Provence Lavender Travel Photography Tour
July 10th to July 16th, 2024
Montbrun-les-Bains, France
Sold out
This tour is sold out. Please inquire about the waitlist or the 2025 tour.
More than a photography tour – this is the true Provencal lifestyle tour. Provence will forever be captured not only in your artistic eye but in your heart as well.
From Medieval architecture to croissants & café and the rolling lavender fields leading to a hilltop village, you will engage in a sensory experience each day. This is your opportunity to rediscover (discover) your creative talent in one of the most inspiring lands in the world.
Enjoy the high region of Provence combining Mediterranean flavors with a pre-alpine influence while the lavender is in bloom. This backcountry of Provence is a hidden gem offering spectacular views of rolling hills of lavender and authentic villages nestled up high in the sky.
6-night, 7-day tour
July 10th to Sunday, July 15-6th, 2024
A charming B&B picked for you
LIMITED TO 7 GUESTS
4,500€ EUROS PER PERSON
NO SINGLE-ROOM SUPPLEMENT
*PRICES CONVERTED TO USD TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO TOUR DATE
An Unforgettable restored farmhouse awaits you in Provence…
6 nights at Le Domaine de la Done near Montbrun-les-Bains
The tour has been designed to give rest time at the B&B every day. Summers in Provence can be quite hot. The advantage of High Provence is the cooler temperatures – but nevertheless, it can get hot.
Outside of the photography and lavender elements, people enjoy this tour for its design of combining nature, off-the-beaten-track routes, R&R every day at the lovely accommodations, local food experiences, and one of the best places in the world to contemplate the stars and moon.
This tour covers a part of Provence many tourists have yet to discover. A popular tour for those who have done « lower » Provence and want to come back to see the « other » Provence. Also, a perfect tour for the traveler who loves to immerse in the local community, use photography to tell stories, and resource their spirits in the beauty of nature.
Here is a taste of what you will see on our tour!
Learn skills to improve your travel photography, while exploring the hidden treasures of Provence.
Provençal imagery and lifestyle at its best!
On this tour, you will be using photography to capture magical moments, artistic flair, and the Provencal way of life. Raina will lead mini-presentations to open your eye and enhance your skills:
Create beautiful digital photographs with your mobile phone and or digital camera
Learn how to slow down and create more artful images
See and understand the use of natural light and shadows to create more depth in your imagery
Take compelling photos of landscapes, people, and more, by learning simple composition rules
Enhance your photos using photo editing apps on your phone and or computer.
Learn to tell stories through your imagery.
All skill levels are welcome.
You do not need a fancy camera to participate. Mobile cameras are very welcome, in addition to DSLR’s
Meet Your Hosts…
ABOUT RAINA
Raina is an American international award-winning photographer and has been living in Provence for the past five years. She worked as a registered nurse for 34 years and decided to take an early retirement to follow her dreams of living in France and pursuing her photography career full-time.
Raina is a fun a social person and loves to meet new people from all over the world. Raina will be sharing her process of how to tell a unique and powerful story through travel photography. She will teach you different ways of seeing and shaping light, composition, and how to connect to your environment so that you can create interesting travel images. Her instruction will deepen your visual awareness while imparting skills that will make your photography more satisfying and fun
ABOUT EMILY
Emily created Your Private Provence, specialty tours in the South of France, in 2013. Her French love affair started in 1996 and since then she has always lived in Provence.
Over the years, she has become accustomed to life in France as a local. Her expertise in knowing the region and all it offers is greatly appreciated among foreigners and the French.
Her tours are the perfect balance of seeing the well-known sites, discovering the hidden gems, engaging in the Provencal lifestyle, and getting to know the people behind the scenes (the potter, the winegrower, the olive oil producer, the master chef…)
Beyond seeing magical Provence and hearing historical anecdotes, guests can embrace the real essence of travel: letting go of pressures and reconnecting with self. Emily’s philosophy for every tour is creating an atmosphere of fun, leisure, and inspiration.
Provence Lavender travel Photography Retreat Itinerary
A Travel Photography Retreat
Provencal imagery and lifestyle at its best!
Day 1 – Wednesday, July 10th
The pick-up place for the tour is at the train station in L’Isle sur la Sorgue (or your lodging in the town should you arrive the day before – recommended!). Pick-up time at 11 am. Our first stop, en route to our retreat location, is lunch at a rustic farm restaurant in the high hills of lavender country. After lunch, and some lavender photo shoots, we’ll settle into our accommodations. Free time to enjoy the amazing pool and quietness of the domain. Before our dinner outing at the nearby village Montbrun-les-Bains, we’ll have our first introduction to the photography element of the tour…opening your senses, vision, and inspiration for capturing your Provencal experience.
Lunch & dinner included
Day 2 – Thursday, July 11th
After breakfast at the farmhouse, the journey to wide open lavender fields and authentic Provencal villages begins. We will be capturing lavender fields, Medieval village (Simiane-le-Rotonde), ancient doors, colorful shutters, and so much more. Lunch today will be at small village café. At 2 pm we will step into a unique workshop and be guided by Theo to make our Provencal Gin infusing it with herbs from Provence (make your own creation!). Later afternoon, back at the B&B, refresh by the pool before a workshop with Raina to go over the editing of your pictures. We will not venture out again so you have plenty of time to unwind (rest, swim, nature walks). Optional trail hike leaving from the B&B to a chapel looking out over the valley. This evening you will enjoy a catered dinner at the B&B by local chef Alexandra.
Lunch & dinner included
Day 3 – Friday, July 12th
Our day will begin in a stunning mountain village, Brantes. We will meet Laurie & Odile who will guide us on a foraging walk. We will need some flowers and herbs in order to make our farm-to-table lunch. The whole setting is one photographic moment after another. From the quaint village house where we make lunch to the table set out on the patio, not to mention all the food prepared with beautiful herbs and flowers. Back at the B&B for some relaxing/pool time until our dinner outing. 6:30 pm — Departure for our restaurant outing in a small village called Ferrassières. The retro restaurant is casual but not lacking unique charm. We want to finish dinner by 8:30 pm so we can make it to the nearby lavender fields for our sunset lavender prize photos!
Lunch & dinner included
Day 4 – Saturday July 13th
Today is market day in Montbrun-les-Bains. You have time this morning to roam the market at your leisure and also with Raina for capturing compelling market images. Lunch will be at the local gastronomic restaurant with a beautiful view of the village Montbrun in the distance. The afternoon is set aside for relaxing by the pool, photography at the domain, and time for storytelling through our pictures. At 6 pm, we take off for a truffle hunt with Tijs and Tagada. From the B&B we make our way up the hill by foot to a truffle plantation (good shoes required). Last year we got lucky to find 6 truffles! This evening we go into the village Montbrun for a bistro dinner.
It’s the village festival (pre-Bastille Day party). Choose to stay around after dinner and partake in this Provencal small village festive atmosphere (you may want to wear your disco dancing dress 😉 …last few years we’ve had a few kick off the party on the dance floor!).
Truffle lunch & dinner included
Day 5 – Sunday, July 14th
An optional morning photography outing for those who wish to capture the magic of the rising sun as it comes up over the mountains and illuminates the village. Free time back at the B&B after the morning shoot for breakfast and to catch a wink or two more. Just before noon, we gather in the farmhouse kitchen for a little presentation/tasting of how to best savor a truffle. A casual lunch follows the tasting. Afternoon excursion to the lavender distillation plant: Learn more about this aroma plant, how the oils are extracted, how it is harvested, and its uses. We will meet with a lavender grower to get all the answers and see first hand.
Free time back at the B&B. During this time, one-on-one appointments with Raina will be set up so you have an opportunity to dig into questions pertaining to your personal pictures. This evening is Bastille Day and we will liven things up with some French music, flag decoration, and an amazing catered dinner by local chef, Manuel from Argentina.
Lunch included & Dinner included
Day 6 – Monday, July 15th
This morning we’ll venture into the larger town in the area; Vaison-la-Romaine. Here, our photography contemplation will take us back to the Roman era. The town is known for one of the largest open-air Roman archeological sites in France. Lunch in the town together. Later afternoon will be free time at the B&B to make the most of your contemplative time before the end of the tour. A time for sharing our five favorite pictures from the week. Dinner outing at the nearby village with all the characteristics of authentic village life in Provence.
Lunch & Dinner included
Day 7 – Tuesday, July 16th
Enjoy your last leisurely breakfast nestled in the mountains of High Provence. Drop-off at Avignon TGV train station at 12 pm (departure around 10:30 am)
Transfers to Marseille airport can be arranged should you have a flight out later evening (price supplement).
More details about this Provence Lavender Photography Tour Experience:
INCLUDES
All transportation – pick-up at L’Isle Sur la Sorgue train station or hotel. Drop-off at Avignon TGV.
Contact Emily for pre-tour arrangements (recommended to stay at a hotel in L’Isle sur la Sorgue the night before)
6 nights lodging (Domaine de la Done)
All breakfasts (6)
All lunches (6)
All dinners (6)
Local wine is provided with meals
Emily as your private chauffeur & guide for the full tour
Raina as your photography mentor & instructor for the full tour (workshop sessions at B&B and out in the field)
DOES NOT INCLUDE
Transportation to/from Isle sur la Sorgue
Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
ACTIVITIES & SITES INCLUDED
Photography mentor & instructor for the full tour (workshop sessions at B&B and out in the field)
Foraging & cooking lesson with local herbs and flowers
Lavender distillery & farm tour
Gin making workshop
Truffle hunt with local and his dog (near the grounds of the B&B)
Cultural and historical anecdotes in the villages by your local guide/chauffeur, Emily
Provencal market in Montbrun-les-Bains
Time to relax, unwind, enjoy the pool and Provencal summer life at the lovely B&B
PLACES VISITED
Monbrun-les-Bains (classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France)
Simiane-la-Rotonde
Savoillans
Ferrassières
Aurel
Sault
Brantes
Vaison-la-Romaine
And many scenic routes passing through other High Provence villages
**Please know due to weather or other reasons activities may change. If this is the case an equally enjoyable activity will be arranged.
Tour remarks:
Tour pick-up location: 10 am – Avignon TGV train station (or at your Avignon hotel)
We highly recommend you come the night before to Avignon for an easy start on the 13th.
Tour drop-off location: 3 pm – Avignon TGV train station (or in the center of Avignon)
This tour is a wonderful opportunity to see the more rugged and authentic part of Provence (authentic meaning less touristy but with all the elements that make up a Provencal village – remains of ruins, chateaux, medieval influences, fountains, cobblestone, and of course all the Provencal colors splashed on doors and shutters)
Rugged terrain means winding roads. Should you have a tendency to get motion sickness, you should think about a treatment to help.
The tour has been designed to give rest time at the B&B most days. Summers in Provence can be quite hot. The advantage in High Provence is there is usually about 3 degrees less than lower Provence – but nevertheless, it can get hot. Please be prepared to sweat a little.
ARRIVAL:
Arriving in Provence the day before the tour starts is highly recommended. It would be possible to take a 7 am train from Paris and arrive in Avignon for pick-up at 10. However, to make your first day more enjoyable, you may consider arriving the day before.
Other pick-up locations can be arranged. Some of you may want to arrive by plane at the Marseille airport. Transportation to Avignon to join the tour can be arranged the day before the tour starts ( the price is not included in the workshop fee).
DEPARTURE:
Drop-off is at the Avignon TGV at 3 pm. You can find a train later afternoon to take you up to Paris or even a train to take you to Nice should you want to visit the French Riviera. You may also want to spend more time in Provence. Arrangements can be made to take you to your next accommodation in the area (possible price supplement depending on distance).
