Edible Provence

11 days, 10 nights

April 17 – 27, 2026 SOLD OUT
October 12 – 22, 2026 – Women Only SOLD OUT

These are small group tours for no more than 6 people.

Provence is a magical triangle of land in southeastern France containing the spirits of civilizations past and present – a splendid, multi-faceted mosaic of sunshine and serenity. Its unhurried daily rhythms will embrace you on our slow travel, epicurean tour. This sun-kissed corner of the map encompasses such seasonal bounty, irresistible scents of lavender, rosemary and thyme, you can almost taste its beauty.

The French passion for food is celebrated in the village markets where seasonal foods are the mainstays of daily living. We’ll visit farmers’ markets, and indulge in two, hands-on cooking classes with local chefs. We’ll dine at Michelin Guide restaurants, tour charming villages, and sample wines at local vineyards.

As an introduction to Provence I’ve selected some of the most popular books about Provence, as well as the most influential food and wine writers from Waverly Root to M.F. K. Fisher, You’ll discover this magical corner through the words they wrote, the recipes they cooked, the meals they savored, and the tales they told.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

After your arrival at the Gare d’Avignon, we’ll drive to our boutique hotel accommodations at La Regalido, tucked discreetly away in the village of Fontvielle. Fontvielle is a small, quintessentially charming Provençal village situated in what is known as the little Alps, Les Alpilles, a landscape of vineyards and olive oil groves clustered below jagged limestone cliffs.
Once we’re settled into our rooms, we’ll explore the village, have a welcome aperitif at a local café, then enjoy a meal together at meal at one of the nearby restaurants. After each of our day’s adventures we’ll come back to this quiet and unassuming village.

Day 2

We’ll enjoy our first cooking workshop will chef, Gilles Conchy of Provence Gourmet in the elegant village of St. Remy-de-Provence. Our classes begin in the weekly farmers’ market where we’ll collect all of the ingredients together for our meal. We’ll then head back to Gilles’s fabulous kitchen where each of us will take part in the preparation of our meal, including a starter, main course, and dessert. After the cooking portion of the class we’ll enjoy our meal together either outside in the garden or in the kitchen. After the class we’ll explore St. Remy’ old squares brimming with everything from sophisticated art galleries to the sublime chocolates of Joël Durand.

Day 3

After breakfast we will leave for the Camargue village of Aigues Mortes, a fortified village built by Saint Louis, King Louis IX of France. This appealing village is full of cafés, restaurants, art galleries, and shops. After lunch we’ll tour the Salins d’Aigues Mortes, and learn about the delicate production of fleur-de-sel, handpicked at dawn in a unique marriage of sea, sun, and mistral winds. On our way back to Fontvielle we’ll stop in the village of Saintes-Maries-de- la-Mer located at the tip of the Camargue, We’ll visit Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church, home to Saint Sarah, patron saint of the Gypsies, whom according to legend, accompanied Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Mary Jacobe from the Holy Land, to this now sacred Gypsy site.

Day 4

Châteauneuf-du-Pape sits towards the bottom of the Rhône Valley. The name means, “Pope’s new castle,” and refers to a time when the seat of the Roman Catholic Church was in Avignon (between 1309–1377). This famed region has written records of vineyards dating back centuries. Châteauneuf-du-Pape was the very first wine appellation created in 1936, and is one of 19 official crus or “growths” of the Côtes du Rhône wine region. We will visit some of these wineries, enjoy tastings, and learn about what makes this wine so special. After lunch at Les Vieux Telegraph overlooking the valley below, we will take a leisurely drive to Beaumes-de-Venise famous for its sublime fortified dessert wine, Muscat, and tour La Balméene olive mill.

Day 5

Eygalières is a lovely village with a ruined castle nestled along the western fringe of the Alpilles Mountains. We’ll wander its wonderfully colorful market that stretches from one end of the main street to the other, then have lunch at the charming restaurant, Chez Paulette. On our way back we will stop just outside of St. Remy de Provence at Glanum, remarkable Roman ruins just outside the village.

Day 6

Today we’ll explore the village of Uzès, in the department of the Gard. Set amidst beautiful countryside, this gem holds one of the best Saturday farmers’ worth traveling to. We’ll feast our eyes on artisan pottery, housewares, clothing, leather goods, soaps, furniture, flowers, spices, textiles, and more hidden among its cobblestoned streets and arcaded square.

Day 7

Every Sunday throughout the year, the lovely river-side village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue combines its antique and farmers’ market making it an incredible feast for the senses. Considered the Venice of Provence, its old canals, historic waterwheels, and wooden bridges cut an intricate path throughout the village.
With the crystal clear Sorgue River as our backdrop we’ll begin our day early hunting for treasures along streets brimming with antiques, collectibles, old and new: furniture, paintings, china, carpets, clothes, and linens.

Day 8

We’ll learn, hands-on, how to prepare dishes from appetizers to desserts sure to whet the palate from the kitchen of Suzanne Kay, one of the best cooking classes in the Vaucluse. In the village of Séguret, the newly designated successor of the culinary legend, Patricia Wells, Suzanne will pass on her knowledge of Provence’s iconic dishes. You’ll discover the subtleties of cooking with mainstays of the Provençal kitchen, from wild Herbes de Provence and fleur de sel to olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic, preserving the taste and texture of the seasons.

Day 9

Today we’ll wind our way up to the nearby village of Les Baux, resting on a tall spur of rock overlooking the Val d’Enfer, hell valley, one of the most dramatic and spectacular ruins in Provence. Along its cobblestone streets there dramatic views leading to the remains of its citadel, preserved in its dilapidated state. After lunch we’ll visit the Carrière de Lumière, an extraordinary experience immersing you in a sound and light show of the work of great figures of modern painting and music. We’ll head back down the cliffs for a tour of the Moulin de Cornille, one of France’s most important, gold-medal olive oil mills.

Day 10

Tarascon has one of the most spectacular medieval châteaux in France, which towers over the town from the banks of the Rhône River. We’ll tour the storybook castle repeat with crenellations and a moat, its elegant and almost bare interior displaying 10-17th century tapestries, the rest carted off during after the French Revolution. In 1187 during a mania for religious relics, Tarascon unearthed the artifacts of Ste. Martha, who Came ashore with Mary Magdalene in Stes. Maries-de-la-Mer. According to legend, Martha came to Tarascon to confront a river monster called Tarasque, half-dragon, half-lion, who terrorized the village.

Day 11

We will depart for either Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, or the Gare d’Avignon in Avignon, depending upon your scheduled return. You might want to consider spending the night in either Toulouse or Avignon, leaving for your destination the following day.

11 days, 10 nights

April 17-27, 2026 SOLD OUT
October 12-22, 2026 – Women Only SOLD OUT
$6,895.00 per person

These are small group tours for no more than 6 people.

SORRY, NO MORE PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS TOUR
Please contact us to enquire about 2027 tours

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Sample Itinerary Note:

The adventures listed are samples. We feel something wonderful or unexpected can happen if you don’t have a set itinerary. We can do as much or as little as each individual group chooses. In the event of unforeseen circumstances; i.e., a change in a class schedule, or restaurant closure, an alternative will always be offered. Likewise, if a special exhibit, class or event becomes available I will make a substitution and rearrange the itinerary. Here’s a list of some other villages we can add or substitute to our day’s itinerary. All are within a 1h drive from Fontvielle: Goult, Gordes, Vénasque, Bédoin, Martigues, Roussillon, Arles, Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Maillane, and Oppede le Vieux.