9 Day South of France Tour
Special Lavender: Provence & Occitanie Like a Local
Explore the best of the South of France during our 9 day tour along with Julia and Stephane, expert locals of the region! With stops including quaint French villages, medieval castles, wineries and the beautiful region of Provence with a special visit to the Lavender fields of Sault and the village Roussillon in Luberon. This is a complete and diversified trip that you will never forget! This tour only runs in July when the lavender is in bloom in Provence. Not interested in traveling in July? You can join our other 9 day South of France tours available in April, May, June & September. > See regular 9 day tour here.
2024 Calendar
This tour only runs during the lavender season in July
July 2024
Tour 1: Wednesday June 26th to Friday July 5th, 2024 > (12 SPOTS LEFT)
Tour 2: Wednesday July 10th to Friday July 19th, 2024 > (5 SPOT LEFT)
Want to travel another time of the year?
Join our regular 9 day South of France tour (Includes Nimes and its Roman monuments + the Roquefort Cheese cave instead of the lavender fields and Roussillon) that runs in April, May, June & September.
9 Day South of France Tour Price
No suprises, no hidden fees. Travel hassle-free!
SINGLE ROOM
USD $5,089/PERSON
BASED ON 1 PERSON PER ROOM
9 HOTEL NIGHTS INCLUDED
9 BREAKFAST + 9 LUNCH + 4 DINNERS
ALL VISITS INCLUDED
LOCAL GUIDES
2 ADULTS ROOM
USD $4,689/PERSON
BASED ON 2 PERSONS PER ROOM
9 HOTEL NIGHTS INCLUDED
9 BREAKFAST + 9 LUNCH + 4 DINNERS
ALL VISITS INCLUDED
LOCAL GUIDES
PRIVATE GROUP
Group Price
10+ PRIVATIZE YOUR TOUR
CUSTOMIZED TOUR
WE CAN TAILOR FOR YOU
THE PERFECT TOUR
ACCORDING TO
YOUR BUDGET
Sites & Activites Included
Not only the most famous sites but also many hidden gems that others are missing out on!
Roussillon
This unique village that glows with every shade of the Ochre palette lies on a hill between the Monts de Vaucluse and the Luberon valley under a blue sky. It is one of the most beautiful villages of France and a must see in Provence.  » Read More Wandering the narrow streets, plazas, and stairways in Roussillon rewards you with the discovery of the unique colors and beauty of the village, created over centuries by artisan builders with natural materials and pigments. » Close
Lavender Fields - Sault Region
Here the scenery is filled with flowing fields of lavender and wheat, rolling hills and the great Mont Ventoux in the distance, blue skies, and fresh air scented with wild herbs, lavender, and pine. You will be able to » Read More  stop at two of three different lavender fields with different backgrounds. » Close
Lavender Farm and Distillery in Sault
Here local farmers will tell us the history of lavender in the region, how to grow and harvest it, and then lead us into the fields to pick some and take to the distillery to make your own essential oil that you will keep as a souvenir! This family » Read More farm is located at the foot of Mont Ventoux and they produce lavender and various lavender products on their 80 hectares of land. » Close
Les Baux de Provence
This marvelous Provençal village is settled in the middle of the Alpilles regional country park and is officially classified and labeled as "one of the most beautiful villages of France". The landscape and the beauty of the village is breathtaking and » Read More its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments". Some of the monuments are the castle at the top of the hill, the church, the houses, and the town-hall. » Close
St Guilhem le Desert
A favorite on our tour! Take a stroll though this timeless town with old stone houses covered by clay roof tiles baked by the Languedoc sun for twelve centuries and discover its rich history and its artisan shops in the ancient alleyways.Â
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See traces of the past in this important stop along the old Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route. The town was built around the Abbey of Gellone and has kept its impressive medieval imprint. It constitutes a rare, harmonious site in Languedoc. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France and today its abbey is registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
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Gordes
Gordes is a beautiful hilltop village in the heart of Provence and one the the most well-known. The buildings of white stone fill the steep hills of the village and blend with the beauty of the hill itself, a great example of thoughtful construction that » Read More harmonizes with and shows appreciation of the natural surroundings. Inside the city is a labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets, or "calades" as the French call them, with shops, cafes, and restaurants. One of the most famous residents of this village was Marc Chagall, the French painter who stayed here briefly to escape the Nazis occupying Paris at the time for fear of being prosecuted for his art which was being criticized by German leadership. » Close
Carcassonne Fortified City
This magnificent city with its fortress and its castle will take your breath away. The citadel derives its reputation from its massive walls spanning 1.9 miles and 52 defensive towers overlooking the rest of the city. It was designated » Read More  as a World heritage site by UNESCO (in 1997) and also served as a filming location for the movie Robin Hood. The church hidden behind these glorious walls was blessed in 1096 by Pope Urban II. The building combines both Gothic and Roman styles which makes it unique. It also holds splendid stained glasses. » Close
Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard is one of the greatest masterpieces of ancient architecture. Almost 2000 years old and still standing, this aqueduct was built to supply the city of Nîmes with running water. This awe-inspiring human achievement is » Read More registered as a UNESCO world heritage site as well. The major arch gap at 25 meters high is one of the largest ever built by the Romans. The magnificence of this site is the remembrance of the powerful Roman empire. » Close
Avignon
One of the most beautiful cities of France and former home to 7 successive Popes. Avignon preserved its history exceptionally well which is why it is a must see and so many of its artifacts are registered on the UNESCO world heritage list, » Read More including the Palace of the Popes. Some other locations in the city that made the UNESCO list are the Bridge of Avignon (XII), the square of the palace with the baroque facade of the hotel of currencies, the museum of the Petit Palais and the cathedral of Doms, as well as the ramparts and the garden of Doms.. » Close
Fabre Museum
The Fabre is a wonderful center of arts which houses a wide range of fascinating works spanning several time periods and styles in an 18th century building. The collections styles include Impressionist, Neoclassical, Romantism, » Read More Modernism, Contemporary and more etc. All the well-known artists are represented, especially the French. Make sure to contemplate at the Frederic Bazille collection, impressionist painter native of Montpelier. » Close
Montpellier
One of the most vibrant, energetic, and cultural cities in France. The capital of Languedoc-Roussillon knows how to adapts to the times by adding fresh styles of architecture and design while retaining and incorporating the buildings of » Read More the past. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, monuments, and things to see here on our list to visit. With so much to offer, you will fall in love with one of the fastest growing cities of France. » Close
Aigues Mortes
A location with 1200 years of history. The city was built by King Louis the IX in order to serve as the first port in Southern France and home base for launching the 7th and 8th Crusades. The tall fortified walls and marsh surrounding this city » Read More defended it during the Middle Ages. Just outside the walls you can see the massive salt producing marshes where salt has been farmed since the 13th century. The city and walls still stand looking exactly as it did during those times. A wonderful place to visit, walk around, and shop. It is one of the nicest historical cities to visit in Provence. » Close
Arles & Van Gogh
Arles is famous for its Roman history and being home to Van Gogh where he produced 300+ paintings in 9 years! During your visit of Arles you will see the Roman monuments of the city and enjoy a Van Gogh walking tour to discover the places by which Vincent was inspired and stop by » Read More the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation to see the current exhibition at the Van Gogh foundation. Some famous places we will visit are the yellow cafe from his "Cafe Terrace" piece, the Langlois Bridge that he liked to paint, the place on the Rhone river where he painted "Starry Night", and more. » Close
St-Paul-de-Mausole & Van Gogh
The marvelously preserved Saint Paul de Mausole monastary was built in the 11th century and is well known for being a sanctuary for Vincent Van Gogh in his troubled time and its beautiful architecture of the Provençal Romansque style. » Read More The natural surroundings and the monastery complement each other's beauty to create a peaceful and inspiring sanctuary. It is here where Van Gogh recovered from his mental illness which caused him to cut off his ear and was inspired to create several famous works of art during his stay. Near his room by the cloister's walk, an art therapy workshop has been created by the association Valetudo which brings together art, research and treatment. From the top of the stairs you can see the wheat field that Van Gogh contemplated and painted during his year of confinement in the men's pavilion. » Close
Les Carrières de Lumières
One of the highlights of our tour, the Carrières Lumières is an art venue set in an old quarry that displays spectacular art shows with music and images of famous paintings displayed on the walls. The 2018 exhibition features the works of » Read More  Picasso, the prolific artist that spent most of his adult life in France. » Close
Our Famous French Picnic
Often described as the most fun part of the tour, our gourmet traditional French picnic catered by Cathy, Julia's mother will be an opportunity to try some traditional French food as well as meet some of the locals, as we invite our French friends » Read More and family to attend the picnic! Finish this fun experience by learning how to play Pétanque, the traditional French game played all around the South of France. After that you can definitely say that you are a true local! » Close
Palavas-les-Flots
This bustling little fisherman village on the edge of the Mediterranean is the oldest French vacation beach town. There is much to do here at day and night. Since it is not known internationally the town preserves its culture and authenticity and » Read More the locals are not overwhelmed with crowds. Because of this, the people here are friendly and enjoy welcoming tourists, which makes Palavas the perfect location for you to mix with the locals during your 9 day tour, not to mention your home base hotel is steps away from the beach! The French first started to come to Palavas in 1850 to enjoy the sea. Today the warm and cozy downtown of Palavas is still a main attraction for French tourists.  » Close
Camargue Ranch
Here we go into France's own "Wild West". The Camargue is a marsh region full of rice fields, plains, and ranches where white horses and black bulls roam and the French Cowboys (and Cowgirls!) work to herd the animals. We will visit a » Read More ranch and go for a tractor ride to watch the workers practice herding the cattle and hear about the traditions of the Camargue before enjoying some pate, cheese, wine, salad, grilled meats, and dessert! » Close
Chateau de Flaugergues
Discover one of the most famous wineries of the Occitanie region. The estate is hidden in downtown area of Montpellier and was built for a wealthy aristocrat during the 17th century. Our visit includes a tour of the beautiful mansion andÂ
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garden and a tasting of the fabulous wine produced on site!
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Valmagne Abbey & Winery
In 1139, Raymond of the famous Trencavel family, Viscount of Béziers, founded the Abbey of Valmagne. From the 12th century to the beginning of the 14th, it was one of the richest Cistercian abbeys in the south of France. It is not only listed » Read More as a Historic Monument and one of the most beautiful abbeys in France but also one of the oldest vineyards of Languedoc. One unique feature of the abbey is that it now holds gigantic barrels that store the wine they produce on site. This majestic building with its size and charm of the cloister fountain and its gardens with Florentine charm make it a place of prestige, seat of many cultural activities. You can also walk in the gardens and visit the conservatory of grape varieties before tasting the organic wines of this Languedoc Roussillon wine estate. » Close
Chateau Exindre
The Chateau is situated on 45 hectares of vineyards and has a long history. Formerly known as Villa d'Exindrio, it was once gifted to the Bishops of Maguelone by King Louis VII, the fertile land has been used for centuries and centuries for » Read More winemaking, olives, and farming, possibly since Roman times. The property has been owned by the current family since the French Revolution. The owners are also passionate winemakers and will take you on a full tour of their winery and let you taste their wines, which have won several medals. » Close
What's included
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What's included
Local tour guide (1 or 2 depend on group size)
9 Hotel Nights
9 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 4 Dinners
1 Homemade French Picnic & 1 Camargue Ranch Bbq (included in the dinners)
1 drink with each lunch and 2 drinks with each dinner (wine, beer or soft)
Daily Cold Water & Snacks
All Entry Fees
All Activities Listed & Guided Tours
2 Wine Tastings
Transportation to All Sites / Activities
Pick up & Drop off from/to MPL Airport or Train Station
What's not included
Transportation to and from Montpellier, France
Extra Food/Drinks not included in our Selected Menus
Your Personal Laundry
5 Dinners (restaurants recommendations provided)
Travelers Insurance (you will receive a quote 24hrs after booking)
3 Hotels For 9 Nights
6 nigths at the beach, 2 nights in Provence, 1 night at Montpellier's airport.
Boutique Hotel
"Les Coquilles"
Palavas-lès-Flots
You will spend 6 nights in Palavas-les-Flots, where the French started to come on vacation since 1850. Palavas will be your home town for about a week. Your hotel is located just steps away from the Mediterranean Sea and is a great place to relax after our daily trips. The beach town offers great activities, that you can experience on your free time such as shopping, bars, restaurants, the casino...
Boutique Hotel
"La Maison des Ocres"
Roussillon
We will drive to the heart of Provence to spend 2 nights in the center of Roussillon, a gorgeous village in the Lubéron Valley painted with ochre hues and sunshine. The hotel is also just 35 minutes from Sault where we will visit the beautiful purple lavender fields. This will allow us to be at the fields in the morning when it's less crowded. The hotel is a 3 star hotel and has a nice pool.Â
Ibis Style Montpellier
Aeroport Parc Des Expos
Mauguio
For the last night of the tour you will be staying at the Ibis Style Montpellier Aeroport Parc des Expos located just 0.5 miles from the airport. A clean, modern and functional hotel with a pool a gym and a brasserie on site. They offer a free shuttle service to take you to MPL airport. If you are departing from the train station we would drive you there. Check out on the last day of the tour is by 11 am.Â
Rated 5/5 Tour By Our Previous Travelers
They have already done this tour. Read what they thought about it.
Tim S.
"We have traveled extensively throughout Europe and France, but had never been to Montpelier and its environs. TripUsaFrance has put together a wonderful tour of medieval cities, castles, cathedrals, and countrysides. Having a beautiful seaside town and a brand new hotel as our base was icing on the cake. The sights and activities were awesome. Of particular note were the sound and light show of Chagall paintings and the cooking school. And hosts Julia and Stephane couldn't have been nicer. They went out of their way to make sure everyone in our group (ages 35 to 92) had a great time."
Debra T. Â
"This was the first time my husband and I had travelled to France. We could not have been in better hands. We felt like we were treated as family friends, with accommodations fit for royalty. We saw so many wonderful places [...] We also saw local citizens of Palavas jousting from hand-rowed boats in the canal - amazing! Add in the chance to meet wonderful people at a picnic on the beach and at a cooking lesson (paella-yum!) in a private home - what more could we ask for?"
Anita S.
"This tour was better than I could even imagine. [...] We loved staying in one hotel for the entire week (and it was a wonderful and clean hotel with kind and helpful hosts on the beach!). We loved every place we visited, from ruins to villages to picturesque towns and countryside. And the choice of restaurants was delicious! The other guests were wonderful also. Julia was fun and entertaining and easily answered our many questions as well as teaching us so much about the area. Her dad was kind and helpful and her husband and mom made us all feel like one big happy family! I will forever treasure our memories from this best vacation ever!"
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