Stop and Smell the Lavender
(Thyme and Basil, Too)

Aromatherapy Tour of Provence

A Tour Designed Especially for Those Interested in Herbs and Other Botanicals.
Learn How to Distill and Use Essential Oils While Touring Stunning Provençal Villages.

Every summer Provence explodes in color and perfume as fields of lavender burst into brilliant purple flowers.  This is the Provence that draws artists and lovers of nature, the Provence of writers, where the earth's fragrance is carried on the breeze and herbs infuse everything from bath oils and perfume to the area's renowned cuisine.

Discover France, specialists in active vacations in France, is offering a special weeklong tour for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the herb gardens and herb culture of Provence.  This trip will give a small group a behind the scenes look at the preparation of several of Provence's signature products, including the processing of herbs into essential oils and the making of lavender honey.  Guests will also be treated to lessons in the cultivation of herbs and will learn about their healing properties.

The 7-day/6-night Aromatherapy Tour of Provence is scheduled for July 1-7, 2002.  Leaving from the historic city of Avignon, the tour will visit some of the most picturesque villages in a region famed for its Mediterranean beauty.  This tour has something for everyone.  It includes a visit to a winery (with a tasting session, of course); guided tours of several breathtaking herb gardens, including one specializing in varieties of lavender, Provence's signature plant; a cooking lesson and a tour of the famous L'Occitane factory, premier producer of lotions and perfumes.  There is also a relaxing visit to a hot-spring spa.  And, of course, there is the incomparable Provençal food, which is at its most glorious in summer.

This magical trip through France's garden of delights includes expert guidance on the use of herbs to promote health and well-being.  Guests will spend time with a certified naturopathic healer, who will instruct them on the therapeutic use of wild and cultivated herbs.  A botanist will give them a tour of the Lavender Garden in the village of Sault, the center of lavender processing.  While visiting the village of Forcalquier, group members will see how a traditional Provençal firm turns herbs into essential oils.  The tour ends in Aix-en-Provence, the region's capital and one of the most beautiful cities anywhere.

Provence has so much to see.  In ancient, fortified Avignon, the group will tour the Papal Palace, from which the wine called Châteauneuf du Pâpe ("the Pope's new castle") takes its name.  The group will then wend its way through several towns and villages, including Carpentras and hilltop Venasque.  Day 3 will be spent in Sault, where it will be market day, and guests will be able to see first hand the exquisite ingredients they will work with during their cooking lesson.  On Day 5, in Forcalquier, there will be a visit to the priory of Notre Dame de Salagon and in Manosque, guests will have a chance to see how the L'Occitane firm creates its highly regarded skin care products, oils and perfumes.  It promises to be an interesting and unusual opportunity as the company does not routinely conduct tours.  Day 6 includes a visit to a beekeeper, for a tasting of the incomparable lavender honey, after which there will be the perfect relaxation of a spa treatment at the Thermes des Gréoux-les-Bains.

The Aromatherapy Tour combines the best of a trip to Provence with a specialized focus on the region's herbaceous plants and their role in cooking, in skin care and perfumery, and in promoting well-being.  Lodging is in charming three-star hotels that have been chosen with great care.  The first night's stay is in Avignon.  After that the group will stay in country inns that combine modern amenities will authentic Provençal ambiance.

Discover France

Established in 1994, Discover France specializes in active vacations in France.  In addition to aromatherapy programs, the company offers self-guided and guided walking, biking and driving tours designed to provide travelers with real insight into life in France's diverse regions.  From the south's torrid Mediterranean climate to the snow-capped Alps in the east and the Spanish-inflected southwest, France is a tapestry of changing colors and tastes.  Discover France helps travelers sample local abundance and meet artisans who are continuing the traditional agricultural practices and crafts that have enriched French life for centuries.  The Provence aromatherapy tour is but one example of Discover France's innovative approach to tourism in France.

Additional Details

The Aromatherapy Tour in Provence is priced at $1,875.00 per person double occupancy.  It covers six nights of accommodations in three-star hotels and all meals, including drinks.  The group will be accompanied by a bilingual, certified guide.  Also included is transportation from Avignon, to Aix-en-Provence on the last day, and all transportation during the tour.  Workshops and visits are also included in the price.

Discover France
tel: 800-960-2221
www.discoverfrance.com

Photo Courtesy of Discover France

Edited by Dave Shultz