How to plan the perfect Provençal holiday, it's not hard but it is complex.

rebeccacoulliais
Dec 28, 2025
5 min read

The Luberon is one of the most beautiful regions in France. Whether you are visiting for two days, or two weeks you won't run out of things to do. But where to sart? When we plan the itineraries for our Collection Vauvert retreats, these are the essentials we consider:

What Season is the best time to travel?

Are you dying to see the lavender in bloom or would you rather avoid the crowds?

Do you crave the August sun or are you more a cool Spring mornings traveller?

If you have a choice, it is always better to avoid the summer holdiays in France. Not only is it generally pretty hot (sometimes days or even weeks on end over 35°C), but it is also the most expensive time to travel and the busiest. Ideally, it is better to choose either June or September, both months offering beautiful weather and generally, less tourists. If you do not have a choice, however, my advice would be to try for these two windows: The first 14 days of July and the last week of August. The French tend to concentrate their holidays between 14 July and 15 August, meaning that outside of this time frame you can enjoy the sweet spot, where absolutely everything is open and humming, the weather is hot and the crowds have not yet descended upon, or have already departed the Luberon.

If you want to catch the Lavender in Bloom aim for mid June to mid July. Spring is magnificent is you love markets, both for fresh produce and for antiquing, or if you are a fan of rose gardens and blossom trees. The Luberon is spectacular from April to June, and there is a great vibe as evryone is excited that the season is getting under way.

If you are a wine lover, September is when the grape harvest is at it's peak. The wineries are quieter and some wonderful meals are to be had on sunny terraces as the late summer fruits meet the autumn harvests (minus the crowds). Autumn, particularly late October and early November are stunning, as the countryside turns golden and life slows down to a true provencal crawl as we prepare for winter. Winter is milder than the rest of the country, but alot of accommodation will be closed, as will restaurants and sites such as Colorado Provencal. If you want to come in winter, I really advise you to come during the school holidays, when at the least the market towns will still be alive.

Are you travelling with friends and or family or are you braving it solo?

Both have their pros and cons. Although sometimes it feels like the decision has been taken out of your hands, you do actually have a choice!

Travelling with your loved ones can be wonderful-making and sharing memories, reuniting families and rekindling friendships, what's not to love?

But sometimes, between waiting for your sister to give you her dates, and your best friend cancelling at the last minute, you wonder if it will ever happen...unless you go alone.

Travelling solo is a wonderfully transformative experience-but that is a blog for another day! There is nothing like some headspace to reset your life. You get to make all the itinerary calls, you can choose your own dates, you will thoroughly wallow in peace and quiet, and do exactly what you want, with no one adding unwanted extras to your already very long bucket list!

Are you travelling alone, or going solo? This is the first decision you need to make, as it will condition other key factors, such as accommodation, transport and even your dining options.

Remember, you can't see it all.

It doesn't matter how long you stay in Provence, it will never be long enough!

There is so much to do, between the iconic local markets, the beautiful hilltop villages, the winding country raods, the Lavender fields to visit, the art galleries and wonderful bistros...it is literally never ending.

In my experience, the more people you travel with, the longer your list of must-do's. Whatever you do, don't fall into the trap of over filling your days. In my humble opinion, the single best thing about Provence is the "Art de Vivre". It is a hard thing to explain. For the moment, let's just say that to really experience Provence you need to take the time slow down, to observe life around you, to breathe, to listen, to sit down for a coffee (or 2) in the town square, to shop for fresh fruit at the market, to sip rosé while you watch the sun go down. Don't be so busy 'doing' Provence that you forget to experience it. And let's face it, you'll just have to come back some day...

How will you get around?

One of the things I love most about the Luberon is the pace of life.

You won't meet tourist buses here, there are no highways or long waits at the train station. But that is also the trap. If you are not prepared to navigate the French roads (and they are often narrow and winding) it is hard to get around.

I highly recommend hiring a car. Personally, I find the roads (mostly) perfectly drivable and I couldn't contemplate coming here and being reliant on the patchy public transport system. You could stay in a town, such as Avignon or Aix-en-Provence but while they are in Provence, won't "experience" Provence in the same way. The Luberon is famous for it's tiny perched villages and its daily markets, it's hidden restaurants and magnificent scenery. It takes time and, frankly, it takes wheels. If you are travelling solo, but don't want to drive, you might want to consider signing up for a group tour, or a retreat. We have designed intimate retreats for up to just 8 people, for exactly this reason. It is so hard for solo travellers to experience Provence as it should be, this is the raison d'être for Les Collections Vauvert.

And lastly, chose your base.

This is really where all roads lead, and frankly, each to their own.

Are you an urban dweller, craving the buzz of a bigger town, like Aix-en-Provence or Avignon? You will be further from the perched villages and relaxed lifestyle, but right in the heart of French chic, the latest restaurants and trendy bars.

Do you like a smaller town, with its little shops and restaurants, its little market and cosy apartments often nestled under the eaves? This is a great solution if you love your morning coffee at the local bar and want to walk to the bistro for dinner in the evening.

Or are you a Country Lover? Think utter peace and quiet, and a glass of rosé by the pool as you watch the sunset over the fields. You won't have the convenience of walking to the local restaurant but you will often have the perfect base for discovering the entire region, and you will discover nature, and calm the Provencal way.

Whether you are travelling alone, or with your friends and family, whether you are self drive or a solo non driving explorer, the Luberon is full of possibilities.

While it can seem like mission impossible sometimes, organising the perfect trip to idyllic Provence, I assure you that it is absoltuly feasible, and utterly worth it!

At Villa Vauvert, we offer a range of different ways to experience Provence: