Enjoy the sweet scents, vivid colors, flavorful tastes, sunshine and warm wind of Provence & the Riviera.
To save time and energy, we recommend you fly in and out of Marseille (or Nice) International Airport. Otherwise, we can also help with TGV train tickets.
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip …
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip travelers, but this adventure brought us closer to the wonderful people of France than any group tour or "drop and plop" vacation could ever do. The bed and breakfasts were charming, and the time we spend talking with our interesting hosts lent so much warmth to the trip. The guides Emilie provided were knowledgeable and personable. One of the best experiences of our lives was hiking in St. Saint Michel Bay at night, in the water, with our guide Roman. Each day was outlined with many suggestions and background information to allow you to make choices based on our interests and energy level. She set up experiences, such a wine tastings or cooking classes based on our feedback to her questions before we went. The book Emilie provided and the maps couldn't have been more detailed or better organized for easy use. I will say that it's important to read EVERYTHING before you go, as there's so much great information that you need time to become familiar with the guide before you go. Also, take Emilie's advice about the gps. She suggested you download maps either on your own device or your phone before you go. We used an internet app on our phone, which worked great, until your internet service dropped. (not often) The gps in the rental car was not in English in one of the cars, but it was in the other. Also, she gives you great tips about how to use the toll road systems, and even how to learn where to stand to get the TGV spot to wait for your car. One more tip: "drop a pin" on the maps app on your phone whenever you leave your car. We "misplaced" our car twice...makes a great story but is not very fun in the moment! We had a simply wonderful trip. Even though we never met Emilie, we felt like she was a friend because of all of the quick and thorough communication. We definitely recommend France Just For You, and we hope to have the opportunity to return to see the rest of France very soon!
#1 - A Beautiful Townhouse in the heart of a peaceful Provençal townCool at night in the garden, by the swimming pool
#1 - A Beautiful Townhouse in the heart of a peaceful Provençal townEnjoy a cozy room with a great view
#1 - A Beautiful Townhouse in the heart of a peaceful Provençal townGet to meet and spend some time with your lovely hosts
#1 - A Beautiful Townhouse in the heart of a peaceful Provençal townEnjoy the real Provence...
#2 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-ProvenceEnjoy a very large garden with a nice swimming pool
#2 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-ProvenceA comfortable independent cottage...
#2 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-Provence...a lovely hostess happy to share tips with you
#2 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-Provenceand this view !
#3 - A mansion, full of artwork on the RivieraEnjoy the comfort of a very spacious suite room...
#3 - A mansion, full of artwork on the Riviera...in a lovely typical town of the Riviera hinterland
#3 - A mansion, full of artwork on the RivieraYour lovely hosts will share many tips and hints
#3 - A mansion, full of artwork on the RivieraArt is everywhere in the this house...even at the breakfast table.
Step by step
Northern Provence in a quaint town
Your itinerary starts with 4 nights in the heart of a peaceful provençal town near Mount Ventoux. Your lovely hosts will welcome you in the house they entirely remodeled. At night, refresh in the garden with swimming pool or enjoying a dinner cooked by Eric, your host. A very Provençal experience!
Northern Provence remains the most authentic part of Provence, with little villages and dramatic landscapes. If you are interested in Roman ruins, you'll have a lot to see: the amphitheater at Orange, the arenas at Arles and Nîmes or the Pont du Gard. We will also take you to smaller sites – less famous and much quieter. For the gourmets, we will recommend a farmers market or a wine cellar for each day of the week!
Discover Avignon, the city of the Popes, or the Chateauneuf-du-Pape red wine vineyards. On the wine subject, we will take you to a place you could not find on your own . . . lost in Provence's mountains, at a very private wine estate. Here, you will take a tour to the winery, then enjoy a wine tasting followed by a nice picnic in the vineyards. A very romantic experience.
Southern Provence between the Luberon & Aix
For the following 4 nights, stay half-way between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon hills, in a very hidden B&B lost in the "garrigue" shrubland and pine forest. From the B&B, you can explore the landscapes which inspired so many painters including Cezanne.
From here, discover the beauty of Southern Provence as you visit picturesque little villages in the Luberon or bigger cities such as Marseille and Aix-en-Provence. Tour the salt marshes of the Camargue, take an easy hike in the calanques near Cassis or visit the Alpilles region, where you will find beautiful Saint Remy de Provence and Van Gogh's favorite landscapes. We will tell you where to buy the best olive oil or lavender products!
We also plan for travelers interested in Jewish history to spend a day with a private guide. Provence has a lot of Jewish heritage and culture to discover such as Cavaillon or Carpentras synagogues, which are among the oldest in France.
The Riviera: Seaside & Hinterland
After about a 3hr drive, you will arrive in the French Riviera, in a lovely historic town uphill, so away from the main crowds. Stay in a very artsy B&B, where your lovely host, who was born here, will be very happy to share a lot of tips & hints for you to make the most of your stay.
In the Riviera hinterland, you will have the opportunity to discover some of the most beautiful handicrafts in France, particularly ceramics, sculptures and paintings. For art lovers, the many art museums of Nice and its surroundings will amaze you with masterpieces by Chagall, Matisse and Picasso. We have included in this package the museum pass so you won't pay for most of the sightseeing on the Riviera.
But the Riviera is even more than art and museums. The “Cote d’Azur” is a marvel of fabulous 19th century villas and sapphire water coves. From Antibes to Monte Carlo (Monaco), seaside resorts will satisfy all your shopping desires during the day. And at night, you can rely on the Riviera's bars and seaside restaurants to entertain you.
Nature is always within reach, with many hiking trails, biking tours or natural rock climbing possibilities in spectacular scenery.
Oh là là, what a trip !
Activities included
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.
Jewish Heritage Tour in Provence
Spend a half-day with Elo, a private guide, to discover the Jewish heritage in Provence. You'll get to understand a lot about Provence history.
Riviera Museum Pass
Get free access to Nice and the French Riviera art museums and sites to visit such as Historical Villas, gardens or aquarium.
My wife and I were planning a special trip to Provence and although we didn't want a canned tour, we did want support to ensure we didn't miss out on experiences we simply weren't aware of. In our search we got lucky and found Emilie. She interviewed us in advance so she could customize the trip to our desires and interests and ultimately created …
My wife and I were planning a special trip to Provence and although we didn't want a canned tour, we did want support to ensure we didn't miss out on experiences we simply weren't aware of. In our search we got lucky and found Emilie. She interviewed us in advance so she could customize the trip to our desires and interests and ultimately created our own guidebook packed with countless options and details. She secured the perfect vehicle for us with a gps so we could use the coordinates provided in the book to get exactly to even the most obscure location. This alone saved us hours of time and aggravation. We had an excellent and diverse itinerary featuring 2 beautiful B and B's. At the second, Phillippe ( a Michelon Chef) and his wife cooked a wonderful dinner and served the best waffles I have ever had. We toured small villages perched on the sides of cliffs, went truffle hunting with trained truffles
Dogs, had a dune buggy ride through a vineyard, etc. , all thanks to Emilie' s knowledge and expertise. We got to see Provence as we would never have been able to do on our own. I highly recommend Emilie to assist with making your trip the best it can be!
Cat & Family
One would think driving in a different country where cars are on the wrong side of the road and you don’t speak the language for 11 day trip would not be a smart decision. France Just for You is definitely the travel consultant you go to. Emilie’s very quick replies to queries, personal knowledge of having been to places recommended and …
One would think driving in a different country where cars are on the wrong side of the road and you don’t speak the language for 11 day trip would not be a smart decision. France Just for You is definitely the travel consultant you go to. Emilie’s very quick replies to queries, personal knowledge of having been to places recommended and organisation skills for minute details, makes them truly reliable.
From getting us a French smartphone complete with the necessary apps to help us navigate and keep us connected , and also providing us with a personalised guidebook that dictates step-by step advice on what to look out for, GPS guide on where to go , where to park, how to use the parking machines/toll machines/even pumping gas (complete with images of where to slot in your cards) , made our travelling around and navigation practically stress-free!
Emilie crafted itineraries which allows my family of four , each with different interests ( from WWII millitary historical sites to a whole new world of Chateaus ,medieval villages ,flower gardens , immersive artworks, sunset and fantastic night sky , to cooking French cuisines) experiences to treasure and remember.
We had a half day guide in Paris, Raphaelle, who is truly knowledgeable about art , history and architecture. We visited Picasso Museum and because the artwork there were not laid out chronologically, Raphaelle made it easily understandable by showing us through her own folder of personal compilations of the Master’s progress of life encounters and artworks (which should be made into a book) that ties in to the art pieces on display, it provided us with so many aha moments.
Merci beaucoup France Just For You!
Carolyn
We had a truly remarkable adventure across France. France Just For You created an amazing itinerary that captured the essence of France. Their planning and support made the trip effortless and enjoyable. Each B&B offered a home like atmosphere and allowed us to meet people across the many different regions of France. We were able to experience so …
We had a truly remarkable adventure across France. France Just For You created an amazing itinerary that captured the essence of France. Their planning and support made the trip effortless and enjoyable. Each B&B offered a home like atmosphere and allowed us to meet people across the many different regions of France. We were able to experience so many different regions and taste the wines and foods of each.
The Women's World Cup was our motivation for going, but it was so much more thanks to Laura and Emelie. There were so many personal touches that made us feel like we were part of a large family.
If you want to truly experience France with ease, I highly recommend France Just for You!
