in Loire Valley, Dordogne, Carcassonne & French Riviera
Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Art & Museums in France
Explore French culture and historyin three of its most representative regions: the Loire Valley, Dordogne and the Riviera, with a nice stop in Carcassonne.
This was our first visit to France to celebrate my 40th birthday. We started in Reims/Champagne region, Burgundy, Loire Valley Normandy and finished in Paris. Our 21 day trip was …
This was our first visit to France to celebrate my 40th birthday. We started in Reims/Champagne region, Burgundy, Loire Valley Normandy and finished in Paris. Our 21 day trip was exceptional in every way! Emilie and her team thought of everything and their service from fist email to our return home could not be faulted.
The only way I can describe our experience with France Just for You is it's like having your own private tour guide guiding you every step of the way. I can't wait to book our next trip to France with Emilie!!
#1 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyA charming house, nestled in a lovely hamlet
#1 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyRelax in a cozy room, after a day sightseeing.
#1 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyYour lovely hosts will take good care of you...
#1 - A 14th century house in the Loire Valley...and will take you to their vaulted cellar for the apéritif.
#2 - An elegantly restored perigourdin farm in DordogneA 19th century farm...
#2 - An elegantly restored perigourdin farm in Dordogne...with a traditional sheep farming borie outbuilding.
#2 - An elegantly restored perigourdin farm in DordogneStay in a very comfortable room...
#2 - An elegantly restored perigourdin farm in Dordogne...and enjoy a delicious home-made dinner.
#3 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseStay 3 miles from Carcassonne Medieval Town in a quiet ambiance
#3 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseYour lovely hosts are happy to share many tips or help with restaurants
#3 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseRelax in a welcoming suite-room
#3 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseenjoy a drink or a plancha in the garden
#3 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseor refresh in the pool !
#4 - A mansion, full of artwork on the RivieraEnjoy the comfort of a very spacious suite room...
#4 - A mansion, full of artwork on the Riviera...in a lovely typical town of the Riviera hinterland
#4 - A mansion, full of artwork on the RivieraYour lovely hosts will share many tips and hints
#4 - A mansion, full of artwork on the RivieraArt is everywhere in the this house...even at the breakfast table.
Step by step
The Loire Valley
Spend the first 5 nights of your trip in the outbuildings of a disappeared monastery dating back to the 14th century. Your charming hosts know this region very well and will be happy to share some tips with you. One night, you will share a delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared by Monsieur. Do not miss the aperitif in the underground vaulted cellar - an out-of-time experience!
Feel the real French "good life" strolling aroundpeaceful villages on market days. Included in this itinerary is an electric bike rental for a day. You will explore, at your own pace, the nature, villages and castles along the river. No worries, the path along the Loire river is totally flat!
Visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers. Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some very local specialties.
Dordogne
In Black Perigord, you will stay in anold stone Perigord style house for 5 nights. One afternoon, you will enjoy a cooking workshop with your hosts - followed by a mouth-watering dinner shared with Nat & her husband and fellow travelers.
Dordogne is famous for its amazing prehistoric caves. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel's reader, visiting one is a must! There is a lot to do in this region:medieval castlesto visit, wonderful food to taste - we'll tell you where to find themost typical goat cheeses- and if you likeoutdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
We have selected the best section of the Dordogne river for you to canoe down,enjoying the wonderful views of the medieval castles perched high above you.
Carcassonne & the Cathar Country
Carcassonne and the Cathar country are the perfect stop over on the way to Provence. Carcassonne's medieval “Cité” will amaze you by its size and conservation.
Stay at a 3 mile drive from Carcassonne Medieval Fortress, in a charming and quiet Boutique-Hotel, owned by a lovely couple. After Carcassonne day crowds, you can relax in the comfortable suite-room, reading in the garden or at the swimming pool.
On the 12th day, you will have the longest drive of the itinerary: 4hr30 drive to reach Nice on the French Riviera.
The French Riviera
In theRiviera hinterland, you will have the opportunity to discover some of the most beautifulhandicrafts in France, particularly ceramics, sculptures and paintings. For art lovers the manyart museumsof Nice and its surroundings will amaze you with masterpieces by Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.
You will end your journey with 4 nights in the heart of a lively hilltop village in the back country, 7 miles – 11kms to the beach. Enjoy a peaceful atmosphere – away from the crowds - having a drink at a table at an outdoor cafe or strolling around a farmers market. Enjoy staying in a luxury B&B house, full of artwork and with lovely hosts - a very unique place.
In one of the most famous perfume houses, be introduced to the perfume making technics and make your own fragrance, which you will keep as a great souvenir!
But the Riviera is even more than all this. The “Cote d’Azur” is a marvel of fabulous 19th century villasand sapphire water coves. From Antibes to Monte Carlo, seaside resorts will satisfy all your shopping desires during the day. At night you can rely on the Riviera bars, seaside restaurants and discos to entertain you.
After this trip, you will definately want to come back . . .
Activities included
A Winery Visit & Tasting in Chinon
Visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.
Biking day in the castle's country
Spend a day on an Electric Bike at your own pace and discover many castles nestled in the nature. Enjoy a nice picnic with wine. We have tested several itineraries so you can chose depending on your mood and what you would like to see.
Cooking Class & Dinner
Spend a late afternoon with your hosts making dinner together like friends would do. Then you'll enjoy a convivial and savory dinner with your hosts & fellow travelers.
Riviera Perfume Workshop
In one of the most famous perfume houses, be introduced to the perfume making technics and make your own fragrance - which you will keep as a great souvenir!
This is our second trip with France Just for You. The expertly organized trip we experienced the first time, brought us back again. The B&Bs and the activities planned for us were diverse and totally enjoyable! Picnic in an active winery in harvest, cooking in a French kitchen, dune buggy ride in the vineyards at the base of Mont Ventoux all …
This is our second trip with France Just for You. The expertly organized trip we experienced the first time, brought us back again. The B&Bs and the activities planned for us were diverse and totally enjoyable! Picnic in an active winery in harvest, cooking in a French kitchen, dune buggy ride in the vineyards at the base of Mont Ventoux all amazing. We suggest that anyone reading this should give it a try. We know that Emilie and Guillaume will put together a holiday that you will never forget. Well done once again!
Candy
Wherever possible we prefer to travel on our own as opposed to going on a tour package. With France - Just For You, they arranged for a vehicle and booked us into a couple of lovely B&B’s and a great Boutique Hotel in Paris and booked a couple of activities that we were interested in. Besides that, they put together a book for us with everything we …
Wherever possible we prefer to travel on our own as opposed to going on a tour package. With France - Just For You, they arranged for a vehicle and booked us into a couple of lovely B&B’s and a great Boutique Hotel in Paris and booked a couple of activities that we were interested in. Besides that, they put together a book for us with everything we would need for a safe and hassle free trip. This included general information about France, common French phrases, suggested daily itineraries, recommended restaurants, etc, etc.
It was a wonderful holiday with the flexibility to see and do what you wanted at your own pace.
I would not hesitate to recommend France - Just For You. Truly amazing!
Anthea
We have just returned from a road trip around France and with Emilie's help, we had one of the best trips we've ever had. We travel extensively and I normally do my own research and bookings because we don't like using formal , organised tours but we were looking for advice on self driving holidays in France. Emilie's attention to detail is …
We have just returned from a road trip around France and with Emilie's help, we had one of the best trips we've ever had. We travel extensively and I normally do my own research and bookings because we don't like using formal , organised tours but we were looking for advice on self driving holidays in France. Emilie's attention to detail is outstanding. She listened to our likes and dislikes and put together the most amazing itinerary, with a personalised guide book, maps, iPhone, booked our car rental , booked B&Bs , advised on restaurants and suggested daily itineraries. We had all the information and yet all the freedom , which is what we wanted. I would definitely use her services again and would highly recommend her to anyone thinking of doing a trip around France
