Do you dream of sipping rose on a cafe terrace in a historic hilltop French village? Or perhaps it's watching the sunset gliding along the Seine in Paris as the Eiffel Tower sparkles in the distance? Thankfully on this tour, you don't have to choose between them! Awaken your tastebuds and quench your thirst on this curated exploration of the food, wine and culture of France, even if you don't speak the language! From the bustle and sparkle of Paris, to the charming, neighborly village of Uzès, you'll get a sense of authentic French life!
You'll stay in 4 star hotels, enjoy exclusive private wine tastings and cellar visits in the Rhône Valley, feast on delightful specialty local foods, visit several UNESCO World Heritage sites, roll your sleeves up in a hands-on cooking class, hear hidden stories from local expert guides in private tours, and relax in private van transportation the whole trip! You'll have a professional tour director who holds a WSET Advanced Level 3 wine professional certification leading your French adventure. Women only, limited to 12 participants.
Your tour deposit is non-refundable. Please refer to Terms & Conditions for cancellation policy.
*We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance, choosing a "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) policy, which may protect you in case you need to cancel in advance of departure, and in case of emergency on tour.* Please contact your travel insurance provider for specifics on your coverage. You may purchase from any provider. For your convenience, we recommend a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information on the available plans click here or contact Travelex Insurance 800-228-9792 and reference location number 47-0362. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC #22276. V94
Deluxe accommodations in 4 star properties
Paris sunset welcome dinner cruise on the Seine
Hosted by professional Champagne educator in her private Parisian apartment, accompanied by light bites for dinner
Custom walking pastry, chocolate, cheese & wine tasting food tour
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners included
1st class TGV tickets from Paris to Avignon
Private guided walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage site Avignon, with food tastings
2 private winery and vineyard visits featuring women winemakers in the Rhone Valley area
Underground cellar tour & tasting at a family owned winery
Private guided visit at the UNESCO World Heritage site Pont du Gard
Visit a charming outdoor weekly market and select our gourmet lunch ingredients, which we take to a nearby cooking school to cook together.
Female chef will lead us in a traditional French cooking class with wine.
Walking tour in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nîmes
Departure transfer from Uzès to the Avignon TGV station.
Air conditioned luxury private transportation for included activities
Professional Tour Director with WSET Advanced Level 3 wine professional certification for the duration of the tour.
You are responsible for booking your own flights to and from this tour.
Travel insurance strongly recommended - a "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) policy covers a lot!
Arrival transfer into Paris not included, but can be arranged.
Any additional meals or wine outside of the listed program
You must be physically capable of handling your own luggage. 1 suitcase per guest, and one backpack or small day bag per guest.
Gratuity for driver and tour director not included.
Any additional admissions outside of the program are not included. Some may be able to be arranged on your behalf.
Pre or post hotel nights are not included but can be arranged.
Bienvenue a Paris! Welcome to Paris! We are so excited to meet you! After welcome drinks, we will stroll to our evening dinner cruise on the Seine, floating through the City of Light and witness the Eiffel Tower sparkle!
Today's leisurely stroll through cobblestone streets will tickle our tastebuds as we uncover the hidden tasty treasures of the Marais on a custom food tour! Think pastry, chocolate, cheese and of course, wine! The remainder of the day is yours.
You'll have most of today to explore Paris on your own. This evening, we will be treated to a very special, private Champagne tasting, featuring Champagne made only by women, in a Parisian apartment!
We will depart together from Paris for our journey to the South of France! Arriving in Avignon, we will explore the town with a guided walking tour, including the famous Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon, tasting the delicacies of the South of France as we go. Tonight we sleep in this Medieval town, relaxing into the slower pace of the South.
Today we immerse ourselves in the wines of the Rhône Valley. First, we learn from a woman winemaker and tour her vineyards, and then we will lunch together in the charming town of Châteauneuf du Pape. This afternoon, we visit a women owned property for a tour of their underground caves before making our way to our hilltop village home of Uzès for the next 5 nights.
The markets in Uzès are legendary. This morning we meet Petra, an internationally known food and wine writer, food critic, artist, and professionally trained Chef. Petra will take us on a tour of the market, introducing us to the local food and its purveyors - and we will select the ingredients for today’s lunch! We will walk the short distance from the market to Petra’s hands-on cooking school, where we will prepare and then enjoy our lunch together. Petra’s recipes are easy, accessible, and fun for people of all skill levels in the kitchen. She’ll even pair our meal with local wines and send us home with the recipes so that we can recreate our lunch at home with our family and friends.
We will get better acquainted with the Roman influence in the South of France today with a visit to the Pont du Gard for a private tour. We will enjoy lunch together with a view of this architectural wonder. This afternoon is yours to relax and do as you please.
Enjoy a guided tour in the town dubbed "the most Roman city outside of Italy", visiting the Maison Carrée, gardens and waterways that made the blue jean famous. You'll have time for lunch on your own in this fascinating town. Enjoy free time this evening.
This morning’s market has it all! In addition to some of the same faces you saw on Wednesday, today’s market has food, wine, olive oil, clothing, fabric, soaps, handbags, traditional crafts, jewelry- you name it! The market spills over from the Place aux Herbes into the surrounding streets. You have the entire day to do as you like. Shop, read by the hotel pool, write postcards from a pretty café terrace, get a massage, or take a nap! Tonight's Farewell Dinner will be a feast to remember!
Enjoy one last breakfast in Uzès before we drive everyone back to the Avignon TGV station to say goodbye. From here, the world is yours! Au Revoir!
Sarah is a WSET Advanced Level 3 certified wine professional, an ITMI certified professional Tour Director, and a Northern California native living in the Pacific Northwest who got the travel bug early in life. Sarah founded Vibrant Travelers to offer small group women only wine and food focused tours as a way for women to build confidence in their tasting skills, learn to trust their instincts, and ultimately be more confident in daily life. We visit different wine regions, experience culture and history through food and beverage traditions, and connect with one another in new ways. We don't focus our travel on the big sights - we find the off the beaten path places for our luxury adventures!