Provence, Planned Honestly

The Provence of the photos exists, but it runs on a calendar and a car. We plan and book the whole trip from here in France: TGV tickets, the right base village, drivers or a rental, tables and markets timed to the right days, for one flat fee with every price in writing.

When does the lavender actually bloom?

Roughly June 20 to July 20 on the Valensole plateau, a little later around Sault. Come in August and most fields are harvested stubble. If lavender is the point of the trip, those four weeks are the trip. If not, May and September are Provence at its best: warm, uncrowded, and the markets are full.

Do you need a car in Provence?

Honestly, yes, for the hill villages, and the roads are easy. The TGV from Paris reaches Avignon in 2h40, and we arrange the car from there, or a private driver for the days you want wine with lunch. No car at all? We base you in Avignon or Aix-en-Provence and build the days on private tours and taxis. It costs more per outing but it works beautifully.

Where should you base yourself?

One base, not three: Provence rewards staying put. The Luberon (Gordes, Bonnieux, Lourmarin) for the postcard villages, Saint-Remy for markets and Van Gogh, Aix for a townier stay with cafes. We match the base to your pace and book the hotel at its public rate.

What a booked Provence week looks like

Markets on their real days (Lourmarin on Friday, Saint-Remy on Wednesday), a private wine morning in the Luberon, the Pont du Gard early before the coaches, dinner tables confirmed under your name, and a day left gloriously empty. You get the whole plan priced before you pay anything.