In the morning, you will be picked up in an air-conditioned minibus from your hotel in Avignon. Accompanied by an English-speaking driver-cum-guide, you will be taken around the lavender fields of Provence.
Drive to the traditional open market in a village of Provence and you will come across stalls selling a range of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Further on, proceed along the picturesque road through wild lavender fields to Sault, situated about 65 kilometres from Avignon. The pretty village of Sault is situated on the border of a great wooded plateau at a height of about 776 metres and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the stunning views of its lavender fields. The village also hosts summer lavender festivals, the biggest being held on the 15th of August every year. The celebration comprises games, competitions and other activities to do with lavender, including sales exhibition of local products. You will have leisure time in Sault to pick up some souvenirs from its impressive lavender shops.
At the beginning of the season (June to the beginning of July), when the lavender is not in bloom yet in Sault, you can stop at the Claparedes plateau for a photo opportunity. You could also visit the village of Roussillon and appreciate the beauty of its ochre-coloured cliffs and surreal landscape. Along the way, stop for lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included).
Continue to Coustellet across lavender fields and small picturesque villages. Stop for a photo-opportunity at St. Jean, Lioux and Gordes (some of the most beautiful villages of France). Visit the village of Gordes, one of the most well-known hilltop villages in the region. Stroll around and you will see houses of white stone and labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets. Along the way, make a photo-stop at the Senanque Abbey, a Cistercian monument surrounded by a wonderful lavender field (blooming period is mid June to mid July).
Proceed to the Lavender Museum in Coustellet where you can learn everything about lavender. The museum was created by the Lincele family, cultivators and distillers of fine lavender for over 5 generations. The Linceles are one of the largest producers of fine lavender in the region. The museum tells you the history of distillation of this ancient plant and its utilization in medicines and perfumes. You will come across an impressive collection of copper stills dating from the 16th century. A 10-minute audiovisual documentary about the reaping and distillation is also projected on to the big screen in the museum's cinema. You can pick up some interesting lavender souvenirs from the museum boutique.
After a memorable lavender tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel in Avignon.