My wife and I and two friends decided we would like to visit France and by chance I found Emilie's website and initiated an online conversation with her over a year ago. We really …
My wife and I and two friends decided we would like to visit France and by chance I found Emilie's website and initiated an online conversation with her over a year ago. We really did not know what we wanted to do, nor where we wanted to go and so our planning became a moving feast, most ably supported by Emilie. How she ever put up with our changing demands remains beyond me. The speed with which she responded to our requests was nothing short of amazing, she must never sleep !! We together finally put together a truly wonderful programme that met our every expectation. We saw provincial France over 17 days, starting in the Cote D'Azur and culminating in Paris, visiting Provence, Burgundy and the Loire. The accommodation arranged by Emilie was delightful, her suggestions on activities, routes, restaurants, sights to see and visit were outstanding.
Travelling from Australia to France is not for the fainthearted at any time, let alone making an unescorted self drive tour such as we have done over the past month. I doubt we could have done it without Emilie's very professional support.
We would recommend her services to anyone. Thank you Emilie
La Belle Provence
tour
Published on:
Last modified on:
Your accommodations
Pictures of the specially selected accommodations
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonEnjoy a peaceful park away from the crowds
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonRest in a very spacious suite-room
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonMeet with fellow travelers in cozy communal areas
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonYour lovely hosts will be happy to help
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAt night, relax in the garden or by the swimming pool in the olive trees
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAfter a great dinner cook by your host - enjoy a great night sleep
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceReady for a swim ?
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceA Table d Hôtes dinner is always a very convivial experience
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townFrom the street you will never believe what's behind the door
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townenjoy a comfortable room opening on to the garden
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townShare a glass of wine...
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal town...with your lovely hosts
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townEnjoy very typical views from the terraces garden
Step by step
Central Provence from Avignon
This itinerary starts in a comfortable Bed & Breakfast on Avignon's island for 4 nights. This very quiet place is nestled in a park where you will enjoy relaxing by the swimming pool or in your large suite-room. The lovely hosts speak excellent English and will be happy to help and make recommendations.
Avignon, also referred to as “the City of Popes”, is a must see. Explore the Palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”. We'll explain how to visit them while avoiding the crowds.
From here, you can easily 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!
If you are interested in history, don’t miss the Roman ruins at Arles, Orange and the Pont du Gard.
Spend a day in the Luberon gorgeous landscapes riding an electric bike. Several itinerary options are available for you to enjoy biking at your own pace.
Northern Wilder Provence
Your second Bed & Breakfast for 5 nights lies just outside a lovely village on the slopes of Mont Ventoux. This former "mas" house has belonged to your hostess’s family for 4 generations and is surrounded by olive and cherry trees. One night, your host Chris will cook a delicious table d’hôtes dinner, which you will enjoy on the terrace.
Mont Ventoux remains the most authentic part of Provence, with little villages such as Vaison la Romaine, Malaucène and Bedoin and dramatic landscapes like les Dentelles de Montmirail.
In such a scenery, explore a very private wine estate, lost in the hills of Provence. You will enjoy a tour of the estate followed by a wine tasting, then have a picnic lunch in the vineyards. A very special place you would not find on your own.
Southern Provence from Aix en Provence
The last B&B for 3 nights is 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.
Go shopping in Aix-en-Provence or sunbathe in the creeks of Cassis. Arles is famous for its arena dating back to the Roman Empire, which will take you 2,000 years back in time.
We also plan for you to spend about 2 hours looking for truffles in the Luberon hills with a lovely couple, followed by several appetizers made of truffles accompanied by a glass (or two . . . who's counting?) of Champagne.
Two magical weeks you will always remember.
Activities included
Gourmet Experience in Provence
Let a passionate who was born and raised in Provence, take you to his best addresses in the old city to discover Provence food specialties.
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.
Wine Tasting & Picnic in a very private Estate
Explore a very private wine estate, lost in the hills of Provence. You will enjoy a tour of the estate followed by a wine tasting, then have a picnic lunch in the vineyards. A very special place you would not find on your own.
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.
This was one of the best trips we have taken to Europe. We have often done our own planning. It was so nice to have Laura help. We were very delighted with accommodations and friendliness of all our hosts and tour guides. As Americans that don't speak much French, we would never have been able to arrange a trip like this ourselves - and we've done …
This was one of the best trips we have taken to Europe. We have often done our own planning. It was so nice to have Laura help. We were very delighted with accommodations and friendliness of all our hosts and tour guides. As Americans that don't speak much French, we would never have been able to arrange a trip like this ourselves - and we've done lots of independent travel in the past. We loved the many small towns you recommended. Merci Laura for arranging such a wonderful experience for us.
Naomi
My boyfriend and I spent a week in Paris last month and we decided that we would do a couple of day-tours outside of the city during our trip. We really wanted to avoid the typical tour-bus day-tour and the crowds that come along with these kinds of tours – we wanted something more personalized that would allow us to go at our own pace. I found the …
My boyfriend and I spent a week in Paris last month and we decided that we would do a couple of day-tours outside of the city during our trip. We really wanted to avoid the typical tour-bus day-tour and the crowds that come along with these kinds of tours – we wanted something more personalized that would allow us to go at our own pace. I found the France Just For You website and the ‘Bayeux and World War II Sites in a Day’ tour seemed to be exactly the type of thing we were looking for, as we’re both really interested in history. On a personal note, this tour appealed to me because my grandfather fought in Normandy in World War II. I filled up the contact form on the website and Emilie got back to me the same day. She organized every little detail to make it the perfect tour for us: she booked our return train tickets from Paris, organized for us to spend the morning on our own in the picturesque old town of Bayeux, where we enjoyed exploring the cathedral and saw the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Emilie sent over maps and directions and recommended a fantastic restaurant for lunch. After lunch, our private guide Christophe met us at the agreed meeting point in Bayeux and took us to the Normandy landing sites. I had explained to Emilie that I specifically wanted to visit this site as my grandpa had fought for one of the American infantry divisions that landed in Normandy in 1944. Christophe was extremely knowledgeable (and very patient with all of my questions!) and took us to the sites where my grandpa’s battalion would have fought. It was a very moving experience, especially when I thought back to the stories that my grandpa used to tell me about the war.
I really couldn’t have chosen a better tour option. It was perfectly customized to the preferences that I had given to Emilie, and she was very thorough and asked all of the right questions to help her plan the perfect day for us. We knew how to contact her in case there were any problems on the day (which there weren't), and the fact that everything was planned for us meant that we could just focus on enjoying the day. Thank you so much, I wouldn’t hesitate to book with you again!
Debbie
Emilie is amazing. Going to Normandy has always been a dream of my husbands and luckily for us we found Emilie to plan our trip. Our hotel in Paris for the start of our trip was located perfectly. Within walking distance of so much for our first two days before we picked up the rental car she had arranged for us. Then onto Normandy and the Loire …
Emilie is amazing. Going to Normandy has always been a dream of my husbands and luckily for us we found Emilie to plan our trip. Our hotel in Paris for the start of our trip was located perfectly. Within walking distance of so much for our first two days before we picked up the rental car she had arranged for us. Then onto Normandy and the Loire Valley where the B&B's she arranged for us were awesome and the hosts shared a lot of history with us and made us feel very welcome. Our own specialized guide book not only proved to be invaluable while we were there, but a very special momento of our trip. And I can't say enough about the guide she arranged for us for our tour of the beaches, he has to be one of the most knowledgeable (and interesting) D-Day guides ever!! I highly recommend Emilie and France Just For You. She takes into consideration your wants and needs and personalizes your trip perfectly. We wouldn't have been able to have our "trip of a lifetime" without her!
