Provence
Private Experiences and Tours
Ahhhh, beautiful Provence…considered by many as their favorite French region! It is located in southeastern France. Known for its diverse geography, endless vineyards, olive groves, lavender fields and Roman ruins, Provence has been made famous in movies and books…particularly those written by author Peter Mayle. While Provence is often celebrated for its delicious rose wine, it also offers impressive reds from well-respected appellations such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Baux de Provence and Cote de Luberon. The weather, the scenery, the food and the wine…Provence NEVER disappoints!
We are very excited to share exclusive and authentic experiences that we’ve uncovered in Provence for your clients! Below are some examples that we can include in their custom-designed vacation itinerary!
COOKING CLASSES
Michelin-Starred Cooking Class
Participate in your own private cooking class where the Michelin-Starred Chef will share secrets on how to prepare Provencal specialties. Enjoy the fruits of your labor in a lovely lunch that includes a main dish, dessert, wine and coffee.
Private Market Visit and Cooking Class
Visit Aix’s market where you will meet some local food producers and select the best ingredients according to the season and the selected menu. On the way to your cooking classroom, you will stop by the chef’s favorite wine chateau for a wine tasting and wine selection to pair with your meal. Participate in a hands-on class and learn the cooking skills and knowledge used by French family home cooks. After approximately 2 hours of cooking, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Private Bouillabaisse Cooking Class
You will start your culinary adventure at the Marseille Old Port fish market where you will meet actual fishermen and select the right ingredients. You will visit the Capucins market for vegetables, aromatics and meats and will also stop at the chef’s favorite wine shop to match the beverage with the planned menu. Your classroom for the day is a fully equipped patio. After your lesson, you will enjoy a lovely lunch!
Hunting for Black Gold
Often called Black Gold, Provence is a truffle lovers paradise! You will hunt for truffles with trained dogs, learn how these black beauties are cultivated, and how the dogs were trained to find them. Your lovely hosts will also teach you how to pair and cook with truffles. You will enjoy champagne and sample delicious fresh truffle hors d’oeurves!
WINE
Private French Cheese and Wine Pairing
Ever wonder how to select the perfect cheeses and pair them with the right wines? Here’s your chance! Try a variety of cheeses from different French regions and taste wines from five different appellations across Provence. Learn why certain wines are paired with particular styles of cheeses. Also enjoy other delicacies such as ham, sausages and rillets. You’ll be able to create your own French apero for your friends when you return home!
ART
Van Gogh’s Life in Provence
Travel to Vincent Van Gogh’s home…the prime spot for many of his great works, including the second set of Sunflowers. Visit other landmarks that inspired his paintings and drawings. See the hospital where Van Gogh was treated after he cut off his ear and the asylum where he admitted himself.
Walking Tour of Arles
You will walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh in Arles, the city famed for inspiring many of his paintings. You also will see the Roman architecture dating back 2000 years, such as the amphitheater and the coliseum, given that Arles was once a provincial capital of ancient Rome.
Visit St Paul de Mausole
This monastery turned asylum is famous for Vincent Van Gogh, who admitted himself in 1889. While here, Van Gogh completed 150-plus drawings and around 150 paintings, including his famous Irises.
Walking Tour of St Remy de Provence
In the beautiful Alpilles region sits the charming village of Saint-Rémy de Provence. It is the birthplace of astrologer Nostradamus and still is a source of inspiration for many artists.
Camargue: The Wild West of France
Among the fantastic biodiversity of Provence, there is the Camargue, located south of Arles and between the Mediterranean Sea and the Rhone River’s delta. Approximately one-third of it is lakes or marshland and it is home to 400 species of birds, as well as the famous Camargue horses and cattle.
Horseback Riding
Satisfy your inner cowboy by riding a Camargue white horse! You will ride on unaccessible paths of the Camargue, along the ponds and marshlands, with the wildlife at your fingertips.
Exclusive Tour of a Manade (Black bull farm)
You will meet the Manadiers…the Camargue cowboys...for a very authentic experience! After a welcome drink, you will hop onto a 4x4 vehicle and travel through the fields for a demonstration of horseback riding and bull herding. You also will get to see a traditional black bull game, which does not compare to a Spanish bull fight! (Great picture and video opportunities!). You will return to the farm for a friendly aperitif with local specialties such as black bull sausage and organic local wine.
AGRICULTURE
Lavender Essential Oil
Visit an informative museum dedicated to the perfumes and aromas. You will learn the benefits of essential oils, produced with plants grown in Provence using traditional distillation processes.
Olive Oil Tasting
Discover Provence’s olive oil industry and learn what it takes to produce in a sustainable fashion given the climate challenges of the region. Understand the different oil extraction techniques and taste a variety of award-winning olive oils from this world famous orchard.
ART DE VIVRE! (THE ART OF LIVING)
Morning Tour
Experience the Provencal Art de Vivre (the art of living)! Take the time to enjoy life to the fullest, doing the same activities as the French, and see how this way of life is contagious!
Start your day shopping at a local outdoor market. The French are very attached to their favorite vendors when selecting the best products. Your senses will awaken with the fragrances of the Mediterranean concentrated in one spot and your eyes will be amazed by the colorful baskets, fabrics and pottery. And of course, experience vendors inviting you to sample their specialties.
For lunch, what is better than having a picnic in the countryside with the freshest products? Your guide will take you to her favorite spot, sitting in the shade of beautiful trees and listening to the buzz of the cicadas as you enjoy your traditional Provencal lunch.
After lunch, the French relax with a game of pétanque. Learn how to play this game which is similar to bocci.
Afternoon Tour
Work off your lunch with a small walk in the hills…breathing in the fresh air and taking in the beautiful scenery! During your walk, discover a multitude of edible plants and learn how they are used in Provencal cuisine and for medicinal purposes.
The French often spend their afternoons playing pétanque. Knowing how to play this game is mandatory if you want to be a real local!
Stop at a lavoir (a community wash house) for a laundry demonstration using the famous soap of Marseille. See how much work was required to clean clothes before electric washing machines were invented.
Close your tour with a breathtaking sunset apero. In Provence, gathering with friends around a glass of wine or Pastis to share funny stories is part of the culture. And these moments can last forever before they ever think of starting the meal! During your apero, you will learn more local stories and legends of Provence.