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Best of Provence Tours

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Provence France Tours

“Cultural & Gourmet Delights in Provence”


This personalized and intimate 8-day 7-night guided-tour of the best villages in Provence, France, is directed by Anne-Marie Hampton, a French Ph.D., native of Provence, and her husband, Wade, who knows the region intimately.  The tour, limited to 10 to 12 participants, combines Provence's most important attractions: Mediterranean cuisine, wine, art and the most beautiful historical hill top villages.  

Since the tour is home-based, there is no need to pack or unpack.  Guests' home is a lovely resort in Gordes, within the exclusive Luberon Natural Park - Le Parc Naturel du Luberon, in the “heart” of  Provence.  This region, which offers the very best of Provence from markets to monuments and vineyards,  was “discovered” in the early 1930s by artists and writers who settled in the small, peaceful and unknown villages away from the coast and the crowd.  Picasso  spent time in Ménerbes where he bought a house for his mistress artist Dora Maar, Vasarely opted for Gordes, Albert Camus, settled in Lourmarin while his friend, the poet René Char, lived in Isle sur Sorgue.  The list of talented men and women who made the Luberon their home in this remote and authentic part of Provence is endless.  

Then, Peter Mayle wrote his book A Year in Provence and the region became internationally known.  It attracted the rich and famous, from show business celebrities to presidents, ministers and Wall Street golden boys who live in houses hidden in the Luberon hills.  A Good Year with Russell Crowe was filmed here.  Designer Pierre Cardin bought the Château of the Marquis de Sade on the top of the village of Lacoste and did a fantastic job restoring part of it.  He also owns the ancient rock quarries below the castle where, every Summer, he organizes concerts, ballets and shows.  We bumped into John Malkovich with his children at a local bar in Bonnieux and had a chat with him.  He owns a fantastic property just below the village.  Brigitte Bardot had a hideout in Roussillon, and American and French artists have houses scattered all over the Luberon.  We often exchange local news and favorite restaurant addresses with them when shopping at the  markets for goat cheese, olive oil and wine.

Our guests explore the medieval villages of Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Goult, Ménerbes (famous for Peter Mayle's books on Provence), and les Baux de Provence; Châteaux and abbeys in the Luberon countryside: Lacoste (home to the castle of the Marquis de Sade), the Abbaye de Sénanque; the Palace of the Popes in Avignon; and such Roman wonders as the Antiques in St.Rémy-de-Provence and the Arena in Arles. 

Guests also visit famous Côtes-du-Rhône wineries, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, antique and food markets in Isle-sur-Sorgue, art galleries and artist sudios owned by some of our local friends, shop for Provençal fabrics, the Lavender Museum and the best chocolaterie in the region. We also reserve our guests  some extra surprises that they’ll discover along the tour (our secrets, our tour has been copied too many times...).  Please see our detailed Provence France Tour "Itinerary"

Our Provence France tour package includes seven nights' lodging, most meals, wine, champagne reception, complimentary bottles of wine to enjoy by the pool or on your private terrace or balcony, cold soft drinks and mineral water from our coolers during day trips, entrance fees to museums and wineries, ground transportation by air-conditioned minibus and cars to all sites described in the itinerary, bilingual very experienced guides.

Included in "Cultural & Gourmet Delights Provence" Tour 

    Seven nights accommodations in your suite with private bathroom.

    Private fully equipped kitchen and living room/dining area, private terrace or balcony in a resort with pool & gardens.

    Seven continental breakfasts.

    Seven meals (lunches and dinners).

    Welcome Champagne reception and orientation at our private house Sunday noon.

    Wine is included in all meals! 

    Complimentary wine for your drinks on your private terrace/balcony.

    Wine-tastings, as noted in the itinerary.

    Cold soft drinks and mineral water from our cooler during day trips.

    Transportation to and from all sites, as noted in the itinerary.

    Admissions fees to museums and wineries as noted in the itinerary.

    Assistance of guide during the hosted tours.

    Transfers: TGV Avignon train station (at time noted in the itinerary).  

    Please see our “Travel Tips” for train travel and other information .

   The Price Excludes:

Air, train, taxi fares and transfers, insurance, personal expenses, phone calls, beverages (wine is included as noted in the itinerary), optional visits to museums/activities/services.

PLEASE GO TO OUR DAY BY DAY PROVENCE TOUR ITINERARY FOR DETAILS

Please take a look at what our guests say about our tour:  OUR GUESTS



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