So, our fall trip is almost full, darlings, and I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of being in my favorite part of the world with such an amazing group of women. Let’s talk about what we’re going to be doing, shall we*? I can’t wait!

September 19: Arrival Day! Your jet lagged self will be met at the airport in Marseille and brought to our accommodations to unwind and unpack and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. We will enjoy a wine and cheese welcome for dinner in the early evening… and then off to bed to recover from the trials of international travel.

September 20: Awake rested and refreshed to coffee and pain au chocolat** and ready to head off on our first adventure to Les Baux-de-Provence. Les Baux is an extraordinary place- layer upon layer of history fill this village, but what will be immediately most striking to you is just how gorgeous it is. It’s a great place to start getting to know Provence, because from its highest point, the ruins of an old chateau, you can see miles and miles of olive groves, vineyards, and cypress trees- all the shades of lavenders and gray greens and golds that are so, so very Provence. We will lunch here in the town. After a long, relaxing French lunch, prepare to become even more relaxed as we head to Mas de la Dame winery, a beautiful vineyard only a few kilometers from Les Baux-de-Provence that has been immortalized on canvas by van Gogh himself. They also happen to make amazing wines…

September 21: On your second full day in Provence we will begin, naturally, with coffee and croissants, and then make our way to St. Rèmy de Provence, where we will visit the sanatorium where Vincent van Gogh committed himself after a few disturbances in his mental health during his sojourn in nearby Arles. You’ll want to take your time to drink in the beauty here- there is so much! Then, walking distance from the sanatorium is the ancient city of Glanum, a Roman ruin that is in the process of being unearthed and is now an archaeological site that you can visit as well. We will then make our way into the town of St. Rèmy for lunch followed by shopping and relaxing in town. This little town is one of my happy places- so pretty and charming! Dinner will be a special treat: We will be going to Le Vallon de Gayet in a tiny town called Mouriès for dinner under the beautiful oak trees. This place has been family owned for generations, and it’s surrounded by olive groves and lavender fields which scent the very air here.

September 22: It’s Sunday morning, so up bright and early for the best finds at the flea market at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue! After pastries and coffee (of course!) we will head to the market for vintage textiles, antique furniture (probably best just to look unless you possess one of those magical Hermione Grainger bags for getting things back on a plane, though there are shipping options for smaller items), dishes, art- you name it. And that’s only the flea market- the fresh market, which is my personal favorite part, will be chock full of vendors selling the finest produce, unbelievable cheeses, meats, fresh eggs, mushrooms, spices, bread, and more. This place is a feast for the senses for sure. We will have a casual yet leisurely lunch in Isle near the emerald green river that surrounds the town to recover from our shopping extravaganza. And if we find the right goodness for a little cooking, we will prepare a market dinner and dine al fresco back at our villa that evening!

September 23: After a day of shopping and the crowds that come with that, time to balance things out with some beautiful views from the day’s destination: Pont du Gard, the ancient Roman aqueduct that you simply must see in order to believe. After walking around this lovely archaeological site and park, we will then head to Chateauneuf du Pape for lunch and to experience the deservedly famous wines.

September 24: Today’s the day for a trip to the perched villages of the Luberon valley! We’ll begin in Roussillon, where ochre for paints and pigments has been mined for centuries, to drink in the colors of the region. Next up is Bonnieux for lunch with a view, followed by Lacoste where we can visit Savannah College of Art and Design’s France campus and see what the students have created. We will end our tour of les villages perchés in Gordes for a bit of shopping and gallery hopping or perhaps some refreshment at a cafe looking out over the Luberon Valley. We will finish our evening with the monks at Abbaye de Senanque with a sung vespers service. The tranquility in this valley filled with lavender and the sound of the cloister bells ringing will soothe the soul, I promise.

September 25: Back to St. Rèmy for another special treat: Market day followed by a cooking class with Jane of La Cuisine Provençale!

September 26: The first of our days in Arles. Yes, we need more than one to really see everything in this extraordinary little city- the museum pass we will be handing you upon arrival will require more time to see everything that will be covered. We will begin our time in Arles with a walking tour of the city, where we will see what van Gogh saw and painted alongside ruins from the days of the Roman Empire. Lunch at Le Gibolin, a delightful little place with a mention in the Michelin Guide, followed by shopping or checking the museums and Roman ruins off your list, plus a late afternoon cheese tasting at Les Fromagères.

September 27: Day 2 in my beloved Arles! Take notes of what you want to either see again or what you missed from day one- there is a LOT. The Roman coliseum, for example, is an absolute must-see, as is the cafe where van Gogh painted Cafe de Nuit, and the necropolis and oh, the Museum of Arles with all its costumes… and speaking of costumes do not miss the vintage textiles shop where les Arlesiennes outfit themselves for special events. While you’re at it, I’d be sure to visit L’Arlésienne lingerie, for beautiful, luxe French lingerie, bathing suits, scarves, and more of the little feminine details that make getting dressed fun, but I’ll also definitely be introducing you to Monique and Didier, who run a perfectly charming little brocante down an Arles side street. Lunch will be your choice- I highly recommend seeing what the little Senegalese lady is stirring in her big silver pot for the day in the main square of La Roquette neighborhood. And the famous Luma tower is not to be missed either! Dinner, sadly our last, will be at the gorgeous Arlatan Hotel, a treat for the eyes and senses as well as the taste buds.

September 28: Packing up, heading back to the airport in Marseille where we will be saying goodbye to France and to our time here together.

On second thought, we will say our “à la prochaine” (until next time) because now you, like me, will be longing for the next time you can visit this beautiful little corner of France.

À bientôt, mes amis.

*This is, of course, a loose itinerary. Things will slip and change as the time gets closer, because that is how travel works. But rest assured that we will be doing all of these things and more… or less if you decide you want a day just to relax and enjoy our gorgeous accommodations.

**Go ahead and just assume that I’ll be procuring fresh baguettes and pastries for us all every single day. I live for this.