France with Friends; Tours that feel more like traveling with friends! Celebrating 32 years as a boutique tour operator, France Off the Beaten Path Tours offers a unique, immersive, and personalized travel experience for those looking to explore the hidden gems of France beyond the typical tourist experience. The company focuses on designing and delivering authentic cultural encounters and excursions, and every tour offers travelers a deeper understanding of French culture, history, people, and way of life. From time spent with local French friends, some of France's most celebrated professionals, to quaint and artist villages, spectacular countryside landscapes, private tours of historical sites, and uniquely personalized dining, France Off the Beaten Path Tours offers a truly unforgettable journey off the well-trodden tourist trail.
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Is France Off the Beaten Path legit?
France Off the Beaten Path (traveloffthebeatenpath.com) has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 100 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Events & Entertainment and its reputation is excellent. Praise is nearly unanimous, with 98% rating it 4 stars or higher; The business has replied to 50% of negative reviews; 31 of them were added in the last 12 months. Last updated 2026-08-28.
What reviewers say
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Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Consumers consistently share that the staff and guides are exceptionally knowledgeable, kind, and always go above and beyond to ensure everyone feels safe, welcome, and special. Visitors frequently feel that exploring destinations with them is just like traveling alongside trusted companions who deeply understand the local culture and hidden gems.
Guests truly love the wonderfully planned itineraries, charming accommodations, and spectacular dining experiences filled with delicious local food and regional wine. Many people eagerly mention that these carefully curated journeys create magical memories, genuine camaraderie, and lasting connections that stay with them forever.
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The Perfect Way to Truly Experience the Magic of France
Imagine visiting France with trusted friends who know the language and culture and are eager for you to experience what the country has to offer as well. People who’ve put time and effort into coming up with a thoughtfully planned itinerary, one with the perfect mix of organized events and time to explore and learn on your own.
When I read about the Champagne Tour offered by Off the Beaten Path, it immediately appealed to me. I thought it would be a nice way for my husband and me to have some unique experiences on our first trip to France together, but it was so much more.
Christy and Summer were amazing tour guides. It was like travelling with very old and dear friends, and their enthusiasm was contagious. They’d lived in France for a combined total of more than fifty years, so they were the perfect hosts. They referred to us as their “guests,” and that is truly how we felt. And even though they’ve taken thousands of people on tours throughout the years, they somehow managed to make our tour feel absolutely special.
On the first day, they surprised us with a chance to experience “saboring.” Also known as sabrage, this is a celebratory technique for opening a champagne bottle using a dull blade. This was followed that night by an amazing dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant, and the rest of the trip was amazing as well. We visited four champagne houses, learned the history of the region, ate at other fantastic restaurants, and we even had a pastry-making class. Every moment was wonderful, and Christy and Summer made the whole experience unforgettable.
As we were exploring the cellar of our third or fourth champagne house and I watched Christy smile at an art display of metal butterflies hanging in the tunnel, I asked her how she stayed so enthusiastic after doing this so many times. She said, “Every time the experience is different, and every time I learn something new.”
This, I think, is what makes Off the Beaten Path so very special. And this is also why you need to experience it yourself.
This was a terrific, well-run trip. I was traveling alone (for the first time) and unsure how it would be, but everyone was friendly and welcoming and the tour guides were exceptional. Each day was planned with precision but also left room for some unexpected detours. The hotel was lovely and in a great location in St Remy. I could have stayed longer. Wonderful meals, wine and sight seeing.
Hiking in the lavender fields was so special. I loved this trip and highly recommend it. I hope to take another Off the Beaten Path tour in the near future.
Taste only the Best Champagne in Epernay and Reims with France Off the Beaten Path Tours.
France Off the Beaten Path Tours are packed with food, fun, and, by the end of the tour, new friends for life! Christy offers several tours to different areas of France, allowing you to choose an area that interests you. I have enjoyed eight (8) tours with Christy, from my first tour in June, 2018 until my two most current ones, both in September/October, 2025, and I am always ready to return. My first tour was Provence Lavender Tour in June/July, 2018. My second tour was a fall trip to Provence in September, 2021. My third, fourth, and fifth trip was from September 18, 2022 through October 9, 2022, visiting Bordeaux, Loire Valley, and Provence - back to back; my sixth trip was to the Champagne Region of both Epernay, the Capital of Champagne, and Reims, also known for its prestigious Champagne Houses. And, September/October, 2025, my most recent trips, my seventh to Province and my eighth to Champagne area once again. September, 2025 was a momentous birthday for me, and Christy and her wonderful staff made sure this year was my best birthday ever! And of course it was! Christy provided a private tour to Paris and to the Champagne areas for myself and 3 of my friends - whom I met on or through Christy's tours. Christy and her entire staff/guides attempt to accommodate one's every little desire of things to do or places to see. The hotels she chooses are all small privately owned boutique hotels, with owners that welcome Christy's guests like they are family; her numerous friendships with well known Chefs - many with Michelin Stars - guarantee that you are eating the best food in France! And, of course, my favorite: the most exquisite wine and Champagne you will ever taste! From the prestigious Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine produced in the Southern Rhone Valley of Provence , to France's wine capital of Bordeaux, where one tastes France's most prestigious red wines, to the beautiful Champagne Capital of Epernay (and Reims) where you will enjoy the ultimate of all - Champagne! Christy takes you inside many prestigious Champagne Houses, but the ultimate reward of this tour is visiting France's oldest Champagne House, which, until this year (2025), was not open to the public. Christy did not allow that to prevent her from doing what she does best - "think outside the box" and she excitedly accepted the challenge of negotiating with Gosset so her guests could take a private tour and tasting of this elegant, best Champagne ever - or at least I think it is! I hope this review paints a picture for everyone at what an innovative, adventurous, knowledgeable and just downright fun person Christy is. And she surrounds herself with the same type of people, as her guides are as fun and eager to provide their guests with the absolute best time of their lives! I am counting the days until I can return to visit Christy and take another tour with France Off The Beaten Path! One more thing, Christy will organize private tours as well!! I cannot recommend Christy and France Off The Beaten Path enough!!
Small group 5 day tour of the Loire Valley that by the end all (3 guides and 8 guests) were friend sorry to see the tour over. Stayed in one boutique hotel with marvelous rooms and great staff. Toured chateaux as well as had unique experiences and gourmet food. Oh! And the shopping! An experience of s as lifetime for a 75 year old female solo traveler.
Our guided tour of Provence was spectacular! We visited a different area each day after enjoying a wonderful breakfast buffet at the hotel. And the hotel was in the heart of St. Remy and was very comfortable and inviting.
Now to the hosts of this trip: Philippe was knowledgeable of the area and such fun. Isabelle and Summer bent over backwards to make sure that everyone had a terrific time and of course, having Christy join us was the icing on the cake.
This was my second tour with France off the Beaten Path! I highly recommend 🥰
My husband and I decided on a whim to sign up for the Provence tour with France off the Beaten Path. We were not disappointed. We sat back and soaked in all of the culture, delicious food, and great conversation. The team was outstanding and become fast friends. I arrange group tours myself and will definitely be arranging a tour as soon as I am able. Just book it.
This was the first time we took a group tour and it was perfect. Our guides were so attentive and responsive to everyone’s needs and questions. They did a great job bringing everyone together and within a day, our group felt like old friends. Lots of great food and wine along the way. Such a fun week.
It was a wonderful week full of treats and surprises. The hotel was outstanding along with the exceptional meals at different venues. We laughed often and learned more interesting history than we thought possible. Highly recommend France: Off the Beaten Path for an in depth visit in France.
Traveling with Off the Beaten Path was an excellent way to immerse into the local culture, dine and discover excellent cuisine, and most importantly, meet unforgettable people. We had an amazing time and loved our accommodations, guides. We will cherish our memories of how each and every day was a new adventure to unfold. Highly recommend!
Off the Beaten Track is just what you absolutely need
Dear Christie, Philippe, and Remi, I remember when my wife Susan suggested that we add a tour of Provence to our attendance at a family wedding in Aix en Provence. I normally plan our overseas adventures, but she said she had uncovered an interesting tour online and asked me to review the particulars. It occurred to both of us that the itinerary looked very comprehensive both in what we would see but also for what and how we would experience this unique area of France. From the very beginning you answered all our questions in a very timely mannerwhich made us very confident that we were in caring hands. I think there were two things that really were superlative. The first was the incredible staffing. Phillipe’s knowledge of the region and especially the arts was truly remarkable. In addition to having been a hotel manager in London and in St. Remy, he provided us with unexpected professionalism in relations with your clients. It was like having our own travelling5-star concierge. Having Remi, yet another professional guide, to assist Phillipe as his “Sweeper” was truly a special gift as our group scheduled for10 was only 8. Both had great senses of humor and a gift for making everyone in the group feel special and safe. Most importantly they transformed a group of unknown people quickly into a family. The second, I assume, lies with your design and that was the choice of how we would enjoy the food and wine of the region which was the prime reason for choosing “off the Beaten Path”. To start our tour with a meal prepared at the home of a truly fantastic chef Catherine Burtonboy ( La Mas de Lilou) was an act of true understanding of the “foodie”. It was truly a memorable evening and set the standard for the week in every meal we had; extremely unique and memorably delicious. Your choice of Maison Bernard in Maillane wasinspired by showcasing the cooking of a one-star chef and now owner, JeremyScalia and wife Julie. In my opinion, however, the meal prepared by Chef Jean-ClaudeAltmayer, a retired Michelin 2-star master, was the highpoint of our gastronomic adventure. I think we all wish to thank you for this incredible visit to Chateauneuf du Pape where we drank remarkable wine from Chateau Maucoil and a meal that we could have only dreamed of enjoying. I am happy to recommend your tours to my friends (as I have already done) and hope that Susan and I can take part in another regional adventure with you in the future. Merci beaucoup Bob and Susan Davis
This was our third trip with Christy, this time in Bordeaux and we had a wonderful time. As with the previous trips, Christy’s tours are very well planned, with a good mixture of activities, fabulous food and wine and great memories. Christy was ably assisted by Remi and Isabelle who were delightful.
Mary-Louise and Olivia
I’d highly recommend Off the Beaten Path & Christy Destremau for your next trip to France! Christy has been doing this for a few decades and it shows with her knowledge of history and her extensive network of great chefs, wine makers & excursions. We had a group of 9 family members of various ages & there was something that appealed to every age. We visited castles, chateaus, had dinner at an award winning French chef’s house, tasted the finest Loire Valley wines & had lunch in their family chateau, had a cooking class from another notable chef at his restaurant, but the highlight for all was a hot air balloon ride over the Loire River valley floating over castles, chateau’s & vineyards - absolutely breathtaking & magical! Our rooms fantastic at the centrally located Le Clos d’Amboise & the breakfast was outstanding! We had 3 vegans in our group, all the chefs & restaurants accommodated their dietary restrictions. Last but not least, Christy’s colleagues Remy & Christine were so helpful, caring & FUN!!
I wanted to experience Provence during lavender season
I wanted to experience Provence, France during the lavender season and chose France Off the Beaten Path after reading the group tour reviews; and they didn't disappoint!
My tour was in July 2025, which involved a mixed group of 10 people, and from the very beginning when I experienced travel problems with disrupted rail service from Nice because of wildfires around Marseille, Philippe our head tour guide, took immediate actions to provide me a driver to get me to St. Remy.
Our week's itinerary was very well thought-out and timely executed with plenty of personal time mixed in. We had three guides with us all week: Philippe, Summer and Isabelle, who were all well-versed in everything Provence and France. As a real perk, there were a couple days that the Owner Christy Destremau, who wasn't leading a tour herself, joined us during the day or for a couple meals. All of the meals we ate were 5 star; from the picnic lunch (with wine of course) under the trees at the lavender distillery that we toured, to a new restaurant of a favored Michelin Star chef, to the gourmet meal at Château Maucoil winery under the canopy of trees overlooking the vineyards in Chateauneuf-Du-Pape...
The Hotel Gounad in St. Remi that we were based in for the week was just lovely! Beautifully appointed, comfortable rooms and the people who worked there were very helpful and kind.
I would highly recommend this high end travel company if you want attention to detail and want to travel 'off the beaten path!'
After reading glowing reviews and being drawn by the promise of visiting Provence's famous lavender fields, I chose this small-group tour with high expectations. I'm delighted to say it exceeded every single one! From the moment of arrival until my reluctant departure, every detail was orchestrated with precision and genuine care.
Our guides—Philippe, Summer, and Isabelle—along with company owner Christy and driver Philippe, were outstanding. They shared their genuine passion for Provence while making our small group feel like longtime friends. As a solo traveler, I felt completely welcomed and included from day one.
This tour represents small-group travel at its finest. The combination of passionate guides, perfect accommodations, exceptional dining, and seamless organization created an experience that was both educational and deeply enjoyable. For anyone seeking an authentic, well-curated Provence experience with personal attention, I cannot recommend this tour highly enough.
We had an absolutely unforgettable experience with Off the Beaten Path Tour of Provence. From start to finish, the journey was a perfect blend of curated adventure, warm hospitality, and authentic local charm.
Christy, Summer, Isabelle, and Philippe were far more than just guides—they were storytellers, cultural ambassadors, and ultimately, friends. Their passion for Provence shone through in every detail, from the thoughtfully chosen sites to the intimate dining experiences that gave us a true taste of the region.
Each day brought breathtaking scenery, extraordinary meals, and genuine connections—not only with the hosts but also with our fellow travelers, who quickly became part of the joy. Whether we were exploring hilltop villages, savoring local wines, or laughing over dinner under the Provençal sky, every moment felt carefully crafted and completely magical.
We can say without hesitation that we will absolutely travel with Off the Beaten Path again. Thank you for a truly remarkable and enriching journey—we carry the memories (and friendships!) with us still.
Christy has put together a TOP NOTCH team and great agenda's - truly "off the beaten path" and we had experiences we would not have encountered by ourselves. From sightseeing, to fabulous lunches, exquisite dinners and history, this tour met and exceeded our expectations - we will be back
Our tour of Provence could not have been better. Philippe and Summer were more than just great tour guides, they were very gracious hosts. Because we were a small group of 3, they were able to take us to some unexpected places for photo ops and accommodated our special requests. We loved our hotel in St Remy and really enjoyed our daily excursions to the other towns in the regions. And the food and wine were excellent and we felt like VIP's wherever we went! The pace of the tour was perfect and one we would highly recommend to others. Thanks so much for an unforgettable experience!
I took 2 trips with France Off the Beaten Path in 2024, one to the Loire Valley with my husband (May), and a second to Provence with my sister (September). Both were amazing. In the Loire Valley, we saw chateaux I have dreamed about for years, as well as enjoying wonderful food in restaurants, a family-run vineyard and at the home of a local chef. In Provence, the food odyssey continued at excellent restaurants, two vineyards and the home of a woman who has followed up one successful career with another as a gracious host who prepares delicious meals. We visited lovely towns, admired spectacular scenery and enjoyed a market day, an olive oil tasting and even some Roman ruins. Be sure to take advantage of all the experience of Christy and Summer, and in Provence, Philippe, to find out more about the area and its history, and if you want to see something in particular, they may be able to help you fit it in, with the group or on your own. They and Christine, who drove the group in the Loire Valley, were always happy to answer questions and offered great suggestions about what we might like to do whenever we had free time to explore an area on our own. FOTBP is a great way to experience France!
Not so much procrastination but a plan, I decided to hold off my post about my time with Off the Beaten Path, Provence (May 21-26, 2024) in order to do an experiment with my thoughts and memories. Before we left for Christy's tour, one of my friends and travel companions said, "this will be the trip of a lifetime for you." The only way for me to gauge the truth of that claim was to wait awhile (8 months in this case) and see whether in fact that promise held up to the intangible but real sense of happiness, delight, and nostalgia that comes along with memories of experiences past. Verdict: Absolutely! I've thought about our OBP Provence tour, with our charismatic, delightfully knowledgeable, guide Philippe, the warm, smart, and ebullient Summer, the expert driver Philippe (2), and -- not to be forgotten-- my seven wonderful tour mates, first strangers, now friends -- almost every day since then.
In a world rife with trouble and trauma, I have found myself going back to moments (mental and material) that relive the tour's lively, leisurely, and well-organized travels throughout Provence -- the delightful Hotel Gounod and its expert staff, the beauty of the landscape and the hospitality of our many French hosts (chef Catherine!, chef and architect Michelle!), so many superb meals, none of which I'll ever be able to replicate, the "French pour" accompaniments, historical sites both intimate and grand, the "tastings," the beauties from Saint Rémy & Les Baux-de Provence, to the Luberon with a walk in the poppy fields, seaside and perfumes in Cassis, a picture perfect lunch with the unforgettable chef Jean-Claude in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the markets and cobblestone streets, the colors of Provence, and all the rest (and the restfulness). Philippe and Summer, you were the (five) stars of the show!
It's now 2025, time to sign up for this year's OBP Provence tour. I'm here to bet that it may well be the experience of a lifetime for you, as it was for me.
