We had a lovely afternoon tour with Sarah and her friend Jackie (who is in training to lead tours)…read morein May. The drive to Cassis was made extra enjoyable because of the conversations we four shared about life in France and all kinds of other topics. The experience itself in Cassis was perfect - the weather cooperated, we saw beautiful sights and thoroughly enjoyed the boat trip. Sarah patiently took the photos of us that we wanted so that we have beautiful memories of the afternoon. I heard about Sarah in Rick Steve's book on Provence, and I am so grateful for the recommendation, as taking the tour took away our concerns about driving and enabled us to have a relaxing and fun afternoon. Thank you Sarah and Jackie!

My group of 3 did the rose excursion with Brian. I can't think of a more memorable way to celebrate…read moreProvence's bounty of good wine and food than indulge in this one-of-a-kind wine "lesson" (which, for us, was more of a boozy, let's-drink-and-laugh-and-celebrate-life excursion). Brian picked us up from Aix and drove us along a scenic route stretching along Mount Ste. Victoire. We arrived at a local winery where we sampled red, white, and rose wines. We walked amongst the vines, had a great time and eventually made it to a secluded park where we set up a picnic table and drank 2 bottles of rose, ate fresh baguettes from the market and nibbled on fresh strawberries and grapes. All this epicurean goodness while drenched in the golden, Provencale sun and surrounded by the very landscape that inspired Cezanne's paintings. Does it get any better? Only if you have great company to do it with (and I did!). I would relive this afternoon again in a heartbeat. Some quick tips: -This wonderful afternoon excursion was approximately 80 euros a person, which included all the bites, (lots of) wine, and transportation. -I highly recommend it to anyone traveling through Provence who is more comfortable speaking English (although our host was also fluent in French). -Our host was very knowledgeable and personable. If you are serious about tasting wine and learning about it, the Wine in Provence folks have your back. -Wine in Provence offers other great wine tastings, cooking classes and winery tours.

My wife and I are traveling Europe with another couple and stopped in Aix for a few days. We just…read morefinished "The Best of Aix" tour with Hilary and had a great time. She took us shopping in the market, olive oil tasting, to the cheese shop, the wine shop and back for a cooking class to pair a three course lunch we cooked with three wines. We made a quiche, fruit dessert and a little app and it was all delicious! I can't say enough about this tour. Hilary was incredibly bubbly and knowledgable. She was on a cheek kissing basis with everyone, even the cheese guy who scowled at the rest of the locals. I recommend this tour to anyone and everyone traveling in Aix!

We booked a half day Provence tour with wine tasting and a trip to the Roman aqueduct at point du…read moreguard that also included a stop at the Theater Antique D'Orange which is an old Roman coliseum in Orange. The tour was great! Our guide Anne picked us up at our hotel and she provided us with an awesome afternoon tour! I highly recommend Time 4 Provence for anyone staying in Avignon who wants to see the surrounding sites.

We had a wonderful time seeing the countryside and trying wines with Gordana. She is knowledgeable,…read moreenergetic, and kind. A perfect way to spend a half day in Provence.

During our tour we were able to see Le village des Bories,Gordes (stone village built in 19th…read morecentury), the beautiful and quaint villages of Gordes and Roussillon (many nice shops and artist studios), Senanque Abbey, beautiful lavender fields, the ochre trail, and an old roman bridge. We thoroughly enjoyed each of these sites and would highly recommend Claire from Travelling Provence for a fantastic tour in France.

From the owner: Book a Private Tour in Provence! I will be your Guide and Chauffeur Privé!…read more When you think about Provence, many images come to your mind: the endless lavender fields, the high perched villages, the song of the cicadas,... I offer you to discover Provence as you can read it in books, see it in movies and paintings, but mainly to experience it like no one else. As your guide and driver, I will show you the real provencal way of life through the most famous places, but also the most hidden ones, of this wonderful area! Tailor made Full and Half Day Tours, walking tours and airport transfers: do not hesitate to contact me for further information! See you soon in Provence! Visit our website: www.travellingprovence.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram From Avignon, Nîmes, Marseille, Aix en Provence, Luberon, Alpilles, Camargue, Gordes, Roussilon, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Isle sur la Sorgue, Orange, Saint Rémy de Provence, Les Baux de Provence

We booked this tour as a cruise excursion and we didn't realize we were arriving at Toulon and not…read moreMarseille until that morning. But lucky moment #1, Laurent was flexible and accommodating and came to pick us up at the other port in an hour. He informed us it was a holiday in France and most places were closed. He would try his best to get us into a winery that was open until noon, but it was going to take a little luck to get us there in time. Lucky moment #2: they were open when we arrived. We tasted two old vine Rhône blends and a 92-point rose. All delicious. The kind owner stayed open an extra 25 minutes for us, lucky moment #3. Then because we wouldn't be able to make it to any other wineries, we had to pivot. We bought 3 bottles of wine and a salami that the owner sliced for us and put into a paper bag. Next stop, the bakery was open! Lucky #4! We purchased two baguettes. Then off to the charming town of Le Castellet, with its narrow cobblestone streets and centuries old buildings. Lucky moment #5: we got a great parking spot and set off to explore. What to do on a national holiday when shops and restaurants are closed? Head to the National Park and have a picnic! But not just anywhere, Laurent's secret spot at the top of the mountain. I can't say where it is because we were sworn to secrecy. Just as we arrived, another car pulled in. Would they beat us to a seat at the best view in France? Nope. Lucky moment #6, they went the other way and the secret spot was all ours. A fresh French bread and salami sandwich washed done with a great Mourvèdre while gazing down at that amazing blue of the Mediterranean. This is the essence of travel--connecting with a stranger who takes you through his country as though you are a friend and you become exactly that. You talk about life and politics and food and wine and culture. We wanted to have 7 lucky experiences because after all 7 is the luckiest number, but our #7 became our #1. Because the luckiest thing that happened to us was that we had our friend Laurent sharing his world with us for one unforgettable day.

From the owner: organiser des excursion insolite en Provence à la journéeread more

Five star review! Our visit to the Luberon Valley with Mike Rijken/Wine Safari truly was a…read morehighlight of our trip to Provence. It was everything we hoped for and more! We truly could not imagine a more expert - yet friendly and approachable - guide than Mike. During our day with him we tasted wonderful wines and learned from his expert guidance about how to fully appreciate the wine's aroma, color, and flavor. In addition to his expertise on tasting and pairing with food, he was incredibly informative about the agricultural and production side of wine making. We learned a great deal about the history and geography of the Luberon and sub-areas within it, and how they influence the wine produced there. Mike is clearly an experienced professional, with a passion for wine and its producers in Provence. Also, we are not the most knowledgeable wine drinkers, so I'm sure a lot of our questions were elementary for him, but if they were, he never let on; his enthusiasm for teaching meant that no question was too basic. We truly could not imagine a better guide than Mike. Mike was a delight to spend the day with. From a logistics POV, my husband and I rode with Mike in his van so we could enjoy the views of the countryside and vineyards. I highly recommend doing this, rather than taking your car. He was very responsive in our communications before we met up and prompt and courteous in all interactions with him. He even greeted us with croissants for breakfast when he picked us up at our hotel! We also learned that Mike isn't just a great guide, he's a thoughtful and generous soul. In a completely unrelated matter, my husband and I had had a mechanical issue with our rental car, causing it to be towed the day before. While we rode with Mike I called the rental car company to see about getting our car back from the mechanic, but I was not having much luck (what little French I speak is poor, and the company reps spoke limited English). Mike heard me struggling, and he very kindly offered to translate, speaking with the representative of the rental car company a few times, as well as to the garage where our rental car had been repaired. Because of him, we got our car back that day! Mike even dropped us off at the garage to pick up the car, going inside with us to make sure all was in order! We are deeply grateful to him for his help, as it allowed us to fully enjoy the next two (final) days of our vacation in a way we couldn't have without a car. What a great guy! Again, we recommend Mike and Wine Safari with all five stars! Thanks again, Mike, for sharing your knowledge and experience (and for helping us out in a jam). We hope to visit Provence again sometime and look forward to spending time with you again!

Mike Rijken, Is an amazingly well informed, incredibly…read morefriendly wine tour guide to the southern Rhone. A journey with him, being a winegeek such as myself, was awesome in that i did learn quite a few new things! It really was a moderate fee to pay for his jolly wit, and his expertise in how to communicate with his clients. Dig it. When ever in the south of France, look him up!

From the owner: Le cap d'Antibes en vision sous marine à bord de Visiobulle…read more Au départ de Juan les Pins : Du compartiment vision : 14 mètres de "grand bleu " pour admirer les fonds marins du cap d'Antibes, sa faune, ses herbiers de posidonies... Du pont, découvrez le site magnifique de la baie "des milliardaires " en longeant les falaises d'Eden Roc, les palaces côté mer, les villas de rêve dans la pinède.