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!
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
#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.
Laura and Emilie planned such a professional, authentic and fantastic trip that it has become one of my favorite vacations! Excursions, accommodations, and suggested activities were flawless -- such that the only difficult decision for us was what to select from scrumptious French cuisine. I was hesitant at first to trust an unknown online trip …
Laura and Emilie planned such a professional, authentic and fantastic trip that it has become one of my favorite vacations! Excursions, accommodations, and suggested activities were flawless -- such that the only difficult decision for us was what to select from scrumptious French cuisine. I was hesitant at first to trust an unknown online trip planner, but I'm so glad I did. Knowing France from the inside made all the difference. The specific tips about traveling in France made our first driving experience actually enjoyable! We drove out of Paris, visited Normandy, Mont St. -Michel, Loire Valley, Provence, Burgundy and Nice!
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!
Bev & Jeff from the US
Wow ! Wow ! Wow ! We had the best 23 day trip to France. I normally plan our vacations, but after finding the France Just For You website, I knew we had to let the experts plan our 30th Anniversary. Every Bed & Breakfast was excellent. They were so beautiful and the welcome was fantastic at every one. FJFY thinks of every detail. Directions, train …
Wow ! Wow ! Wow !
We had the best 23 day trip to France. I normally plan our vacations, but after finding the France Just For You website, I knew we had to let the experts plan our 30th Anniversary. Every Bed & Breakfast was excellent. They were so beautiful and the welcome was fantastic at every one. FJFY thinks of every detail. Directions, train tickets, dates marked on maps. It’s all organized. One of our highlights was meeting all the FJFY travel agents at their new offices in Langeais!
