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!
An experience OF France, not just a trip TO France. For over 30 years my wife has dreamed of visiting the Loire region of France. Emilie and Laura not only made this a reality …
An experience OF France, not just a trip TO France.
For over 30 years my wife has dreamed of visiting the Loire region of France. Emilie and Laura not only made this a reality, they made it truly a dream trip.
The multi-hundred page guidebook not only guided our daily itinerary, it prepared us for what we needed to know for a successful self-guided tour throughout the region. This was invaluable, as we learned many of the cultural things we needed to know to most fully participate in the experience of French life.
And to speak of the itinerary... WOW! The choices and details, from how to see Chenonceau from every angle, to the private vineyard tour and wine tasting, to the little-known liqueur distillery, to the personal touches based on our wishes. Even now, as we look back at our pictures and think on our memories, it seems a dream. Friends, some of whom had visited France, marveled at our pictures and stories.
We can't wait for our next experience of France. And we look forward to Emilie and Laura being our guides.
The diversity of French Landscapes
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Your accommodations
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#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.
My wife and I completed a 3 week driving trip out of Bordeaux which was organized by France Just for You. The Bed and Breakfast accommodations were superb, the personalized guidebook comprehensive and well-organized, and the booked activities were high quality. Having the rental car booked for us was a major advantage (Don’t drive in France without …
My wife and I completed a 3 week driving trip out of Bordeaux which was organized by France Just for You. The Bed and Breakfast accommodations were superb, the personalized guidebook comprehensive and well-organized, and the booked activities were high quality. Having the rental car booked for us was a major advantage (Don’t drive in France without GPS). France Just for You gets my highest recommendation.
Grace from the US
A Fabulous Honeymoon ! We found France Just For You (FJFY) while doing a google search of places to honeymoon. After reaching out to Laura and Emilie we were immediately met with professionalism and enthusiasm. This trip was flawless in every way possible, any question we had about traveling to a foreign country had been thought of and answered by …
A Fabulous Honeymoon !
We found France Just For You (FJFY) while doing a google search of places to honeymoon. After reaching out to Laura and Emilie we were immediately met with professionalism and enthusiasm.
This trip was flawless in every way possible, any question we had about traveling to a foreign country had been thought of and answered by the FJFY team. We could not have asked for a better team to plan our honeymoon and hope to use them again soon!!
Joel
We highly recommend Emilie’s services. She put together an excellent itinerary. She made all the arrangements and the guides she retained for us where top notch. The B&B accommodations were very good, the hosts were terrific and we enjoyed the other travelers we met at breakfast. We did two table d'hote dinners which were excellent and her …
We highly recommend Emilie’s services. She put together an excellent itinerary.
She made all the arrangements and the guides she retained for us where top notch. The B&B accommodations were very good, the hosts were terrific and we enjoyed the other travelers we met at breakfast. We did two table d'hote dinners which were excellent and her restaurant recommendations were wonderful!
Everything is set forth in a book in which she provides a day by day itinerary with cultural descriptions, history, restaurant choices and of course directions.
She arranged for our rental car with Enterprise car rental; and, although her arrangements were perfect, through no fault of Emilie's we had a dispute with Enterprise. Emilie immediately became involved and eventually resolved the problem to our satisfaction. I am certain that without Emilie's assistance we would not have received any satisfaction from Enterprise.
In short we highly recommend Emilie. Most often we plan our trips ourselves arranging for hotels, transportation, guides etc. I was in the process of doing the same when we found Emilie.
Emilie added substantial value and enjoyment to our trip.
