Boundless thanks & highest praise to…
Boundless thanks & highest praise to Off the Beaten Path, LLC for a wonderful tour of Provence. Our experience created memories, and friends, that will last our lifetime. From start to finish, the journey was both seamless and utterly enjoyable. The website was accurate and informative. Once we registered for the tour, the communication from OTBP was very helpful. We knew what to pack and to expect. Shortly following our arrival at the Avignon rail station, we were greeted by the broad, shining smile of Summer, who was a guide and quickly became a friend. She was always helpful, prepared and pleasant. What a joy! As the adventure began, it quickly became apparent just how knowledgeable Phillipe, our lead tour guide, was with regard to Southern France. He offered so much information, along with humor. Phillipe shared details involving history, geography, and geology. Plus, he answered all of our questions about wine. Our welcome dinner with Chef Catherine at her farmhouse was a perfect time to get to know others on the tour. The food was marvelous, and Catherine was welcoming & fun. The next day, we enjoyed our first tour of St. Remy and its market. There were vendors offer local goods, and we bought some souvenirs to bring home. Then we hit the road. The countryside was lovely, and our lunch, with included eggplant, cheese, chicken, bread & fresh dessert was magnificent. Our driver (Phillipe #2) was very thoughtful and he kept us moving from one highlight to the next. Day three included lots of lovely lavender fields. Plus, we visited a lavender distillery. Phillipe provided information to help us understand this significant local flower. Again, the countryside was lovely, and we bonded further with our new-found friends on the tour. On the fourth day, we journeyed to the Mediterranean Coast. The sea was magnificent. We enjoyed a nice boat tour of the coastline. And then we spent time in Cassis, walking, shopping and eating. We even got to visit a perfumery that has been in operation for centuries! After we returned to St. Remy, we had a cozy group dinner in a pop up restaurant (in a former church)! The appetizers, entrees (lamb, vegetable lasagna and more) and desserts (and bread and wine) were incredible. The following day, we ventured to Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. We toured the vineyard and learned more about this region's special wine. And then, Chef Jean-Claude treated us to a fantastic lunch. And he even added some humor and song to heighten our fun. That evening, we enjoyed another outstanding dinner in St. Remy, with our friends on the tour, along with Phillipe, Summer and even Christy, the founder and owner of OTBP. Once again, memories were made. If you have interest in small group tours of regional sites with unique character, I cannot offer a higher recommendation than I would for Off the Beaten Path. Christy has curated an adventure that involves one highlight after another. My wife and I will never forget this wonderful trip, and we're already talking about a return to France for another experience with Christy, her team and Off the Beaten Path!