shadow
Cute and rustic coffeshop inside the old town and rustic buildings - Provence walking tour
Lavander
Astonishing path through the old town and rustic buildings
Girl running through lavander fields, enjoying her Provence walking tour
Beautiful view of a church and a small town of Provence
Sunflower field in Provence by FRANCE OFF THE BEATEN PATH™
Bridge in Provence, Provence walking tour
Beautiful scenery of the sunset behind the lavender fields
authentic buildings, Provence walking tour with FRANCE OFF THE BEATEN PATH™ tours
Amazing scenery only with FRANCE OFF THE BEATEN PATH™ tours
Lavender on the wooden chair
Old rustic door and walls with lavender pot in front
Outdoor Cheese market

PROVENCE TOUR TESTIMONIALS – TOUR REVIEWS

Best Adventures in Provence Tour

Tour Guests Share Their Feedback

RATED EXCELLENT WITH 500+ REVIEWS

2019 WINNER!! 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR!

RECOMMENDED BY FROMMER’S FRANCE!

France Off the Beaten Path Tours are endorsed by BEST selling travel author PJ Adams!

 

We thank each and everyone of you, our Provence small group walking tour guests, for your continued support by writing reviews of your Provence tour travel experiences with us, by returning for more guided small group tours to our other regions (Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne, Egypt, Limited Edition Tours), and by recommending France Off the Beaten Path Tours and travel packages to your friends and family!

MORE REVIEWS AVAILABLE HERE….

 

 


Read Tour Reviews from Our Guests – TrustPilot Profile

These reviews are written by our tour guests on a 3rd party review platform called TrustPilot. Click “France Off the Beaten Path” to read more than 500 reviews on our TrustPilot profile.


Read Tour Reviews from Our Guests – Google Business Profile

These reviews are written by our tour guests on a 3rd party review platform called Google. Click “Off the Beaten Path, LLC” to read more reviews on our Google profile.

“Would you recommend this trip to friends and family?”

 

 “Yes, there was a diverse selection of sites, towns and foods of Provence. Loved the towns and activities. Cooking class and Cassis cruise to calanques were extra special. There were A LOT of unexpected little “extras” throughout the trip that made the trip very personalized and wonderful! Our guides were flexible and knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure a fun experience for everyone. Meals were all excellent – lots of fresh, seasonal products. This tour was very well done!” — Randall and Sharon Young, Redmond, WA    

 “Yes, we will recommend this trip to friends. The region is beautiful; the taste of culture and architecture was wonderful. The food was wonderful everyday. The introduction to the food of Provence was great! We appreciate the opportunity to bond with a diverse group of people that small group ventures allow. The hands-on cooking class gave us the opportunity to work together, to create a special experience and the chef was a joy! We really enjoyed our time with him. The day in Cassis was a treat, and each village was, in its own way, charming and unique.” — Barb and Chip Schwamb, Corpus Christi, TX    

 “Yes, absolutely and we will!!! For both of us cooking class was our favorite day — that was fantastic! We enjoyed all of the activities. We also enjoyed the bistrot lunch and the walks we did. The tour guides are wonderful and obviously know and love the region well. Their knowledge of the local history, culture, food and wine was especially wonderful. The entire tour was perfect – a great experience! Thank you!” — Adam and Kristen Elkins, Plymouth Meeting, PA    

 

 “Yes, we would definitely recommend this tour!! The variety of activities and excellent tour guides made this an excellent experience! We did so much that we could never have done on our own. We really liked the walks, towns, cooking class, and Arles. Seeing Arles and the Roman ruins and Van Gogh exhibit was great. Our guides were fabulous. They really have a profound knowledge of the history of the region, and they were very attentive and thoughtful to guests, ensuring a good time for everyone.  Merci beaucoup, it was fabulous!” — Norman & Pat Scott, Mercer Island, WA    

 

“Would you recommend our Best Adventures in Provence Tour to a friend or family?”   The positive tour reviews we receive regularly truly illustrate that our passion and love of Provence shine through on every active France Off the Beaten Path small group Tour!

Read heart warming letters of testimony and verified  tour travel reviews received from France Off the Beaten Path Provence Tour Guests OR visit the France Off the Beaten Path tour BLOG – France Off the Beaten Path – (opens in a new window).

 

What Makes France Off the Beaten Path Tours Exceptional? 

Experience Inspiring Itineraries, Exceptional Quality, and Excellent Value

In 2024, we celebrate 30 years designing and leading small group tours in France!

Since our specialty is small group travel in France, our tours introduce travelers to exceptional experiences!

Our exclusive relationships with every one of our partners, who are personal friends, in France make tours truly trips of a lifetime!

Since we live and work in France, tours include exclusive “insider” activities with local friends; offering very personalized, fun experiences!

Below is an email that Provence Tour guest Ed Ulmer wrote to his Travel Agent, and shared with us…

Hi Beth,

We’re back from the French trip and want to thank you for helping us put it together. The flights worked, the hotel in Avignon was great (more of a classic European hotel than one would find in American chains) and the time in Provence was delightful. We thought the T***k small group tour of Italy was very good, but the Off The Beaten Path tour run by Christy Destremau was significantly better. The group was more congenial, smaller and, most important, had two extraordinarily knowledgeable and helpful guides. They met us at the train, took us on all of the tours, joined us for lunch and dinner each day and were available to answer questions on any subject related to Provence and its history as well as providing in-depth commentary on all things French. The effect was that this was a far more personal, relaxed and private gathering among friends than one might find in a more standard tour. Christy handles a number of other tours in France (she and her family have lived there for years) and should prove to be a useful contact for you for any clients you may have who are interested in personalized visits to France. I took the liberty of giving her your card with all of the McCabe contact information and would be happy to drop by your office this week to give you a short précis of the trip. It was great and you should try it yourself!

Ed Ulmer     

 Back home from our two weeks of back to back tours in Provence. Happy to share our feedback…Two very different tours. Your Best Adventures in Provence tour gets a RAVE review compared to Carol’s B**t of F****e T*****s tour that we did right after yours. Your tour was terrific fun!! Loved that all of the wine during the trip was included in your tour price and Cassis day was one of many highpoints. I will never forget that wonderful day; the ride on the boat was fabulous. I overheard my husband tellling our friends that your tour was 1st class. I have to agree. I was very impressed with how knowledgeable our guides were. Your tour definitely has an advantage over others…yours was so much more personalized, and it was obvious that you are known and warmly welcomed by everyone! In two years we plan to bring our daughters and their husbands to celebrate my husband’s birthday. We look forward to traveling with you again. Thanks for everything including the delicious olive oil.

Nancy O’toole      

 

CLICK TO READ MORE LETTERS OF TESTIMONY…ORCLICK TO REVIEW THE PROVENCE TOUR ITINERARY

 

The greatest reward working in touring is receiving wonderful messages and feedback from happy guests !! 

 

#1 Tours Recommended By

Best Selling Travel Author PJ Adams!! 

  • Feeling very honored! — Best selling author and former tour guest PJ Adams, has released her latest book, Intoxicating Southern France, and is promoting and recommending both our Best Adventures in Provence® Tours AND Bordeaux “Grand Cru” Wine Tasting & Walking Tours to her readership, as the “TOURS OF CHOICE” to discover southern France.
  • Having previously traveled on our small group, active tours in France, it is a great honor to have PJ Adams recommending and promoting both our Best Adventures in Provence Tours and Bordeaux “Grand Cru” Wine Tasting & Walking Tours as her “TOURS OF CHOICE” to relive the magical moments she writes about in her latest book on southern France.
  • And we love that she has selected and endorsed worldwide France…Off the Beaten Path by Off the Beaten Path, LLC as her “TOUR COMPANY OF CHOICE” for tour travel to France.
  • PJ Adams’ 3rd book Intoxicating Greater Paris: Loire, Valley of the Kings featuring Off the Beaten Path owner Christy Destremau, as the contributor and subject matter specialist to the book, is now available on Amazon, and features Christy’s photography and favorite people, places and things to do in the Loire Valley.

Scroll down to read our Provence Tour Testimonials and join one of our small group tours today to discover why our exclusive, small group, escorted tours in France are recommended by best selling travel author PJ Adams, and have been named travelers #1 choice for group travel for over two decades! 

Guest raves – Would you recommend this trip to a friend?

 “Yes, no doubt I will be recommending this trip to friends, family and travel agents. I hope to be coming back myself!! This was without a doubt one of the best times of my life!!! Apart from it being a bit warm, I can’t think of anything I would have changed except of course more time to spend in this beautiful part of the country. I loved it all especially the day at the farmhouse cooking. I love to cook and facilities were a dream as were our hosts! Our guides could not have been better hosts, guides and friends. They truly made the trip run smoothly but more than that there was nothing they wouldn’t do to make sure you were thoroughly enjoying yourself. As you see I am a fan and could go on and on, but as usual have to run to catch up with the group. I’ve made some wonderful friends and couldn’t be happier except if I were staying!!!” ––Karen Lewis, Nashville, Tennessee    

 “Yes, we would definitely recommend the trip and would take another ourselves! Guides made the trip! They complemented each other beautifully, were knowledgeable and entertaining! Loved the program in Cassis and the wonderful restaurant overlooking the sea. Kudos to our guides for making a special trip to the train station to pick us up when our train arrived late, and for helping us find lavender oil.” ––Hap and Gerry Snyder, New York City, New York    

 “YES This was a once in a lifetime vacation for us. We enjoyed the small group atmosphere and unpretentious welcoming nature of our guides and everyone we met during the tour. Very good guides – they work very well together and offer lots of information with a bit of humor. The walks just got better and better each day with more spectacular views. The guides, the food and service was extraordinary, and will not be replicated in our travels for a long time to come!” ––Alan and Laura Lecours, Gansevoort, New York    

 “YES would definitely recommend this trip/group! I tend to avoid group travel to do my own thing BUT this was absolutely the best in this type of travel! I loved the trip – one of the best I’ve taken. The walks were great, the cooking lesson was a highlight, the small towns were charming and the guides were perfect – knowledgeable, charming and perfect foils for each other.” ––Barbara Morris, Gansevoort, New York    

“YES I would recommend this trip to friends who like to walk and be active. I loved everything we did on the trip! I loved the guides, they were very considerate, helpful and knowledgeable about the region. The villages were delightful, and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. The cooking class was fun and tasty! The other guests on the trip were also fun and very interesting. Thank you!!” ––Anita Dunlap, Pacific Palisades, California    

 “YES we would for all of the following reasons and more – Loved, loved, loved our cooking day, the activities, the cooking class and our guides were amazing! Thank you for a great trip!” ––Tony and Christine Beck, Adelaide, Australia    

 “YES We would recommend the tour to others. It was a good combination of activities. Cooking class was exceptional. Our guides’ historical knowledge was enlightening and their local knowledge helped us appreciate the culture. The choices of restaurants was excellent. The hikes were beautiful. All arrangements were great and things went smoothly. Thank you for a fun week!” ––Dennis and Bevery Fitzpatrick, Key Largo, Florida    

 “Yes, would recommend due to – small group, wonderful guides and hotel (only one hotel, no moving was great!), choice of villages to visit without spending a long time getting to them, and guides shared the culture of the country, not just the sights. Guides and driver were excellent. Food was great/well above average as was the wine. Cooking school was a highlight, we learned a lot. Seeing the calanques of Cassis was a treat. Your pre-tour communication and suggestions were very helpful.” –Kenneth Doss and Peggy Cannon, Holland, Michigan    

“We would definitely recommend the trip to friends who like to sit back and relax, who enjoy food and wine, beautiful scenery and colorful markets and villages and making friends. We liked the hotel in its tranquil setting and a short walk into the town. The garden and swimming pools are beautiful, and the room is very comfortable with all the necessary facilities and amenities. We had two very professional guides. They made sure everything went as organized. We enjoyed the stories and history told about Provence during the tour. The guides were also great at taking pictures for the group and accommodated all of our special requests. All of the meals are fine dining and up to Michelin standard. We were provided with more than what we could drink, and enjoyed that our food was matched with different local wines. We also enjoyed all of the walks through different countryside each day, and the cooking class!! We enjoyed making lots of new friends from different countries -these are very memorable moments together. In one word, this trip is the “essence” of Provence!” –Francis and Lilian Lee, Hong Kong, China    

“Yes – We enjoyed everything about the trip and will recommend to friends! The villages were interesting, the explanations were excellent and the food was very good, especially loved the Cassis and Gordes lunches! We thought it was all FABULOUS!” –Richard and Trude Skolnick, Santa Monica, California    

“Yes we would without a doubt!! The tour showcased a very beautiful part of France and gave us a good “French experience” one which we will never forget!! We enjoyed the food, walks, local and historical information, the weather, the company and especially the villages we visited.Our guides were very experienced and we were very satisfied with their expertise. The hotel was a great “home away from home”, and our group bonded very well! Thank you for some great memories!!” –Ron and Faye Atkinson, Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia

 “Absolutely, would recommend without reservation. We had a fabulous time!! Our guides were knowledgeable and very personable, the hotel location was good and convenient to town and activities were very fun.” –Donald and Kaye Kelley, Austin, Texas    

“Yes! Loved the walks, each covered different ground! Loved the variety of villages and the well organized, efficient excursions. LOVED cooking class!! Beautiful room at the hotel. Many great meals and wines! We liked that the guides took very good care of us.” –Seth and Kristy Cain, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA    

 “Yes! We will definitely recommend your Provence Tour to our friends and family! The trip met our expectations. We did a lot of diverse things that the area offered, and it was a great learning experience. Our guides were attentive to our needs and their knowledge of history added to our cultural experience. We loved the hotel! AND, the food and wines were awesome!!! This was a true holiday!” Sarah Bennett, Abby Boor, Mary Ann Boor, Washington, D.C.

“Yes, I would recommend this trip to a friend. Our guides made everyone feel comfortable, they accommodated a lot of needs and were a lot of fun. The cooking class was a definite highlight, LOVED the trip to Cassis. Lunch locations were all great, BUT Cassis was SPECTACULAR!! The food and wines were great! The tour stops were great! I especially loved Saturday’s walk in the Luberon. Overall, everything was great – certainly met my expectations and would recommend highly to others! Thank you!!” -Joan McCourt, Wilton, Connecticut    

 “Yes, we feel that this tour was a great way to get to see southern France.Overall we enjoyed the small personal feeling of the tour. It was nice staying at one hotel, but seeing a variety of towns while getting history of those towns enroute. Walking through the countryside and seeing everything up close was wonderful. The variety of food and wine was something that we would have never been able to duplicate on our own. Great food, wines, nice choice of towns to visit-each one had something a little different to offer, and we loved the cooking class!” -Rocco and Sue Malandrino, Chicago, Illinois    

“YES! I would definitely recommend this trip to a friend! We loved the hotel, the food was to die for and the guides were both interesting and knowledgeable. The cooking class was fantastic, and the boat tour along the coast of Cassis was so much fun! The towns of Gordes and Roussillon were breathtaking! I also liked our small group. We all got along beautifully. We will always remember our trip to Provence! Merci!” -David and Karen Tatak, Chicago, Illinois    

 “YES of course I would recommend this trip!! The food was fantastic, cooking class was great, the guides were informative and fun, the locations were great, what’s not to like? The Mas des Carassins was very good! I liked everything! Just to emphasize: Our guides were wonderful!! I have been to this area of France before, but they put a new light on it!!” –Nancy Johnson, Denver, Colorado    

“Yes – The tour allowed us to see more and eat in much better restaurants than we could ever have done on our own. This was a well organized tour, our guides were friendly and very helpful, meals were outstanding with a nice selection of different local wines each day. Thank you for a great week!” –Greg Corning and Madelyn Ruiz, Sunnyvale, California    

 

 “Yes- Abolsutely! Every day was my favorite! Amzing experience, something I never thought I would be able to do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I will never forget this week. We had so much wonderful food! Our guides were fabulous! Will recommend to everyone! The level of service, hotelquality, destination, exclusive restaurants, history lessons. Our cooking class chef was lovely, she made me feel so welcome in her home. Cassis – Amazing. Great blend of sea and mountain destinations. Walks were great. Thank you so much!!” –Lisa Lyons, Langhorne, Pennsylvania    

“Yes, I would definitely recommend to friends!! This tour was very special in the way it combined activities and provided alternatives and choices daily. Our guides were excellent – always attentive to the needs of the group and individuals in the group. Every activity I participated in was great. I especially loved the Mas des Carassins, the boat ride in Cassis, the cooking class (in such a beautiful setting) and all the villages we visited. It was a great way to make new friends and a fun adventure to share with the friend who joined me on this trip. Well done!!” –Sharon Weinberg, Denver, Colorado    

“Yes, I would happily recommend the tour and company as nothing was too much trouble for our guides. Our guides were the warmest of hosts. The five days were filled with magical moments. I loved cooking class and our chef, all of the restaurants and the villages especially Cassis. Again thanks to our wonderful hosts. I had high expectations and they were were all surpassed! This was truly the experience of a lifetime! Thank you so much.” ––Gill Hall, Victoria, Australia

 “Yes – We would recommend this trip to friends! The food, activities, tour guides and fellow travellers all exceeded our expectations. It was the best vacation I ever had! Our guides really made our trip! Their knowledge of the area was wonderful. Traveling as a group allowed us to do and see so much more than we would have experienced alone. Our guides made this such an exceptional experience, and I will sincerely miss them.” –Ed and Kathy Simmons, Sussex, New Jersey    

Are you ready to book a Tour to Provence, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne, or Egypt?

RATED 5 STARS BY HUNDREDS OF HAPPY TOUR GUESTS

OVER 500 VERIFIED FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON TRUSTPILOT

shadow
shadow
shadow

RATED 5 STARS BY HUNDREDS OF HAPPY TOUR GUESTS

OVER 500 VERIFIED FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON TRUSTPILOT

A WORD FROM Our Guests:

Exceeded Our Expectations!

“This trip to the Loire Valley exceeded our expectations! Christy planned unique and interesting excursions and activities that highlighted the beauty of the area and provided in-depth background knowledge about the various chateaux we visited. The cooking classes with renowned chefs, held in their restaurants and homes, were never-to-be forgotten experiences, and the visit to the winery was a highlight. The hotel was delightful and charming, and staying in one location for the entire time was a treat. Every meal or cocktail hour was planned to highlight the delicious specialties of the region. Christy is extremely knowledgeable about the various places we visited and imparted that knowledge in an interesting and entertaining manner. She and Remi took great care to ensure that we were always comfortable and well-looked after. We could not have asked for a better trip!” — Ron Rose & Sharon Matsumoto (Have done Provence tour and Loire Valley tour)

This was my third trip in the same number of years

“This was my third trip in the same number of years with Christy and Off the Beaten Path. While on her trips you can tell how much effort there is on the off season to make every single week perfect. From the pick up at the train station to the teary goodbye at the airport, everything is perfectly planned and executed. The hotel in St. Remy is magical, and the tour guides Philippe and David are exceptional. If you are considering a trip with OTBP, go for it and come home with new friends, a love of Provence and a longing to return as soon as you can!” — Beth Bower (Has done Provence tour twice and Loire Valley tour)

The Best Tour Company!

“I have done two tours – Provence and Loire Valley – and I am already looking forward to booking another. The tours are all perfectly curated and Christy is a wealth of knowledge. She is so kind and takes all of your needs and wants into consideration. I cannot recommend Off the Beaten Path enough!” — Madison Carl (Has done Provence and Loire Valley tours)

“We did the Provence tour. 8/2019. I had taken the tour 2017 & this time my husband came with me. It was just as fabulous this time as it was in 2017. Restaurants, picnic, sights, wine, all of it just delightful, but the frosting on the cake is a the knowledge, insight, humor, & attention to detail from David & Philippe. To us, they make a great trip soooo much fun. (also, 3 of our neighbors joined us this tour). Don’t hesitate, take this tour & enjoy!!!!!” — Jim & Carol Dean (Carol has done Provence tour twice)

Returning to Provence with France Off the Beaten Path

“I wanted to return to Provence as soon as it was open. I had toured with Christy in Loire Valley in 2019 and knew I wanted to travel with her again. For the second time, everything was well organized, personal and definitely off the beaten path. Christy and Phillippe have a wealth of knowledge and are eager to share. The hotel was perfectly located in St Remy, the tours to the lavender and sunflower fields are my favorite memory. The lunches and dinners were like visiting friends. The boat tour in Cassis was another highlight. Even though I had visited Provence, this trip with France Off the Beaten Path brought a new appreciation for the area.” — Susan Gage (Has done Loire Valley tour, Provence tour, Champagne tour)

“We had an excellent tour with Christie and her crew in the Loire valley. We did things that only a true insider would have access to-dinner at a Michelin chefs house, helping/learning to cook at a highly rated restaurant in their kitchen. This was in addition to seeing the sights and touring the castles. A truly unique experience that is off the beaten path. We will use her again when going back to France.” — Karen Berner (Has done Loire Valley tour)

READ MORE REVIEWS