Sometimes you want to go it alone...other times the fun and ease of group travel seems like a better choice. I'm often asked if I can recommend any group tours to Provence and it's a pleasure to mention the ones below for the year ahead. I've chosen these in particular because I know the tour operator, host or guides well...or I think the itinerary is superb...or my clients have taken the tour and raved about it! If you're interested in any of the following, get in touch so we can discuss. My email: WhatToDoinProvence@gmail.com. -- Julie
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Left and right photos courtesy of France off the Beaten Path Tours
A Taste of Provence
May 30-June 6, 2023
June 9-16, 2023
Hosted by a French-born, US-based tour operator with 25+ years experience escorting groups throughout Europe and Latin America, these luxury 8 day/7night small-group trips (6 guests max) focus on the food, wine and culture of Provence. Cooking classes at the homes of local chefs, shopping at outdoor markets, gourmet walking tours, winery tours and exclusive visits to artisanal purveyors and producers are combined with visits to the charming hill towns of the Luberon and to historic sites in Avignon, Les Baux de Provence and more. Brush up and practice your French at the optional breakfast "table ronde" conversation sessions. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the perfect balance between planned activities and leisure time. Stay at an elegant boutique hotel and dine from the menu with wine at authentic restaurants inaccessible to larger groups. Leisure time for shopping and experiencing the rhythm of Provençal life. Trips are perfect for friends, couples and singles...and fill up quickly. 2023 Dates: May 30-June 6 and June 9-16. Price (includes everything except travel to the Avignon starting point): $6300 pp,(5% discount if booked by 8/31/2022) with no single supplements. For pricing and more details: WhatToDoinProvence@gmail.com. (Code MBP)
This American-owned company, specializing in active tour travel exclusively in France, offers fully escorted six-day, five-night group tours in Provence created by the owner (a tour operator, travel author and photographer who holds dual French/US nationality and has been living in France for nearly 30 years) and her team of charming local, English-speaking American and French guides. (They won the LUX 2019 Tourism Award for Boutique French Tour Operator of the Year.) The itinerary is designed to cater to both walkers and non-walkers alike by offering guided cultural excursions for guests not participating in the scheduled walks. You’ll discover villages and historical sites, walk Provence country trails, dine in a private Provence farmhouse, participate in a Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine tasting excursion featuring a privately hosted lunch overlooking the Rhone River valley, visit artisan food producers and craftsmen, learn about Van Gogh’s presence in Provence, see gorgeous Cassis and the Calanques, and enjoy a mix of celebrity bistrot and Michelin-starred restaurants. You’ll experience four of the most-beautiful areas of Provence--the Alpilles, the Luberon, the Mediterranean Coast, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine country—and return each evening to your charming boutique hotel with pool in the heart of the village of St. Remy. For those who wish to arrive early or stay on, we’re happy to help you with planning. Max # of guests per trip is 16. 2023 Prices: $4,898 p/p based on double/twin occupancy; single supplement $740. 2023 Dates: April 11-16, April 18-23, April 25-30, May 2-7, May 9-14, May 16-21, May 23-28, May 30-June 4, June 6-11, June 13-18, June 20-25, June 27, July 2, July 4-9, July 11-16, July 18-23, July 25-30, August 29 – September 3, September 5-10, September 12-17, September 19-24, September 26-October 1, October 3-8, October 10-15, October 17-22. (Code CD)
Adventures in Provence
Departure Dates from April thru October, 2023
A Magical Week in the Luberon
June 6 – 13, 2023 (Women’s Week)
June 13 – 20, 2023
September 16 – 23, 2023
September 23 – 30, 2023 (Women’s Week)
This award-winning small group tour is led by an American woman with a second home in the beautiful Luberon. She has welcomed small groups of 10-14 travelers for more than 15 years, drawing on her extensive knowledge of the area and relationships with locals. The authentic village of Bonnieux is the perfect base to experience the best of Provence, based in a charming small hotel. This seven-night trip includes nearby perched villages, colorful outdoor markets, wineries, countryside walks, and memorable meals in a variety of settings. Much more than a sightseeing trip…it’s designed to be a true experience in the lifestyle of Provence. Ideal for couples, small groups of friends and family, and solo travelers.
2023 dates: June 6 – 13 (Women’s Week), June 13 - 20; September 16 – 23; September 23 – 30 (Women’s Week).
Price: $3,700 USD/per person, double occupancy. $4,200 USD single occupancy of a double room.
A Week on the Mediterranean Coast
June 6 – 13, 2023
September 5 – 12, 2023
September 12 – 19, 2023 (Women’s Week)
Enjoy a week exploring the beautiful Mediterranean coastline of Southern France, between Marseille and Saint Tropez. This seven-night, small-group trip is led by an American woman living in Provence (a food and wine expert) and focuses on the protected, lesser-known western area of the French Riviera, where “la mer” meets “la terre.” The landscape features a mix of natural Provence forests, rocky cliffs, coastal paths, discreet sandy coves, and the azur blue sea. The group bases in the colorful seaside town of Bandol and enjoys a variety of experiences including visits to coastal villages and vineyards, day trips to Marseille and Toulon, boat trips to enjoy the spectacular scenery, and much more. Ideal for couples, small groups of friends and family, and solo travelers.
2023 dates: June 6 - 13; September 5 - 12; September 12 – 19 (Women’s Week).
Price: $4,100 USD per person double occupancy; $4,550 USD single occupancy of a double room.
Rambling in the Riviera Hills
May 20 – 27, 2023
May 27 – June 3, 2023 (Women’s Week)
Experience the foothills behind the famous French Riviera, offering a very different ambiance from the glitzy beaches of the Riviera. The backcountry of the Côte d'Azur is bathed in sunshine and carpeted in olive groves. The protected micro-climate favors temperate plant species and flowers of all kinds, important for the perfume industry. Based for the week in a charming hotel in an authentic village near Grasse, this trip includes visits to perched villages and lush gardens, a special day focused on art and artists, an excursion by boat to an offshore island, food-related experiences and much more. This seven-night, small-group trip is hosted by an American woman who lives in Provence and is passionate about this region and its food and wine. Ideal for couples, small groups of friends and family, and solo travelers. 2023 dates: May 20 – 27; May 27 – June 3 (Women’s Week). Price: $4,100 USD per person double occupancy; $4,550 USD single occupancy of a double room.
To Provence with Love
April 30 - May 10, 2023
June 11 - 21, 2023
Sept 10 - 20, 2023
Oct 15 - 25, 2023
Nov 26 - Dec 6, 2023
Lead by a Connecticut-based tour guide with years of experience hosting small groups (10 people or less) to France, these tours will whisk you away down the back roads to some of the most spectacular cities (Aix and Nice) and small remote villages (Le Castellet, Le Cardiere and Cassis) on the French Riviera and inland Provence. For 10 days and 9 nights, immerse yourself in French culture and beauty. Each day starts with breakfast and brims with something new and exciting: A French cooking class with an English speaking chef, a private stopover visit with Sonia at Maison Godet Perfumery, excursions to three of Southern France's best outdoor markets, a food tour in Aix, and a Sunday visit to the famous village of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue where we'll find one one-of-a-kind French antiques along with some of the best street foods. Last but not least, enjoy a cruise on the Med to the Calanques, sip wine in the Bandol region and tour the famous Marius Fabre workshop where they've been making soap for close to 120 years. Price: $6,200 single occupancy. 2023 Dates: April 30 - May 10, June 11 - 21, Sept 10 - 20, Oct 15 - 25 and Nov 29 - Dec 6. (Code DP)
Everyday Extraordinary Provence
May 13-20, 2023
May 20-27, 2023
Live the French way…everyday! If you're a decor aficionado, creative traveler, or devotee of French style, this tour is for you—a week of design discovery, treasure-hunting, traditional Provençal crafts, history, and of course, exceptional food & wine! Immerse yourself in exclusive excursions, private workshops, and market visits--and then return to a fabulous mas in the heart of Provence at the end of day. Think drinks & nibbles under the plane trees, followed by leisurely dinners catered by a private chef, with conversation as inviting and inspiring as the food. Your hosts are American design experts/tour guides with 10+ years of experience leading design-focused tours in Provence. 8 day/ 7 night tours are kept deliberately small; capping at 8 people. Feed your wanderlust and stretch your creative wings! $4550 single occupancy 2023 Dates: May 13 – 20, 2023 OR May 20-27, 2023.
A Cook Tour
Available various weekends throughout 2023
This immersive food-and-market experience will give you a taste of real Provence, with two top local chefs (originally from the UK) as your hosts. Nestled amongst the sun-drenched orchards, olive groves and vineyards of St. Remy, their warm and welcoming B&B (in a 19th-century stone farmhouse) sits just over 1 km from the village center. The old mas once produced herbs and flowers for market but now it’s a relaxed and homey table d’hôte, with a large beautiful garden, a gorgeous country kitchen, a big terrace for outdoor dining and two en suite guest rooms: one with a roof terrace and apricot-orchard view; the other opening out on to the terrace and garden. The idea here is that you’ll spend the weekend doing what the hosts themselves do when they’re off work…and what they love to do when friends come to visit: marketing, antiquing, site-seeing, restaurants, cooking, drinking and long dinners under the stars. Included are two informal cooking classes called cooking “experiences” because while there will definitely be instruction, the chefs like the vibe to be more like friends cooking and learning together. All meals are provided including the evening meal at the mas on arrival day, 2 meals as part of your cooking experiences, 2 restaurant meals and 3 breakfasts! Also included are 2 market visits in gorgeous nearby villages with transportation (one food market, one antiques/brocante market)…and 3 nights lodging. You’ll be involved in all menu planning, with the emphasis on locally grown Provençal produce, and get recipes for everything to take home. Come solo, as a couple, with a friend or with another couple; group size is four people max. Price: €1150 per person (single) or €1900 (two sharing a room). Available: Most weekends year round, except in December, however many weekends in 2023 are already taken, so please inquire for your first and second choice of dates. April, September, October and November are still pretty open.