Magical Provence

$4950 per person

7 days & 6 nights

Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting iconic Provence, a land of vineyards, olive trees and stone built villages, and rosé wine, at least one in a lifetime? With our base in the Southern Luberon Valley, you will be immersed in the relaxed rhythm of this region, enjoying farmers markets and local cafés, the colourful landscape of famous painters, and the “art de vivre”, or lifestyle, of many writers. You’ll toast your new friends with beautiful Mediterranean wines and enjoy cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Everyday will be a highlight, with off the beaten path activities and meeting locals in their homes and places of work. After a week living the Provence dream, you’ll come to agree that is more than a “bucket list” experience; it’s a way of life.

Prices:

$4950 per person – private room

$4450 per person – shared room

2020 Dates:

May 9th – 15th

May 16th – 22nd

October 10th – 16th

Can’t make these dates? Let us know using the enquiry form.

3 Reviews

Departure/Return Location

Aix en Provence city/train station or Marseille airport
Departure Time

Collection from meeting point from 3pm
Return Time

Departure transfer from 11am
Included

Accommodation

Comfortable vehicles

Experienced Tour Director

Group Transfers

Local Guides

Most Meals

Private Tours and Outings

Tips & Gratuities

Wines
Not Included

Flights

Travel/Health Insurance

From our gallery

Take a look at the fun we had on our last trip...

Tour Plan

Our Hand Picked Location

You will arrive in the Southern Luberon region of Provence, not far from the aristocratic city of Aix en Provence and in the heart of Peter Mayle’s “A Year in Provence” countryside. This area has been a centuries’ old magnet for people wishing to experience beautiful landscapes, wonderful weather and a relaxing atmosphere. Depending on the season, you’ll see purple irises lining the roads, fields of red poppies, groves of cherry trees, sweeping sunflowers and grapes ripening in vineyards. How about a souvenir photo of you, living the French lifestyle, with these stunning landscapes in the background?!

Your Home-Away-from-Home

Many aristocratic families built summer homes here and these residences are still occupied, but by modern owners, who have transformed them with contemporary comforts. They can be Provencal farmhouses or manor houses with cosy living rooms, open plan kitchens (perfect for private chefs to run cooking lessons), outdoor terraces furnished with deck chairs and landscaped with fragrant herbs, and even heated swimming pools. Depending on your choice, you’ll enjoy a private room or double room, and live like a local for a week in a wonderful, hand selected private residence, along with your new female friends.

What You'll Enjoy

You can’t get much better than Provence for living the French dream. Outdoor terraces with a glass of refreshing rosé wine, colorful and animated markets selling antiques, baskets, scarves, and seasonal produce, friendly people willing to show you how to play a game of boules, and a region which attracted artists over the ages. It’s throwing its arms out for you to enjoy and absorb like a local. And speaking of locals, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a cast of characters: charming French chefs, a chateau owner, a truffle hunter, a wine maker, a potter, an art teacher, a local grandmother, a creator of gardens, a painter, a baker – they’re all there, in Magical Provence, waiting to meet you and to share their passions.

What We’re Cooking Up for You!

We’ll offer a mix of hands-on activities, meeting local artisans in their homes and places of work, and opportunities to visit special places most visitors don’t have access to. Here’s just a little taste of what we are busy digging up and planning for you (most, but not all, will be worked into the itinerary depending on availability):

rubbing shoulders with the locals at the colorful farmers markets
cooking fresh Provencal cuisine with a private chef
summer truffle hunting with some very smart dogs!
a picnic under the olive trees
visiting local craftspeople and learning their special skills
strolling in a garden rated “remarquable”, guided by the creator
visiting a privately owned chateau with the chatelaine, herself
immersing yourself in Provencal traditions at a local festival
a workshop on cell phone photography (for our Instagram followers)
learning to play boules with a couple of hilarious local guys
recording the beautiful scenery with your sketchbook and the help of a local teacher
October dates are over the "Week of Taste" in France, so special dining experiences may be expected.
shopping the flea markets with an antiques expert
who can forget a visit a tasting (several!) of the region’s iconic rosé wine?
lastly, we are also including personal time for you to get lost down little village lanes, to sit in a French café and watch the world go by, and to relax with a book in our pretty manor house garden.

Wining & Dining

Did we mention fantastic, delicious meals, using fresh seasonal ingredients, accompanied by regional wines? But of course, “oui”! Every morning, you’ll be fuelled up with a privately catered breakfast at our manor home before setting out on our adventures. Lunches will be a combination of picnics, tastings, and meals in local bistrots. Dinners offer a variety of experiences, from a catered welcome dinner at home, to joining in with the chef preparing your own meal under his supervision, from meals at hand-picked restaurants with wonderful terraces and views, to a celebratory meal at the end of our week together. On a few occasions, you’ll also have the time to wander and make your own discoveries for lunch or dinner.

How to Secure Your Place?

We’ll only take from 7 – 14 lucky guests. In this unique way of travel, we will initially gather a list of 7 committed travellers, and then take a waiting list. Once we have formed this group, we will reserve our private home and put our final plans in place. We may also be able to extend rooms to women on our waiting list according to the accommodation available. A description of the accommodation will be provided to our guests once secured, along with a detailed itinerary 2 months prior to departure. If you want to be part of our Magical Provence…for Women experience, don’t hesitate. This is normally our most sold out tour.