Itinerary

5 Days in Provence, an unforgettable experience

The lavender fields are different every year, so it’s difficult to fix an itinerary in advance. It will depend on what the fields look like this year, what the weather does, etc. However we will spend the first days around Valensole, before to move to the area around Roussillion. The approximate itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 – Arrival before 16:00
We all arrive at our ‘chambre d’ hôtes’, a typical French bed & breakfast, where we can settle in our rooms and meet the rest of the group. Once everyone is settled we go for an early dinner, so we finish before the sun goes down. This way we have time to be in the fields before sunset and take our first photos of this tour.

Day 2 – Valensole and surroundings (Breakfast included)
We wake up before dawn and drive to one of the lavender fields. We want to be there before the sun get above the mountains and the fields are touched by the early sunrays. Once we had enough, we drive back to our chamber d’ hôtes and have a well deserved breakfast.
During the rest of the morning we will go through some of the photos we have taken so far and we will introduce you to Adobe’s Lightroom. With Lightroom you can bring your photos to life through a bit of editing. As you will see, this will make all the difference.
The afternoon is for relaxing at the pool or to look for a nice composition for this evening. As you will have guessed, dinners are early on this tour, but this leaves us more opportunities during the evening’s golden hour.

Day 3 – Valensole and surroundings (Breakfast included)
An early rise once again to make the best of the golden hour, there are many locations to choose from. After breakfast we will proceed with a photo review and a Lightroom session.
The afternoon is to relax or to do some sight seeing in the surroundings. In the evening we go back to one of the lavender fields for our sunset shoot.

Day 4 – Roussillion and surroundings (Breakfast included)
After our by now usual sunrise shoot and breakfast, we pack our things and drive west to Roussilion. We will see the landscape change. There are less lavender fields and more vineyards. We will walk through some of the little towns or we could take the Ocre path, where the rocks were and still are used for pigment in paint. The rocks here range from yellow to red and painters like Gauguin and Van Gogh have used pigments found here.
In the evening we could go to Gordes and take photos during the blue hour or pick one of the fields during sunset.

Day 5 – Roussillion and surroundings (Breakfast included)
One last early rise to visit Roussillion when it’s still quiet. The red and yellow rocks light up with the first sun light. We will walk through the little streets of this old town situated on top of the rocks to photograph the coloured shutters while most are still asleep. After breakfast this tour has already come to an end. Everyone can proceed their holidays on their own (there’s a lot more to see than what we can show you in a few days) or travel back home with new memories and many photos.

What to expect

The Provence is beautiful in this time of the year. It’s full summer now and the lavender blooming is at its peak. You will be amazed by the smell of lavender as we park our car next to a lavender field. This photography tour will be a delight not just for the eye, but also for your nose and ears. The lavender fields are literally buzzing with activity… of honey bees. While the lavender fields have become very popular over the last years, there are still plenty of fields with few people, so we can take our photos in peace and enjoy the scenery.

The rows of lavender make for many compositions and in combination with wheat or sunflowers the possibilities are endless. The Provence is not just beautiful for its farmland, but also for its little picturesque towns. Time seems to have come to a stand still and there is this retro or vintage feeling when we walk around the little streets.

In the Provence we can really experience the essence of summer: the scent of lavender, the constant sound of cicadas, mature wheat and a late afternoon thunder storm. It’s the perfect setting to immerse ourselves in these sceneries and to learn more about photography. To get away from our daily routine and follow the sun’s rhythm.

This tour is suitable for any level of photography. If you are just getting started, you can learn the basics. If you’re already skilled, you will find plenty of locations where you can express your creativity.

What’s Included

• Accommodation in bed & breakfast
• Breakfast
• Tutoring in photography on location
• Image review during the workshop
• Introduction to post processing with Lightroom

What’s Not Included

• Transport to and from the Provence
• Transport during the tour
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Lunch, dinner and drinks
• All not explicitly stated in ‘What’s Included’

Important Information

Travel/medical insurance for the duration of the tour is compulsory. Note that this insurance shall also cover repatriation. At the start of the tour you will be asked for a paper copy of your insurance, without which you will not be able to participate.

What you need to bring

This journey is fit for all levels of photography. You can bring any photo camera you wish, but to make the most of this tour we suggest a (D)SLR. If you already know how to set the various programs, we will then help you to use them for the best results.

The following list indicates a few suggestions, and give an idea what would be useful:

• DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or mirrorless camera
• Lens 24-70mm
• Lens up to 200 mm
• Tripod (a necessity for low light photography)
• Polarizing filter
• Extra battery
• Memory cards

Cancellation Policy

The deposit of 50% is refundable until the minimum number of participants is reached. You will be notified when this is the case. Once the minimum number is reached, all accommodation, 4×4, etc. are booked. From this moment we won’t be in the position to refund the 50% deposit. In the case you cancel your tour more than 2 months before the start of the tour, we can refund 50% of the full price. From 2 months up to the departure of the tour, no refund can be made. For this reason we suggest you to get a cancellation insurance.