Our Other Destinations

European Experiences and Our Other Destinations

We fell in love with Europe almost 20 years ago. We’re romanced by the beauty, the history, the lifestyle of Europe. We’re enchanted by the variety of scenery, culture, tradition, and language we experience, sometimes dramatically different just an hour or two away. And we’re embraced and enriched by the warm and friendly people who have opened their hearts and homes to us. The magic of Europe has captured our hearts, changed who we are, and impacted the way we live even when we’re back at home.

We definitely have a love affair with Provence, but over the years we’ve found ourselves returning to several other very special areas in other parts of Europe. The places that draw us share several important characteristics with the Luberon: rural areas of incredible natural beauty; smaller villages that have retained their unique character and tradition; and cultures that are distinctive and welcoming. These places are the “beautiful places” we feature in our European Experiences trips.

Our European Experiences schedule varies every year. We always offer The Luberon Experience, but we don’t return to the other destinations ever year. We normally offer two to three weeks in the Luberon in May and early June, followed by weeks in one or two other areas in June and early July.  We offer private trips in the Luberon in the fall.

We know many of our travelers plan ahead, and so do we. We’re already looking ahead to 2013 and 2014! Specific dates are usually announced in March of the previous year. In addition to the trips described below, we’ll offer a new trip to the Dordogne region in southwest France in 2013; details will be announced in March 2012.

Learn more about our other special places in Europe on our European Experiences website. We’d love to share these other beautiful places with you!

	The Chianti Experience The famous wine region of Chianti is located between Florence and Siena in the heart of Tuscany. From our guesthouse outside the village of Panzano, we can relax and savor the beauty of the Chianti countryside. Our week includes bustling towns (with great shopping), quiet hilltop villages, a cooking class in a country kitchen, three distinctly different winery visits and an evening with Italy’s most famous butcher. Learn more here. Trips will be offered in 2012 and 2014.
	The Cotswolds Experience The Cotswolds is the English countryside you’ve dreamed of: an idyllic land of rolling hills, gentle streams, grazing sheep, and quaint stone cottages. The well-preserved village of Chipping Campden, with its lovely High Street, is our home for the week. Our week includes historic castles, traditional pubs, magnificent gardens, lunch on a working farm, and suprisingly good food! Learn more about our week in the Cotswolds here. Our next trips will be offered in 2013.
	The Salzkammergut Experience The Salzkammergut is a magnificent region of mountains and lakes in the Austrian Alps. Our home for the week is the storybook village of St. Gilgen on the shores of Lake Wolfgang, only 30 minutes from Salzburg, birthplace of the composer Mozart. Our week includes strolls on scenic mountain trails, a concert at an historic palace, and a trip through an ancient salt mine. Learn more about our week in the Salzkammergut here. Our next trip is in July 2012.
	The Bavarian Experience Our base in the Bavarian Alps is the welcoming village of Garmisch, located at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. Although best known for skiing, in summer the mountains are green and lush and easily accessible by mountain train and cable cars. Our week includes mountain trips, fairytale castles, colorful alpine villages, and (of course) a German beer hall. Learn more here. We don’t have a Bavarian trip on our schedule now… let us know if you’d be interested.