Gourmet Tour in Provence


Destination: Marseille, Fuveau

From US$ 1,806 7 days excluding flights

7 days / 6 nuits - From Marseille Airport ou Aix en Provence TGV

Aix-en-Provence is an historic elegant city in the south of France, famous for its fountains, Roman heritage and beautiful 17th century buildings. Visit the daily markets for the finest local produce including honey, cheese, fruit, vegetables and flowers. You can walk through the cobbled streets following in the footsteps of Cezanne and visit the mountain which inspired so many of his paintings, Mount Saint-Victoire.

 

Region(s) to discover

Provence

Provence is a region located in the south of France where good humor and joy of life are waiting for you. The region has the distinction of hosting an incredible natural heritage composed of hills where we hear singing cicadas, lavender fields and olive groves and scrubland where you can feel the pleasant smells of thyme and rosemary. Provence is also the picturesque canyon of the Verdon, the creeks bordering the Mediterranean Sea with its sandy beaches that will amaze you.The region also has a rich cultural heritage with its magnificent hilltop villages of Luberon, the old papal city of Avignon, the Cours Mirabeau in Aix- en-Provence, the ancient arena in Arles, the famous Sainte-Victoire mountain immortalized by the painter Paul Cézanne, the small town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, and the citadel of Sisteron.

Itinerary

  •  Day 1  : Marseille Airport - Calas - Fuveau
  •  Day 2  : Aix-en-Provence - Fuveau
  •  Day 3  : Aix-en-Provence - Fuveau
  •  Day 4  : Meyrargues - Fuveau
  •  Day 5  : Aix-en-Provence - Fuveau
  •  Day 6  : Beaureceuil - Fuveau
  •  Day 7  : Marseille Airport

Day 1: Marseille Airport - Calas - Fuveau

Rental car at your disposal from Marseille Airport (ou Aix en Provence TGV Station).

Upon arrival in Marseille Airport (or Aix TGV) , an automatic compact class rental car will be available for a period of 6 days. This will allow you to move freely.

Arrival at your accomodation

After the check in, you dispose of the rest of the day for a visit of the surroundings for example. 

Night at the villa Rampale guesthouse

Included: bedroom and breakfast, dinner

Day 2:   Aix-en-Provence - Fuveau

Visit of aix en Provence : secrets revealed

Mylène and Arthur, are approved guide-lecturer that will make you visit Aix-en-Provence. Along the streets, fountains and shady squares, they offer you to discover the wealth of the city : the Cathedral, the site of the City Hall, the Halle aux Grains, the mansions and the Cours Mirabeau neighborhood Mazarin, Place de la Rotonde, the Saint John of Malta, etc. Discover also the sights of Aix-en-Provence : the hidden roman and medieval remains, prying balconies, enigmatic bars etc.
 

Duration : 2 hours – commentaries in french and english – in groups up to 10 participants.

Night at the villa Rampale guesthouse

Included: local guide, visit, bedroom and breakfast, dinner

 

Day 3:  Aix-en-Provence - Fuveau

Aix-en-Provence: Gourmet Tour and Visit of Traditional Craft Workshops

Aix as it lives and breathes! Laurent, an experienced chef and sommelier, will take you on a discovery tour and let you participate in the city’s typical activities. Your excursion will start with the visit of a colorful Provencal market, enjoy the beautiful well-filled fruit and vegetable stands, they are a real treat for the palate and the eyes!

In the city of the thousand fountains, there is no getting around a picturesque rippling fountain. Laurent has taken care of everything. After the feast for the eyes, follows the treat: you will enjoy a tasting in a Provencal ambiance: macaroons, the renowned regional almond pastry “calissond’Aix for amateurs of sweets, freshly baked bread, traditionally produced goat cheese from a local cheese maker,savory olive oil and wine from a regional winegrower will delight the foodies. 

Aren’t the French also known for rather unusual food tastes? You must not miss a detour to a snail breeder! On your way you will pass by a Christmas Crip maker and, of course, stop in the craft workshop of a typicalfountain builder, hidden in a small alley.

At the end of your tour, Laurent will share with you some secrets and anecdotes about the town…

Duration: 3 hours – commentaries in English and French – in groups up to 8 people.

Night at the villa Rampale guesthouse

Included: local guide, drinks, visit, bedroom and breakfast, dinner

 

Day 4:  Meyrargues - Fuveau

Excursion into the History of the Famous Marseille Soap and Creation of your Own Soap

Jacky, master of Marseille soap, will introduce you to the production methods of the famous “Savon de Marseille” and give you a brief insight into the soap’s fascinating history, renowned for its pure and natural ingredients. 

After the historical overview, Jacky will tell you about the environmentally-friendly production methods and show you how to analyze the ingredients of a cosmetic product.

Then it will be your turn! From a large variety of essential oils, vegetable butters, natural peeling sand additives (milk, honey...), Jacky will help you create your own natural soap.

Among a selection of 15 ocher tones and oxides of Provence, you can even choose color and shape of your soap.

Your soap will take 24 hours to set. Did you enjoy this activity? In this case, you may want to come back to remove your soap from its mold and cut it into bars –and take an assortment of 15 samples back home!

Otherwise, Jacky will be more than happy to give you a ready-made Savon de Marseille as a souvenir. 

Duration : around 2h30 – commentaries in English, French and Spanish – in groups up to 20 people.

Night at the villa Rampale guesthouse

Included: local guide, visit, bedroom and breakfast, dinner

 

Day 5:  Aix-en-Provence - Fuveau

Discover the Secrets of Olive Oil Production and Tasting

Fabienne is a professional olive oil tasterand has spent the past twenty years exploring olive oil domains in France and other countries. 

The born-and-bred Marseillaise is especially interested in the local olive oil production. 
In the style of an enologist, Fabienne will accompany you through the Provencal olive groves and let you in on the secrets of the manufacturing and tasting of olive oil. 

In her workshop you will learn everything you always wanted to know, from the olive on the tree to the oil on the table, including:

- the Provencal picking technics
- a visit of the olive mill (in operation only six weeks per year)
- an introduction to the art of tasting

On November, 25th (Saint-Catherine’s day), the harvesting begins in the Mediterranean regions. The season lasts around 6 weeks and is a very intense period. You are invited to participate in all stages of the process (picking, production and tasting).

Duration: around 3h –commentaries in English, French and German- in groups up to 10 people.

Night at the villa Rampale guesthouse

Included: drinks, lunch, local guide, visit, bedroom and breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Beaureceuil - Fuveau

Nature Walk near Mount Saint-Victoire

Stéphane, our passionate nature guide, will take you on an easy trailalong the Mount Saint-Victoireand draw your attention tothe region’s rich fauna, caressed by nature and climate. 

This is a diverting interactive workshop (suitable for children from six years onwards) teachingyou how to identify and recognize different plant species, among them, crop and medicinal plants. Stéphane will also show you how to determine the age of trees.

At the end of the trip you will be given a small guide witha list of over 80 species that might be useful for your future trips. 

Duration: around 3h – commentaries in English and French–in groups up to 15 people

Night at the villa Rampale guesthouse

Included: local guide, visit, bedroom and breakfast, dinner

Day 7:  Marseille Airport

End of your trip

You will drop off your rental car at Marseille airport (or Aix TGV)

 

Accomodation

Villa Rampale

 Fuveau

  • Category: Guesthouse

You will stay in the Rampale villa in Fuveau, a small town located near Aix en Provence. You will stay in a room of 25 m2, including a private bathroom with walk-in shower and bath and a south-facing terrace to enjoy the sun. The upstairs bedrooms are serviced by a lift.

The room is equipped with: WIFI, flat screen TV, air conditioning, luxury linens and cotton linen Alexander Turpin and beauty products L'Occitane.
Is included in the price: tourist tax of 0.40 euros, towels and sheets, and breakfast.

A dining room is available so you can taste the delicious dishes that will be prepared during your stay.
There is also a garden with a direct views on the Sainte-Victoire mountain.

The villa Rampale offers personalized services on request: change of linen, cleaning, ironing, water bottles, slippers, flower delivery, excursions and transfers. It is forbidden to smoke inside the villa.

The price includes:


-    All services set out under “included" in the program
-    Standard room unless set out otherwise 
-    A travel folder with the reservation vouchers.
-    A phone contact in case of an emergency during your trip

Not-included in the price:


-    Transport (unless indicated otherwise).
-    Cancellation and repatriation insurances, all-risks coverage.
-    Meals (unless indicated otherwise).
-    Personal expenses (drinks, tips etc.)

 

ID: FR-1-02-003