France Provence Culinary TOur

Bon Appétit

Discover Provence on our Culinary Highlights tour! You will fall in love with the beauty and charm of this region while enjoying (and learning to make!) some of the best French cuisine available. From freshly baked baguettes to gourmet Michelin star restaurants, if you love food and travel then this is the tour for you!

Trip Dates

Contact us for private/custom trip options.

Duration

6 Days/ 5 Nights

Difficulty

Easy

Group Size

10 guests maximum

Price From

$2,375 per person

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The Carpe Mundo Touch

This tour is the perfect combination of ingredients to create your French vacation masterpiece! Nature and cities, activities and relaxation, history and culture, simple meals and gourmet tasting menus, old and new- we designed a trip like none other in France! French cuisine is world renowned for having some of the best dishes and on this tour you will incorporate quintessential Provençal items into your cooking such as local cheeses, honey, olive oil, and lavender. Chef O’s enthusiastic and amusing personality means you will not only learn how to cook incredible French food, but you will have tons of fun along the way!

Starting in the countryside not far from the French Riviera (we recommend visiting nearby Nice, Cannes or Saint Tropez before the tour), the country estate where we will be staying is the definition of “country chic” with a combination of old and new (you will especially love the rock walls, wooden beams, and vineyard views!). When you are not cooking, visit the adjacent winery and vineyards, or go for a walk or bike ride through the surrounding countryside. We also visit the Luberon, a beautiful part of Provence home to some of the most scenic villages in France. The trip ends in Avignon, a stunning city with a fascinating history as home to seven popes in the 14th century.

Itinerary

This is the general itinerary that is used for the trip. Itineraries are subject to change based on weather, group preferences, and other circumstances. Click on each day to discover a more detailed description of the itinerary.

Bienvenue a Provence! Our trip starts at the country estate of Château Saint Roux. Located in southern Provence, it is a short drive to Saint Tropez, Nice, Cannes or Marseille which you can visit before our tour. Château Saint Roux dates back to the 15th century and the secluded and private estate set among the vineyards makes for a very relaxing and enjoyable setting to start our culinary adventure through Provence! The estate has its own winery, garden, and goat herd. We recommend starting the day with brunch at the restaurant- the farm to table restaurant creates amazing dishes you are sure to enjoy! In the afternoon, enjoy some of the “foodie” experiences offered at Saint Roux. Learn about the cheese making process and sample some divine homemade goat cheeses, try their wines, and/or visit the vineyards and learn about the innovative methods they are using to be able to adapt to producing wine with global warming. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant. 

Today we head to the famous Luberon. On the way, we make a stop at Aix-en-Provence, one of the more well known towns in Provence. We will visit the local market, learning about the various cheese, meats, fruits, and vegetables for sale from the local vendors;  to pick up fresh ingredients from the local vendors for our upcoming cooking lessons; many of these we will purchase for our upcoming cooking lessons! You have the afternoon to explore and have lunch, and then we continue to the Luberon and the town of Gordes, a breath taking hilltop village considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of France! We will stay here for the next two nights at a stunning country estate. In the evening, award-winning Chef O will introduce you to the joys of French cooking (and eating!). Over the next few days, her cooking lessons will give you the knowledge and resources to make delicious French cuisine at home. You can choose how hands on (or hands off) you want to be with the cooking lessons- you can help out every step of the way with the preparation and cooking, or you can sit back and enjoy the finished meals. 

Start the day off either relaxing by the pool or with another cooking lesson- this time focusing on breakfast and brunch! Brunch is one of Chef O’s favorite meals to prepare at her restaurant, and she loves sharing how to cook as well as how to create visually stunning presentations. In the afternoon, partake in an optional bike ride through the surrounding countryside, or enjoy relaxing at the estate. In the evening, you will have a chance to practice what you have learned and improve your cooking skills even further with another lesson from Chef O!

After a delicious breakfast, we say farewell to the country estate and head to Avignon where we will spend the next two nights. Avignon is an incredible city to visit- the Pope used to reside here and the abundance of historical buildings will not disappoint! You have the afternoon and evening to explore on your own. For those wanting a fine dining experience, check out one of the Michelin star restaurants in the city. 

In the morning, there are three different options you can choose from- a food tour of the city, a bike ride in the surrounding countryside, or exploring Avignon on your own. In the afternoon, you can either do one of the activities you opted out of in the morning, or you can visit a few of the wineries just outside the city in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This area is world-renowned for its red wines, and you will get to learn about them directly from the wineries and vintners! We then return to Avignon for the evening.

Au revoir! As our tour comes to an end, you can spend additional time in Avignon or elsewhere in France, but our recommendation is to head to the Loire Valley for our second France Culinary Highlights tour!

Dates & Prices

Trip Dates

Contact us for private/custom trip options.

Pricing

$2,375 per person*

*Prices are in US Dollars, based on double occupancy.

We pride ourselves on offering one of the smallest group sizes and best leader to guest ratios in the industry. Our groups for this tour have a maximum of 12 guests with two guides (including one award winning chef). Our small groups allow us to personalize the trip based on the group to best suit your travel needs and preferences. Larger groups are available as a custom/private tour.

 

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Additional Information

Accommodations: The accommodations may be one of your favorite parts of the trip! They are chosen to be comfortable with great locations, and with some French flair- très chic! The first night is at a beautifully restored 16th century farm (they produce their own goat cheese!) with an adjacent winery, the following two nights are at a country estate near the charming town of Gordes in the Luberon, and the final two nights are at a hotel in downtown Avignon. Room upgrade options are available for several nights if you would prefer to have more deluxe rooms or suites- please inquire for additional information. 

Payment Terms & Conditions: If you are thinking about signing up for a trip but are not yet ready to commit, we offer a 5 day courtesy hold. To secure your space on a trip, a $500 per person deposit is required and can be paid by check or credit card. The remaining trip balance is due no later than 90 days prior to the start of the trip. If you decide to cancel more than 45 days prior to the start of your trip, you will receive a Carpe Mundo credit that is transferable with no expiration for the amount paid, or we will refund your payment less a $250/person cancellation fee.  If you decide to cancel less than 45 days prior to the start of your trip, no refunds or credits will be available.

Single Supplement: Single accommodations are available for an additional fee, based on availability. If you are willing to be placed in a room with someone else from the trip (with two single beds), we will match you with another traveler if possible and waive the single supplement. 

Packing List: A suggested packing list as well as additional information on travel to France can be found in our Customer Information packet.   

Release of Liability: We require that everyone participating in a Carpe Mundo trip completes and e-signs an Assumption of Risk/Liability Release waiver as well as a Medical Information Form. You will receive these after you have registered for a trip, and they must be completed prior to your trip.

Insurance: Due to the nature and locations of our trips, we highly recommend that everyone participating in a trip has medical insurance that provides coverage while abroad. Although not required, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance or a travel protection plan for your trip. We adhere to our cancellation policy, and these plans will protect your trip purchase in the event you cancel under certain circumstances.

Testimonials

This trip is new for 2020, so no testimonials yet but we promise it will be an amazing trip! You can read what people are saying about our other tours here