What to Expect on the Luberon Experience

Is this Trip for You?

Village square in Saignon

You're up for some adventure
You want to experience a culture - not just see the sights
You're attracted to the countryside as much or more than big cities
You have varied interests (history, architecture, nature, food, wine)
You take pleasure in simple things
You enjoy being active and don't mind some walking
You enjoy time alone, but also like being with a small group of people with similar interests
You like meeting new people
You enjoy eating and are open to trying new kinds of foods
You like getting dressed up occasionally, but you'd much rather be casual

This is a wonderful trip if you've never been to Europe or France before and you don't want your first trip to involve five cities in ten days. We will introduce you to Europe and France in a very comfortable way. The Luberon Experience is also an ideal trip if you've been to Europe and/or France, have seen some of the top sights, and are now ready to "specialize" in one very unique area.

What Can You Expect?

Expect to be Involved

You'll be busy, but you won't end each day exhausted. Our schedule is fulfilling, but not too full. There is time for relaxing and enjoying your vacation. and downtime when you can be alone or with a travel companion. We won't waste time driving a few hours to another hotel or unpacking and repacking like many "tour" programs. And most important-you won't just "see the sights". you'll be actively involved in "living the life."

Expect to Live-and Eat-Differently

This trip is designed as an "immersion" experience, enabling you to sample a lifestyle and culture different than your own. There is a different tempo, many different customs, definitely some different foods, even a somewhat different way of interacting with others. We encourage you to come prepared to be open-minded and to respect these differences, and to be willing to occasionally step out of your comfort zone to try something new ... especially when it comes to food! We eat at a variety of unique restaurants and cafes; some of the food choices will be familiar, but others may be new and unexpected. We won't ask you to eat anything too strange, but we do hope you'll be open to experiment. (We can make arrangements for special diets and restrictions, but these requirements must be identified in advance. We'll ask you for this information prior to the trip.)

Expect to be Active

A vacation in Provence is an active experience. Our B&Bs involve some stairs, and there are limited rooms available on a ground floor. Many of the villages are built on hillsides, and visiting these old villages typically involves walking on steep cobblestone streets and some climbing. Visits to outdoor markets and wineries also require walking. You don't need to be an athlete, but you do need to be in good physical condition to participate in this trip. Everyone needs to be prepared to walk one to two miles in the course of a typical day and must have shoes appropriate for walking on hilly and sometimes uneven surfaces.

Our week also includes the possibility of a couple of moderate one to three mile hikes on small paved and gravel roads and hiking trails that pass through woods, farmland and vineyards. These hikes are always optional and transportation will be available for those who prefer not to walk these longer distances. If you want to do one or more of these walks, we strongly recommend sturdy soled shoes, perhaps even hiking boots.

Expect to be Remote

You'll live for a week in a small, ancient village, very much out in the countryside, and you should expect to be pretty removed from 24/7 communications and your life at home. Your room won't have a television, telephone or high speed internet, though there is wireless internet access in some areas of some B&Bs, and there's a small internet point in the village. USA Today and the International Herald-Tribune are available at the "tabac" in Bonnieux. And for financial needs you'll find an ATM at the Bonnieux post office as well as ATMs in other larger villages and towns.

Expect to Learn some French

You don't need to speak a word of French to come on this trip, but you will return home with some newly-acquired vocabulary and confidence. We're there to handle the travel details, so you can focus on enjoying the experience. Our groups interact with a number of local people, and although many people in Provence speak some English, we'll encourage you to make some connections in their language. We'll help you learn social customs and some key French words and phrases so you can interact, communicate, and make new friends.

Expect to Have Fun. and a Truly Wonderful Experience

The Luberon is such a special place, and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with others. We've designed a week full of unique experiences, a week that will also be a lot of fun. You'll see breathtaking scenery that has inspired artists and poets, walk in villages where people have lived for hundreds of years, fill your shopping basket at the local markets, sample freshly-prepared food in a variety of settings, and get to know several local residents. Our goal is very simple: we want this to be your best vacation ever!

Ancient shepherd's "borie" on the Claparèdes Plateau