Testimonials/Reviews from 2014
Read here what our clients have to say about Discover Provence Tours 2014
Decmber 8th, 2014 - Full Day Tour: Van Gogh, Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence & St Remy
This review is long overdue! We visited Provence in September and had the pleasure of spending the day with Sarah visiting Arles, Les Baux, St. Remy and an olive mill. Sarah customized our trip beautifully to meet our needs. Her knowledge of the local area and history was incredible. Without her, we would have seen buildings and streets. With her, these areas came to life.
And when she dropped us off for lunch, we had one of the best meals of our trip.
If we could do anything differently, it would be to spend more than one day with Sarah! We tried to go to Avignon without her and couldn't even find parking! If you are interested in learning more about Provence and having a thoroughly delightful day...don't hesitate to book with Discover Provence. We were planning on a semi-private tour, but were the only ones booked for the day...even better!
Laura, Chicago, USA
December 6th, 2014 - Discover Provence 3 Day Tour Package
Last month my husband and I plus 2 of our best friends toured with Sarah Pernet in Provence. Sarah planned 3 perfect days for us and adjusted the itinerary when we had previously visited a site. She was very informative and pleasant to spend time with discussing the history and culture of the area. One of our favorites was a visit to the Castelas olive mill where we were fortunate to see the entire process of making olive oil. Lunch and a boat ride to 3 calques in Cassis was an amazing afternoon with outstanding sights. Sarah went out of her way to show us everything and concentrated on the things we wanted to do. We strongly recommend Sarah and Discover Provence private tours. There is no better way to see the area especially if you are limited to only 3-4 days.
Paula, Illinois, USA
December 4th, 2014 - 2 Full Day Tours - Van Gogh & Arles + Luberon Perched Villages
We recently had the opportunity of visiting Provence and chose Discover Provence Day Tours to showcase the highlights of the area. Sarah picked us up at our hotel in Aix on the first day, and we toured Arles and other significant places in Van Gogh's life, as well as a local olive mill. Sarah made it a fun and informative day for our small group of 5.
The second day was spent touring the beautiful Hilltop Villages of the Luberon with Janicke, many of which are featured in recent books and movies. Sarah had mentioned to Janicke that A Good Year was one of our favourite movies, and Janicke made a point of showing us several key sights from the film and sharing tidbits about the filming and production as we drove through the beautiful villages of the Luberon. An incredible day.
Each day we enjoyed a traditional Provencal lunch served on the patio of lovely local restaurants.
It was definitely the right decision to tour the region with Discover Provence. Sarah and Janicke are professional, knowledgeable, pleasant, and fun to spend the day with. We hope to return to Provence and have Sarah and Janicke show us more of this breathtakingly beautiful region.
Diane & Walter, Toronto, Canada
November 25th , 2014 - Full Day Private Tour to Aix-en-Provence & Cassis
My husband and I had one day in Provence as a port on the Mediterranean leg of an ocean crossing. We wanted a more thorough experience in Aix than we had had on a previous trip to Provence. Janicke was our guide and she was wonderful. She met us at the ship promptly and drove us to Aix. We hit all the high spots, including the open air market, where we purchased goodies for cocktail time on the ship. The weather was less than perfect with drizzle on and off all day, but Janicke had enough umbrellas for all of us. We saw all the things in Aix that we had missed on our previous trip and came away with a good understanding of Aix's history. One thing I should mention. We particularly wanted to have a wonderful, leisurely lunch, but our day in Aix was on a Monday when most of the finer restaurants are closed. Janicke found us an excellent restaurant, with a well known chef that was open. The food was fabulous, the location beautiful and the wine was heavenly. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The last part of our tour was a visit to a winery in Cassis, a magnificent overview of the harbour and a tour of the lovely waterfront town below. All in all, we had a wonderful day and would not hesitate to recommend Discover Provence to our friends.
Susan, Maryland, USA
November 21st , 2014 - Full Day Private Tour to Cassis and Luberon wineries
This review is LONG overdue. We took a 10 day vacation to France in early October and had the luxury of going on a tour with Janicke. We spent the day seeing the Luberon Villages and Casis. Looking back my fiance and I both agree that day was the highlight of our whole vacation. Janicke was the sweetest tour guide. We felt so comfortable with her and loved her enthusiasm and pride of Provence. She was so informative and truly went out of her way to make sure that we had a great day. By the end of the day we were so sad to say bye to Janicke as we had felt we made a new friend. It was an incredible day. We can't say enough about how amazing Discover Provence Private Day Tours is!
Chelsey, Boston, USA
November 19th , 2014 - Full Day Luberon Village Tour
My husband and I spent the last day of our vacation in France with Sarah, who showed us the glories of the Luberon Valley. Not only was the weather absolutely perfect (did I mention how fabulous the light is???) but Sarah was an informed and entertaining guide. I can't wait to come back and take another tour with her. Cannot imagine a better way to become familiar with the region.
Kerry, Illinois, USA
November 12th, 2014 - Luberon Villages + Wine Tour to Chtaeauneuf-du-Pape
Last month we took two tours with Discover Provence - Luberon Villages with Janicke and Chateauneuf-du-Pape with Romain. Wonderful time and great memories! Thank you Guys! Romain is truly an wine expert!
Igor,New Jersey, USA
November 11th, 2014 - Historical Walking Tour of Aix-en-Provence
We have just returned from a marvelous two week trip to southern Burgundy and Provence and want to mention one special afternoon. It was a cool and overcast day in Aix, but we shared a warm connection with our guide, Janicke. She spent the afternoon with us guiding us through the labyrinth of streets, and sharing the culture, history, and her personal stories of living in Provence. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity to see this charming town that we never could have obtained through a guide book, or as part of a group tour. We strongly recommend Janicke, and "Discover Provence" to anyone traveling through the area.
Mark, Missouri, USA
November 5th, 2014 - 3 Day Family Tour
We had a superior 2.5 days tour visiting Aix en Provence and region. Thanks to Sarah and Janicke's personal guidance. We travelled with children, and Sarah and Janicke were very good at explaining the area, and keeping our kids' (and adults) attention. Kids had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Sarah and Janicke listened to our impromptu requests, and incorporated it to our schedule without hesitation. Despite our detours, they never hurried us and we still managed to see everything originally planned. Also, the ride to each destination was pleasant as both Sara and Janicke are cautious drivers. We have no doubt recommending Discover Provence for guided tours. In fact, we plan to return with other family members. Thanks Sarah and Janicke!
Helen, Amsterdam, Holland
November 4th, 2014 - Full Day Wine Tour to Chateauneuf-du-Pape
We recently booked a day tour of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape area with Romain through Discover Provence. Romain picked the four of us up at our hotel in Aix-en-Provence and he spent a full day taking us into the vineyards, visiting small producers for tastings with the wine-maker, and to a picture perfect lunch on the top of a hill overlooking it all. We ended with a fabulous wine and chocolate pairing. His knowledge and passion for the area was simply outstanding, and we really felt that Romain gave us the local / insiders view that could not be beat. We will remember the day fondly. THANK YOU Romain!
Sally, Texas, USA
October 28th, 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour Package
We spent 3 days with Sarah and Janicke in Arles, Aix, and the Luberon villages. They were very knowledgeable about all areas and experts at getting in and out of places efficiently. But the best part was the attitude about ensuring that we saw what we wanted, not a planned itinerary. We wanted to purchase a painting and Janicke took us to places to find one and then helped find packing materials. Both women were enthusiastic ambassadors for their adopted country and shared that with us. This was a great find for us!
Nancy, Sarasota, USA
October 26th, 2014 - Gourmet and Historical Private Tour - Aix-en-Provence
On our first day in Provence we arranged a private tour with Discover Provence. We usually do not do tours, but since this was our first time to Provence, we thought it would be a good introduction of history and culture. Janicke was our tour guide for the day. It was perfect match, and she was able to meet our wishes on what we wanted to see and do. We wanted an introduction to the history, food and wine of the region. Janicke exceeded our expectations in all respects. She is fluent in history, the culture of the area, food, and knows her wines. By the end of the day, we felt we had made a friend. Clearly a highlight of our trip. She had given us suggestions for other places to visit, and we did all of the them. I would recommend a tour with Discover Provence anytime. Thank you so much for a wonderful day in Provence!
Steve, Seattle, USA
October 24th, 2014 - Full Day Tour -Luberon Villages
We recently toured the Luberon villages with Discover Provence Tours. We had a wonderfully relaxed day exploring the hilltop Luberon villages with Sarah, and what a knowledgeable guide she is on all aspects of the amazing history and lifestyles of the various villages. As my husband loves local markets, Sarah arranged for us to stop and explore the Lourmarin market and then have a relaxed lunch in one of the local restaurants before continuing our village tour. It was truly a memorable day and greatly added to our Aix en Provence experience. I can highly recommend Discover Provence Tours and the care they take in tailoring their tours to your requirements. Thank you Sarah.
Diane, Melbourne, Australia
October 22nd, 2014 - 7 Days of Discover Provence Tours
My wife and I just returned home after 9 wonderful days in Provence. Seven of those days were spent with Sarah Pernet of “Discover Provence”. I have searched for a way to fully explain and describe what was a once in a lifetime experience for us. We were very fortunate to have chosen Discover Provence as our guides for the most memorable touring experience of all our trips to Europe. Sarah and Janicke provided for the most enjoyable, informative and beautiful tours we have ever participated in. From the beautiful Luberon villages to Arles, Avignon, Pont de Gard, vineyards with exceptional wine tours, Cassis, the trail of Cezanne as well as Van Gogh to the joy of bouillabaisse in Marseille. The descriptions and photos of the places we visited are well documented on the internet as well as some excellent photos on Discover Provence website. These are all exceptional, but they were made more exceptional by Sarah and Janicke. When Sarah first picked us up for our 7 day sojourn it was evident that we had much more than a tour guide. Very quickly, it was as if we had come to visit an old friend who first wanted to catch up on how we were and what we would like to do while visiting. She was almost like family as she insured that the pace was to our liking and that we had a chance to fully enjoy and soak in the beauty and serenity that has served to capture her heart and hold her captive for 25 years. Sarah puts so much of herself into the whole experience as she guides you through Provence that you feel the beauty as well as see it. You feel the emotion in Van Gogh’s room at the hospital where he was a patient, and you can sense the presence of Cezanne in the very studio where he did many of his still life paintings. Then the site where Cezanne painted Mont St Victoire so many different times with so many interpretations is breath taking as well as inspiring. The same enthusiasm and personal involvement were evident when we were with Janicke. Both are so knowledgeable of the area that you come away as if you have had a complete course on Provence and enjoyed every minute so much that you looked forward to the final exam. She didn’t give one or I would have failed it on purpose in order to retake the course. Don’t miss going to a vineyard for a visit with Romain and his exceptional knowledge of wine in its complete sense. He does a wonderful job and the two wineries we visited in Chateauneuf-du-Pape were exceptional as well as quite different. One of the highlights was our last day. We spent the day with Marie-Helene for a wonderful visit in a typical Provencal home while she demonstrated the preparation of a Provencal meal. She even allowed me to participate in the preparation of an anchovy paste that was unbelievable. My overall feeling is that if you go to Provence and don’t have Discover Provence to take care of your touring needs, then you haven’t been to Provence.
Don't miss this experience!! Whether it is for a one day, half day, three day, or custom tour, I highly recommend it.
Hulic, South Carolina, USA
October 13th, 2014 - 'One Day In Provence' Tour
Sarah is just the perfect guide! She is so knowledgeable of the area and gracious and easy to be with as well. I was absolutely thrilled with the day, from lunch in a charming restaurant in Lourmarin to wine tasting, to experiencing Cezanne's outdoor painting studio facing the Mont St. Victoire. I wholeheartedly recommend Sarah and the Discover Provence Tours. You will be making some of your best memories of your European trip with Sarah.
Kathy, Camano Island, Washington, USA
October 9th, 2014 - Custom Tour to St Remy , Les Baux and Arles
Sarah is friendly and charming and extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area. She was very accommodating in arranging our special tour from Aix-en-Provence to St. Remy, Les Baux and to Arles. We were so pleased with her commentary about the towns, her insights about Vincent Van Gogh and the personalized service. Her half-day tour was one of the highlights of our visit to Provence. We highly recommend taking a Discover Provence tour.
Joanne, Chicago, USA
October 5th, 2015 - Afternoon Tour to Cassis
Sarah is the perfect tour guide! We decided on the tour to Cassis because we wanted to see the Mediterranean. It was a beautiful afternoon when Sarah picked us up in Aix-en-Provence. On our drive, Sarah pointed out landmarks like Cezzane's mountain which made it a very enjoyable drive. Cassis is a lovely little fishing village. We were supposed to take a boat ride on the Mediterranean to see the Calanques. However, the boat tours, that never close, were closed due to excessively rough seas. Sarah was surprised, but quickly came up with a great plan B. She arraigned for a wine tasting and tour of a nearby vineyard Clos Ste Magdeleine which was absolutely beautiful! The vineyard tour was fascinating and the location which overlooked the Mediterranean was breathtaking! We definitely recommend contacting Sarah for tours while in Aix-en Provence!
Candan, Canada
October 4th,2014 - Full day Tour Cassis and Luberon Villages
Our day with Discover Provence and our fabulous guide, Sarah, was a highlight of our recent trip to the Mediterranean. We spent the day exploring Cassis, the Luberon perch villages, and Cucuron. The day included a delicious lunch of regional specialties and was capped off by a visit to the Val Joanis winery. Sarah couldn't have been a better guide. She was interested in knowing what we were interested in so she could tailor the day to suit us and she was certainly successful. It was like spending a day with a long-time friend who knew you well and wanted to share her home with you. One aspect of the day that was especially meaningful for us was the visit to the winery and the gorgeous spacious gardens that took my breath away. After we had spent time enjoying the grounds and had finished our wine tasting, the gracious hostess presented my husband with a beautiful bouquet for me that had been part of a wedding that day at the winery. We were celebrating our 25th Anniversary and the bouquet perfectly mirrored the flowers we had at our wedding 25 years ago - such a lovely synchronicity! And that's how the day was - full of delightful surprises and all orchestrated by our lovely guide, Sarah. We heartily recommend that you discover Provence with Sarah; we will be returning and will plan on spending even more time her and enjoying this gorgeous part of the world.
Sharyn, California, USA
October 3rd,2014 - 'One Day in Provence' Tour
Due to the small group size she was able to customise our tour for our desired experience. We were able to enjoy a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence, a delicious lunch in Loumarin, an afternoon discovering other Luberon villages and a wine tasting to finish it all off. Having travelled in the area previously I particularly enjoyed the details that Sarah could provide (previously I had just unknowingly walked past!) and candid advice on food and wine in the region.
Sarah provided a truly authentic provencal experience:)
Tirza, Melbourne, Australia
October 1st, 2014 - 3 Day Discover Provence Tour Package
We spent 3 glorious day in Aix-en-Provence!
My wife carefully researched which was the best way to see what this region has to offer and chose to use the Discover Provence Private Day Tours. Great choice honey!!
Upon arrival in Aix, we were picked up by Sarah at the train station and dropped off at the hotel.
We then toured two wonderful vineyards with her.Simply beautiful. The fact that it was just Sarah and us was wonderful and it allowed her to share her knowledge and obvious love of the region with us. We also got to sample quite a bit of wine and to ask as many questions as we wanted.
It was a perfect choice for our first afternoon in Aix. It left us with plenty of time to explore all the shops and restaurants in the late afternoon and evening.
The second day we did the walking tour of Aix in the morning with Janicke. This is a great tour in that Janicke shows you all there is to see and it also serves to orient you for your free time to explore later on your own. It was a group of seven.
We then spent the afternoon with Sarah touring Cassis!! THE HIGHLIGHT of our stay in Provence!! It was just us, Sarah and one more couple.
Upon arrival, we had lunch in a great outdoor restaurant that Sarah suggested and the seafood was wonderful. Great call Sarah!
It was then time to tour the Calanques by boat. Sarah chose a smaller boat(not too small nor too big) to and this was a homerun! By using a smaller boat with only a few people on board, we were able to move about and take as many pictures as we wanted and were able to spend plenty of time with Sarah sharing her knowledge. The bigger boats were crammed with people and it did not seem as enjoyable.
The views were simply breathtaking!!! Mind you , I am a boater and am on the water quite a bit but this was just beautiful. Upon getting back we walked around the beach area and took some more photos. This tour would be hard to beat........
We spent our last day with Janicke touring the perch villages of Luberon. I warned Janicke that yesterday's tour of Cassis would be hard to beat but you know what? She and the region were up to the challenge!!
She took us and and another couple to see several villages that we all enjoyed immensely!! Janicke also selected and outdoor restaurant on the side of a mountain that had such views of the area as well as great food. She shares Sarah's passion for the region and is very knowledgeable about the region.
Aix-en-Provence is such a beautiful region that it easy to enjoy one's stay there but what helped make it an unforgettable 3 days is the way we were able to see it! You see, touring to Sarah and Janicke allowed to see things we would not normally be able to see on our own or with a bigger group. They took us to places where the locals go. They shared their Aix-en-Provence with us!
Their tour gives you a very personal experience. We never felt rushed and they were able to tailor the tours to our personal tastes. They are always ready to take pictures of us with all the best views. It is obvious that they enjoy what they do.
You simply cannot have a better experience!!
Robeto, Miami, USA
September 28th, 2014 - 'Afternoon Tour to Cassis'
Our delightful guide, Sarah, picked us up in Aix-en-Provence right on time! She was extremely knowledgeable and answered all of our questions as we drove through some of the most stunning views of the Mediterranean. We went to Cassis, a wonderful fishing village that is surrounded by vineyards built into the cliffs. We then took a boat ride through the rocky inlets known as the Calanques. It was a beautiful day and there were many locals enjoying themselves on the sandy beaches. Sarah pointed out that Cassis is now a protected area and the water was amazing. After the 45 minute boat ride, we stopped at a water-side cafe to share a bottle of local wine. From there, she took us to Cap Canaille, the tallest maritime cliffs in Europe. We took many stunning photos of the Mediterranean and the breathtaking scenery.
To Do: Before leaving, make sure you try the local wine. Inexpensive and you can almost taste the unique flavor of the minerals that surround the village.
Note: The boat tour is not private. You will join with other tourists on a sightseeing boat. Don't let this put you off. It is a wonderful experience.
Sarah and her team at Discover Provence Tours are excellent!
Andrea, Pennsylvania, USA
September 26th, 2014 - 'One Day in Provence' Tour
We spent a day with Sarah while we were in Provence. First we did a half day walking tour of Aix-en-Provence. It was market day so we were able to enjoy that experience as well as learn the interesting history of Aix. After a delicious lunch at a restaurant Sarah recommended, the tour continued to two villages in the Luberon mountains. We also had a visit to a beautiful winery that had an award winning garden. What a wonderful day!
Lolly, Pennsylvania, USA
September 21st , 2014 - Walking tour of Aix
We had the most wonderful walking tour experience with Janicke in Aix-en-Provence!!! She was very knowledgeable about Provence and Aix history in very intimate details. Janicke also showed us very special places only locals would know. She was very genuine, kind, elegant and generous about explaining and sharing her passion of touring Provence. She also cared about out next destination and shared with us very helpful tips, including a great restaurant choice for the next destination in Lubron. I have exchanged the emails with Sarah who is the owner and Sarah was very prompt and professional in answering my inquiries. I found the Discover Provence tour from trip advisor as well as from Rick Steven's book and I am very grateful for all the recommendations came from those two sources. Thank you Sarah and Janicke at Discover Provence for the most wonderful tour experience!!!
Jane, New Your City, USA
September 11th , 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour Package
Our group of 6 did the 3-day "Discover Provence" tour package with Sarah Pernet.
We certainly enjoyed the Provence scenery and learnt much about the history and art of the region from Sarah, a highly professional dedicated and extremely knowledgeable guide.
Sarah has carefully selected the places to see and we had no doubt at all that we would never have seen them all, nor gained the insights if we had merely rented a car. The Luberon villages, Cassis, Cezanne/Van Gogh stories and Carrieres de Lumiere (an extra) were highlights. We thoroughly enjoyed her company and appreciated her knowledge, good humour, flexibility and careful driving. Thank you Sarah.
Robert, Perth, Australia
September 7th , 2014 - Full Day Tour Cassis + Luberon Villages
We had a private tour with Janicke, who was wonderful, exploring Cassis and the villages of Le Luberon. She was knowledge, kind and clearly passionate about Provence. We were initially hesitant to book the tour, given the price, but it was thoroughly worth it. So much better than in a large group setting. Interesting, fun and informative!
Dallas, Ottawa, Canada
September 5th , 2014 - Walking Tour of Aix + Luberon Villages
I cannot express how amazing our two tours with Discover Provence were. Janicke is everything all of the other reviews have expressed - she is charming, friendly, accommodating, and very knowledgable. We took the walking tour of Aix and her enthusiasm for the city was obvious. She knew so much about the history, plus how to best take advantage of Aix today, that we could not wait for the tour of both a vineyard and Luberon villages the next day. Janicke once again, knew so much of the history of the area - and imparted it all in such a manner that it never felt scholarly or rote. The vineyard was spectacular and the villages breathtaking. Janicke's love of the Provence is obvious. She made all of us feel welcome - you can imagine sitting down for a meal with her, her family and friends after spending some time with her. When we return to the area, we will absolutely book additional tours with Discover Provence. Incidentally, the booking process was very simple and arranging meeting times and places were very accommodating.
Margaret, New Jersey, USA
August 14th, 2014 - 'Half Day Tour to Luberon Villages'
During our trip to France I wanted my daughter (age 15) to see a little more of Provence than Aix, even though it was wonderful. Since we were traveling by train and hadn't rented a car, I booked a half day with Discover Provence. Janicke, our guide, was absolutely delightful and informative. We felt like we were in the company of a good friend. We visited villages, a winery and a favorite painting spot of Cezanne's. She seemed to pick up on our pace of travel, so we got to see a lot without being rushed. It was just what I was hoping for with the added bonus of laughs and conversation with Janicke!
Ellen, Pennsylvania, USA
July 31st, 2014 - 'One Day in Provence' Tour
My husband an I are both over 70 and wanted to see and learn more about this beautiful part of France. We booked our tour " A Day en Provence" with Sarah and were so thrilled with all that she had planned for the very diverse day. Her personal consideration for each of us in the group went beyond anything we expected..As an artist she went out of her way to ensure my interests were met ie.stopping for "those special photos" for subject material.
Her care and thoughtfulness also helped to make this day so memorable.
We feel we have seen and learned so much about this beautiful and historical area that we can highly recommend the" Discover Provence" tour group.
Ruby, Brisbane, Australia
July 29th, 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour
We enjoyed a 'bespoke' 3 day tour of magnificent Provence and thanks to Sarah, we have wonderful memories of sights, experiences and meals. I cannot rate the personal service too highly.
We visited a Plateau to see the gorgeous lavender and sunflower fields, visited the local market and then walked around three lovely Luberon villages. A final treat was a visit to a local winery.
The second day we had a half day tour to Cassis, a very smart fishing village where we took up her recommendation of a fish restaurant - menu of the day very reasonable, top quality in every way.
On the last day we entered the valley of Les Baux de Provence. Lunch was taken in the village of Maussane and was superb with the host very personable. We visited an olive mill near Les Baux and then went onto a Roman village. Very nearby was the sanctuary where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. Here he painted over 153 of his most famous paintings including 'Stary Night'. We then walked around St.Remy, pleased to see it, but expensive and far too twee for us. ( as Sarah expected).
The whole experience was terrific, a wonderful sanctuary away from our hectic lives back in the UK. Sarah's taste is superb and I would recommend you let her organise the bulk of the visits, punctuated by her choice of restaurants and photo opportunities. I always believe feedback should contain some constructive criticism to improve what was on offer - in the case of 'Discover Provence', I feel our three day experience couldn't be bettered. Thank you again Sarah and apologies for not being quicker to write a review.....it is sad when one has complaints, a report is quickly written, but when there are all positives, one is far more tardy to commit to print.
Phil, Nailsworth, UK
July 23rd, 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour
I am not normally one to take tours and I debated long and hard about renting a car and driving around the Provence countryside (as they did in all of those books). Boy, am I glad that I ditched that idea!! I decided to go with Sarah and Discover Provence and take her three-day tour. She was wonderful at helping us arrange everything, keeping in touch to make sure that we arrived from Paris, and was wonderful at communicating. We had Sarah for two days and Janicke for one day. There is no way that I would have found half of the things in twice the amount of time by myself. Sarah and Janicke took us around (only 4 on tour which was fantastic) showed us where to eat locally, sometimes eating with us, and gave us good historical information. They are both passionate about what they do and that enthusiasm was apparent.
The only thing missing was the wine country and Avignon, as I lamented to Sarah. No problem she said. They work with Romain of Provence and Wine (see his tour) and he agreed to take three of us on a full day tour of the Chateauneuf du Pape wine region and Avignon. He even picked us up from our hotel in Aix and we spent the entire day with us. This was a wonderful surprise and I left Provence feeling that I had seen all of the major highlights that I wanted to see.
If you want a small tour (max 6), want to avoid the crowds, and want to see up close and personal the area with smart and knowledgable guides, then ditch the car, write Sarah, and hire her for as many days as you have. Let her perform her magic and sit back and relax and enjoy (and take tons of pictures).
Terry, Chicargo, USA
July 8th, 2014 - Full Day Luberon Village Tour
My husband and I spent a day with Janicke visiting the Luberon hilltop villages. We have been in France for 4 weeks and booked a number of tours but this was by far the best. Janicke was a wonderful companion rather than just being a guide and her knowledge and passion for the area gave us a wonderful experience of what Provence has to offer. This has been our most rememberable day of our trip.
If you only do one thing in Provence then make sure you book a tour with Discover Provence - you will not be disappointed. I hope we have the opportunity to return to the region and another tour will be the first thing on our list.
Thank you Sarah for your suggestions on what tours we may like and Janicke for spending the day with us and sharing your passion for such a beautiful part of France.
Ann, Melbourne, Australia
July 7th, 2014 - 2 Day Tours - Cooking Demonstration , Wine Tour
First of all, there would be no way to adequately put into words how fantastic we thought both "experiences" we booked with Sarah truly were, and they were both totally different and thoroughly Provencal! The first was the cooking demonstration with Marie-Helene (and Sarah) in Marie-Helene's own kitchen and home. It was the perfect introduction for the two of us to not only Provencal cuisine,but even more importantly the Provencal home life and atmosphere. It was not the least bit intimidating, but rather we got to pitch in and help prepare dishes and learn about Provencal family customs and traditions in a very comfy and relaxed environment. Marie-Helene's home is beautiful and Sarah was spot-on with her facilitation of everything, from picking us up at the prearranged meeting place to enjoying the day with Marie-Helene with us and then getting us back to our drop-off spot without a single hiccup.
Our second tour was with Romain, for a guided tour of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region. Again, this was more of an immersion in the vineyard/winery sensibility and history of the region and not in the least bit a stuffy or formal wine "tour" or "tasting". Romain picked us up at our rental home, and drove us to the region and back, so no concerns about driving! We toured an actual vineyard and got to learn about the soils and cultures and winemaking processes unique to the area, and then got to visit and taste at two perfectly diverse wineries; one a local, family owned smaller winery and the other a massive chateau-based operation, but each was a perfect example of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape winemaking style. Romain was an impeccable host for the afternoon, and wonderfully engaging, not only with us but with the winemakers as well. His knowledge and passion for the area shone through, and the time flew by!
We can't say enough good things about Sarah's attention to detail, both in advance of our tours and during the time we were in Provence. She also provided some completely unsolicited advice for certain restaurants, cafes, day markets and viewpoints, that all turned out to be exactly as described and very easy to follow, find and enjoy. We will look forward to our next opportunity to try some of the really exciting experiences with Discover Provence!
Peter and Liz ,Bellevue, WA, USA
July 5th,2014 - 2 Day Tours, Arles & St Remy & Luberon Villages
My friend and I had limited time to explore Provence and did not want to drive in Europe. We were so glad to discover Sarah from 'Discover Provence' who designed a brilliant itinerary for our two days that exactly matched what we wanted to see. The first day was spent exploring the famous Van Gogh sites and the second day was spent visiting beautiful perched villages of the Luberon. Being a local, Sarah knew of little places, off the tourist trail, that we could visit in addition to the best of the most well known towns. We also visited markets and delicious little eateries. Having lived in France for over twenty years Sarah had extensive knowledge of the history and could explain all about the customs. In two days we saw more than we could have, and in such a relaxed friendly situation, than if we were driving ourselves. Our two days with Sarah were very special.
Margaret, Sydney, Australia
July 5th, 2014 - 3 Day Tour Arles, Aix & Cassis
Janneke worked with us for 3 days, and helped us "see" Provence through her eyes. We toured Arles, Aix, and Cassis. She blended history, culture, art and a great sense of humor. We felt like we were friends of her family, and she was showing us the land that she loved. Highly recommend their services!
Janene, MI, USA
July 6th,2014 - Cassis and Luberon Villages
My daughter and I have done a number of day tours over the years, and these were two of the best. Our initial conversations with Sarah deciding what we wanted to do were helpful and efficient--she had a number of good ideas and was very willing to work with us to make sure we got what we wanted. We then toured with Janicke both days--one day as part of a group, and one day just us. The Cassis half-day tour was very fun (especially the boat trip!), but we enjoyed the full-day tour exploring the Luberon even more. Janicke is a delightful traveling companion who knows the Luberon very well. Her plan for the day was very well thought out, included a stop at an excellent local restaurant with good fresh cuisine, and yet still left time for us to poke in stores, spend more time here and less time there, etc. I was sorry to see the day end--spending time with her was by far the highlight of our time in Provence, and an experience I would heartily recommend to anyone!! Thanks so much to both of you for making this such a great trip!
Robin, Seattle, USA
June 22nd - 24th, 2014 - Discover Provence 3 Day Tour Package
We've always dreamt of going to Provence ever since reading Peter Mayle's book, A Year in Provence. When the time finally came for my husband and I to visit, we realised that there were so many things to see. Thanks to Sarah Pernet's Discover Provence 3-day tour package. While it included all the places we wanted to see, we felt that Sarah planned it around our personal interests. My husband loves history, while I'm more keen on lifestyle and culture. We had a bit of everything, from history to art, from vineyards and lavender fields to breathtaking perched villages and cliffs, and to colourful markets and authentic Provençal food. The best part about these tours was that it was very personalised and relaxed. In the end, you'd feel as if you're already one of the locals of Aix. Sarah and her colleague, Janicke, have really made this holiday truly memorable for us. We can't thank them enough.
Chec, Brisbane, Australia
June 20th, 2014 - Luberon Villages
This is by far one of the best day tours I have ever done. I felt as if I was going out with friends and enjoying a day in their part of the world. I couldn't have asked for more to be honest. Discover Provence listened to what we wanted to see and made it happen while still staying within a specific region. I saw everything I wanted to in my one day with them. I already told other friends to use them and one has booked a tour and the other couldn't because they were full on such short notice. That happens when you have someone this good. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone going to the Provence area!
Dickie, Haymarket,USA
June 19th, 2014 - Luberon Villages & Cassis
Met Sarah at the appointed time at the Rotunde in Aix-en-provence and had a full day conducted tour of the Luberon hills visiting Ansuis, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lourmarin Gordes and the Lavander fields. Sarahs' knowledge of Provence its food, wines, customs and culture is very good and this makes for a tour not to be missed. With my wife we also went with Sarah on a half day tour to the fishing village of Cassis. On a sunny day this was also a wonderful trip and included a 40 minute boat trip to visit the Callanques. Well done Sarah and safely driven.
Gordon, Hamilton, Scotland
June 12th,2014 - Cassis & Le Castellet
We booked our private tour with Discover Provence and had a wonderful day seeing the local fishing village and a lovely small town. This tour is much different then the type that you book through cruise lines as it was very personal and customized to our liking. Sarah was a great tour guide with lots of interesting information about the area. I highly recommend using Discover Provence for your touring needs.
Ellen, Coral Springs, Florida, USA
May 25th - 27th,2014 - Discover Provence 3 Day Tour Package
We loved our Provence vacation. Our 3 day tour with Sarah was truly the highlight. We didn't want to rent a car since neither of us like driving. I was really happy to see Discover Provence noted in "Things to Do". Sarah and the tour did not disappoint at all. We saw more of Provence than if we had driven as Sarah knew spots (e.g. Cezanne's painting spot in Aix, Van Gogh's sanatorium, etc). The small group of 6 total people + Sarah was a perfect size as well. Thank you Sarah!
Janet, California, USA
June 20th, 2014 - Full day Tour Cassis and Luberon Villages
We spent a relaxed day with Janike first going to the very quaint seaside village of Cassis. From Cassis we took a 45 minute boat ride to see 3 Calanques (fjords) - beautiful and fabulous view back into Cassis harbor. Next on the agenda was the Luberon Villages of Lourmarin & Ansouis - both charming and not heavily touristed as they are working villages. We bought jewelry from a local artist, walked the streets while Janike explained the local area and history and had a sandwich from a local shop. We then stopped at a local winery for a tasting and a view of their lovely gardens. We had spoken along the way of our enjoyment of impressionist art and as a bonus Janike took us to the view from which Cezanne did his paintings of the mountain Sainte- Victoire. Enjoyable day and I recommend this tour company!
Rhonda, Maine, USA
June 11th, 2014 - Full day Tour Aix and Cassis
We drove from our apartment in Avignon to Aix to meet with Janicke, who greeted us warmly and began our day's adventure into the heart of Aix and then on to Cassis. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and learned so much about Aix. The market experience was wonderful and we purchased locally harvested olive oil, lavendar and more. We then drove to Cassis with Janicke, our lovely guide, where we proceeded to have a fantastic lunch on the waterfront, followed by a boat ride (45 minutes) to the many inlets where we saw people rock climbing and enjoying the beautiful sea environment. We then drove to the uppermost roads overlooking the inlets and the village and saw the most amazing views of Cassis. We would highly recommend this trip and also Janicke, who made the day come allive. Thanks!
Joan, Florida, USA
June 8th, 2014 - Afternoon Tour to Cassis
Provence is a beautiful place with so much to explore and to make that happen you really need people like Sarah to guide you. Even though we contacted her at a real short notice, her quick responses helped us in catching the tour and having a superb time. The afternoon tour we chose took us to the beautiful fishing village of Cassis from where we took a boat ride to see the nearest 3 Calanques which were just out of the world serene. Later Sarah took us to Cap Canaille which had this awesome view of the coast and the village. She had answers to all our queries and had information about the region to share with us. It was an afternoon well spent. I highly recommend Discover Provence tours.
Roxy, Haarlem, The Netherlands
June 5th, 2014 - Discover Provence - 3 Day Tour Package
Our 3 day Discover Provence tour with Sarah Pernet was one of the best vacations experiences we've had. We don't like big tour groups and we've toured on our own but this time we decided to take a different approach and go on a small group tour. Sarah picked us up in Aix-en-Provence and, over the course of 3 days, showed us so much more of Provence that we could have covered on our own without knowing the area. She gave us such a good flavor of the history, culture, art and food that we will definitely plan a return trip. What I enjoyed most was how relaxed and comfortable we were with the style of the tour and the pace. I was worried that cramming a lot into 3 days would be tiring but by the end of the third day, I wanted to keep going! We appreciated the depth and range of the information Sarah provided. Her tour was very thoughtfully arranged. She didn't overload us with details and was very adept at discovering our interests and directing the tour into areas that we found fascinating. If you're visiting Provence and want to enjoy seeing the sites without the hassles of finding your way around and make the best use of your time there, I highly recommend taking a tour with Discover Provence.
Harriet, Baltimore, USA
June 4th, 2014 - Afternoon Tour to Cassis
Provence is a place of stunning beauty. Had we stayed in the city and not thought to have a professional guide us, we would have missed an afternoon which was a true highlight of our trip. I highly recommend. The particular afternoon tour we chose was a comfortable van ride from Aix En Provence to Cassis, where we instantly boarded a passenger boat and travelled along a gorgeous coastline. After the boat ride, we were taken to the top of a peak from which you could see for miles of the majestic beauty of this region's coastline. I would not have changed a thing. Well done.
Brett, Tennessee, USA
June 3rd, 2014 - Discover Provence - 3 Day Tour Package
The best travel move ever was signing up for Sarah Pernet's "Discover Provence" 3 day tour! A small group--6 of us-- got to see, learn, and enjoy SO much (hassle-free) with Sarah as our English speaking guide and true expert. We visited Aix-en-Provence, Cassis, Luberon Villages, and Arles & St. Remy. Sarah took us to places we would have never known about on our own and we had lunch each day at local spots in each of the various towns and villages. If you want to have fun and learn all about Provence, don't hesitate to sign up for this tour!
Jane, Kansas, USA
June 3rd, 2014 - Discover Provence - Cruise Compatible Tour
In July 2013, myself, my wife, kids (10,11) and my in laws hired Sarah for a wonderful tour of the provence region of France. She met us promptly at the port as we exited our cruise ship and drove us out to a wonderful boat tour of the Calaniques. Followed by a trip to a sweeping vista looking out at the sea. Finally, a wonderufl walking tour and lunch of a gorgeous provencial town. It was a terrific tour, very insightful and she was excellent with the kids as well. All in all we had a wonderful time.
Ryan, Arizona, USA
June 2nd, 2014 - Discover Provence - 3 Day Tour Package
Without any question, the absolute high points of our 1-week in Provence were the 3 days we spent with Sarah Pernet - Founder of Discover Provence, and her Partner Janicke Lemiere. Together they made our stay memorable and I would recommend their services without any reservations. In another review someone said " ... it is like spending a day with a long time friend ... " right on the $, it cannot be more appropriate. Let us start with a checklist : Sarah & Janicke are affable, totally acculturated in the fullest sense of the word, amazingly familiar with everything and anything to do with Provence, very efficient with time but never intrusive which many tour guides fall prey to, high EQ in that they are able to pick up our group dynamics (3-couples with a 40 year friendship since college) and just let us 'enjoy doing our thing', helpful in anything you are not afraid to ask ... just to name a few. We did the touristy thing via Arles, St Remy, Cassis, Van Gogh etc but what we came away is not so much details of what we saw where but a warm feel of 'things Provencal' be it history, people, scenery, cuisine ... you name it, we experienced it, all in 3-full days thanks to the efforts, patience and care from the two ladies. The title of this review says it all ... Discover Provence, with none other than 'Discover Provence' ...
TangCanCook @ Hong Kong
May 30th, 2014 - Full Day Tour to Luberon Villages
The name of Sarah's company, Discover-Provence, is truly fitting. We spent a full day with Sarah as our guide (driver, historian, fluent local and immediate friend) and came away with a better understanding of Provence and it's origins, food, artists' culture and beautiful landscapes. Sarah took the time before the tour to question us about our wishes for the tour and our special interests. I appreciated that her communication with us was very prompt and thorough. It was relaxing to let Sarah do the driving and simply enjoy our surroundings as we toured several perched villages. When she discovered in Rousillon that I also had an interest in art she arranged for us to meet a local artist and rearranged our schedule so I could tour additional studios. We especially enjoyed seeing some of the local markets in Lourmarin and enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the outdoor patio of a restaurant there. We finished the afternoon with a vineyard tour and wine tasting and with the additional bonus of time spent wandering in the vineyard's beautiful gardens. Our day with Sarah could not have been more complete and met our every expectation.
JoAnn, Virginia,USA
May 27th, 2014 - Full Day Tour to Arles, Les baux and St Remy
We had a wonderful full day tour of Arles, Les Baux, and St Remy and also a great half-day walking tour the next day of Aix. We were very impressed with Discover Provence tours. Janicke (our tour guide) was so knowledgeable about the area. She took us along the steps of Van Gogh and Cezanne as well as showing us ancient sites and teaching us about the ancient history of the area. Our group consisted of my husband and I and our 3 children (ages 9,9,8). Janicke was very sweet and patient with them. She made our trip to Aix so much fun and enjoyable and also so easy. We didn't have to struggle with finding our way around or searching for sights that we wanted to see. We definitely recommend Discover Provence and Janicke.
Laura, Texas, USA
May 23rd, 2014 - Full Day Luberon Village Tour
My mother-in-law, husband, and I spent two weeks traveling through France. Near the end of our second week, we stopped in Provence for a couple days. My mother in law found out about Sarah in a Rick Steve's book and immediately booked a tour with her. Boy, we were glad we did! She asked us what we are main interests were and customized our day around them! She showed us some amazing views atop some perched villages, walked through the towns with a wealth of knowledge about everything, and ended our day with a nice wine tasting at a well known winery with a beautiful garden! The best part was that it didn't feel like your typical guided tour. It was like spending a day with a long time friend who just happened to know a lot about Provence. :) We certainly enjoyed our day with Sarah and highly recommend that you use her while in the area! You will not he disappointed!!
Cecile , Louiseville, USA
May 14th, 2014 - Provençal Cooking Demonstration
My husband and I just finished our third tour with Discover Provence. We fully enjoyed the Luberon villages and Cassis tours, but a stand out for us was the day of cooking with Marie Helene.
Marie Helene is passionate about Provençal style cooking and it shows in every single thing she does. We were welcomed into her home in the country with open arms. She is not a professional chef, rather she learned to cook homestyle country French Provençal food from her grandmother and her mother.
We sat at her kitchen table while she showed the preparation of creme brûlée. Easy! (Really!!). She went on to have us stirring and chopping together while preparing several appetizers, two vegetable dishes and lamb.
We gathered in her cozy living room with a glass of local wine and enjoyed tapenades and crispy zucchini blossom fritters. Delicious!
On to lunch where we enjoyed some of the most unique yet wonderful vegetable dishes I have ever tasted. Scrumptous! Dessert featured learning to flame our own creme brûlée.
A most enjoyable day. My husband, who's more into grilling than cooking, also enjoyed it! I will take with me Marie Helene's love of cooking when serving these recipes to my family for a long time.
Cathy & Jim , Minnesota, USA
May 4th, 2014- 2 x Full Day Tours: Aix-en-Provence and Lormarin and Arles and
St Remy
My wife and I enjoyed a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence (where we recently spent three-weeks), as well as guided tours to Arles, Saint-Rémy, Les Baux, and Lourmarin with Discover Provence.
The cheerful, upbeat personality of our personal tour guide, Janicke, added another dimension to the experience which we would surely have missed had we taken one of the tours arranged by the tourist office in Aix. So glad we decided to explore the scenic Provençal countryside with Discover Provence instead! We felt as if we were traveling with a close friend who had personal knowledge of the places we visited. We also enjoyed surprise visits to a wine domain in the Luberon, as well as an olive grower and oil producer in the Alpilles hills, both of which were fascinating.
Janicke also recommended a lunch stop at Le Clos Saint Roch, a restaurant in the small village of Mausanne-Les-Alpilles, where we enjoyed the best meal of our trip! No tourists in this place (apart from ourselves), just local patrons; and the ambience could not have been more Provençal in character. Since Janicke joined us for lunch that day, we avoided our usual frustrations with the language barrier, as she graciously handled those chores for us.
Janicke leaves us with many lasting images of Provence that my wife and I will treasure always, not to mention the memories of her cheerful company and the warmth of her endearing personality. We have only accolades for the Discover Provence team, and recommend them highly to those who seek a more personalized experience while visiting the treasures of this region.
Mitchell & Dee, Forida, USA
May 3rd, 2014 - 2 x Full Day Tours: Luberon Villages and Arles and Saint Remy
I'm not one to do 'touristy' tours...and this wasn't one of them. A small group of travelers from all over, this is just the most delightful way of seeing the best of Provence. I spent yesterday doing the tour of Luberon villages and surrounding villages with Sarah ; her passion for Provence was obvious. Such beauty in Provence...and delicious food;) She was delightful ...as was Janicke, who took myself and another couple to Arles and St Remy today. She went out of her way to ensure we were all happy and was so warm and personable and full of the most interesting information about Provence. I must also say a personal thanks as I was quite unwell and she took me to a doctor herself after the tour. I cannot recommend Sarah and Janicke highly enough. This was the perfect Provence indulgence, sitting back, seeing the sights in a relaxing and enjoying way. Absolutely wonderful! Thank you xx
Tamara, Melbourne, Australia
April 28th, 2014 - Full Day Tour to Luberon Villages and Cassis
We had a group of 8 who had just finished a cruise down the Soane and Rhone rivers. Sarah and Janicke met us at our hotel and on our first day we toured the perch villages of the Luberon.
They were able to accommodate our large group and shared their love of the valley. We were able to take our time and enjoy the day. Never felt rushed nor did we miss out on anything. The winery was gorgeous with the gardens and tasty wine. The next day we went to Cassis. My husband fell in love with Cassis. Amazing time, amazing views, amazing food and wine. Sarah and Janicke were the perfect hosts. Sarah recommended dinner at Mitch in Aix-en-Provence which was a wonderful end to a once in a lifetime trip.
Rusty, Chester, Virginia, USA
April 22nd, 2014 Half Day Afternoon Tour to Cassis
My husband and I visited Aix-en-Provence in early April and booked an afternoon with Sarah to see Cassis and the Calanques. We joined another couple on what was a gorgeous afternoon. We could relax and enjoy the sights while Sarah drove and provided commentary. The town of Cassis is very quaint and picturesque with shops and restaurants lining the marina. We had time to stroll the harbor area before boarding a boat to tour three Calanques. Sarah interpreted the French tour guide for us and added more details about the terrain, the history, and the area in general. Afterwards, we drove up to Cap Canaille for spectacular views of Cassis and the Mediterranean.
Robyn, New Jersey, USA
April 17th, 2014 Full Day Tour Luberon Villages
My husband and I gave Sarah, our English and French fluent guide, a blank canvas. We wanted to see something of Provence and get a good overview, after Sarah had offered us specifics - wine, food, art? We were very impressed with her knowledge of the area and the comprehensive nature of the tour she put together, which had elements of all the above, whilst being a general tour of the quaint perched villages in the area. We would recommend Discover Provence without hesitation.
Libby, Sydney, Australia
April 7th, 2014 Full Day Tour 'Van Gogh in Provence'
My friend and I traveled to Paris and Aix-en-Provence in late March, 2014. Our local travel agent referred us to Discover Provence and we had several days with Sarah and Company. One of my favorite days was a driving tour to Arles, St. Remy, Les Baux. Sarah drove us to see the places where Van Gogh lived and painted, along with many historic and scenic stops. Our tour was very enlightening, with Sarah providing the historical and cultural information and insights into Van Gogh and his life. A guided tour by an experienced and enthusiastic guide like Sarah added so much more to this experience than if we had done it on our own. I wholeheartedly recommend Discover Provence for your visit to the south of France!
Kay, Texas, USA
March 6th, 2014 'Full Day Tour to Avignon and Le Pont du Gard'
We traveled to Provence from Milan via rental car earlier in March '14 and were looking for a way to visit areas outside of Aix without further driving. We contacted Sarah in advance to develop possible visit plans. After reviewing many options including a customized trip, we decided upon a one day tour up though Luberon to Avignon and Pont du Gard. Sarah is a knowledgeable and friendly guide who treated us to a most informative and enjoyable day - it was like traveling with an old friend.
In addition to the sites visited we learned about and saw many scenes away from the beaten track and enjoyed an excellent lunch setting recommended by Sarah.
Upon our return to Aix we learned about other things to see and do there as well - including several wonderful restaurants.
If you are looking for a standard or custom tour when visiting Provence be sure to try Discover Provence.
Denis, Mount Kisco, New York, USA
This review is long overdue! We visited Provence in September and had the pleasure of spending the day with Sarah visiting Arles, Les Baux, St. Remy and an olive mill. Sarah customized our trip beautifully to meet our needs. Her knowledge of the local area and history was incredible. Without her, we would have seen buildings and streets. With her, these areas came to life.
And when she dropped us off for lunch, we had one of the best meals of our trip.
If we could do anything differently, it would be to spend more than one day with Sarah! We tried to go to Avignon without her and couldn't even find parking! If you are interested in learning more about Provence and having a thoroughly delightful day...don't hesitate to book with Discover Provence. We were planning on a semi-private tour, but were the only ones booked for the day...even better!
Laura, Chicago, USA
December 6th, 2014 - Discover Provence 3 Day Tour Package
Last month my husband and I plus 2 of our best friends toured with Sarah Pernet in Provence. Sarah planned 3 perfect days for us and adjusted the itinerary when we had previously visited a site. She was very informative and pleasant to spend time with discussing the history and culture of the area. One of our favorites was a visit to the Castelas olive mill where we were fortunate to see the entire process of making olive oil. Lunch and a boat ride to 3 calques in Cassis was an amazing afternoon with outstanding sights. Sarah went out of her way to show us everything and concentrated on the things we wanted to do. We strongly recommend Sarah and Discover Provence private tours. There is no better way to see the area especially if you are limited to only 3-4 days.
Paula, Illinois, USA
December 4th, 2014 - 2 Full Day Tours - Van Gogh & Arles + Luberon Perched Villages
We recently had the opportunity of visiting Provence and chose Discover Provence Day Tours to showcase the highlights of the area. Sarah picked us up at our hotel in Aix on the first day, and we toured Arles and other significant places in Van Gogh's life, as well as a local olive mill. Sarah made it a fun and informative day for our small group of 5.
The second day was spent touring the beautiful Hilltop Villages of the Luberon with Janicke, many of which are featured in recent books and movies. Sarah had mentioned to Janicke that A Good Year was one of our favourite movies, and Janicke made a point of showing us several key sights from the film and sharing tidbits about the filming and production as we drove through the beautiful villages of the Luberon. An incredible day.
Each day we enjoyed a traditional Provencal lunch served on the patio of lovely local restaurants.
It was definitely the right decision to tour the region with Discover Provence. Sarah and Janicke are professional, knowledgeable, pleasant, and fun to spend the day with. We hope to return to Provence and have Sarah and Janicke show us more of this breathtakingly beautiful region.
Diane & Walter, Toronto, Canada
November 25th , 2014 - Full Day Private Tour to Aix-en-Provence & Cassis
My husband and I had one day in Provence as a port on the Mediterranean leg of an ocean crossing. We wanted a more thorough experience in Aix than we had had on a previous trip to Provence. Janicke was our guide and she was wonderful. She met us at the ship promptly and drove us to Aix. We hit all the high spots, including the open air market, where we purchased goodies for cocktail time on the ship. The weather was less than perfect with drizzle on and off all day, but Janicke had enough umbrellas for all of us. We saw all the things in Aix that we had missed on our previous trip and came away with a good understanding of Aix's history. One thing I should mention. We particularly wanted to have a wonderful, leisurely lunch, but our day in Aix was on a Monday when most of the finer restaurants are closed. Janicke found us an excellent restaurant, with a well known chef that was open. The food was fabulous, the location beautiful and the wine was heavenly. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The last part of our tour was a visit to a winery in Cassis, a magnificent overview of the harbour and a tour of the lovely waterfront town below. All in all, we had a wonderful day and would not hesitate to recommend Discover Provence to our friends.
Susan, Maryland, USA
November 21st , 2014 - Full Day Private Tour to Cassis and Luberon wineries
This review is LONG overdue. We took a 10 day vacation to France in early October and had the luxury of going on a tour with Janicke. We spent the day seeing the Luberon Villages and Casis. Looking back my fiance and I both agree that day was the highlight of our whole vacation. Janicke was the sweetest tour guide. We felt so comfortable with her and loved her enthusiasm and pride of Provence. She was so informative and truly went out of her way to make sure that we had a great day. By the end of the day we were so sad to say bye to Janicke as we had felt we made a new friend. It was an incredible day. We can't say enough about how amazing Discover Provence Private Day Tours is!
Chelsey, Boston, USA
November 19th , 2014 - Full Day Luberon Village Tour
My husband and I spent the last day of our vacation in France with Sarah, who showed us the glories of the Luberon Valley. Not only was the weather absolutely perfect (did I mention how fabulous the light is???) but Sarah was an informed and entertaining guide. I can't wait to come back and take another tour with her. Cannot imagine a better way to become familiar with the region.
Kerry, Illinois, USA
November 12th, 2014 - Luberon Villages + Wine Tour to Chtaeauneuf-du-Pape
Last month we took two tours with Discover Provence - Luberon Villages with Janicke and Chateauneuf-du-Pape with Romain. Wonderful time and great memories! Thank you Guys! Romain is truly an wine expert!
Igor,New Jersey, USA
November 11th, 2014 - Historical Walking Tour of Aix-en-Provence
We have just returned from a marvelous two week trip to southern Burgundy and Provence and want to mention one special afternoon. It was a cool and overcast day in Aix, but we shared a warm connection with our guide, Janicke. She spent the afternoon with us guiding us through the labyrinth of streets, and sharing the culture, history, and her personal stories of living in Provence. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity to see this charming town that we never could have obtained through a guide book, or as part of a group tour. We strongly recommend Janicke, and "Discover Provence" to anyone traveling through the area.
Mark, Missouri, USA
November 5th, 2014 - 3 Day Family Tour
We had a superior 2.5 days tour visiting Aix en Provence and region. Thanks to Sarah and Janicke's personal guidance. We travelled with children, and Sarah and Janicke were very good at explaining the area, and keeping our kids' (and adults) attention. Kids had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Sarah and Janicke listened to our impromptu requests, and incorporated it to our schedule without hesitation. Despite our detours, they never hurried us and we still managed to see everything originally planned. Also, the ride to each destination was pleasant as both Sara and Janicke are cautious drivers. We have no doubt recommending Discover Provence for guided tours. In fact, we plan to return with other family members. Thanks Sarah and Janicke!
Helen, Amsterdam, Holland
November 4th, 2014 - Full Day Wine Tour to Chateauneuf-du-Pape
We recently booked a day tour of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape area with Romain through Discover Provence. Romain picked the four of us up at our hotel in Aix-en-Provence and he spent a full day taking us into the vineyards, visiting small producers for tastings with the wine-maker, and to a picture perfect lunch on the top of a hill overlooking it all. We ended with a fabulous wine and chocolate pairing. His knowledge and passion for the area was simply outstanding, and we really felt that Romain gave us the local / insiders view that could not be beat. We will remember the day fondly. THANK YOU Romain!
Sally, Texas, USA
October 28th, 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour Package
We spent 3 days with Sarah and Janicke in Arles, Aix, and the Luberon villages. They were very knowledgeable about all areas and experts at getting in and out of places efficiently. But the best part was the attitude about ensuring that we saw what we wanted, not a planned itinerary. We wanted to purchase a painting and Janicke took us to places to find one and then helped find packing materials. Both women were enthusiastic ambassadors for their adopted country and shared that with us. This was a great find for us!
Nancy, Sarasota, USA
October 26th, 2014 - Gourmet and Historical Private Tour - Aix-en-Provence
On our first day in Provence we arranged a private tour with Discover Provence. We usually do not do tours, but since this was our first time to Provence, we thought it would be a good introduction of history and culture. Janicke was our tour guide for the day. It was perfect match, and she was able to meet our wishes on what we wanted to see and do. We wanted an introduction to the history, food and wine of the region. Janicke exceeded our expectations in all respects. She is fluent in history, the culture of the area, food, and knows her wines. By the end of the day, we felt we had made a friend. Clearly a highlight of our trip. She had given us suggestions for other places to visit, and we did all of the them. I would recommend a tour with Discover Provence anytime. Thank you so much for a wonderful day in Provence!
Steve, Seattle, USA
October 24th, 2014 - Full Day Tour -Luberon Villages
We recently toured the Luberon villages with Discover Provence Tours. We had a wonderfully relaxed day exploring the hilltop Luberon villages with Sarah, and what a knowledgeable guide she is on all aspects of the amazing history and lifestyles of the various villages. As my husband loves local markets, Sarah arranged for us to stop and explore the Lourmarin market and then have a relaxed lunch in one of the local restaurants before continuing our village tour. It was truly a memorable day and greatly added to our Aix en Provence experience. I can highly recommend Discover Provence Tours and the care they take in tailoring their tours to your requirements. Thank you Sarah.
Diane, Melbourne, Australia
October 22nd, 2014 - 7 Days of Discover Provence Tours
My wife and I just returned home after 9 wonderful days in Provence. Seven of those days were spent with Sarah Pernet of “Discover Provence”. I have searched for a way to fully explain and describe what was a once in a lifetime experience for us. We were very fortunate to have chosen Discover Provence as our guides for the most memorable touring experience of all our trips to Europe. Sarah and Janicke provided for the most enjoyable, informative and beautiful tours we have ever participated in. From the beautiful Luberon villages to Arles, Avignon, Pont de Gard, vineyards with exceptional wine tours, Cassis, the trail of Cezanne as well as Van Gogh to the joy of bouillabaisse in Marseille. The descriptions and photos of the places we visited are well documented on the internet as well as some excellent photos on Discover Provence website. These are all exceptional, but they were made more exceptional by Sarah and Janicke. When Sarah first picked us up for our 7 day sojourn it was evident that we had much more than a tour guide. Very quickly, it was as if we had come to visit an old friend who first wanted to catch up on how we were and what we would like to do while visiting. She was almost like family as she insured that the pace was to our liking and that we had a chance to fully enjoy and soak in the beauty and serenity that has served to capture her heart and hold her captive for 25 years. Sarah puts so much of herself into the whole experience as she guides you through Provence that you feel the beauty as well as see it. You feel the emotion in Van Gogh’s room at the hospital where he was a patient, and you can sense the presence of Cezanne in the very studio where he did many of his still life paintings. Then the site where Cezanne painted Mont St Victoire so many different times with so many interpretations is breath taking as well as inspiring. The same enthusiasm and personal involvement were evident when we were with Janicke. Both are so knowledgeable of the area that you come away as if you have had a complete course on Provence and enjoyed every minute so much that you looked forward to the final exam. She didn’t give one or I would have failed it on purpose in order to retake the course. Don’t miss going to a vineyard for a visit with Romain and his exceptional knowledge of wine in its complete sense. He does a wonderful job and the two wineries we visited in Chateauneuf-du-Pape were exceptional as well as quite different. One of the highlights was our last day. We spent the day with Marie-Helene for a wonderful visit in a typical Provencal home while she demonstrated the preparation of a Provencal meal. She even allowed me to participate in the preparation of an anchovy paste that was unbelievable. My overall feeling is that if you go to Provence and don’t have Discover Provence to take care of your touring needs, then you haven’t been to Provence.
Don't miss this experience!! Whether it is for a one day, half day, three day, or custom tour, I highly recommend it.
Hulic, South Carolina, USA
October 13th, 2014 - 'One Day In Provence' Tour
Sarah is just the perfect guide! She is so knowledgeable of the area and gracious and easy to be with as well. I was absolutely thrilled with the day, from lunch in a charming restaurant in Lourmarin to wine tasting, to experiencing Cezanne's outdoor painting studio facing the Mont St. Victoire. I wholeheartedly recommend Sarah and the Discover Provence Tours. You will be making some of your best memories of your European trip with Sarah.
Kathy, Camano Island, Washington, USA
October 9th, 2014 - Custom Tour to St Remy , Les Baux and Arles
Sarah is friendly and charming and extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area. She was very accommodating in arranging our special tour from Aix-en-Provence to St. Remy, Les Baux and to Arles. We were so pleased with her commentary about the towns, her insights about Vincent Van Gogh and the personalized service. Her half-day tour was one of the highlights of our visit to Provence. We highly recommend taking a Discover Provence tour.
Joanne, Chicago, USA
October 5th, 2015 - Afternoon Tour to Cassis
Sarah is the perfect tour guide! We decided on the tour to Cassis because we wanted to see the Mediterranean. It was a beautiful afternoon when Sarah picked us up in Aix-en-Provence. On our drive, Sarah pointed out landmarks like Cezzane's mountain which made it a very enjoyable drive. Cassis is a lovely little fishing village. We were supposed to take a boat ride on the Mediterranean to see the Calanques. However, the boat tours, that never close, were closed due to excessively rough seas. Sarah was surprised, but quickly came up with a great plan B. She arraigned for a wine tasting and tour of a nearby vineyard Clos Ste Magdeleine which was absolutely beautiful! The vineyard tour was fascinating and the location which overlooked the Mediterranean was breathtaking! We definitely recommend contacting Sarah for tours while in Aix-en Provence!
Candan, Canada
October 4th,2014 - Full day Tour Cassis and Luberon Villages
Our day with Discover Provence and our fabulous guide, Sarah, was a highlight of our recent trip to the Mediterranean. We spent the day exploring Cassis, the Luberon perch villages, and Cucuron. The day included a delicious lunch of regional specialties and was capped off by a visit to the Val Joanis winery. Sarah couldn't have been a better guide. She was interested in knowing what we were interested in so she could tailor the day to suit us and she was certainly successful. It was like spending a day with a long-time friend who knew you well and wanted to share her home with you. One aspect of the day that was especially meaningful for us was the visit to the winery and the gorgeous spacious gardens that took my breath away. After we had spent time enjoying the grounds and had finished our wine tasting, the gracious hostess presented my husband with a beautiful bouquet for me that had been part of a wedding that day at the winery. We were celebrating our 25th Anniversary and the bouquet perfectly mirrored the flowers we had at our wedding 25 years ago - such a lovely synchronicity! And that's how the day was - full of delightful surprises and all orchestrated by our lovely guide, Sarah. We heartily recommend that you discover Provence with Sarah; we will be returning and will plan on spending even more time her and enjoying this gorgeous part of the world.
Sharyn, California, USA
October 3rd,2014 - 'One Day in Provence' Tour
Due to the small group size she was able to customise our tour for our desired experience. We were able to enjoy a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence, a delicious lunch in Loumarin, an afternoon discovering other Luberon villages and a wine tasting to finish it all off. Having travelled in the area previously I particularly enjoyed the details that Sarah could provide (previously I had just unknowingly walked past!) and candid advice on food and wine in the region.
Sarah provided a truly authentic provencal experience:)
Tirza, Melbourne, Australia
October 1st, 2014 - 3 Day Discover Provence Tour Package
We spent 3 glorious day in Aix-en-Provence!
My wife carefully researched which was the best way to see what this region has to offer and chose to use the Discover Provence Private Day Tours. Great choice honey!!
Upon arrival in Aix, we were picked up by Sarah at the train station and dropped off at the hotel.
We then toured two wonderful vineyards with her.Simply beautiful. The fact that it was just Sarah and us was wonderful and it allowed her to share her knowledge and obvious love of the region with us. We also got to sample quite a bit of wine and to ask as many questions as we wanted.
It was a perfect choice for our first afternoon in Aix. It left us with plenty of time to explore all the shops and restaurants in the late afternoon and evening.
The second day we did the walking tour of Aix in the morning with Janicke. This is a great tour in that Janicke shows you all there is to see and it also serves to orient you for your free time to explore later on your own. It was a group of seven.
We then spent the afternoon with Sarah touring Cassis!! THE HIGHLIGHT of our stay in Provence!! It was just us, Sarah and one more couple.
Upon arrival, we had lunch in a great outdoor restaurant that Sarah suggested and the seafood was wonderful. Great call Sarah!
It was then time to tour the Calanques by boat. Sarah chose a smaller boat(not too small nor too big) to and this was a homerun! By using a smaller boat with only a few people on board, we were able to move about and take as many pictures as we wanted and were able to spend plenty of time with Sarah sharing her knowledge. The bigger boats were crammed with people and it did not seem as enjoyable.
The views were simply breathtaking!!! Mind you , I am a boater and am on the water quite a bit but this was just beautiful. Upon getting back we walked around the beach area and took some more photos. This tour would be hard to beat........
We spent our last day with Janicke touring the perch villages of Luberon. I warned Janicke that yesterday's tour of Cassis would be hard to beat but you know what? She and the region were up to the challenge!!
She took us and and another couple to see several villages that we all enjoyed immensely!! Janicke also selected and outdoor restaurant on the side of a mountain that had such views of the area as well as great food. She shares Sarah's passion for the region and is very knowledgeable about the region.
Aix-en-Provence is such a beautiful region that it easy to enjoy one's stay there but what helped make it an unforgettable 3 days is the way we were able to see it! You see, touring to Sarah and Janicke allowed to see things we would not normally be able to see on our own or with a bigger group. They took us to places where the locals go. They shared their Aix-en-Provence with us!
Their tour gives you a very personal experience. We never felt rushed and they were able to tailor the tours to our personal tastes. They are always ready to take pictures of us with all the best views. It is obvious that they enjoy what they do.
You simply cannot have a better experience!!
Robeto, Miami, USA
September 28th, 2014 - 'Afternoon Tour to Cassis'
Our delightful guide, Sarah, picked us up in Aix-en-Provence right on time! She was extremely knowledgeable and answered all of our questions as we drove through some of the most stunning views of the Mediterranean. We went to Cassis, a wonderful fishing village that is surrounded by vineyards built into the cliffs. We then took a boat ride through the rocky inlets known as the Calanques. It was a beautiful day and there were many locals enjoying themselves on the sandy beaches. Sarah pointed out that Cassis is now a protected area and the water was amazing. After the 45 minute boat ride, we stopped at a water-side cafe to share a bottle of local wine. From there, she took us to Cap Canaille, the tallest maritime cliffs in Europe. We took many stunning photos of the Mediterranean and the breathtaking scenery.
To Do: Before leaving, make sure you try the local wine. Inexpensive and you can almost taste the unique flavor of the minerals that surround the village.
Note: The boat tour is not private. You will join with other tourists on a sightseeing boat. Don't let this put you off. It is a wonderful experience.
Sarah and her team at Discover Provence Tours are excellent!
Andrea, Pennsylvania, USA
September 26th, 2014 - 'One Day in Provence' Tour
We spent a day with Sarah while we were in Provence. First we did a half day walking tour of Aix-en-Provence. It was market day so we were able to enjoy that experience as well as learn the interesting history of Aix. After a delicious lunch at a restaurant Sarah recommended, the tour continued to two villages in the Luberon mountains. We also had a visit to a beautiful winery that had an award winning garden. What a wonderful day!
Lolly, Pennsylvania, USA
September 21st , 2014 - Walking tour of Aix
We had the most wonderful walking tour experience with Janicke in Aix-en-Provence!!! She was very knowledgeable about Provence and Aix history in very intimate details. Janicke also showed us very special places only locals would know. She was very genuine, kind, elegant and generous about explaining and sharing her passion of touring Provence. She also cared about out next destination and shared with us very helpful tips, including a great restaurant choice for the next destination in Lubron. I have exchanged the emails with Sarah who is the owner and Sarah was very prompt and professional in answering my inquiries. I found the Discover Provence tour from trip advisor as well as from Rick Steven's book and I am very grateful for all the recommendations came from those two sources. Thank you Sarah and Janicke at Discover Provence for the most wonderful tour experience!!!
Jane, New Your City, USA
September 11th , 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour Package
Our group of 6 did the 3-day "Discover Provence" tour package with Sarah Pernet.
We certainly enjoyed the Provence scenery and learnt much about the history and art of the region from Sarah, a highly professional dedicated and extremely knowledgeable guide.
Sarah has carefully selected the places to see and we had no doubt at all that we would never have seen them all, nor gained the insights if we had merely rented a car. The Luberon villages, Cassis, Cezanne/Van Gogh stories and Carrieres de Lumiere (an extra) were highlights. We thoroughly enjoyed her company and appreciated her knowledge, good humour, flexibility and careful driving. Thank you Sarah.
Robert, Perth, Australia
September 7th , 2014 - Full Day Tour Cassis + Luberon Villages
We had a private tour with Janicke, who was wonderful, exploring Cassis and the villages of Le Luberon. She was knowledge, kind and clearly passionate about Provence. We were initially hesitant to book the tour, given the price, but it was thoroughly worth it. So much better than in a large group setting. Interesting, fun and informative!
Dallas, Ottawa, Canada
September 5th , 2014 - Walking Tour of Aix + Luberon Villages
I cannot express how amazing our two tours with Discover Provence were. Janicke is everything all of the other reviews have expressed - she is charming, friendly, accommodating, and very knowledgable. We took the walking tour of Aix and her enthusiasm for the city was obvious. She knew so much about the history, plus how to best take advantage of Aix today, that we could not wait for the tour of both a vineyard and Luberon villages the next day. Janicke once again, knew so much of the history of the area - and imparted it all in such a manner that it never felt scholarly or rote. The vineyard was spectacular and the villages breathtaking. Janicke's love of the Provence is obvious. She made all of us feel welcome - you can imagine sitting down for a meal with her, her family and friends after spending some time with her. When we return to the area, we will absolutely book additional tours with Discover Provence. Incidentally, the booking process was very simple and arranging meeting times and places were very accommodating.
Margaret, New Jersey, USA
August 14th, 2014 - 'Half Day Tour to Luberon Villages'
During our trip to France I wanted my daughter (age 15) to see a little more of Provence than Aix, even though it was wonderful. Since we were traveling by train and hadn't rented a car, I booked a half day with Discover Provence. Janicke, our guide, was absolutely delightful and informative. We felt like we were in the company of a good friend. We visited villages, a winery and a favorite painting spot of Cezanne's. She seemed to pick up on our pace of travel, so we got to see a lot without being rushed. It was just what I was hoping for with the added bonus of laughs and conversation with Janicke!
Ellen, Pennsylvania, USA
July 31st, 2014 - 'One Day in Provence' Tour
My husband an I are both over 70 and wanted to see and learn more about this beautiful part of France. We booked our tour " A Day en Provence" with Sarah and were so thrilled with all that she had planned for the very diverse day. Her personal consideration for each of us in the group went beyond anything we expected..As an artist she went out of her way to ensure my interests were met ie.stopping for "those special photos" for subject material.
Her care and thoughtfulness also helped to make this day so memorable.
We feel we have seen and learned so much about this beautiful and historical area that we can highly recommend the" Discover Provence" tour group.
Ruby, Brisbane, Australia
July 29th, 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour
We enjoyed a 'bespoke' 3 day tour of magnificent Provence and thanks to Sarah, we have wonderful memories of sights, experiences and meals. I cannot rate the personal service too highly.
We visited a Plateau to see the gorgeous lavender and sunflower fields, visited the local market and then walked around three lovely Luberon villages. A final treat was a visit to a local winery.
The second day we had a half day tour to Cassis, a very smart fishing village where we took up her recommendation of a fish restaurant - menu of the day very reasonable, top quality in every way.
On the last day we entered the valley of Les Baux de Provence. Lunch was taken in the village of Maussane and was superb with the host very personable. We visited an olive mill near Les Baux and then went onto a Roman village. Very nearby was the sanctuary where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. Here he painted over 153 of his most famous paintings including 'Stary Night'. We then walked around St.Remy, pleased to see it, but expensive and far too twee for us. ( as Sarah expected).
The whole experience was terrific, a wonderful sanctuary away from our hectic lives back in the UK. Sarah's taste is superb and I would recommend you let her organise the bulk of the visits, punctuated by her choice of restaurants and photo opportunities. I always believe feedback should contain some constructive criticism to improve what was on offer - in the case of 'Discover Provence', I feel our three day experience couldn't be bettered. Thank you again Sarah and apologies for not being quicker to write a review.....it is sad when one has complaints, a report is quickly written, but when there are all positives, one is far more tardy to commit to print.
Phil, Nailsworth, UK
July 23rd, 2014 - 'Discover Provence' 3 Day Tour
I am not normally one to take tours and I debated long and hard about renting a car and driving around the Provence countryside (as they did in all of those books). Boy, am I glad that I ditched that idea!! I decided to go with Sarah and Discover Provence and take her three-day tour. She was wonderful at helping us arrange everything, keeping in touch to make sure that we arrived from Paris, and was wonderful at communicating. We had Sarah for two days and Janicke for one day. There is no way that I would have found half of the things in twice the amount of time by myself. Sarah and Janicke took us around (only 4 on tour which was fantastic) showed us where to eat locally, sometimes eating with us, and gave us good historical information. They are both passionate about what they do and that enthusiasm was apparent.
The only thing missing was the wine country and Avignon, as I lamented to Sarah. No problem she said. They work with Romain of Provence and Wine (see his tour) and he agreed to take three of us on a full day tour of the Chateauneuf du Pape wine region and Avignon. He even picked us up from our hotel in Aix and we spent the entire day with us. This was a wonderful surprise and I left Provence feeling that I had seen all of the major highlights that I wanted to see.
If you want a small tour (max 6), want to avoid the crowds, and want to see up close and personal the area with smart and knowledgable guides, then ditch the car, write Sarah, and hire her for as many days as you have. Let her perform her magic and sit back and relax and enjoy (and take tons of pictures).
Terry, Chicargo, USA
July 8th, 2014 - Full Day Luberon Village Tour
My husband and I spent a day with Janicke visiting the Luberon hilltop villages. We have been in France for 4 weeks and booked a number of tours but this was by far the best. Janicke was a wonderful companion rather than just being a guide and her knowledge and passion for the area gave us a wonderful experience of what Provence has to offer. This has been our most rememberable day of our trip.
If you only do one thing in Provence then make sure you book a tour with Discover Provence - you will not be disappointed. I hope we have the opportunity to return to the region and another tour will be the first thing on our list.
Thank you Sarah for your suggestions on what tours we may like and Janicke for spending the day with us and sharing your passion for such a beautiful part of France.
Ann, Melbourne, Australia
July 7th, 2014 - 2 Day Tours - Cooking Demonstration , Wine Tour
First of all, there would be no way to adequately put into words how fantastic we thought both "experiences" we booked with Sarah truly were, and they were both totally different and thoroughly Provencal! The first was the cooking demonstration with Marie-Helene (and Sarah) in Marie-Helene's own kitchen and home. It was the perfect introduction for the two of us to not only Provencal cuisine,but even more importantly the Provencal home life and atmosphere. It was not the least bit intimidating, but rather we got to pitch in and help prepare dishes and learn about Provencal family customs and traditions in a very comfy and relaxed environment. Marie-Helene's home is beautiful and Sarah was spot-on with her facilitation of everything, from picking us up at the prearranged meeting place to enjoying the day with Marie-Helene with us and then getting us back to our drop-off spot without a single hiccup.
Our second tour was with Romain, for a guided tour of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region. Again, this was more of an immersion in the vineyard/winery sensibility and history of the region and not in the least bit a stuffy or formal wine "tour" or "tasting". Romain picked us up at our rental home, and drove us to the region and back, so no concerns about driving! We toured an actual vineyard and got to learn about the soils and cultures and winemaking processes unique to the area, and then got to visit and taste at two perfectly diverse wineries; one a local, family owned smaller winery and the other a massive chateau-based operation, but each was a perfect example of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape winemaking style. Romain was an impeccable host for the afternoon, and wonderfully engaging, not only with us but with the winemakers as well. His knowledge and passion for the area shone through, and the time flew by!
We can't say enough good things about Sarah's attention to detail, both in advance of our tours and during the time we were in Provence. She also provided some completely unsolicited advice for certain restaurants, cafes, day markets and viewpoints, that all turned out to be exactly as described and very easy to follow, find and enjoy. We will look forward to our next opportunity to try some of the really exciting experiences with Discover Provence!
Peter and Liz ,Bellevue, WA, USA
July 5th,2014 - 2 Day Tours, Arles & St Remy & Luberon Villages
My friend and I had limited time to explore Provence and did not want to drive in Europe. We were so glad to discover Sarah from 'Discover Provence' who designed a brilliant itinerary for our two days that exactly matched what we wanted to see. The first day was spent exploring the famous Van Gogh sites and the second day was spent visiting beautiful perched villages of the Luberon. Being a local, Sarah knew of little places, off the tourist trail, that we could visit in addition to the best of the most well known towns. We also visited markets and delicious little eateries. Having lived in France for over twenty years Sarah had extensive knowledge of the history and could explain all about the customs. In two days we saw more than we could have, and in such a relaxed friendly situation, than if we were driving ourselves. Our two days with Sarah were very special.
Margaret, Sydney, Australia
July 5th, 2014 - 3 Day Tour Arles, Aix & Cassis
Janneke worked with us for 3 days, and helped us "see" Provence through her eyes. We toured Arles, Aix, and Cassis. She blended history, culture, art and a great sense of humor. We felt like we were friends of her family, and she was showing us the land that she loved. Highly recommend their services!
Janene, MI, USA
July 6th,2014 - Cassis and Luberon Villages
My daughter and I have done a number of day tours over the years, and these were two of the best. Our initial conversations with Sarah deciding what we wanted to do were helpful and efficient--she had a number of good ideas and was very willing to work with us to make sure we got what we wanted. We then toured with Janicke both days--one day as part of a group, and one day just us. The Cassis half-day tour was very fun (especially the boat trip!), but we enjoyed the full-day tour exploring the Luberon even more. Janicke is a delightful traveling companion who knows the Luberon very well. Her plan for the day was very well thought out, included a stop at an excellent local restaurant with good fresh cuisine, and yet still left time for us to poke in stores, spend more time here and less time there, etc. I was sorry to see the day end--spending time with her was by far the highlight of our time in Provence, and an experience I would heartily recommend to anyone!! Thanks so much to both of you for making this such a great trip!
Robin, Seattle, USA
June 22nd - 24th, 2014 - Discover Provence 3 Day Tour Package
We've always dreamt of going to Provence ever since reading Peter Mayle's book, A Year in Provence. When the time finally came for my husband and I to visit, we realised that there were so many things to see. Thanks to Sarah Pernet's Discover Provence 3-day tour package. While it included all the places we wanted to see, we felt that Sarah planned it around our personal interests. My husband loves history, while I'm more keen on lifestyle and culture. We had a bit of everything, from history to art, from vineyards and lavender fields to breathtaking perched villages and cliffs, and to colourful markets and authentic Provençal food. The best part about these tours was that it was very personalised and relaxed. In the end, you'd feel as if you're already one of the locals of Aix. Sarah and her colleague, Janicke, have really made this holiday truly memorable for us. We can't thank them enough.
Chec, Brisbane, Australia
June 20th, 2014 - Luberon Villages
This is by far one of the best day tours I have ever done. I felt as if I was going out with friends and enjoying a day in their part of the world. I couldn't have asked for more to be honest. Discover Provence listened to what we wanted to see and made it happen while still staying within a specific region. I saw everything I wanted to in my one day with them. I already told other friends to use them and one has booked a tour and the other couldn't because they were full on such short notice. That happens when you have someone this good. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone going to the Provence area!
Dickie, Haymarket,USA
June 19th, 2014 - Luberon Villages & Cassis
Met Sarah at the appointed time at the Rotunde in Aix-en-provence and had a full day conducted tour of the Luberon hills visiting Ansuis, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lourmarin Gordes and the Lavander fields. Sarahs' knowledge of Provence its food, wines, customs and culture is very good and this makes for a tour not to be missed. With my wife we also went with Sarah on a half day tour to the fishing village of Cassis. On a sunny day this was also a wonderful trip and included a 40 minute boat trip to visit the Callanques. Well done Sarah and safely driven.
Gordon, Hamilton, Scotland
June 12th,2014 - Cassis & Le Castellet
We booked our private tour with Discover Provence and had a wonderful day seeing the local fishing village and a lovely small town. This tour is much different then the type that you book through cruise lines as it was very personal and customized to our liking. Sarah was a great tour guide with lots of interesting information about the area. I highly recommend using Discover Provence for your touring needs.
Ellen, Coral Springs, Florida, USA
May 25th - 27th,2014 - Discover Provence 3 Day Tour Package
We loved our Provence vacation. Our 3 day tour with Sarah was truly the highlight. We didn't want to rent a car since neither of us like driving. I was really happy to see Discover Provence noted in "Things to Do". Sarah and the tour did not disappoint at all. We saw more of Provence than if we had driven as Sarah knew spots (e.g. Cezanne's painting spot in Aix, Van Gogh's sanatorium, etc). The small group of 6 total people + Sarah was a perfect size as well. Thank you Sarah!
Janet, California, USA
June 20th, 2014 - Full day Tour Cassis and Luberon Villages
We spent a relaxed day with Janike first going to the very quaint seaside village of Cassis. From Cassis we took a 45 minute boat ride to see 3 Calanques (fjords) - beautiful and fabulous view back into Cassis harbor. Next on the agenda was the Luberon Villages of Lourmarin & Ansouis - both charming and not heavily touristed as they are working villages. We bought jewelry from a local artist, walked the streets while Janike explained the local area and history and had a sandwich from a local shop. We then stopped at a local winery for a tasting and a view of their lovely gardens. We had spoken along the way of our enjoyment of impressionist art and as a bonus Janike took us to the view from which Cezanne did his paintings of the mountain Sainte- Victoire. Enjoyable day and I recommend this tour company!
Rhonda, Maine, USA
June 11th, 2014 - Full day Tour Aix and Cassis
We drove from our apartment in Avignon to Aix to meet with Janicke, who greeted us warmly and began our day's adventure into the heart of Aix and then on to Cassis. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and learned so much about Aix. The market experience was wonderful and we purchased locally harvested olive oil, lavendar and more. We then drove to Cassis with Janicke, our lovely guide, where we proceeded to have a fantastic lunch on the waterfront, followed by a boat ride (45 minutes) to the many inlets where we saw people rock climbing and enjoying the beautiful sea environment. We then drove to the uppermost roads overlooking the inlets and the village and saw the most amazing views of Cassis. We would highly recommend this trip and also Janicke, who made the day come allive. Thanks!
Joan, Florida, USA
June 8th, 2014 - Afternoon Tour to Cassis
Provence is a beautiful place with so much to explore and to make that happen you really need people like Sarah to guide you. Even though we contacted her at a real short notice, her quick responses helped us in catching the tour and having a superb time. The afternoon tour we chose took us to the beautiful fishing village of Cassis from where we took a boat ride to see the nearest 3 Calanques which were just out of the world serene. Later Sarah took us to Cap Canaille which had this awesome view of the coast and the village. She had answers to all our queries and had information about the region to share with us. It was an afternoon well spent. I highly recommend Discover Provence tours.
Roxy, Haarlem, The Netherlands
June 5th, 2014 - Discover Provence - 3 Day Tour Package
Our 3 day Discover Provence tour with Sarah Pernet was one of the best vacations experiences we've had. We don't like big tour groups and we've toured on our own but this time we decided to take a different approach and go on a small group tour. Sarah picked us up in Aix-en-Provence and, over the course of 3 days, showed us so much more of Provence that we could have covered on our own without knowing the area. She gave us such a good flavor of the history, culture, art and food that we will definitely plan a return trip. What I enjoyed most was how relaxed and comfortable we were with the style of the tour and the pace. I was worried that cramming a lot into 3 days would be tiring but by the end of the third day, I wanted to keep going! We appreciated the depth and range of the information Sarah provided. Her tour was very thoughtfully arranged. She didn't overload us with details and was very adept at discovering our interests and directing the tour into areas that we found fascinating. If you're visiting Provence and want to enjoy seeing the sites without the hassles of finding your way around and make the best use of your time there, I highly recommend taking a tour with Discover Provence.
Harriet, Baltimore, USA
June 4th, 2014 - Afternoon Tour to Cassis
Provence is a place of stunning beauty. Had we stayed in the city and not thought to have a professional guide us, we would have missed an afternoon which was a true highlight of our trip. I highly recommend. The particular afternoon tour we chose was a comfortable van ride from Aix En Provence to Cassis, where we instantly boarded a passenger boat and travelled along a gorgeous coastline. After the boat ride, we were taken to the top of a peak from which you could see for miles of the majestic beauty of this region's coastline. I would not have changed a thing. Well done.
Brett, Tennessee, USA
June 3rd, 2014 - Discover Provence - 3 Day Tour Package
The best travel move ever was signing up for Sarah Pernet's "Discover Provence" 3 day tour! A small group--6 of us-- got to see, learn, and enjoy SO much (hassle-free) with Sarah as our English speaking guide and true expert. We visited Aix-en-Provence, Cassis, Luberon Villages, and Arles & St. Remy. Sarah took us to places we would have never known about on our own and we had lunch each day at local spots in each of the various towns and villages. If you want to have fun and learn all about Provence, don't hesitate to sign up for this tour!
Jane, Kansas, USA
June 3rd, 2014 - Discover Provence - Cruise Compatible Tour
In July 2013, myself, my wife, kids (10,11) and my in laws hired Sarah for a wonderful tour of the provence region of France. She met us promptly at the port as we exited our cruise ship and drove us out to a wonderful boat tour of the Calaniques. Followed by a trip to a sweeping vista looking out at the sea. Finally, a wonderufl walking tour and lunch of a gorgeous provencial town. It was a terrific tour, very insightful and she was excellent with the kids as well. All in all we had a wonderful time.
Ryan, Arizona, USA
June 2nd, 2014 - Discover Provence - 3 Day Tour Package
Without any question, the absolute high points of our 1-week in Provence were the 3 days we spent with Sarah Pernet - Founder of Discover Provence, and her Partner Janicke Lemiere. Together they made our stay memorable and I would recommend their services without any reservations. In another review someone said " ... it is like spending a day with a long time friend ... " right on the $, it cannot be more appropriate. Let us start with a checklist : Sarah & Janicke are affable, totally acculturated in the fullest sense of the word, amazingly familiar with everything and anything to do with Provence, very efficient with time but never intrusive which many tour guides fall prey to, high EQ in that they are able to pick up our group dynamics (3-couples with a 40 year friendship since college) and just let us 'enjoy doing our thing', helpful in anything you are not afraid to ask ... just to name a few. We did the touristy thing via Arles, St Remy, Cassis, Van Gogh etc but what we came away is not so much details of what we saw where but a warm feel of 'things Provencal' be it history, people, scenery, cuisine ... you name it, we experienced it, all in 3-full days thanks to the efforts, patience and care from the two ladies. The title of this review says it all ... Discover Provence, with none other than 'Discover Provence' ...
TangCanCook @ Hong Kong
May 30th, 2014 - Full Day Tour to Luberon Villages
The name of Sarah's company, Discover-Provence, is truly fitting. We spent a full day with Sarah as our guide (driver, historian, fluent local and immediate friend) and came away with a better understanding of Provence and it's origins, food, artists' culture and beautiful landscapes. Sarah took the time before the tour to question us about our wishes for the tour and our special interests. I appreciated that her communication with us was very prompt and thorough. It was relaxing to let Sarah do the driving and simply enjoy our surroundings as we toured several perched villages. When she discovered in Rousillon that I also had an interest in art she arranged for us to meet a local artist and rearranged our schedule so I could tour additional studios. We especially enjoyed seeing some of the local markets in Lourmarin and enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the outdoor patio of a restaurant there. We finished the afternoon with a vineyard tour and wine tasting and with the additional bonus of time spent wandering in the vineyard's beautiful gardens. Our day with Sarah could not have been more complete and met our every expectation.
JoAnn, Virginia,USA
May 27th, 2014 - Full Day Tour to Arles, Les baux and St Remy
We had a wonderful full day tour of Arles, Les Baux, and St Remy and also a great half-day walking tour the next day of Aix. We were very impressed with Discover Provence tours. Janicke (our tour guide) was so knowledgeable about the area. She took us along the steps of Van Gogh and Cezanne as well as showing us ancient sites and teaching us about the ancient history of the area. Our group consisted of my husband and I and our 3 children (ages 9,9,8). Janicke was very sweet and patient with them. She made our trip to Aix so much fun and enjoyable and also so easy. We didn't have to struggle with finding our way around or searching for sights that we wanted to see. We definitely recommend Discover Provence and Janicke.
Laura, Texas, USA
May 23rd, 2014 - Full Day Luberon Village Tour
My mother-in-law, husband, and I spent two weeks traveling through France. Near the end of our second week, we stopped in Provence for a couple days. My mother in law found out about Sarah in a Rick Steve's book and immediately booked a tour with her. Boy, we were glad we did! She asked us what we are main interests were and customized our day around them! She showed us some amazing views atop some perched villages, walked through the towns with a wealth of knowledge about everything, and ended our day with a nice wine tasting at a well known winery with a beautiful garden! The best part was that it didn't feel like your typical guided tour. It was like spending a day with a long time friend who just happened to know a lot about Provence. :) We certainly enjoyed our day with Sarah and highly recommend that you use her while in the area! You will not he disappointed!!
Cecile , Louiseville, USA
May 14th, 2014 - Provençal Cooking Demonstration
My husband and I just finished our third tour with Discover Provence. We fully enjoyed the Luberon villages and Cassis tours, but a stand out for us was the day of cooking with Marie Helene.
Marie Helene is passionate about Provençal style cooking and it shows in every single thing she does. We were welcomed into her home in the country with open arms. She is not a professional chef, rather she learned to cook homestyle country French Provençal food from her grandmother and her mother.
We sat at her kitchen table while she showed the preparation of creme brûlée. Easy! (Really!!). She went on to have us stirring and chopping together while preparing several appetizers, two vegetable dishes and lamb.
We gathered in her cozy living room with a glass of local wine and enjoyed tapenades and crispy zucchini blossom fritters. Delicious!
On to lunch where we enjoyed some of the most unique yet wonderful vegetable dishes I have ever tasted. Scrumptous! Dessert featured learning to flame our own creme brûlée.
A most enjoyable day. My husband, who's more into grilling than cooking, also enjoyed it! I will take with me Marie Helene's love of cooking when serving these recipes to my family for a long time.
Cathy & Jim , Minnesota, USA
May 4th, 2014- 2 x Full Day Tours: Aix-en-Provence and Lormarin and Arles and
St Remy
My wife and I enjoyed a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence (where we recently spent three-weeks), as well as guided tours to Arles, Saint-Rémy, Les Baux, and Lourmarin with Discover Provence.
The cheerful, upbeat personality of our personal tour guide, Janicke, added another dimension to the experience which we would surely have missed had we taken one of the tours arranged by the tourist office in Aix. So glad we decided to explore the scenic Provençal countryside with Discover Provence instead! We felt as if we were traveling with a close friend who had personal knowledge of the places we visited. We also enjoyed surprise visits to a wine domain in the Luberon, as well as an olive grower and oil producer in the Alpilles hills, both of which were fascinating.
Janicke also recommended a lunch stop at Le Clos Saint Roch, a restaurant in the small village of Mausanne-Les-Alpilles, where we enjoyed the best meal of our trip! No tourists in this place (apart from ourselves), just local patrons; and the ambience could not have been more Provençal in character. Since Janicke joined us for lunch that day, we avoided our usual frustrations with the language barrier, as she graciously handled those chores for us.
Janicke leaves us with many lasting images of Provence that my wife and I will treasure always, not to mention the memories of her cheerful company and the warmth of her endearing personality. We have only accolades for the Discover Provence team, and recommend them highly to those who seek a more personalized experience while visiting the treasures of this region.
Mitchell & Dee, Forida, USA
May 3rd, 2014 - 2 x Full Day Tours: Luberon Villages and Arles and Saint Remy
I'm not one to do 'touristy' tours...and this wasn't one of them. A small group of travelers from all over, this is just the most delightful way of seeing the best of Provence. I spent yesterday doing the tour of Luberon villages and surrounding villages with Sarah ; her passion for Provence was obvious. Such beauty in Provence...and delicious food;) She was delightful ...as was Janicke, who took myself and another couple to Arles and St Remy today. She went out of her way to ensure we were all happy and was so warm and personable and full of the most interesting information about Provence. I must also say a personal thanks as I was quite unwell and she took me to a doctor herself after the tour. I cannot recommend Sarah and Janicke highly enough. This was the perfect Provence indulgence, sitting back, seeing the sights in a relaxing and enjoying way. Absolutely wonderful! Thank you xx
Tamara, Melbourne, Australia
April 28th, 2014 - Full Day Tour to Luberon Villages and Cassis
We had a group of 8 who had just finished a cruise down the Soane and Rhone rivers. Sarah and Janicke met us at our hotel and on our first day we toured the perch villages of the Luberon.
They were able to accommodate our large group and shared their love of the valley. We were able to take our time and enjoy the day. Never felt rushed nor did we miss out on anything. The winery was gorgeous with the gardens and tasty wine. The next day we went to Cassis. My husband fell in love with Cassis. Amazing time, amazing views, amazing food and wine. Sarah and Janicke were the perfect hosts. Sarah recommended dinner at Mitch in Aix-en-Provence which was a wonderful end to a once in a lifetime trip.
Rusty, Chester, Virginia, USA
April 22nd, 2014 Half Day Afternoon Tour to Cassis
My husband and I visited Aix-en-Provence in early April and booked an afternoon with Sarah to see Cassis and the Calanques. We joined another couple on what was a gorgeous afternoon. We could relax and enjoy the sights while Sarah drove and provided commentary. The town of Cassis is very quaint and picturesque with shops and restaurants lining the marina. We had time to stroll the harbor area before boarding a boat to tour three Calanques. Sarah interpreted the French tour guide for us and added more details about the terrain, the history, and the area in general. Afterwards, we drove up to Cap Canaille for spectacular views of Cassis and the Mediterranean.
Robyn, New Jersey, USA
April 17th, 2014 Full Day Tour Luberon Villages
My husband and I gave Sarah, our English and French fluent guide, a blank canvas. We wanted to see something of Provence and get a good overview, after Sarah had offered us specifics - wine, food, art? We were very impressed with her knowledge of the area and the comprehensive nature of the tour she put together, which had elements of all the above, whilst being a general tour of the quaint perched villages in the area. We would recommend Discover Provence without hesitation.
Libby, Sydney, Australia
April 7th, 2014 Full Day Tour 'Van Gogh in Provence'
My friend and I traveled to Paris and Aix-en-Provence in late March, 2014. Our local travel agent referred us to Discover Provence and we had several days with Sarah and Company. One of my favorite days was a driving tour to Arles, St. Remy, Les Baux. Sarah drove us to see the places where Van Gogh lived and painted, along with many historic and scenic stops. Our tour was very enlightening, with Sarah providing the historical and cultural information and insights into Van Gogh and his life. A guided tour by an experienced and enthusiastic guide like Sarah added so much more to this experience than if we had done it on our own. I wholeheartedly recommend Discover Provence for your visit to the south of France!
Kay, Texas, USA
March 6th, 2014 'Full Day Tour to Avignon and Le Pont du Gard'
We traveled to Provence from Milan via rental car earlier in March '14 and were looking for a way to visit areas outside of Aix without further driving. We contacted Sarah in advance to develop possible visit plans. After reviewing many options including a customized trip, we decided upon a one day tour up though Luberon to Avignon and Pont du Gard. Sarah is a knowledgeable and friendly guide who treated us to a most informative and enjoyable day - it was like traveling with an old friend.
In addition to the sites visited we learned about and saw many scenes away from the beaten track and enjoyed an excellent lunch setting recommended by Sarah.
Upon our return to Aix we learned about other things to see and do there as well - including several wonderful restaurants.
If you are looking for a standard or custom tour when visiting Provence be sure to try Discover Provence.
Denis, Mount Kisco, New York, USA
