Whatever you choose to do, we recommend you take it slow. While Peter Mayle might have made a bit of fun of the pace in Provence, there is much to learn from it— the long hours spent over meals appreciating food, time and conversation; meandering through the cobblestone streets during market day; napping under a shady tree; and taking in the history found in the ancient sites and monuments.
There are two distinct regions with Inland Provence: Les Alpilles and the Luberon. If you are renting a villa in one area, make sure you explore the other as well as they are under an hour from one another and have quite distinct spirits.
We kindly advise that you contact our partners well in advance of your holiday to plan your day tours and itineraries
Select from a number of fun, guided, prearranged experiences – we recommend booking well in advance.
Enjoy locally designed itineraries and tours personalized for the way you like to travel.
Our “must-do” list while in the region.
Visit the morning markets
Find all the delicious regional specialities and more at these markets.
Wine taste at renowned local wineries
Many produce olive oil as well. (See our “All Things Wine” page for more info)
Spend a day touring the villages of the Luberon
You don’t need to see them all but within a day you could visit 2-3 in any given area. The most popular villages are Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Ménerbes, LaCoste, Goult, Gordes, and Roussillon, but they also draw the most visitors. Also consider visiting the smaller, quieter villages of Ansouis, Vaugines, La Tour D’Aigues, Lauris, Saignon, Rustrel, Saint Saturnin… the list goes on.
Explore a day in the Alpilles region
Spend a day visiting the main villages in this region (approximately 45 mins from the Luberon). The main villages to see are Eygalières, Les Baux, Maussane-les-Alpilles and of course, the larger town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Enjoy a few good, authentic restaurant experiences
Visit the Only Provence villages pages for the best restaurants in each village.
Get on the trails to take in the nature
Take in the scents, flowers, vineyards and groves of the region. No matter what the season, there is beauty to be found on the trails. Rent some bikes and explore the backroads. Rent a bike yourself or arrange to have bikes delivered to your villa (book here).
Stretch out to one of the larger cities
Spend a day exploring Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, or Arles.
Arrange a private chef to cook in your villa
Visit the top historical sites in the region
Luberon
- Abbey of Senanque: Gordes
- Village de Bories: An ancient hamlet of Gordes
- Sentier des Ocres: Ochre hills of Roussillon
- Le Petit Colorado: Yellow & red rock formations in former ocher-mining quarries
Alpilles
- The Glanums: Roman Ruins outside Saint-Rémy
- Van Gogh’s Asylum in Saint Remy
Les Baux de Provence: Castle ruins overlooking the plains to the South - Les Carrieres de Lumières: Amazing art and sound exhibit in a quarry – not to be missed!
A day on the coast
Spend a day along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, either in the Calanques (near St Marie de la Mer) or Cassis. Plesae note that Cassis gets quite crowded in the summer months but is a wonderful place to do boating and hiking in the off season months.
