Provence lavender tour

Planet

All guests on the Best of Provence tour will receive a welcome bag of products produced by local artisans. The bag containing the goodies is made by the local school. Revenue from sales of this bag directly supports local initiatives such as taking the children out on week-long stays at eco-lodges and camp sites in the neighboring nature park, ensuring they grow-up with a respect for and pride in the regional nature park in which they live.

The Best of Provence Tour includes wine and olive oil tastings. All vineyards and olive oil producers visited are organic. This method of production directly benefits flora and fauna in the surrounding nature park. However it is more expensive and tourist activities such as tastings and tours help subsidize this method of production.

To reduce single use plastic, guests are provided with a water bottle which can be replenished throughout the day. Water on the tour is from a local source.

People

Built from the 12th century onwards the Chateau de Lourmarin, is funded by a local arts foundation. It's objective is to encourage talented young musicians and artists . It provides a place of residence and also offers the opportunity to perform to the local community, thereby keeping arts alive in an otherwise rural area. The final afternoon of the trip offers an opportunity to visit the Chateau and contribute to the foundation.

The Best of Provence tour is run by a French company based in the village where guests are accommodated. The company works exclusively with Provencal people and companies to provide the tour. By booking the tour guests are directly contributing to sustaining the vibrant artisan community of the Luberon: the winemakers and staff of the chateau; the local chef whose menu is built on seasonality and the produce of local farmers; the artisan soap maker whose products are found in the welcome bag etc...the list is long and the benefits directly felt by the people involved.