Your dream trip - yes do it now! Booking for May 2022

• Lifelong dream to travel to Southern France?
• Spend hours drooling over travel magazines and websites of Provence?
• Does a private wine, shopping, food, art history tour with a woman who has experienced France as the French do appeal to you?
• Paris? We are now featuring a Paris & Provence package
• Air France has direct Vancouver to Paris- easy transfer flight to Marseille

Heart In Provence offers unique, escorted tours at your pace with monthly offerings and flexible dates. If you are going to France, you must go to Paris. It is the city of light and so much more. We start in Provence with 7 night stay in one of  Aix-en-Provence's historic hotels. It is a perfectly central spot to make short day trips around the region. Lavender fields in Valensole? Yes- only 1.5 hours away-but only in summer months. (the guide books omit that little detail). Seaside of Marseilles? Absolutely- a quaint local train ride away. The majestic palaces of the Popes in Avignon- couple that with the local wine and that is an amazing day trip. It is all possible from Aix. And don't forget a leisurely market stroll followed by a typical lunch in a local café- people watching extraordinaire.  You will see it is like the movies you have seen and the books you have read. Truly.

What is included?

• all ground transfers 
• all private car transportation
• delicious breakfasts, lunches and most dinners-modest meals with wine-modest but French and fabulous!
• all beverages (2 glasses of wine with lunch & dinner)(OK sometimes, more than 2)
• all hotel- 7 nights Aix/ 3 night Paris- no packing and moving around
• all museum, gallery and visit tickets
• all tips and taxes

Here are just a few of the possibilities- each trip is custom designed after you fill out a brief questionnaire. I ask you what you must to and what you must not do: then a customized trip for the group.

Day 1-Depart Vancouver- transfer- arrive Marseilles Provence Airport - private ground transfer to Aix.

Choice subject to change after my exploratory trip in January 2022

Settle in Hotel du Globe- newly refurbished and centrally placed. 

Aix has more to discover than you can imagine. We will dip our collective travelling selves into the culture pool here: Cezanne, Van Gogh, Zola and many other writers and artists spent time Aix.

Unpack, get settled and we go for a light meal and a beverage - a short walk around Aix to get your bearings. Light lunch or early dinner.  You will be tired, but feeling great. Let’s target a museum or gallery or some shops. Our hotel, located in the old neighbourhood, this woman-run property is a true gem. Each floor is beautifully decorated, quiet and comfortable. Separate rooms unless you wish to share with a friend. 

Day 2-if Saturday

Market day in Aix. They start unloading at 7:00am and are ready to sell just after that. A classic French breakfast of beverage, croissant, jam and baguette. If you see something you like, buy it. The market tears down at 1:00pm and you would never know that it was there. Amazing food of all kinds- the freshest ever. I know several stands who grow their own produce and sell directly to the public. It is just like the photos and movies: you will be stunned at the possibilities. 

Day 3 Lets go to Marseille - there is so much to see and do in this ancient port city. Day trip to Marseille. We will visit this amazing Mediterranean City- full of history and rustic charm. Lunch at the Vieux Port- shopping, MuCeum and exhibits await

Day 4

Trip to Puy St Reparade for a special vineyard visit and lunch. This is where modern meets historic. You will be amazed at how seamlessly they blend. It is not a secret any more, but Chateau la Coste is a truly amazing way to spend an afternoon. Regardless of the season, wine is there and so is art. 

Day 5

Avingon? Cassis? Arles? Nimes? All are possibilities for day trips. From the Palace of the Popes to stunning antique markets, Provence has it all. 

Day 6

Market in Aix, light lunch at a café. Afternoon free- discover what you must see again. Maybe some time at the Thermes Sextius- the spa in Aix since Roman Times? We meet late afternoon for a sweet treat- chez Weibel- an amazing pastry shop in Aix. 

Day 7

Head to Paris. TGV first class - champagne picnic lunch en route.

Newly discovered hotel to be revealed after January… It will be centrally located and full of Parisian charm. First dinner in Paris!

Day 7-11We head out to the Grande boulevards- Haussmann, Champs d'Elysee, and left bank. Museums- we have a special private entrance to the Louvre, l’Orangerie and many more - a well-kept secret. No waiting in lines. (Security lines are mandatory, regardless of our pass) Late dinner at small café. A true gem, not in any tourist guide books. This is where the French go for dinner. It is exactly like the movies and books: with one glaring exception YOU WILL BE THERE!

Private car to CDG airport.

Last night is a stay at an airport hotel- most international flights out heading west leave early: this way you get a good night’s sleep before your departure. 

***THIS IS JUST A TASTE OF WHAT WE OFFER. EACH TRIP IS CUSTOM MADE FOR THE GROUP, SO THIS PAGE WILL BE COMPLETED AND UPDATED WITH NEW AND EXCITING HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INFORMATION - I WILL NOT BE GIVING AWAY ANY SECRETS. SEND ME AN EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMAITON. ** MERCI