Provence, South of France
TOUR DATES
SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 7, 2017
Expanding on our love of food and table, A’Tavola is offering two culinary trips this year. We will experience first-hand that which inspires us: culture, food, and fostering relationships. Together, we will explore the Provence region in sothern France.
Food is one of the best and most enjoyable ways to understand and appreciate other cultures.
Join us & our small group for an intimate & memorable experience of the French countryside. We will spend a week exploring the culture through food, unforgettable landscapes, cooking classes, vineyards, olive groves and private tours of some of Provence’s most charming villages.
DAY 1 | AVIGNON*
Our group will gather this afternoon and meet at the Avignon TGV Train Station at 2:00pm (exact meeting spot at the train station to be announced later). We will depart Avignon and head to our Provencal farmhouse villa built in local stone and located at the foot of Mont Luberon, just outside Bonnieux. Upon arrival at the villa, guests will have time to settle into their rooms and take a tour of the villa and the beautiful grounds. Chefs will be preparing a delicious Provencal welcome dinner, paired with wines from the Luberon Valley.
Dinner
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DAY 2 | L’ISLE SUR LA SORGUE AND OPPEDE LE VIEUX
We will enjoy an early breakfast at the villa, as we will be departing for L’Isle sur la Sorgue around 8:30am for a tour with our local guide. Canals encircle the old town, making this town one of the prettiest in Provence. On Sundays, the town boasts the best-known antique & flea market in Provence, the second largest in France behind Paris. Clients will have time to search for treasures and admire the beauty of this “island city” before we head to a local restaurant for a very memorable and relaxing meal. After lunch, we will return towards our villa, making a stop at Oppede le Vieux, a magnificent hill-top village. For those that wish to climb to the 12th century church on top of the hill, you will be rewarded with amazing views. Those that wish to relax can enjoy the atmosphere and a drink at the village square café. At the villa, we will have some time to relax and to prepare for our superb dinner out in the nearby town of Bonnieux.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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*We recommend guests fly into Paris a day or two in advance in order to recover from jet-lag and to take advantage of the City of Light. Avignon is a quick train ride from Paris, departing frequently each day.
DAY 3 | AVIGNON AND CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE
Today’s adventure takes us to Avignon, where in 1309 Pope Clement V transferred the papacy to France. The city became the religious, political, and cultural center of Christendom for 68 years. We will tour the World Heritage site, Palais des Papes, as well as explore this lovely city, with its boutique-lined streets and leafy squares. Heading north along the Rhone River, we reach our lunch destination set amongst the vineyards of the famous Chateauneuf du Pape wine region. We will indulge in some of the region’s best wine and food, while taking in the views. After lunch, we will stop at one of our guide’s favorite wineries for an authentic tasting of some amazing wines. This evening at the villa we will indulge in the Provencal lifestyle….food, wine & scenery al fresco style (weather permitting)!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 4 | GORDES, OLIVE OIL TASTING, ROUSSILLON,
Today we visit some of the most beautiful villages that dot the Luberon landscape, starting out with Gordes, one of the most picturesque villages in Provence. This town perched atop a rocky cliff, is a popular location for film crews, including the film A Good Year, but also hosts a wonderful market filled with Provencal favorites. Our group will pick up local cheeses, salamis, bread, olives, and wine for a picnic later this day. Lunch will be located at a beautiful olive mill, producing some amazing oil. After lunch we will have the opportunity to taste the olive oils produced on site before we leave for our next visit. Only 4km from Gordes is the famous Abbaye de Senanque, a 12-century monastery that is still active with Cistercian monk. We will visit the Abbaye before we head to the town of Roussillon with its red cliffs and orange soil, standing out from the rest of the nearby villages. The town sits atop ochre deposits, which where mined for their pigments until 1930. We will explore the town, where shops, galleries, and cafes line the cobblestoned streets. Tonight, we will head back to charming Bonnieux to feast at another fabulous restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 5 | MAUBEC AND PROVENCAL COOKING CLASS
Today is exciting, as guests will have the opportunity to participate in the hands-on cooking class with a well-known Provencal chef. Jean-Marc and his wife Alice welcome us into their home, where we will spend the day cooking some Provencal classics. Before the fun and cooking begins, we will visit the local market with Jean Marc to select the seasonal and local produce that will make up our lunch menu. We will enjoy our hard work as a group with wine, dessert, and great conversation. Leaving this memorable experience, we will drive back towards our villa, where we will make an afternoon wine tasting stop at the famous Domaine de La Citadelle near Menerbes. This winery brags not only some of the best local wine, but also an impressive corkscrew collection of more than 1000 pieces. Guests will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the indoor and outdoor comforts as we dine as a group tonight at the villa.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 6 | AIX EN PROVENCE AND CHEESE TASTING
Once the Capital of Provence, Aix-en-Provence is a lively town, which has one of France’s oldest universities. Today we visit this sophisticated & captivating town, where we will enjoy a special, in depth tour with our local guide, a native of this city and a licensed tour guide for many years. Our tour will include a visit to the Old Quarter, the market, which many say is the best in the region, and the focal point of medieval Aix, St. Sauveur Cathedral. We will feast in Aix at one of our guides favorite haunts. After lunch guests, will have some time to explore this city on their own and do some shopping before we make our way back towards our villa. Along the way we will stop at a family run goat cheese farm in order to see the production site as well as sample the creamy cheeses they produce. Time permitting we will stop in Lourmarin, which is a village south of our villa with stunning scenery and history. Tonight, chefs will prepare some regional dishes for us to enjoy and we will attempt to screen the film, A GOOD YEAR with Russell Crowe. During the movie, guests should notice some of the areas we have toured this week.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 7 | ST REMY DE PROVENCE AND LES BAUX DE PROVENCE
Today we drive west in order to explore the countryside surrounding Saint Remy de Provence, backdrops made famous by Vincent Van Gogh, who painted more than 150 pieces based on the regions landscapes. Heading south from Saint Remy, we will visit Les Baux de Provence, located in the heart of the Alpilles and located on a rocky plateau high above the valley. This village is officially classified as “one of the most beautiful villages in France” and provides superb views of Arles and the Alpilles from the many look out points. For lunch, we will take advantage of the beauty of this region with its many olive groves and dramatic scenery, for a traditional picnic meal. After lunch, we head deep into one of the ancient quarries for a unique light show experience, which guests are sure to love. We depart for our villa in the afternoon, so that guests have time to prepare for our departure the following morning. For our last evening in Provence, the villa chefs will be preparing another authentic & outstanding Provencal meal. We will toast the week with great company, food, and wine!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 8 | AVIGNON
We will say Au Revoir to our hosts today & depart, as a group, for Avignon Train Station mid-morning. Today guests will be able to catch a TGV train to Paris or continue exploring France from our departure point. Please feel free to ask us any questions if you plan to extend your stay in Europe after the trip ends.
Breakfast
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TOUR PRICE:
$4,295.00 per person / Double Occupancy
Single Supplement $ 600.00
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PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
At time of reservation: 50%
90 days prior to departure: 50%
CANCELLATION SCHEDULE:
More than 120 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
120-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
60 days or less: 100% of trip cost
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
* 7 nights double occupancy lodging in a private Provencal villa
* All breakfasts / all dinners with local wine / all lunches with local wine
* Small group travel / maximum of only 14 guests
* Snacks and Beverages available at the villa
* Private transportation / Car & Driver for all excursions
* Local Guides / Private Tours
* Entrance Tickets
* Cooking Class
* Wine Tasting
* Cheese Tasting
* Wi-Fi at the villa (be aware that Wi-Fi connections are not as fast or as reliable as in the United States)
**NOTE-
This promises to be a wonderful trip for all; however, flexibility and a spirit of adventure are always appreciated! We will do our very best to stick to the itinerary but we may have to change it due to weather or any unexpected situations.
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TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
* Air Transportation.
* Travel insurance for your trip.
* Anything that is not specified to be included
* Any personal related expenses or travel related expenses outside of the scheduled itineraries.
* Any wine or other alcoholic beverages or meals that are not presented during scheduled meals.
* Optional tips to restaurants, tour guides or drivers. These gratuities are given at the sole discretion of each individual traveler.