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.
4 hours, including lunch
Private Market Visit and Cooking Class
Enjoy a special visit to a popular outdoor market with your cooking instructor to get a bird’s eye view of this important cultural event! Learn about the history of Aix, the French way of living, and how the French select their products at the markets. Then cook a full three-course "market to table” menu with the chef. Enjoy the fruits of your labor with a delicious lunch and of course, some provencal Rosé wine!
5 hours, including 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!
3 hours
Mid-November - Mid-March; Early May to End of September
WINE
Pair French Cheeses and Wine
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!
1.5 - 2 hours
All year
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.
4-5 hours, including lunch
March - December
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.
April through October
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.
2.5 hours (4:30 - 7:00 pm)
April through October
SUSTAINABILITY
France is the world's most food sustainable country based on an index evaluating food waste, sustainable agriculture, as well as health and nutrition. Provence’s favorable weather enables it to grow more than half of France's fruit and vegetables. The region is also well-known for its wines, olive oils and cheeses as well as unique honeys and a wide variety of aromatic plants.
We offer a number of experiences that help tell Provence’s compelling sustainability story. Here is a list of some examples:
Farm-to-Table Lunch
Visit a local farm where everything grown is organic. Learn about natural fertilizing techniques, the organization of picking, the farmer’s calendar for each product, and different ways to protect the plants against the frost, drought, etc. Enjoy regional items such as fresh fruit smoothies, seasonal recipes, rotisserie chicken, etc.
Beekeeping
Wear a traditional beekeeper suit and learn all the secrets of honey making! Your teacher is a champion of permaculture and will show all the miracles happening on her farm. You will of course taste various honeys such as the classic flavors including lavender, rosemary and acacia. The beekeeper also makes unique flavors including melon, fennel and onion!
Olive Farm
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.
Pistou Soup Workshop
Participate in a hands-on pistou soup cooking class. Enjoy your meal under the shade of a beautiful plane tree.
3 hours – evenings only, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Available June – August
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
The people of Provence are quite passionate about their traditions, some dating back centuries. Provencal artisans maintain these customs, many using old techniques and local material to keep these traditions alive. Meet professionals who enjoy sharing their work and know-how.
The Santons
These little figurines are on display annually during Christmastime, but it takes a whole year to make a sufficient quantity to meet Christmas market demand. You will visit the workshop of an artist who creates these treasures. Each one of her pieces is a unique carving. You might be tempted to start your own collection!
1 hour
All year, except November and December
Lavender Wands
For decades, Provencal grandmothers put lavender wands in closets or armoires to keep clothing smelling fresh. Visit a lavender artisan and learn more about the history of this popular flower. You will also try your hand at weaving a fresh lavender bouquet into a little bottle-shaped wand (which you can take home!).
2 hours
June - October
Essential Oils and Aromatics
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.
1 hour
All year
ART DE VIVRE! (THE ART OF LIVING)
You can choose a morning tour, afternoon tour or full-day tour.
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.
6 hours
April - October
FYI: 8:30 am departure for the market
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.
4 hours
April through October
Full Day Available As Well