Let yourself be carried away by three of the most iconic regions of France. From the Vallée de la Loire's "sweet life" to Dordogne's castles and Provence's colorful landscapes, you'll have a most enjoyable and memorable journey!
Thank you so much Emilie for all your hard work on our anniversary trip to St. Emilion and the Loire Valley! We had such a great time and everything you planned for us was just …
Thank you so much Emilie for all your hard work on our anniversary trip to St. Emilion and the Loire Valley! We had such a great time and everything you planned for us was just perfect. Having traveled to Paris and Nice many times, this was our first time exploring the countryside and we had a blast. We cannot thank you enough for everything! Kris and Kristina
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyStay in an 18th century house
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyEnjoy having an aperitive drink the vaulted cellar before dinner
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyRelax in a large suite room with a living room area
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleySpend a night around your host table and taste delicious dishes
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne townStay in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...and enjoy a warm welcome from your hostesses.
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne townRelax in a large and well equipped room...
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...and taste delicious homemade breakfasts.
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAt night, relax in the garden or by the swimming pool in the olive trees
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAfter a great dinner cook by your host - enjoy a great night sleep
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceReady for a swim ?
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceA Table d Hôtes dinner is always a very convivial experience
Step by step
The Loire Valley
Start your itinerary, staying for 4 nights in a delightfully restored house from the 18th century, nestled in a lovely hamlet. Your charming host knows this region very well and will be happy to share some tips with you. One night, you will share a delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared by Monsieur. Do not miss the aperitif in the underground vaulted cellar - an out-of-time experience!
Included in this itinerary is a guided tour to a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers. You will enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some very local specialties.
Located on the south banks of the Vienne River, this charming B&B is within short driving distance of Chinon and Saumur, beautiful historic cities. You will explore, at your own pace, several villages and castles such as Langeais and Villandry.
In Touraine, experience the "sweet life", stopping over in little villages to savor goat cheese or taste amazing wines. Take the time to relax in rose gardens and to enjoy traditional cuisine in many small restaurants frequented by the locals.
Dordogne, the Sleeping Beauty
Then, jump back in time in Dordogne, where history is around every corner. In Black Perigord, you will stay in an old stone Perigord style house for 4 nights, nestled in a lovely and typical Dordogne town. From here, you have several dining options within walking distance, and you can also relax by the very cute Chapel, along the river.
We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise. Dordogne is famous for the prehistoric caves in Lascaux and we will recommend to you much more intimate visits, in 20,000 year old caves. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, these are a must!
Spend a special day with Bea: a private guide in Dordogne. She will take you back to the prehistoric and medieval times . . . away from the beaten paths.
La Belle Provence
Your Bed & Breakfast for the last 4 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. 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".
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 tell you 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.
Let a passionate who was born and raised in Provence take you to his best addresses in the historic center of Avignon to discover provençal food specialties.
Mont Ventoux and its dramatic landscapes also deserve a visit, and we have planned a special activity for you in this part of Provence: 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.
La vie est belle, isn't it?
Activities included
A Winery Visit & Tasting in Chinon
Visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.
Private Guide in the Dordogne
Spend a special day with Bea in Dordogne. She will take you back to the prehistoric and medieval times...away from the beaten paths.
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.
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.
Our trip to Paris, Normandy and the Lore Valley could not have been more enjoyable thanks to all the personalized attention that Emilie gave our requests! She even delivered on the perfect weather we asked for! All of the accommodations were very comfortable and the hosts were so friendly, helpful, and fluent in English. Although I am not usually a …
Our trip to Paris, Normandy and the Lore Valley could not have been more enjoyable thanks to all the personalized attention that Emilie gave our requests! She even delivered on the perfect weather we asked for! All of the accommodations were very comfortable and the hosts were so friendly, helpful, and fluent in English.
Although I am not usually a wine drinker, I really enjoyed the wine tasting Emilie arranged. The advance purchase tickets to Giverney
saved us hours standing in line. It was a dream come true excursion for us, all made very easy by Emilie's expertise and attention.
Robert & Karen
Anyone planning a trip to France, whether for the first time or for the twelfth (like me), will benefit from the fabulous itinerary that Emilie can craft for you. My husband and I just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in the Medoc and the Loire Valley that Emilie planned for us: top-notch historic B&Bs with character, charming friendly hosts and sumptuous …
Anyone planning a trip to France, whether for the first time or for the twelfth (like me), will benefit from the fabulous itinerary that Emilie can craft for you. My husband and I just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in the Medoc and the Loire Valley that Emilie planned for us: top-notch historic B&Bs with character, charming friendly hosts and sumptuous breakfasts and table d'hotes dinners; reserved TGV train tickets and fine car rental; and most specially, unique and interesting daily suggested itineraries crafted to our specific interests. Emilie provided us an amazing detailed day-by-day BOOK with photos, maps, and historical data that would interest us. She arranged wine tastings and other visits, and booked bikes for us to ride along the Loire. Many suggestions are personal--her favorite restaurants and wines, for example, in each area. We enjoyed every one. Emilie was available at any time for advice or help if needed. We could not have asked for more personal service or a more well-chosen itinerary. We are recommending France-Just for You to all our friends! Thank you, Emilie.
John
My wife and I recently engaged Emilie, of France Just For You, to plan a two week trip to Provence in the first two weeks of May. It was mid-March and we found Emilie during a web search of self-driving tours of France. What a find! Emilie responded within twenty-four hours with very specific questions, wanting to know more about us, our interests …
My wife and I recently engaged Emilie, of France Just For You, to plan a two week trip to Provence in the first two weeks of May. It was mid-March and we found Emilie during a web search of self-driving tours of France. What a find! Emilie responded within twenty-four hours with very specific questions, wanting to know more about us, our interests and preferences for things like accommodation, rental vehicle, activities, etc. and our budget. From there she took over, developed an outline of a suggested trip and after we agreed that we liked it, she developed it into a complete, and we mean complete, tour package. She booked Five Star B&B’s which lived up to their reputation; all hosts were fluent in English. She arranged an excellent rental car complete with an English GPS, first class tickets on the TGV from Avignon to Charles de Gaulle airport and overnight accommodation at CDG. Two weeks before our departure, Emilie couriered a package that included a 300 page book that contained a detailed daily itinerary of sight-seeing self-drive tours she recommended we do. This book included maps and GPS co-ordinates of every B&B, all points of interest, parking lot locations (most helpful!) and many recommended restaurants. It also contained a lot of very useful information for North Americans visiting France including material on food, wine, culture, driving and language.
Emilie knows France and will guide you to the places most tourists never get to see. Her thoroughness and attention to detail are impressive. She provided prompt responses to all our communication and was even available 24/7 while we were in France in case any problems arose. All our accommodations were top-notch. Emilie has extremely high standards and therefore, we have no hesitation recommending France Just For You.
