A transfer is included from Marseille Provence Airport to your hotel, Le Pigonnet, in Aix-en-Provence. Seeing luminous Provençal landscapes through the eyes of Cézanne, then picturing them with your own hand… picking up a few phrases en Francais with a language lesson in Aix… discovering the flavours of fougasse, goat cheese, ratatouille, and herbes de Provence… mastering the art of preparing Provençal cuisine with a local chef... pub crawling in St.-Rémy-de-Provence… walking in the footsteps of van Gogh… kayaking on the Sorgue River… discussing French politics with the locals in Joucas… wrapping yourself up in Provençal life dawn to dusk.
Departures
3, 17, 24 Jun; 26 Aug; 16, 30 Sep; 7 Oct 2012.
Inclusions
- No more than 24 guests – small group size means sight-doing, not just sightseeing, for hands-on cultural immersion
- Get a real taste of daily life below the stairs in a private family-owned palace; learn how to set a proper French table with the Countess, then enjoy a festive farewell dinner with live music and fresh local products in the old kitchen
- Learn how to cook a gourmet French meal, pairing wine and cheese with your entree, during a chef-hosted cooking class
- Parlez-vous Français? You will when you take a lesson
- Take a bike ride to Breze and visit a privately owned castle
- Enjoy a wine-tasting dinner at a Loire Valley vineyard
- Glide by canoe along the Vienne River near Chinon and spend time at leisure exploring local artisan workshops
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 14 meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
- Some days include 2-4 miles of walking up steep hills or on uneven terrain, canoeing and easy biking on relatively flat roads. The pace is up to you.