Walking holiday in Provence

Walk the trails of Provence with a local, as your French tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that makes up this vibrant area. Wandering around historic towns, stopping off at vineyards, exploring an ancient Roman theatre and visiting secluded villages imparts to travellers an awareness of these valuable historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The people living in the region also have a rich and enduring culture, which is unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leader will help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’.

To support tour programs in France this operator is training tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. They prefer to give our patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as we feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people.

A good example is a stay at a working farm on the edge of the Luberon. This is not a traditional hotel and travellers are treated more like houseguests, who have come to stay for a week. The owner grows berries and flowers for sale in the local market and groups that come to stay provide an important supplementary source of revenue. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities.