Name: Gastro-Travel: Southern France (Food, Culture and Fun)
Start: 2017-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Aix-en-Provence, France

Gastro Travel

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1 review

Sep 22 - 29, 2017

Group size: 4 - 8

Gastro-Travel: Southern France (Food, Culture and Fun)

Aix-en-Provence, France

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Gastro Travel

Email address verified

1 review

Sep 22 - 29, 2017

Group size: 4 - 8

Quick Overview:

* In Southern France we will uncover rare, unexpected and stunning elements in a country that possesses the backbone to gastronomy. Like a melting pot bubbling with ethnic, cultural and historical diversity, southern France is a different country when compared to the rest of France. We will show you a point of view that reflects the rural authenticity of the country side in and around Aix-en-Provence as well as the hustle and bustle of Frances second largest sea side city of Marseille, with great beaches to match.

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Guides:

* We -Matthew and Paul- (Former students of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy) will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of local gastronomy that includes taste, value, cultural, history and social knowledge stemming from first-hand experiences within a 'Slow Food' mindset.

* Matthew: Originally from the US he now lives in Italy. Having gained extensive travel/work experience throughout the gastronomic wonderlands of Italy from wine harvests, olive harvests and even in restaurants he aims to preserve its integrity. Currently he works for a cultural association named MetaFarm-promoting local agriculture and gastronomy, along with food tours in and around the Amalfi Coast. He holds a M.A. in Gastronomy, from UNISG in Pollenzo, Italy.

* Paul: Raised between the city life of Paris and the country side of Aix-en-Provence he has a passion for quality foods and the safeguarding required to preserve them. Previously, he worked in the UK as a sommelier at the Michelin Star: Simpsons Restaurant, in Edgebaston owned by Andreas Antana. Now he is building his own cultural association in southern France to facilitate the growth and awareness of French cuisine, culture and history. Attended and earned his M.A. in Gastronomy from UNISG in Pollenzo, Italy.

* This travel experience focuses on: current events, politics, history, local agriculture and rare experiences that are synonymous with traveling, not touring!

FYI: (We won't be visiting museums and churches all day!)

* Transportation
* Accommodation (16th Century Farm house, fully renovated)
* All meals, with the exception of 2 optional/free days
* Tasting workshops: Wine, Beer, Honey, Cheese, Cured Meat & fresh Fish
* Aperitivos
* Yoga & Hiking

* Airfare
* Alternative arrival via Paris to Marseille or Aix-en-Provence

Arrival: Salut!
Arrival: Salut!
Day 1
- Suggested arrival will be at Marseille Airport, or for possible cheaper flights we suggest Paris, then taking the TGV train, to Aix en Provence for your pick-up. - Upon your arrival you will be driven by private transport to Puget sur durance, in the heart of the beautiful and stunning Provenza-Alpi-Costa Azzurra. Your accommodation will be a farmhouse dating back to the 16th century and a great location for our adventures. - The first evening will be spent exploring the farm and its history as well as the olive groves that wrap around the property and produce high-quality olive oil every November. - In the evening we will enjoy an aperitivo outside on the veranda (tasting local wines with a brief examination and overview of the local traditions and terroir of wine making) and after our first dinner will be spent at the farmhouse dinning together with an introduction of everyone followed by the program of the upcoming week.
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Lourmarin
Lourmarin
Day 2
- Breakfast at the farmhouse with seasonal fruit, coffee or tea, fresh juice and viennoiseries. - After breakfast we will be visiting Lourmarin, which has been voted one of the most beautiful villages in France, allowing you to embrace your first morning in a true French village. Get a coffee and take up some real estate outside one of the amazing cafés and drown yourself into the local atmosphere, people watch, bring a book and read, just enjoy it! - Following your morning spent mimicking a French person we will head off to visit the Chateau Fontvert, a biodynamic vineyard and a certified AOC of Luberon. - When we have finished we will quickly depart for Le Mas de Recaute, for our lunch- picnic style outside- and 2 hours of horse back riding exploring the countryside and history of the area. - Once we’ve made you into French cowboys we will gallop back to the farmhouse to clean up and hold an aperitivo on the veranda and dinner.
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Cucuron
Cucuron
Day 3
- We will depart the farmhouse earlier today so we can have breakfast in Cucuron, with a walk around the village to help wake you up! - Following your morning exploring Cucuron, we will leave to visit a honey maker just on the outskirts of the village. Holding a workshop of sorts demonstrating the honey making process and tastings. - Then we will hop into the car and visit a local goat cheese producer, exploring the same concepts of making and tasting artisanal goat cheese. - Dinner will be held at le P'tit resto of Vaugines, discovering some high quality and local traditional plates.
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Beer, ice cream and the food market
Beer, ice cream and the food market
Day 4
- Rise and shine! This morning will be optional of course, but we will depart for an early hike around the farmhouse to show you the amazing views and peacefulness that is the backdrop of this area. We will then return and hold a yoga session in the outside patio within the olive groves for those who are interested, followed by brunch. - Once we have all eaten and cleaned up and ready to tackle the day we will head out to Brasserie Artisanal du Luberon, a local artisanal beer maker! - Because we are really nice, we will finish the afternoon with some Ice Cream at a local artisanal producer - Food shopping! The local farmers market of Lourmarin has an astonishing array of producers and extremely high-quality products. - Aperitivo on the bank of the Durance River, maybe some champagne and other surprises will be nice! - After paddling up river with our aperitivo, figuratively speaking, we have to cook dinner!
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Free morning then Forcalquier
Free morning then Forcalquier
Day 5
- Today will be a semi-free day for you guys! If you want to sleep in and be lazy with your morning please do! Or if you would like to join us on another hike & Yoga session please we are waiting for you! - Breakfast or Brunch will be waiting for you whether you choose the lazy or active option. - The afternoon you can walk into the small village close to the farmhouse to grab a bite to eat or if you want to accompany one of us to another village by car, we can arrange that! - The late afternoon we will visit a pastis factory in Forcalquier, followed by the night off! If you want to grab dinner and a drink in Forcalquier, we will help make you reservations and advise you on places to visit or where to eat while you are there, if you want. After your night off we will bring you back to the farmhouse.
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Marseille
Marseille
Day 6
- Join us for a quick swim in Durance River or a Yoga session we are waiting! - Today after breakfast we are departing for Marseille, the capital of Provenza-Alpi-Costa Azzurra. Being the second largest city in France and a cultural melting pot in terms of diversity, history and especially food, we cannot avoid bringing you here! Lunch will be in the city at a traditional slow food restaurant. - Following lunch we will visit the city center and le Vieux Port - Get your sea legs ready for our fishing introduction in the Calanques of Marseille! Visit with a local fisherman and examine the local fish and the catches of the day! Lets enjoy an aperitivo and champagne on board with the captain and try some of these fresh seafood delights! - Embracing city life of Marseille by night is the best option when it's your first time here: Live music! - We will spend the night in Marseille
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Marseille
Marseille
Day 7
- Optional morning! You can either spend your morning and midday free in the city center or accompany us to a local Fish market! - Grab lunch by yourselves or join us! We can talk further once you have arrived. - Lunch with us will be at a Corsican Bar, with a traditional cheese and cured meat tasting - Afternoon you can spend free for shopping or going to the Calanques for a swim and sunbathing. - Before dinner we will have a natural wine tasting at Les Buvards in Marseille, examining the alternative method to wine making and explaining its extreme rise in demand over the past few years. - Our last night in Marseille will require a farewell dinner, lets cheers to a great week together, and send you off in classic French style!
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Au revoir
Au revoir
Day 8
- One last breakfast to get you ready for your journey and off we go! - Depending on your plans and destinations we will either drive you to the train station or airport. - Options for leaving will be from Marseille or Nice Airport, or you can take the TGV train back to Paris. We can discuss all the options in-depth with you at a later date!
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Arrival: Salut!

Day 1

- Suggested arrival will be at Marseille Airport, or for possible cheaper flights we suggest Paris, then taking the TGV train, to Aix en Provence for your pick-up. - Upon your arrival you will be driven by private transport to Puget sur durance, in the heart of the beautiful and stunning Provenza-Alpi-Costa Azzurra. Your accommodation will be a farmhouse dating back to the 16th century and a great location for our adventures. - The first evening will be spent exploring the farm and its history as well as the olive groves that wrap around the property and produce high-quality olive oil every November. - In the evening we will enjoy an aperitivo outside on the veranda (tasting local wines with a brief examination and overview of the local traditions and terroir of wine making) and after our first dinner will be spent at the farmhouse dinning together with an introduction of everyone followed by the program of the upcoming week.

Highly recommend Gastro-Travel to EVERYONE!! We can't wait to join them again in France! Our experience with Matt and Paul from Gastro travel at the Olive harvest last November was incredible!! Such a great way to discover the region as well as learning about olive oil production and harvesting, foraging and cooking skills! The passion and enthusiasm of their team for sharing their knowledge of the land, the food, their history and their hopes for the future makes this experience so much more than a vacation! Book now if you want to travel and learn!!

By Eric R on 05 Jan, 2017

Italy is truly heaven on Earth! Gastro-Travel showed us the most in-depth and local experience we could ever wish for! We love the outdoors and the slow food movement so this combined the best of both worlds--a bit of hiking, a bit of cooking, delicious meals paired with great wine, and great new people to share it all with. The Gastro-Travel guides were wonderful and always there to take care of us. Getting to know the other guests (from Australia,Poland, and Scandinavia) was wonderful too!

By Pam B on 05 Jan, 2017

Matthew is highly knowledgeable about all aspects of Italian cuisine and culture. He will guide you on one of the best experiences of your life! This trip is highly recommended to anyone who wants to truly live in the Italian way of life. Book it now!

By Trisha D on 02 Aug, 2016

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