Provence has always been one of the most popular regions in France for a vacation, and this expert tour of the area lets you sample its finest flavors. From Marseille and Aix-en-Provence to Avignon, Saint-Remy-de-Provence and Gordes, partake in wine and olive oil tastings, gaze upon seasonal sunflowers and lavender fields, and experience delicious culinary delights throughout your trip.

A highlight of this exclusive Premier experience is the Chef dinners, which you have the option to help prepare and learn from an award-winning culinary master. Whether you are admiring the Luberon mountains, basking in a sunset over the hilltops or exploring vineyards and olive groves, this is a food and wine travel experience that will delight each and every one of your senses.

Highlights of Aix-en-Provence

DAY 1

Arrive at Marseille airport in the morning, followed by private transfer to your hotel in Aix-en-Provence. Enjoy time at leisure at the hotel before meeting the rest of the group for a Welcome Dinner.

DAY 2

Aix-en-Provence was founded by the Romans in 103 BC and is known as ‘the city of a thousand fountains’. Enjoy a guided tour of the old town and colorful market in the city, which will be in full swing, and discover the vegetables and fruits, cheeses, herbs and olive oil in the center near Cours Mirabeau. 

Savor lunch with the group before spending the rest of your day at leisure exploring this beautiful city. 

DAY 3

Depart Aix-en-Provence for your villa in the valley below the hilltop village of Gordes, listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages. Stop in the charming village of Loumarin for an introduction to the Luberon Valley, which is an area with a rich agricultural history that produces many of Provence’s signature ingredients. 

Enjoy a guided tour of another of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France” followed by time at leisure to explore at your own pace. Experience a private wine-tasting session that focuses on varieties native to Provence, before sitting down to the first Chef’s dinner of the tour back at your villa, for which you can help with preparing as much (or as little) as you wish

Highlights of Provence

DAY4

Spend the morning in beautiful, medieval Gordes and walk through the vaulted, arcaded lanes on a guided tour revealing the town’s many charms. Visit the Caves du Palais Saint-Firmin a Gordes, which provides evidence of life in Gordes from the Middle Ages onwards and offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of this mysterious, semi-troglodyte world.

Enjoy an aperitif served in the gardens before lunch at leisure, then visit the Abbaye de Senanque; a Cistercian abbey renowned for its spectacular lavender fields, for a guided visit. Savor the second Chef’s dinner in the evening back at your villa.

DAY 5

Enjoy time in Gordes shopping at the Tuesday Provençal market for local ingredients for the Chef’s dinner, guided by our Expert Host. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Gordes and return to the villa to relax before the evening’s Chef’s dinner.

DAY 6

Experience a trip to St. Remy de Provence; a beautiful village forever entwined with the legacy of Vincent van Gogh. Bask in the atmosphere of traditional Provençal living as you stroll through the local marketplace on a guided walking tour, surrounded by fresh produce, fragrant herbs, and seasonal specialities.

Meander the narrow streets, discovering what makes this village so vibrant. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch. Depart for a nearby olive farm at which you will learn about making and enjoy tasting olive oil. Return to the villa before the evening’s Chef’s dinner.

DAY 7

Visit Avignon, a city in southeastern France’s Provence region set beside the Rhône River that was the seat of the Catholic popes from 1309 to 1377. Admire this legacy in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace) in the city center as part of a guided visit, after a guided trolley tour of Avignon. Depart for Châteauneuf du Pape to enjoy a private wine tasting and light lunch at one of the 55 vineyards before returning to the villa. Châteauneuf was chosen as the location for the summer residence of Pope Jean XXII in the 14th century and is known for its extremely fine wine.

Enjoy your final Chef’s dinner in the evening.

DAY 8

Relax at the villa in the morning, then depart in the afternoon for a guided visit to the charming hilltop villages of Menerbes and Bonnieux. Enjoy a Farewell Diner in Bonnieux before returning to the villa.

DAY 9 Say au revoir to Provence in the morning. Transfer to Marseille Airport to catch your departing flight home.

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