Provence in September

Provence Perfection, a GG2P Guided Trip
Sept 25th – October 1st 2016

Have you dreamed of Provençale hilltop villages, Chateneuf du Pape vineyards, olive trees with glistening ripe olives dripping from them? What about strolling through a farmers market in Provence in September selecting farm-fresh produce for your early autumn riverside picnic?

If you’ve never been to Provence, its a place that will live in your heart for many years to come. If you’ve already been, no doubt you are counting the days until you can return.

Join me on a ladies-only trip to this special part of the world for antiquing, truffle-hunting, wine tasting, a cooking class, market trips, picnics, wine harvests and much more. Wake up to warm croissants, meet a local potter and raise a glass of champagne to toast your newly made friends.

This GG2P trip will be hosted by moi, and my team of Provençal resident experts and will include a welcome dinner with lots of local Provençal wines. We’ll go truffle hunting, visit a pottery studio, take a cooking class, antique with the experts at Ile Sur la Sorgue and Avignon, stroll the local food market trip, bike ride through the area and enjoy a picnic. 

You’ll visit a local Calisson factory (the famous pastry from the region) and taste some artisanal local liquer, plus you’ll bask in the last sunny days of September and meet a group of fellow Francophiles that we hope will remain your friends for life.

September 25th
Arrive Sunday afternoon by 4pm. Optional Jet Lag massage. Champagne Dinner with your new friends at the hotel under the stars. Discuss the week’s activities.

1st day Mon.
Shop for antiques, French vintage and brocante with the Antiques Diva of Provence, the largest and most prominent antique expert guide in all of Europe. Hit L’Ile sur la Sorge, the antiques capital of France in the morning and enjoy lunch at a charming bistro in town. Then hunt down unique French finds in Avignon in the afternoon. After we’ll enjoy dinner in this historic town.

2nd day Tues.
We will drive to a secret location and go truffle hunting with experts in the beautiful fields and forests of Provençe. After our hunt we’ll enjoy lunch in the darling village of Lourmarin at the L’Antiquaire.

In late September and early October the Vendange occurs (the wine harvest) throughout France. We will take advantage of this and try a little grape stomping after harvesting some juicy ripe grapes. Doing it the old fashioned way is not only fun but ‘fruitful’!
Dinner in Ile Sur la Sorgue. 

3rd day Wed.

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Today we will learn how to cook with the truffles we found on Tuesday. Eric Fraudeau the owner and founder of Cooking with Class, the most popular cooking class in Paris, has a new outlet in Uzès. Chef Eric and his wife Yetunde are friends and have created a unique hands-on instructional day for us to create for a 3-course truffle lunch. We will sit down and enjoy the fruits of our labors after class, with wine of course!

Stroll around the village of Uzes and see the Medieval garden. Make a stop at the Pont du Gard and then head back to Ile sur la Sorge our home base.
Dinner on your own.

4th day Thurs.

Today we’ll visit the fresh French Market in L’Ile sur la Sorge in order to create our own picnic lunch. We’ll pick up some Provençal cheeses like Banon and St. Marcellin and whatever strikes our fancy. Then we’ll take a leisurely bike trip of the area and eat our picnic lunch with Provençal rosé.

Tonight we’ll enjoy a wine tasting and dinner in the famous town of Chateneuf-du-Pape, where they originally made wines just for the popes of Avignon.

5th day Friday

Visit Aix-en-Provence to visit a renowned French pottery maker, the most famous Calisson factory (the almond confection of Provençe) in the area then enjoy a tasting, of Bratt Pitt’s own rosé wine. On the way home we’ll visit at an artisanal Liquoristerie for a unique Provençal product tasting.

Hint: One of the products is Thyme liquer, something I discovered a few years ago that you cannot get in the states but which is an absolutely divine dijestif. All day you will have the opportunity to buy gifts and souvenirs to take home with you.

Celebratory last dinner together in a secret location.

6th Departure on Saturday

At breakfast put together a look board and organize a special keepsake of group photos, recipes and quotes which you can take home to you. This keepsake will include what inspired you about the trip and ideas on how you can do to take that inspiration home with you.
Min size for trip 6 people, max size 12.
Price $3995 per person (non-refundable downpayment $1000 due by June 1st.)
Reduce by $500 if you want to share a room with a friend.

What’s included: Your hotel stay here, breakfast lunch & dinner with wine everyday except where indicated. Transportation during your stay, all trips and experiences.
What’s not included: Airfare, transport to your hotel (but this can be arranged for you), optional massage, extra alcohol, any souvenirs.
Email us at info@girlsguidetotheworld.com to reserve your spot today!