  Return to the B&B later afternoon for some R&R then dinner outing nearby at a farmhouse restaurant with a cozy fireplace. 

Lunch & dinner included

Day 3 (Tuesday, February 24)
truffle hunting with dogs

Today is our day to discover the black winter truffle in the high hills of the Luberon Region.  We’ll meet Nicolas at the top of the hill and he’ll drive us down his bumpy dirt road in his 4×4 car to reach the secluded farm house and truffle tree plantations.  After going out to find our truffles with his dog, we come back to the his farmhouse kitchen for the most unforgettable truffle meal you will ever have.  Later afternoon we’ll digest our truffles with a countryside walk amongst the ochre hills (and the village Roussillon).   This evening Charlotte will come to our B&B for an olive oil tasting workshop…followed by a simple alfresco dinner her husband (local chef) will have prepared for us.  We’ll open up a few of our Cotes-du-Rhone wines form the day before to enjoy with our dinner. 

Truffle lunch & alfresco dinner included

Day 4 (Wednesday, February 25)
cooking class Avignon

Bags packed, we are changing regions today.  From Gordes we drive to Avignon.  Leaving the B&B at 8:30 for arrival at Avignon Les Halles indoor food market to meet our chef and pick up our produce/products for the cooking lesson.  Lunch will finish around 2 pm.  Then we drive to Aix.  Check-in to our boutique hotel (around 3:30 pm) then we meet our guide, Frédéric will lead us on an art tour with a special focus on Cezanne (Granet Museum included with works from not only Cezanne but also Picaso, Rembrandt, Giometti). Tour will end at 6 pm – dinner on your own. 

Cooking lesson lunch included

Day 5 (Thursday, February 26)
Cezanne

This morning we roll up our sleeves to see just how talented we are in making French patisseries. Our chef Clément will teach us the tricks of the trade and of course we finish with indulging in our creations.  Patisserie workshop from 9 – 12 pm, at a professional chef’s workshop just outside of Aix.  Lunch will be casual with a bakery stop for sandwiches, quiche – not included).  A short drive will take us to Cézanne’s atelier where we can intimately step into the last part of his life followed by a drive to the mountain he immortalized, Sainte Victoire.  Some fresh countryside air will invigorate us as we walk among the pines and admire views of « Cezanne’s »mountain just beyond.  Time to relax back in Aix before dinner together at one of Emily’s favorite restaurants in Aix – truffles on the menu!

Dinner included

Day 6 (Friday, March 27)
Cassis

Oh to see the Mediterranean blue during winter when the air is so pure!  Let us venture on the Calanques near Cassis , stroll the fishing port, take a boat out to the everlasting blues of the sea.  After our efforts of taking in the remarkable beauty, we’ll sit down at a café with a glass of Cassis white wine (AOC) to absorb it all.  The later afternoon is your free time to explore what you’d like back in Aix.  Perhaps the Hotel Caumont will be your inspiration with the winter exhibition on Alphonse Mucha.  Dinner on your own in Aix.

lunch included

Day 7 (Saturday, February 28)
cooking class

This morning we meet our chef for a market tour in Aix where we’ll pick up the essential ingredients for making our Provencal home cooked lunch.  Before arriving at his house, we’ll swing by the local winery to get our wine.  Later afternoon is yours to explore the center of Aix at your leisure.  Dinner on your own in Aix (lunch will be filling and ends late – you may not even want dinner).

Cooking lesson lunch included

Day 8 (Sunday, March 1)

Transfer to Marseille airport or Aix TGV for you return trip home.

Activities & Sites Included

  • Truffle hunt
  • Olive oil tasting workshop
  • Market tour & cooking class in Aix
  • Market tour & cooking class Avignon
  • Patisserie class
  • Cassis boat tour
  • Wine tasting in Cotes-du-Rhone AOC (Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Chateauneuf-du-Pape)
  • Cezanne Aix/Granet guided tour

Places Visited

  • Avignon
  • Luberon hilltop villages Gordes & Roussillon
  • Aix
  • Cassis
  • Cotes-du-Rhone wine region
  • Chateauneuf-du-Pape

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

Vincent Van Gogh

(Photo: Pont d’Avignon sunrise by Emily Durand.)

Includes

  • All transportation in Emily’s comfortable Mercedes van
    • Pick-up either at Marseille airport or Aix TGV
    • Times will be coordinated but aiming for 1 pm…depending on flights, you may want to arrive the day before the tour starts.  
    • Transfers on last day to either Marseille airport or Aix TGV
  • 3 nights lodging at charming B&B in near Gordes  & 4 nights lodging at boutique hotel in Aix
  • All breakfasts
  • Lunches
    • 2 lunches on your own
  • Dinners
    • 3 dinners on your own

Does Not Include

  • Transportation to/from Provence region
  • Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
five star review
""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 into…"
"Emily's Lavender and Photography Tour is, as stated, a private, and I would say INTIMATE, experience in Provence.  From the first evening in L'Isle sur la Sorgue everything about the tour is carefully crafted to create a sense that one has become "at home" in Provence.  The accommodations at the converted stone farmhouse are comfortable and well appointed, creating an intimacy that speaks of "part of the family."  In addition to breathtaking venues for photography, each day provided a creative…"
""From the moment we met, Emily made us feel at home in Provence! Her careful selection of wine tastings and restaurants were exactly what we were looking for.  Thank you, Emily, for making our 10-year anniversary trip exactly what we wanted it to be."Michael & Lauren, San Diego, CA"
"Emily’s tour is the perfect introduction to the beautiful region of Provence! My daughter and I joined her small group in June and had the most delightful time. The 2 inns where we stayed were gorgeous dream properties — plus both locations allowed easy exploration by foot during leisure time for anyone who wanted to spend more time in the quaint villages Unique to her tour is the opportunity to visit the nature preserve region of Camargue and spend time at a manade learning about Gardian cultu…"
""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 expert…"
""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"
"We had an amazing girls trip in Provence! Emily created a magical itinerary with activities such as market days and private cooking lessons, hikes, wine tasting and seaside lunches. There was enough downtime that the days didn't feel rushed or overscheduled. The accommodations were lovely, the restaurants were top notch, and we felt safe the entire time. She helped us feel comfortable with the culture and language and helped us practice our French if we wanted. She explained a lot of local cust…"
"I just can’t say enough about the Lavender & Cultural Tour with Emily.  Emily has an in-depth knowledge of Provence, and it shows.  From the accommodations to the daily excursions, everything was top-notch and well-planned.  The tour was limited to 7 guests; having a small group allowed us to get to know each other and develop friendships.  She checked upfront with each of us to obtain any dietary requirements or restrictions, and she made sure that a variety of menu choices was available t…"
""After an amazing experience as a solo traveler on Your Private Provence’s Group Lavender Tour, ten months later I booked a private tour for my husband and me to see the poppies.  Emily is warm, knowledgeable and flexible.  We always felt safe and comfortable.  Her recommendations for accommodations and restaurants were perfect.  The itinerary on this second trip was completely different than the first trip…markets, hikes, wineries, picnics in fields of wildflowers, everything we asked for and…"
""The beautiful, relaxed culture of Provence makes it an ideal vacation spot for first-time guests and return visitors alike.As a return visitor, I reached out to Emily to see some of the hidden treasures I was on unable to see during my first visit. She asked me what I enjoyed, what I wanted to see most, and how I’d like to spend my time. From there, she tailored an itinerary specific to me.She was able to encompass all I requested and made excellent suggestions! I had an incredible tim…"