Provence & the French Riviera are famous the world over, but they still have a lot of secrets, ready to be discovered if you are willing to get away from the beaten paths.
My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on …
My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on the type of hotels and the places that we wanted to see and she took care of the details. The hotels that she picked were outstanding. All but one day we followed her itinerary and were pleased. One day my husband wanted more WWII stuff and me were able to change plans at the last minute.
#1 - A cozy B&B house in the heights of NiceA welcoming house in a hilltop village
#1 - A cozy B&B house in the heights of Nice ...with spacious rooms equipped with AC
#1 - A cozy B&B house in the heights of NiceEnjoy the sea view from your room and the breakfast terrace
#2 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townFrom the street you will never believe what's behind the door
#2 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townenjoy a comfortable room opening on to the garden
#2 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townShare a glass of wine...
#2 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal town...with your lovely hosts
#2 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townEnjoy very typical views from the terraces garden
#3 - A cozy house in the heart of the Old AvignonStay 300 yards to the Palace of the Popes
#3 - A cozy house in the heart of the Old AvignonRelax in a comfortable room
#3 - A cozy house in the heart of the Old AvignonAt night you can walk to all restaurants then rest in a cool garden
Step by step
Arrival in the French Riviera
We recommend that our travelers fly into Nice International Airport to save time and energy. You will pick up the rental car at Nice airport.
To avoid the crowds during your 10 days in the south of France, you will stay in beautiful family-run B&Bs away from the city center.
In a small hilltop village just 8 miles from Nice, we have selected a lovely B&B located at the top of the town, so you will enjoy a beautiful sea view from your room and from the breakfast terrace. You will be within walking distance of several restaurants and will feel at ease to explore the region.
The Cote d’Azur is a marvel of fabulous 19th century villas and sapphire water coves. Wander through the narrow alleyways of the old city of Nice and visit the many famous art museums. Go shopping and enjoy views of the Mediterranean in seaside restaurants from Monte Carlo to Antibes. We will tell you all of our secrets about the best places to visit in the Riviera.
The French Riviera Hinterland
In the Rivierahinterland, you will have the opportunity to discover some of the most beautiful handicrafts in France, particularly ceramics, sculpture and paintings. You might be tempted to step into a glassblower's shoes and make your own “chef d’oeuvre”.For art lovers, the many art museums of Nice and its surroundings will amaze you, with masterpieces by Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.
Making your own fragance at a famous perfume house is a lot of fun. You will learn the basics of perfume making and then choose between hundreds of ingredients to create your own Eau de Parfum. This is a wonderful and unique souvenir of your stay in the French Riviera to bring home with you.
Southern Provence - around Aix en Provence
Stay in a lively town between Aix en Provence and the Luberon hills. You will be comfortably settled in the former school which was entirely renovated by your hosts. Walk to restaurants and enjoy a terraced garden with gorgeous views to the town's roofs. Very Provençal !
One night, enjoy a convivial dinner at your B&B, by the fountain.
From this B&B, you will explore the landscapes which inspired so many painters, including Paul Cezanne.
Wander around picturesque villages such as Ansouis and Lourmarin on the slopes of the Luberon hills and get a feel for the peaceful atmosphere of these places. Visit Aix-en-Provence and its many museums.
Tour the salt marshes of the Camargue and visit the Alpilles region, where you will find beautiful Saint Remy de Provence. We will tell you where to buy the best olive oil!
Central Provence - around Avignon
On the 7th day, you will drive North to central Provence. Stay in a beautifully restored stone house in the old walls of Avignon, a 3-minute walk from the Palace of the Popes. Avignon is a perfect base camp to explore central and northern Provence.
We recommend dedicating a day to discovering the quaint villages of the Luberon, riding an electric bike. You will have several biking itinerary options, from easy to challenging. All of them will take you to explore hidden hamlets, vineyard chapels, wineries, road-trails through the olive groves and evergreen oaks. A great day, exploring at your own pace.
And while we're on the subject of Provençal gastronomy, we have planned a truffle hunt in a very secret place. You will work with the hunter and his dog in the Provence hills. After that, you will savor several truffle appetizers to get acquainted with this highly-valued mushroom.
On your last day, you can return the car at the most convenient place depending on your next destination.
You will be immersed in the culture of the South-East of France.
Activities included
Riviera Perfume Workshop
In one of the most famous perfume houses, be introduced to the perfume making technics and make your own fragrance - which you will keep as a great souvenir!
E-Biking Day in Provence
Spend a day in the Luberon gorgeous landscapes driving an electric bike. Several itinerary options for you to enjoy biking at your own pace.
Truffle Hunt & Tasting
Spend about 2hrs looking for truffles in the Luberon hills with a lovely couple, then taste several appetizers made of truffle with a glass of Champagne.
We could not be happier. When we first received the guide book and brochures, we thought we would not need them, but they were invaluable! Our first stay with Florence and Phil was especially memorable but really we cannot think of a highlight because it was all wonderful. We will certainly recommend your company to anyone we know travelling to …
We could not be happier. When we first received the guide book and brochures, we thought we would not need them, but they were invaluable!
Our first stay with Florence and Phil was especially memorable but really we cannot think of a highlight because it was all wonderful. We will certainly recommend your company to anyone we know travelling to France.
We will send you nice photos when we get back home.
Roger
The planning and coordination of our holiday was quite awesome and far exceeded all of our expectations and indeed our imagination. The 300 odd page personalised guide book with maps, times and distances, restaurants on route and at our destinations, recommended places to visit on route and the accomodation itself and hosts at each location were …
The planning and coordination of our holiday was quite awesome and far exceeded all of our expectations and indeed our imagination. The 300 odd page personalised guide book with maps, times and distances, restaurants on route and at our destinations, recommended places to visit on route and the accomodation itself and hosts at each location were also superb. The guided wine tasting and sight seeing tours at each location were of the highest quality. The entire trip was a delight.
Marcia
We would highly recommend “France Just for You” and will most defiantly use the services of Emilie again. At the end of April 2017 we spend two weeks in France visiting Normandy, Mont Saint Michel, Lorie Valley and Paris. We can would sum the trip in one word “Perfect!”. Emilie well prepared us with a personalized book, (179 pages) , describing our …
We would highly recommend “France Just for You” and will most defiantly use the services of Emilie again. At the end of April 2017 we spend two weeks in France visiting Normandy, Mont Saint Michel, Lorie Valley and Paris. We can would sum the trip in one word “Perfect!”. Emilie well prepared us with a personalized book, (179 pages) , describing our accommodations, things to see and the history of the area. She gave great recommendations of restaurants, sights and always provided the GPS coordinates which were invaluable. All of the B&B accommodations were wonderful with welcoming host that spoke English. I cannot tell how easy Emilie made traveling abroad for us, we looked forward to what each and every day would bring, except of the last day when we had to leave.
