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(Option: Day Cooking Classes)
(Luberon) Provence, France - 4 or 7 nights
Available March to November - Saturday to Saturday Learn to cook in the Luberon from a wonderful chef who will also be your guide and host for the week. You will have the time of your life as you stay in a beautifully restored and furnished home, take hands-on cooking classes and see all the important sites in this very picturesque part of Provence.
Your host will teach you the secrets of Provençal cuisine and his wife, a doctor, only adds to your experience with her welcoming nature and wonderful personality. During your week, you will see all there is to see in Provence including the Pope's Palace in Avignon, the Lavender and Corkscrew Museum and the Truffle and Wine House in Menerbes. Enjoy wine tastings, visits to the most beautiful villages of the Luberon as well as enjoying gourmet food and the breathtaking beauty of this region. ITINERARY Day One - Saturday  Meet with your hosts in Cavaillon. Guests are welcomed and shown their rooms. Lunch is offered and the itinerary and program are discussed. Guests are able to arrive at any time of the day. The usual means of arrival are via Marseille Provence Airport or by train to Avignon TGV station where you will rent a car to drive to Cavaillon. (For an additional fee, transfers can be provided to and from Avignon TGV station as well as transportation during the week. See fees below).
There is free time in the afternoon to rest, go for a walk in the forest, discover the small chapel of St. Jacques or take a swim in the swimming pool. Apertif and dinner are served at 8pm. Day Two - Sunday
Breakfast
 10am: Depart for the farmer's market of Coustellet where the local produce (vegetables and fruits) for your cooking is purchased. Antique dealers are also here, revealing some hidden secrets of yesteryear.
Visit of the Lavender Museum where you can buy perfumes, soap and essence of Lavender. Afterwards there will be drinks in a local café (typical Provençal drink : PASTIS or wine) Followed by free time during the afternoon.  Some suggestions: visit to the antique Market of L'ISLE SUR LA SORGUE in the "Venice of Provence" which has one of the largest concentrations of antique dealers in France.
5pm: Hands-on cooking class where you prepare your own Provençal dinner 8pm: Aperitif and dinner. Day Three - Monday Breakfast  10am: Leave for the village of Menerbes, an ancient fortified town which was once a Protestant centre in the Vaucluse. It was this village where the author Peter Mayle chose to settle and write his best selling book "A Year in Provence". Here too can be found the Corkscrew Museum, which displays history, sociology, technology and the arts from the 17th century to today. The corkscrew museum has more than 1000 pieces on exhibition ...starting with the first corkscrew forged by hand in steel, to the decorative "objet d'art" in solid gold. Let yourself be guided through the centuries and across country in the discovery of this unique collection.
We will also visit the ancient village Oppede Le Vieux the dominating ruined castle belonged to Jean Maynier, Baron of Oppedes, whose bloody crusade against the Luberon Vaudois in 1545 destroyed 11 villages. Then a visit of the olive Mill "Moulin Mathieu" and visit of the winery Domaine de la Citadelle and wine tasting of red, white and rosé wines...these fresh and smooth flavors reveal a typical Luberon soil character  12.30pm: LuFree time for lunch and the afternoon. Some suggestions: Visit of Cavaillon: the Synagogue (1772) or the Roman Cathedral ...or some shopping
5pm: Hands-on cooking class 8pm: Aperitif and dinner DAY FOUR - TUESDAY  Breakfast
10am: We will visit the Village of the "BORIES. These dry stone shelters, built by the local peasants and shepherds, constitute a real ethnological museum in the open air on the plateau of Gordes. They dated from 3500BC and were regularly rebuilt, using ancient methods. We will visit the village of Gordes, the local village market and its castle which was rebuilt in the mid 16th century. The building was bought and restored by the Op Art painter Victor Vasarely. Dominating the valley of the Coulon, this village was built on a spur of mountain range.  Free time in the afternoon. Some suggestions:
- Discover the beautiful village of Bonnieux where you can visit the Musée de la Boulangerie which gives a history of bread making, the Cedar Forest...a lovely place to walk or Lacoste : little remains of the Marquis de Sade's château.
5pm: Hands-on cooking class with aperitif and dinner at 8pm. Day Five - Wednesday  Breakfast
10am: Visit to Avignon Visit of the market of Les Halles to buy the best fish Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site; The Palace of the Popes "the most beautiful and strongest house in the world." The Palace of the Popes is the symbol of the Church's influence over the western world during the 14th century. In July, Avignon is the greatest theatre festival in the world and you can visit the Bridge Saint Benezet. The legendary bridge was built during the 12th century... The famous song Sur le Pont d'Avignon, which goes back to the 15th century, is known the world over.
 Free time : Lunch on your own and early afternoon in Avignon for shopping or sightseeing.
8pm: Dinner in a restaurant in Cavaillon. Day Six - Thursday  Breakfast
10am: Visit Roussillon : a picturesque hilltop village perched on a bed of red and yellow ochre, which has been used to color the facades of its local buildings for many hundreds of years. Also worth a visit is the Provençal Colorado on the southern side of the Doua Valley, where there are some spectacular walks through some old ochre quarries. No other village looks so warm and rich, so harmonious and inviting. We will visit the Abbeye of Senanque, a superb Roman building, located in the heart of the small valley of the Senancole; a place for meditation thanks to the silence and the surrounding beauty.
 Free time for the afternoon.
Some suggestions: Fontaine de Vaucluse and the water falls; it's the source of the Sorgue river of the natural wonders of Provence. In the closed valley above the town, water erupts from an unfathomable depth to develop into a fully fledged river. 5pm: Hands-on cooking class with aperitif and dinner at 8pm. Day Seven - Friday  Breakfast
9:30am: Visit in St Remy « la maison de l’huile d’Olive « where you will taste all types of olive oils Visit of the famous chocolatier Durand A visit to Les Baux de Provence. This is a classified beautiful spot and historical monument with views across to the Camargue. Here there is a lot to discover of the old village : the old castle, dungeons, towers etc. The Lords of Baux built their fine citadelle here in the 10th century. Another place full of magic is the Cathedral of Images located in the antique quarry of Les Baux-de-Provence  12:30: Free time for lunch and free time in the afternoon. Some suggestions:
Visit the Roman archaeological site of Glanum, where extensive excavations reveal a district of Roman Houses, all constructed with inner courtyards and lined with columns Or shopping in Saint Remy
5pm: Hands-on cooking class with aperitif and dinner and a diploma ceremony at 8pm. Day Eight - Saturday Breakfast and preparations for your departure during the morning, with the hope that we will see you again soon! Check out time is normally 11am. DAY COOKING CLASS Day cooking classes begin at 5pm and end at 8pm and are followed by dinner and wine. Classes are part hands-on/part demonstration and include seven dishes that you will learn how to create. It is also possible to have a cooking class in your holiday home in the Luberon to conduct a demonstration cooking class for you and your guests. Please inquire within for more details. GROUP SIZE A minimum of 2 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 9 participants. (The number of participants refers to how many persons are required to run the tour, not to how many persons you must have in your party. Please inquire.) HOW TO ARRIVE Nearest Airport/Train Station:
Marseilles Airport - about 1 hour and 15 minute drive to guesthouse
*Clients usually take the TGV High Speed Train from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Avignon Train Station (2.5 hours), rent a car at the train station and drive about 30 minutes to the home. If you do not wish to rent a car, you will be picked up and dropped you off at Avignon Train Station and you will be driven all week for 250€ (300€ for a couple) and 200€ for the short week (250€ for a couple) - this fee can be paid directly upon arrival. *These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour. BOOKING INFORMATION
SEVEN NIGHT PROGRAM
(Saturday to Saturday)
Double Room/US$2650
Single Room Supplement/US$250
FOUR NIGHT PROGRAM
(Saturday to Wednesday)
Double Room/US$1650
Single Room Supplement/US$150
Non-Residential Day Cooking Class/US$200
* Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation After availability is confirmed, a deposit of US$500 per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 75 days before your arrival date. March 24 to 31 April 14 to 21 May 5 to 12 May 19 to 26 June 9 to 16 June 23 to 30 July 28 to August 4 August 25 to September 1 September 8 to 15 September 22 to 29 October 6 to 13 October 20 to 27
November 17 to 24 * Please inquire about alternate dates Arrival & Depart: Avignon TGV or Marseille Airport. Guests must rent a car for free time and transportation to Cavaillon.
*Seven (7) nights' accommodations
*Welcome lunch
*Apertifs
*All breakfasts and dinners with unlimited wine
*All excursions and fees associated with planned itinerary
*Five (5) hands-on cooking lessons Airfare, most lunches, personal expenses are not included. For further inquiries or to register, click here. Click here to return to top of page.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
CLIENT REMARKS "Thank you for arranging my holiday so quickly...I loved it. The three hours we spent with Patrick in the kitchen, each day, were fabulous. We were totally focused on the task of preparing a 4 course meal, which was both stimulating and relaxing. The accommodation is first class, Babeth and Patrick are exceptional hosts, and the Luberon region is rich in history and culture. The best holiday week of my life!! "We were very impressed with the experience as a whole. Everyone had a great time! Patrick and Babeth were great host. The house was beautiful and the view was amazing. We all had a wonderful time! We especially enjoyed our excursions everyday and enjoyed our cooking classes each evening. I celebrated my birthday while I was there and also my friend Greg had a birthday. They made sure that we had a celebration which was very special to the both of us." "Through a week in Provence we cooked some amazing dishes and visited a lot of interesting places. The excursions at the beginning of the day were active indeed. I may have even lost a pound despite eating quite heartily!" "Superb setting, caring hosts, great accommodation. It couldn't have been a better experience. Oh yes, the cooking was fun too!" "This is my 2nd Active Gourmet trip and I would go again! What an awesome week with 2 WONDERFUL, warm people. The ambiance and friendly spirit was just wonderful. The quality of the food & wines was excellent. Visiting the local markets with a local person was something we could not have done on our own. Menus and recipes were planned with input from the guests, which made our experience very personal!" "Dear Jo-Ann - You were right! I had a wonderful time with Patrick and Babeth. They are the best hosts. I had the opportunity to meet all of their family and they were great with me too. Always trying to please me. I really felt like they were part of my family! Provence is such an incredible area, such rich and beautiful. I had the best time. Also, I wanted to thank you because you helped me to make the decision when I was insecure to go. Thanks! My best regards" "Dear Jo-Ann - I cannot thank you enough for recommending this trip to me. Somehow you knew that it would be right for my first trip to Europe, my curiosity and my love of cooking. The sightseeing was more than I ever expected, the cooking classes were wonderful and challenging and more than all of that, my hosts were charming and caring with much passion and humor to their lives. I feel as if I was immersed in French life for a week, not only for what I saw and the many dishes that we cooked, but also for the rich experiences with them and their family and friends who we had the opportunity to meet most nights at dinner. It was an amazing trip in a beautiful place and I will never forget it. Thank you." "Dear Jo-Ann - What fabulous hosts. We arrived and were greeted warmly. We were immediately made to feel at home and like we were part of the family for the week. The cooking classes were great fun and we were never at a loss for words and laughter during all of our dinners. The touring was wonderful as Patrick showed us his love for the area as well as the history. He made wonderful recommendations for our free time and made the cooking classes fun even for a non cook like me (and you know I was worried about that). It was a wonderful experience which I would recommend to anyone wanting to experience life with a French family. It was much more than just a cooking experience and exactly what I was looking for." "I had a super trip to Provence. What exceptional hosts and great fun. The combination of cooking, touring and relaxing suited me perfectly. Thank you for all your help." "Patrick and Babeth were wonderful- Patrick is a great host and wonderful tour guide. We loved all the history he taught us, and the fabulous trips to the market and to all the little villages. We had a ball in the kitchen, especially once we started drinking wine halfway through each lesson. It was more fun and more interesting than my expectations, and I will forever remember every minute of being in Provence and the Luberon." "Both Patrick and Babeth are wonderful people. Very welcoming. Patrick is a good instructor and tour guide....I have some lovely memories of Provence." "Wow! what a wonderful week I had!...In the kitchen I learned so much. It was easy to see why the cooking of Provence is so special and delicious...you made everything seem very achievable...thank you for your wonderful hospitality, you do it right in Goult." "Thank you for a wonderful experience en Provence. The tours of the region allowed me to enjoy many sites I would never have discovered on my own. The cooking lessons were a lot of fun." "Dear Jo-Ann - All preliminary planning was excellent, starting from the info on your website through to final contacts before we left. Our stay with Patrick and Babeth in the picturesque village of Goult was delightful and exceeded anything we imagined. Our hosts were warm and charming, and made us very welcome in their home. Guest services were equal to those in any hotel, with behind-the-scenes staff who invisibly kept things in order. Our excursions out were to a combination of historical sites and local markets known only to the people of the region. With Patrick giving lessons on a combination of things from produce selection, souvenir shopping and historical information, this quickly became the trip of a lifetime!" "Dear Jo-Ann, Thank you so much for helping me find "The Perfumes, Colours and Flavours of the Luberon" in Provence! My week was absolutely amazing! They could not have been more welcoming and friendly. Their hospitality was outstanding and the cooking classes were perfect. The trip was all I hoped for, and more! I also loved touring the countryside - what a great guide! I would love to stay in touch with you about other, future programs! Thanks again for your help!" "Dear Jo-Ann - I loved the balance of sightseeing, the local markets and festivals, the 3 hours of cooking classes most days and our lunch and swimming at the home. Patrick was a most patient instructor and he and Babeth made a great team! Thank you for helping me have such a wonderful holiday by myself!" "Dear Jo-Ann - I had a great time! Patrick and Babbette were kind and gracious hosts. I learned a lot from Patrick; one-on-one time with a professional chef really showed me how much more I could learn about cooking. He had great tips and helpful information. The Provencal recipes were fantastic and I have made them a number of times since returning home. The daytime excursions in the Provence region were fantastic - we saw so many beautiful sights and had such fun (even for November!)." Click here to return to top of page. MAP* This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE. 
*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location. Click here to return to top of page.
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The Perfumes, Colours and Flavours of the Luberon
