Testimonials/Reviews from 2018
Read here what our clients have to say about Discover Provence Tours 2018
August 3rd, 2018 'Lavender and a beautiful lunch in the Luberon'
Through Sarah, we were able to experience many aspects of Provence which most tourists will never see. She adjusted our itinerary to capture the peak of the lavender harvest. We gained an intimate view of quiet perched villages. We also tasted splendid wines and enjoyed a spectacular garden at the end of the day. Knowing that she has much more to show us, we would not think of scheduling another trip to Provence without spending at least a day with Sarah.
Joseph, Pennsylvania, USA
July 28th, 2018, 'The only way to tour Provence'
This is the third time we have used this service and with out a doubt one of the best tour operations we have ever used. Sarah accommodates every wish and is very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Provence area. We were fortunate enough to be at the peak of the lavender season and she knew exactly where to take us on the back roads for us to have a great experience. We also visited some very interesting small private vineyards for excellent tastings.
Richard, Pennsylvania, USA
July 19th, 2018, 'Luberon Villages, Wineries and an Olive Mill'
Sarah customized our tour to include 3 Luberon villages, 2 wine tours and an olive mill. The day was rainy so she adjusted the order of the tour to work out perfectly.
We saw 3 working villages and then went out to the wineries. If Sarah asks if you want to eat at the Michelin rated restaurant for lunch, say yes. Great day!
Scott, Kansas City, USA
July 18th, 2018, 'Lavender Tour'
Sarah picked up my friend and I and off we went to tour the lavender fields. It was a clear and sunny day with incredible views of lavender and sunflowers with the alps as the backdrop. We were off the beaten path with stops for photos. We also toured a lavender distillery and had lavender ice cream. I would include a photo, but you will not smell the lavender, nor hear the bees. Honestly, pictures do not do it justice. Sarah is very knowledgeable and a great guide. I highly recommend her tours!
Robin, North Carolina, USA
July 7th, 2018, 'Fantastic day visiting the Luberon'
This tour was everything we could have hoped for. Sarah brings an intimate knowledge of the Luberon Villages to this superb tour which included visits to several hilltop villages, a stop for lunch where we enjoyed authentic French food, and a visit to a beautiful winery. The day was informative, relaxing, and lots of fun. We never felt rushed, and Sarah shared lots of detailed knowledge about each of the many stops along the way. She is very friendly and personable, it felt like we were getting an expert tour from a lifelong friend.
Ned, Manhattan Beach, California, USA
June 5th, 2018, 'Extraordinary Experience'
With a roll of the dice in January, I contacted Discover Provence and scheduled a Lavender Tour for early June, hoping for a warm, luscious spring with early blooms, whilst shivering in a Maine winter. After arriving in Avignon June 2, I was initially disappointed when Sarah emailed to inform me she had contacted the lavender farm and was informed there are little to no blooms due to a wetter and cooler than normal spring. She instead offered choices or, if I so desired, continue to fantasize about the lavender fields. Hubby and I decided to take her up on the half day excursion to the “perched villages” in the Luberon Region. It was fantastic! This wasn’t even on my radar and I had no clue that this would be so scenic, historic and serene. Sarah is a terrific guide, giving the back story to the 3 small villages we walked through. We were so delighted with our experience that we are seriously considering rebooking our Lavender Tour in early July with Discover Provence!
Mary Margaret, Maine, USA
May 23rd, 2018, An amazing day in Provence!
We were lucky to be added to this tour at the last minute. Sarah was personable and very knowledgeable. It was a really enjoyable, comfortable, way to experience Provence with one of the locals. What a treat! We look forward to seeing her the next time we visit.
Carolyn & Dave, Chicago, USA.
May 8th, 2018, Superb tour of the Provencal villages with lovely Sarah Pernet
My husband and I had visited Avignon and Arles some years back and especially wanted to see the perched Provencal villages and the blue hills and vineyards of the Luberon region we had read so much about. We were, however, frankly apprehensive of driving the narrow roads, negotiating with French drivers, and finding the villages without getting hopelessly lost. Sarah Pernet came to our rescue --and our day with her is one we will always remember (and dream about).
Sarah collected us from our hotel in Aix-en-Provence, and off we went in her comfortable van to Gordes, Roussillon, Lourmarin (where we enjoyed a delightful lunch under the Plane trees in the square), Bonnieux, and other small villages perched high on the hills, with the requisite chateau, church, and rampart wall, where still standing. Each village had a different character and vibe, and Sarah provided insightful commentary and history in a delightful manner. She was perfectly attuned to our interests and needs, and offered to alter our itinerary if we wished to see anything in particular. We ducked into a few shops and a church and took lots of photos (my husband is quite interested in photography, so Sarah drove to especially picturesque spots just for him).
What did we discover: we learned about lavender and Provencal wine production and the reasons the perched cities were built on hilltops and faced south--and so much more. And we chatted and laughed a lot.
We ended the afternoon at a delightful winery with a wine tasting of local wines. (We bought one bottle and wished we could have taken several more).
Be assured: Sarah is very knowedgeable and not at all pedantic, very warm, funny--and fun!
Choose her company for a day tour, and you will be extremely glad indeed that you did. We are already planning (or hoping)to come back one day and have a day trip with her to the coast or to St. Remy-de-Provence.
Merci beaucoup, Sarah!
Carol, Roseville, California, USA
May 6th, 2018, Fantastic one day overview tour of Provence
My wife and I engaged Sarah for a one day overview of Provence, to introduce us to the region so we could get some ideas of where to explore further on our own. Sarah was extremely knowledgeable of the areas we visited and added some interesting facts about Van Gough as we traveled around...we are not art critics by any means, but she made it all so interesting for us. Since we were on a private tour, Sarah was able to offer slight modifications according to our interests. A lovely and leisurely lunch punctuated the day. Sarah had the day perfectly planned and was wonderful company as well. It was going on a completely thorough tour...as if with someone we had know for years. We could not recommend Sarah and Discover Provence tours more enthusiastically.
Ron, Sacramento, California, USA
April 22nd, 2018, A Nice Day in Provence
We enjoyed a tour given by Sarah of the perched villages in the Luberon Hills. Although on the day of our tour the weather was particularly cold and windy, Sarah carried on with our plans as normal. She offered unique and insightful commentary to help us understand the history and culture of the region. We really enjoyed our local Provencal lunch as well as some of the other sights Sarah showed us. The pick up and drop off service was very convenient. Overall, a pleasant time.
Olivia, Chicago, USA
April 3rd, 2018, Perfect Introduction to Aix-en-Provence
We are first timers to Provence and were quite worried about managing the language barrier and the culture. We started with a tour of Aix where we were staying. Janicke our guide was a wonderful help to expose us to history and architecture while also explaining local culture. Our comfort level quickly sky rocketed and we had a fabulous time.
Miller, Valdosta, Georgia, USA
March 17th, 2018, A Fantastic tour in a lovely part of France!
Janicke was absolutely everything we could want in a tour guide: prompt, personable, and knowledgeable. She picked us up at our hotel for a day tour of the Luberon perched villages. The route was quite scenic, and along the way we chatted about the geography and history of the region. We stopped at several villages, heard about their history and culture, took wonderful photos, and sampled some of the delectable cuisine outside on a perfect spring day. We even got to do a little shopping! Janicke knows so much, and by the end of the day, we had much more than a tour...we had made a friend. I cannot recommend Discover Provence more highly. A perfectly lovely way to see this gorgeous region!
Rajani , Massachussettes , USA
January 2018, A Special and Memorable Day in Cassis
We had an amazing day! Our group of four, along with two very amiable young women, set off with Sarah to discover the lovely Provence fishing village of Cassis. We had a great plan for our half-day tour when we set out, but we had no idea at the time of the wonderful surprises in store for us! There was some sporadic rain that day and it was a bit cool, so when we signed up for our boat trip to the Calanques, there were few others looking to go out on the Mediterranean. After waiting a bit for our boat to fill up, we set off with only the seven of us in tow. It was as if we had hired a private boat! Our exploration of the Calanques was so fascinating - and due to the slow day, and our enthusiasm(!), our wonderful boat captain offered to extend our voyage further out to view some additional Calanques! Sara then gathered the six of us together to tell us that, if we agreed, this would extend our trip a bit (in terms of our time, not our fee). She then added that, if it was ok with us, we could stay and have lunch in Cassis before moving on to see a spectacular view of the sea and town. We all happily agreed! After probably over-tipping our delightful Boat Captain, we sat down in a wonderful dockside restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed one of the best seafood meals of our trip! After lunch, we drove up to the high cliff of Cap Canaille that overlooks the area and to our great pleasure and surprise, saw a small group of rock climbers repelling down the dizzying cliffside. We couldn't stop taking photos of ourselves in front of this amazing vista, nor could we resist getting those courageous climbers in the background. I heartily applaud Sarah for saying yes to the many opportunities presented to us that day and for asking our permission to take advantage of them all. I highly recommend Sarah Pernet as an exceptional and delightful guide. She gave us a day we'll never forget and went far and above what was initially planned. I now consider her my number one contact in Provence and will not hesitate to plan our next adventure at the first opportunity! Here's wishing that your adventures in Provence with Sarah will be just as magical!
Susan, Nebraska, USA
Through Sarah, we were able to experience many aspects of Provence which most tourists will never see. She adjusted our itinerary to capture the peak of the lavender harvest. We gained an intimate view of quiet perched villages. We also tasted splendid wines and enjoyed a spectacular garden at the end of the day. Knowing that she has much more to show us, we would not think of scheduling another trip to Provence without spending at least a day with Sarah.
Joseph, Pennsylvania, USA
July 28th, 2018, 'The only way to tour Provence'
This is the third time we have used this service and with out a doubt one of the best tour operations we have ever used. Sarah accommodates every wish and is very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Provence area. We were fortunate enough to be at the peak of the lavender season and she knew exactly where to take us on the back roads for us to have a great experience. We also visited some very interesting small private vineyards for excellent tastings.
Richard, Pennsylvania, USA
July 19th, 2018, 'Luberon Villages, Wineries and an Olive Mill'
Sarah customized our tour to include 3 Luberon villages, 2 wine tours and an olive mill. The day was rainy so she adjusted the order of the tour to work out perfectly.
We saw 3 working villages and then went out to the wineries. If Sarah asks if you want to eat at the Michelin rated restaurant for lunch, say yes. Great day!
Scott, Kansas City, USA
July 18th, 2018, 'Lavender Tour'
Sarah picked up my friend and I and off we went to tour the lavender fields. It was a clear and sunny day with incredible views of lavender and sunflowers with the alps as the backdrop. We were off the beaten path with stops for photos. We also toured a lavender distillery and had lavender ice cream. I would include a photo, but you will not smell the lavender, nor hear the bees. Honestly, pictures do not do it justice. Sarah is very knowledgeable and a great guide. I highly recommend her tours!
Robin, North Carolina, USA
July 7th, 2018, 'Fantastic day visiting the Luberon'
This tour was everything we could have hoped for. Sarah brings an intimate knowledge of the Luberon Villages to this superb tour which included visits to several hilltop villages, a stop for lunch where we enjoyed authentic French food, and a visit to a beautiful winery. The day was informative, relaxing, and lots of fun. We never felt rushed, and Sarah shared lots of detailed knowledge about each of the many stops along the way. She is very friendly and personable, it felt like we were getting an expert tour from a lifelong friend.
Ned, Manhattan Beach, California, USA
June 5th, 2018, 'Extraordinary Experience'
With a roll of the dice in January, I contacted Discover Provence and scheduled a Lavender Tour for early June, hoping for a warm, luscious spring with early blooms, whilst shivering in a Maine winter. After arriving in Avignon June 2, I was initially disappointed when Sarah emailed to inform me she had contacted the lavender farm and was informed there are little to no blooms due to a wetter and cooler than normal spring. She instead offered choices or, if I so desired, continue to fantasize about the lavender fields. Hubby and I decided to take her up on the half day excursion to the “perched villages” in the Luberon Region. It was fantastic! This wasn’t even on my radar and I had no clue that this would be so scenic, historic and serene. Sarah is a terrific guide, giving the back story to the 3 small villages we walked through. We were so delighted with our experience that we are seriously considering rebooking our Lavender Tour in early July with Discover Provence!
Mary Margaret, Maine, USA
May 23rd, 2018, An amazing day in Provence!
We were lucky to be added to this tour at the last minute. Sarah was personable and very knowledgeable. It was a really enjoyable, comfortable, way to experience Provence with one of the locals. What a treat! We look forward to seeing her the next time we visit.
Carolyn & Dave, Chicago, USA.
May 8th, 2018, Superb tour of the Provencal villages with lovely Sarah Pernet
My husband and I had visited Avignon and Arles some years back and especially wanted to see the perched Provencal villages and the blue hills and vineyards of the Luberon region we had read so much about. We were, however, frankly apprehensive of driving the narrow roads, negotiating with French drivers, and finding the villages without getting hopelessly lost. Sarah Pernet came to our rescue --and our day with her is one we will always remember (and dream about).
Sarah collected us from our hotel in Aix-en-Provence, and off we went in her comfortable van to Gordes, Roussillon, Lourmarin (where we enjoyed a delightful lunch under the Plane trees in the square), Bonnieux, and other small villages perched high on the hills, with the requisite chateau, church, and rampart wall, where still standing. Each village had a different character and vibe, and Sarah provided insightful commentary and history in a delightful manner. She was perfectly attuned to our interests and needs, and offered to alter our itinerary if we wished to see anything in particular. We ducked into a few shops and a church and took lots of photos (my husband is quite interested in photography, so Sarah drove to especially picturesque spots just for him).
What did we discover: we learned about lavender and Provencal wine production and the reasons the perched cities were built on hilltops and faced south--and so much more. And we chatted and laughed a lot.
We ended the afternoon at a delightful winery with a wine tasting of local wines. (We bought one bottle and wished we could have taken several more).
Be assured: Sarah is very knowedgeable and not at all pedantic, very warm, funny--and fun!
Choose her company for a day tour, and you will be extremely glad indeed that you did. We are already planning (or hoping)to come back one day and have a day trip with her to the coast or to St. Remy-de-Provence.
Merci beaucoup, Sarah!
Carol, Roseville, California, USA
May 6th, 2018, Fantastic one day overview tour of Provence
My wife and I engaged Sarah for a one day overview of Provence, to introduce us to the region so we could get some ideas of where to explore further on our own. Sarah was extremely knowledgeable of the areas we visited and added some interesting facts about Van Gough as we traveled around...we are not art critics by any means, but she made it all so interesting for us. Since we were on a private tour, Sarah was able to offer slight modifications according to our interests. A lovely and leisurely lunch punctuated the day. Sarah had the day perfectly planned and was wonderful company as well. It was going on a completely thorough tour...as if with someone we had know for years. We could not recommend Sarah and Discover Provence tours more enthusiastically.
Ron, Sacramento, California, USA
April 22nd, 2018, A Nice Day in Provence
We enjoyed a tour given by Sarah of the perched villages in the Luberon Hills. Although on the day of our tour the weather was particularly cold and windy, Sarah carried on with our plans as normal. She offered unique and insightful commentary to help us understand the history and culture of the region. We really enjoyed our local Provencal lunch as well as some of the other sights Sarah showed us. The pick up and drop off service was very convenient. Overall, a pleasant time.
Olivia, Chicago, USA
April 3rd, 2018, Perfect Introduction to Aix-en-Provence
We are first timers to Provence and were quite worried about managing the language barrier and the culture. We started with a tour of Aix where we were staying. Janicke our guide was a wonderful help to expose us to history and architecture while also explaining local culture. Our comfort level quickly sky rocketed and we had a fabulous time.
Miller, Valdosta, Georgia, USA
March 17th, 2018, A Fantastic tour in a lovely part of France!
Janicke was absolutely everything we could want in a tour guide: prompt, personable, and knowledgeable. She picked us up at our hotel for a day tour of the Luberon perched villages. The route was quite scenic, and along the way we chatted about the geography and history of the region. We stopped at several villages, heard about their history and culture, took wonderful photos, and sampled some of the delectable cuisine outside on a perfect spring day. We even got to do a little shopping! Janicke knows so much, and by the end of the day, we had much more than a tour...we had made a friend. I cannot recommend Discover Provence more highly. A perfectly lovely way to see this gorgeous region!
Rajani , Massachussettes , USA
January 2018, A Special and Memorable Day in Cassis
We had an amazing day! Our group of four, along with two very amiable young women, set off with Sarah to discover the lovely Provence fishing village of Cassis. We had a great plan for our half-day tour when we set out, but we had no idea at the time of the wonderful surprises in store for us! There was some sporadic rain that day and it was a bit cool, so when we signed up for our boat trip to the Calanques, there were few others looking to go out on the Mediterranean. After waiting a bit for our boat to fill up, we set off with only the seven of us in tow. It was as if we had hired a private boat! Our exploration of the Calanques was so fascinating - and due to the slow day, and our enthusiasm(!), our wonderful boat captain offered to extend our voyage further out to view some additional Calanques! Sara then gathered the six of us together to tell us that, if we agreed, this would extend our trip a bit (in terms of our time, not our fee). She then added that, if it was ok with us, we could stay and have lunch in Cassis before moving on to see a spectacular view of the sea and town. We all happily agreed! After probably over-tipping our delightful Boat Captain, we sat down in a wonderful dockside restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed one of the best seafood meals of our trip! After lunch, we drove up to the high cliff of Cap Canaille that overlooks the area and to our great pleasure and surprise, saw a small group of rock climbers repelling down the dizzying cliffside. We couldn't stop taking photos of ourselves in front of this amazing vista, nor could we resist getting those courageous climbers in the background. I heartily applaud Sarah for saying yes to the many opportunities presented to us that day and for asking our permission to take advantage of them all. I highly recommend Sarah Pernet as an exceptional and delightful guide. She gave us a day we'll never forget and went far and above what was initially planned. I now consider her my number one contact in Provence and will not hesitate to plan our next adventure at the first opportunity! Here's wishing that your adventures in Provence with Sarah will be just as magical!
Susan, Nebraska, USA