• All Tours
• Europe
• France

Walking and culinary holiday in Provence: Relax and walk, learn and talk, enjoy and cook

We fell in love with Provence many years ago and there is nowhere else in the world quite like it.

Above all, Provence is a region to delight and nourish the senses - the strong colours which attracted many of the world's famous painters, the smell of lavender, pine and wild herbs, shopping in colourful markets, street cafes, local wines, rich vegetable soups, chicken stuffed with rosemary and bouillabaisse with freshly baked bread.

On this holiday we stay in an idyllic country retreat in Upper Provence. It is an area of great natural beauty away from the tourist haunts.

During the three day cooking seminar, professional chef, Gabriela Clarke, will introduce you to authentic Provençale cooking. It is a pleasant way to immerse yourself in the French way of life and learn how to prepare and cook the delicious local produce.

Included in our itinerary are visits to the famous Forcalquier market, a rustic chevre cheese farm, an ancient olive mill, France's No 1 pastis distillery and Monsieur Bresc, a local beekeeper.

Our walks take us into the gentle hills of Provence with siestas in a field of wild thyme, strolling through small hilltop towns and visiting the famous Gorge du Verdon, the second deepest canyon in the world.

After a day of activities, relax in the beautiful gardens of our retreat or visit one of the local cafes and practice your French with the locals. Take a swim, play tennis or enjoy a game of boules at sunset (it is a great excuse for a glass of pastis!).

We stay in one of our favourite hotels, Auberge Charembeau. Located in an idyllic Provincial setting in Haute Provence, it has a swimming pool and tennis courts.

We have selected a number of individual restaurants, which highlight the diversity of the "Cuisine Provençale". The dinners during our 3 days of cooking will be in the dining room of our own home, enjoying our efforts from the afternoon, together with some excellent local wines.

Featured Hotel

Charembeau » Forcalquier, France ★★★ Charming boutique hotel set in an 18th-c farmhouse on a large estate, well-known for its serene and picturesque setting, surrounded by lush and scenic countryside.

Tour departure dates

2024
Tour	Flavours of Provence [7 days]
Begins	13 July 2024 | Aix-en-Provence, France
Ends	19 July 2024 | Aix-en-Provence, France
Price	AUD $3,985

Trip Notes Booking

Dates and Price to be confirmed

2025
Tour	Flavours of Provence [7 days]
Begins	13 July 2025 | Aix-en-Provence, France
Ends	19 July 2025 | Aix-en-Provence, France
Price	AUD TBC

Trip Notes Booking

Feedback from previous guests

A wonderful holiday. Could not be improved. Gabriella was the best of guides ably assisted by Laura. The accommodation was excellent, the food superb, the cooking lessons done by a very competent cooking teacher." Ann from Sydney NSW, Australia [2019]

A truly wonderful 'holiday' in the true sense of the word. Based in one place, the beautiful Charembeau Hotel, with its beautiful gardens and character rooms, it was the best smelling place we have been in, impregnated with the aroma of lavender and honey. We loved the small group size and ate in charming small local restaurants which would not be accessible to a large group. The tour was was conducted at a relaxed pace and we visited many interesting and beautiful places. Travelling with Graeme was like having a friend showing you around, even to the extent of being taken to his wonderful character home. The bus/van was more than adequate for our small group. Cooking schools were held in a charming provincial kitchen and we learned many different and interesting techniques and recipes. Eating on the terrace, the meal we had cooked, was most enjoyable. We would certainly recommend this tour and Walkabout Tours to anyone. We loved it! Dorothy from North Perth WA, Australia [2015]

Our experience with Gabriella was fabulous. The weather was mostly kind and we saw so many wonderful places and shared experiences that highlighted the gourmet delights of Provence. Auberge Charembeau accommodation was well located and the service was excellent. Lovely patio setting for breakfast each day. The highlight of this tour for me was the day spent cooking culinary delights at "l'Oustaou d'Oulivin" with Joyce Borgmann. I was also delighted at the unexpected exposure to art at the lavender and olive museums. The mini bus transport was very comfortable and encouraged little naps to help recover from the cuisine and wine tasting events. I can't speak highly enought of Gabriella and the effort she made to ensure that our group experienced as much as possible in this brief but superb tour. I would love to come back to France and would not hesitate to recommend Walkabout Tours to others who would enjoy fine food and wines within a mix of wonderful local and wider Provence sightseeing experiences. Rhonda from Paynesville, Australia 2012]

I particularly loved the olive farm, the Potager and Vineyard, lunch at Alain Ducasse, the lavender fields, and both restaurants in Forcalquier, Salagon, the goat farm and cooking with Joyce. Thank you for making Provence all that I've read about and more! Liz from Nungurner, Australia [2012]