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.
In 2013 I had 2 big reasons to plan a trip to France: a new grand baby boy in Avignon, and I wanted to surprise my husband with a trip to Normandy. He absolutely loves anything and …
In 2013 I had 2 big reasons to plan a trip to France: a new grand baby boy in Avignon, and I wanted to surprise my husband with a trip to Normandy. He absolutely loves anything and everything he can find to read or watch that is related to WWII. So, I started exploring online for a custom tour designer that could put together a great itinerary for these two objectives, and I found the most amazing person, Emilie from France Just For You! She listened to what I wanted to do and created the most amazing 2 week itinerary from Normandy, to the Loire Valley, to Provance. She set up stays in restored castles, grand estates, warm and inviting B &B's, arranged rental cars, train tickets, special retired military tour guides in Normandy, and too many things to list! The icing on the cake was an amazing customized bound itinerary in book-form, with tips about driving in France, tolls, roundabouts, gas stations, speed limits, traffic signs, 3-4 day trips by car for each area we visited, so we could choose how and what we wanted to see the countryside or quaint towns. Suggested out-of-the-way sights, cafes, wineries, shopping, scenic places, etc. One of the places we loved most, was staying in her parents' B&B in the Loire Valley. Their home was lovely, warm, inviting and we met such wonderful travelers there! I fell in love with her mother's homemade fresh yogurt, and she told me how to make it once I got home! I love it and make it all the time now!!
We ended our trek through France in the south, in Avignon, where we spent time with family and met our grandson for the first time! We stayed in a comfortable home there that was like being in our own home. We were able to share relaxing family time with lots of space. And don't forget the lavender fields and the natural beauty of Provance! What a way to end our trip.
I highly recommend Emilie for all of your travel in France! I will always call her for my trips there- and I'll probably call her for any trip to Europe in the hopes that she can help with other countries too!!!
#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 quiet mill house in Aix en ProvenceA traditional mill house in a quiet district in Aix en Provence
#2 - A quiet mill house in Aix en ProvenceRefresh at night in a large and comfortable room...
#2 - A quiet mill house in Aix en Provence...or by the swimming pool, in the lush garden
#2 - A quiet mill house in Aix en ProvenceFeel at home and enjoy Provence sweet life
#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 in the heights of Aix en Provence, still inside the town of Aix, but in a very quiet setting surrounded by water. You will be comfortably settled in a typical “mill house”, surrounded by a lush garden with a swimming pool. 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!
Dianne & Bob
Emilie & Guillaume did an amazing job organizing and helping us on our trip to France this month. I cannot speak highly enough! Everything was planned to perfection and things went smoothly. We did a few days in Paris, Normandy and Provence, and in each one what they planned was spectacular. We especially enjoyed the wine tasting and picnic in …
Emilie & Guillaume did an amazing job organizing and helping us on our trip to France this month. I cannot speak highly enough! Everything was planned to perfection and things went smoothly. We did a few days in Paris, Normandy and Provence, and in each one what they planned was spectacular. We especially enjoyed the wine tasting and picnic in Provence, and the all day personal guide to D-Day in Normandy. We would never have been able to make those arrangements on our own, and having them made the trip a truly unique experience. We went to some of the restaurants Emilie recommended, and loved them. The book with information about EVERYTHING was the best - could not have lived without the GPS coordinates, or we would still be driving around Rouen! Thanks to them for all of their planning and help!
David
It was the best tour ever! Laura did an amazing job to deliver painless and excellent planning and arrangements. Everything promised was delivered and included much more than would normally be seen without ‘INSIDR’ tips. It is obvious that Emilie and Laura have put a lot of thought and effort into the tours they offer. We definitely recommend …
It was the best tour ever! Laura did an amazing job to deliver painless and excellent planning and arrangements. Everything promised was delivered and included much more than would normally be seen without ‘INSIDR’ tips. It is obvious that Emilie and Laura have put a lot of thought and effort into the tours they offer. We definitely recommend FRANCE JUST FOR YOU to all and only wish they provided similar services for other countries.
