Provence by Design Trip, October 8-14, 2024

Come soak up the sun as we spend a week connecting with local artists, eating incredible food, exploring picturesque villages and markets, enjoying each others’ company, and more in the South of France.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Learn how to cook a delicious provençale lunch with a local chef in her charming kitchen

• Hunt for treasure at a legendary flea market in a river village complete with bridges and water mills

• Take an exclusive tour of a world-renowned design team’s private home

• Eat and drink in incredible, hand-picked restaurants, quaint cafés, and local bakeries

• Walk through a jaw-dropping landscape of vineyards and rolling hills, dotted with vibrant contemporary art

• Spend a day with a local artist who will share her story and introduce us to some of her favorite local makers and ateliers

• Have free time to wander and explore atmospheric towns full of shops, museums, and lovely architecture

• Take photos in a variety of picturesque locations

• Stay in a thoughtfully designed boutique hotel located in one of the officially designated “Most Beautiful Villages of France”

• Experience a creative workshop from a local artist in a lovely countryside home

• Explore the home of a legendary artist from history, surrounded by enchanting Mediterranean scenery

• Be transported from village to village by an attentive driver in a well-appointed van

• Travel with an unusually small group, which makes the experience that much more intimate and special

• Feel the camaraderie created when traveling with a group of diverse people who come together over their love of travel, art & design, kindness, and curiosity about the world

• Take advantage of the bespoke services of your trip leader, Eva Jorgensen, who absolutely loves finding & sharing delightful, under-the-radar places, hunting for treasure at flea markets, small museums, local shops, connecting around the dinner table with friends old and new, and taking care of her beloved travelers. And in case you’re curious about other qualifications——she’s a 17 year design industry veteran with an MFA degree who has learned through hard-won experience how to take good care of her clients and deliver fantastic results. (Hear from past travelers themselves here and here.) Plus, she’s a lifelong Francophile who speaks French and is the author of Paris by Design: An Inspired Guide to the City’s Creative Side (Abrams NY). You can learn more about Eva here.

October 8-14, 2024 (6 nights). In addition to extensive trip planning, leading, and priceless local knowledge and connections, all exclusive tours, activities, local creative host visits, museum entries, hotel lodging, and meals are included (except where mentioned in the below itinerary). Group size is limited to 11 participants. Admission by application only. See more details below and feel free to email hello@evajorgensen.com with questions.

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Thanks to Jane Merritt (a past participant!) for the photos on this page, and to Chaunte Vaughn for the portrait of me with friends.

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR TRIP LEADER:

A Provence trip is always such a treat. There’s something so alluring about the light, the landscape, the people, and the architecture of this region, which is why it has attracted artists for centuries. I can’t wait to share my many delightful discoveries with you!

And as you can imagine, it’s SO much fun exploring Provence together, seeking out fantastic art and design. But it also goes deeper than that. We’ll come away feeling inspired and replenished for whatever comes next, having connected and created beautiful memories with fellow travelers and local creatives. What an opportunity to take a breather from our day to day lives and explore the life-giving energy that the South of France has to offer!

So let’s go to Provence! Let me take care of every little detail (so that you don’t have to).

Looking forward to chatting soon…

x Eva

 Quick Links:

“Traveling is such a joy and privilege, and Eva definitely approaches it with care. Her love of France and its people is evident. We were able to participate in many visits with local artists and authors in their charming studios and homes, and those experiences were priceless and absolute highlights!”

Danielle w.

Itinerary

DAY 1

We’ll arrange to pick you up from the Marseille airport or Avignon train station and drive you through the gorgeous countryside to the lovely boutique hotel where we’ll be staying. As with every day on the trip, we’ll have a helpful and kind English-speaking driver to transport us around the countryside in his well-appointed Mercedes van.

Next, we’ll stroll to the nearby chateau to see its wonderful architecture, interiors, and views over the town we’ll call home for the week, which has the official designation as one of “The Most Beautiful Villages of France”.

Afterwards, we’ll get acquainted with each other while enjoying an apéro (before dinner drink) at a charming local café.

In the evening, we’ll eat at the hotel’s stylish restaurant which has a focus on local, French, organic fare.

DAY 2

Every morning of the trip we’ll be greeted with a delicious breakfast waiting for us downstairs in the hotel restaurant. We’ll have our pick of fresh-squeezed juices, organic eggs, homemade bread and croissants, seasonal fruit, granola, and more.

After breakfast, we’re off to learn how to cook provençale classics with an accomplished (yet down to earth) local chef. Together, we’ll prepare lunch in her lovely country kitchen. And then of course, we’ll sit down and enjoy the fruits of our labors!

This afternoon, we’ll have free time to explore the charming streets and shops of St-Remy-de-Provence before we head to the atmospheric home of a legendary, historical artist in the Mediterranean countryside. As with all our moments of free time this week, if you’d like recommendations of what to do, see, eat, etc. we are happy to help.

For dinner, we’ll eat at a cozy pizza place just down the cobblestone street from our hotel.

DAY 3

Today we’ll be joined by an artist who lives in the area and is very well connected with the local arts community. She’ll take us around the Luberon Valley for exclusive visits with a couple of her favorite local artisans in their homes and ateliers. What a treat!

First stop is the home and studio of an accomplished textile artist whose stylishly decorated home is literally carved out of stone.

Then we’ll get to tour an incredible home with an unparalleled view, followed by a light, refreshing lunch with the lovely couple who owns the home.

One of Picasso’s muses, who was a gifted artist herself, had a home in a nearby village, which has now been turned into a museum and artist residency. We’ll have the privilege of a private tour and get to learn about this place and the fascinating artist who called it home for many years.

In the early evening, we’ll get to experience a cocktail dinatoire at a new art gallery in town, where we’ll be introduced to a group of warm and talented local creatives. This is truly something travelers wouldn’t normally get to experience——although that goes for many of the experiences on this itinerary! :)

DAY 4

Free time this morning to explore the charming shops, pedestrian streets, and open air market in the village where we’ll be staying.

In the afternoon, we’ll experience the magic of taking a creative workshop featuring antique textiles in the lush garden of a local writer.

Then we’ll learn how artisanal provençale soap is made and have a chance to shop the heavenly scented (and highly practical) wares.

We’ll end the day with dinner at a convivial restaurant in a nearby village that’s decorated in a classic south of France style.

DAY 5

We’re off to the countryside for a morning strolling the grounds of an incredible vineyard / outdoor art museum. From the museum shop and cafe designed by an internationally renowned architect, to the varied landscape that turns from vineyards to woods to rolling hills, this place is an absolute feast for the eyes.

For lunch, we’ll choose from a menu of freshly made pasta, pizzas made in wood-fired ovens, and farm fresh salads while sitting on a lovely terrace.

Next, we’ll have free time for the rest of the day. It will start in the nearby Aix-en-Provence. This is a legendary town for a reason, and the best way to experience it is to wander its delightful little streets and squares. Visit local museums, try out the local pastries, shop, or just sit at a sidewalk café and watch the world go by.

After being driven back to our home village, we’ll have more free time to have dinner at our choice of restaurants. (Don’t worry, we’ll have suggestions if you’d like them! And that goes for anytime there’s free time during the trip.)

DAY 6

Today is all about one of the most incredible flea markets in the entire world. We’ll spend the morning getting acquainted with this charming town and its markets, waterways, bridges, and shops, along with free time to explore.

Then we’ll take a break for lunch at a restaurant with a wonderful, shady terrace and a fresh menu that changes daily according to what’s best at the market.

After lunch, we’ll have free time to explore more of the local antique and design shops, take a rest in one of the many lovely cafes, or even explore an art foundation. Whatever your heart desires!

For our final evening, we’ll say our goodbyes over an intimate “girl dinner” of enticing local cheese, bread, crudités, honey, wine, and more.

DAY 7

As with every other morning of our trip, a beautiful breakfast spread will be waiting in the hotel dining room before you head off on your next adventure. You’ll be dropped off at the airport or train station, and we’ll all come away feeling inspired and replenished for whatever comes next!

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Eva Jorgensen reserves the right to change the itinerary because of local schedules, weather, or if something new and delightful becomes available.

If you have any food allergies, please let us know as soon as you apply so we can make arrangements to accommodate you as best we can. Reach out to hello@evajorgensen.com with any questions.

Still wondering if this trip is for you? Ask yourself these questions. Are you?

• Open minded and curious about other people and cultures?

• Interested in art and design?

• Excited about the itinerary and the idea of exclusive meetings with local creatives?

• Prepared to be on your feet, possibly walking on cobblestones, climbing stairs, and navigating narrow sidewalks for most of the day? (Up to 20,000 steps per day.)*

• Kind, respectful, and conscientious to others around you, in spite of any differences that may exist?

• A Francophile—or open to the idea of becoming one? 😉 

• Willing to go with the flow——even if something unexpected comes up——which is often the case while traveling, of course? 

• Someone who appreciates traveling with a guide—the time and worry this kind of experience saves you, the expertise it brings to your fingertips, and the doors it opens?

• Looking forward to connecting with a small group of fellow design-loving, kind-hearted, adventurous travelers——during long, leisurely dinners, while walking or driving from place to place, during workshops together, etc?

• Able to get around on your own and/or with a fellow traveler during free time. (Don’t worry, we’re always happy to help with recommendations of places to visit, and will help orient you before setting you loose. There are always other travelers in the group to buddy up with, too.)

• Willing to conform to France’s requirements for entering the country, visiting restaurants, museums, etc? As of August 1, 2022, there are no special Covid regulations in place. Please be aware that these rules may change at any time.

If you found yourself nodding yes to each of these questions, then I’m guessing this trip is for you! But feel free to reach out to me personally if you have any additional questions: hello@evajorgensen.com.

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*For travelers who may not feel up to the highly active nature of our trips, we have some creative retreats in the works that might be a better fit. Sign up here to stay in the loop.

“I absolutely loved my trip with Eva. Her planning is thoughtful and thorough, which allowed me to simply enjoy the loveliness of France without having to give any thought to logistics. Because of this, I was able to soak in every experience fully. I look forward to another trip curated by Eva, hopefully sometime soon.”

SERENA T.

Provence by Design Trip Application: October 8-14, 2024

FAQ

WHAT WILL WE DO DURING FREE TIME?

• We’re happy to help give you personalized recommendations so that you can make the most of your free time in each spot! If you email us leading up to the trip, we can provide written recommendations based on your interests and preferences, or feel free to chat with Eva during a meal, a van ride, etc. during the course of the trip.

• There will also be some curated suggestions of what to do, see, eat, etc. in the detailed itinerary you’ll receive leading up to the trip. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of amazing options!

• If you are coming alone but would rather buddy up during free time, don’t worry, there’s always an opportunity to do so with your fellow travelers.

WILL I GEL WITH THE GROUP?

• Short answer, yes! If you’ve read through this entire trip info page and it feels like a great fit for you, then you’ll be a great fit for the group, too. Looking forward to meeting you. ♥️

• For these trips, we welcome a diverse group of travelers——age, race, background, occupation, sexual orientation, gender, location, etc. (More on this below.) This makes our experience more rich as we each bring different skills, experience, knowledge, and more to the table. That said, because we’re all drawn to this kind of trip, we all share a love of travel, beautiful things, artists, creativity, under-the-radar gems, as well as an openness, kindness, and curiosity about the world. So in that sense, we end up finding out that we have much more in common than not. It’s a beautiful thing to see unfold and honestly, you’ll probably be surprised at how quickly the group gels and how much our bonds with our fellow travelers enrich our overall experience. In fact, this seems to always end up being one of our travelers favorite aspects of the trip.

• However, in the interest of full transparency, we should let you know that although our trips are open to all genders, so far only women have chosen to come along. Which means that there’s a lot of wonderful and powerful feminine energy on these trips——which we love! But if you’re anyone else who welcomes that energy, then we welcome you and think you’ll also have a great time!

• One of our past travelers described our trips as “group travel for people who don’t like group travel”, and we think that’s pretty accurate, ha! There isn’t a typical guide with a microphone and a red umbrella, no giant tour bus, no pat explanations or memorized speeches you have to sit through. We connect with locals, keep the group size small, and focus on lesser known (yet utterly delightful) places. Of course, there are also people who come on our trips who love the more typical group travel experience, too.

• From a practical standpoint, we’ll arrange to have a Zoom call and start a group text thread in the weeks leading up to the trip. This helps to break the ice before our travels even start, so that we’ll be greeted by friendly faces when we arrive.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICING?

• Everything mentioned in the above itinerary.

• A trip designer (Eva) who is passionate about doing extremely thorough research and in-person scouting to put together a transformative experience for everyone involved.

• A trip leader (also Eva 😘) who loves taking care of her travelers and every little detail, speaks French, has an MFA in fine art, 17 years experience in the design world, is the author of Paris by Design, and has priceless local knowledge, connections, and experience.

• A small group size. Most guided trips have at least 20——if not 50!——people in the group. We keep our Provence trip group size to 11 participants at most, in order to move around in a more nimble fashion and have a more intimate experience.

• All exclusive visits and workshops with artists, museum entries, tours, etc. as listed in the itinerary. These are incredibly unique and valuable experiences with local creatives that most travelers wouldn’t be able to have on their own—often with contacts Eva has nurtured for years.

• A group of vetted, fellow travelers who are generous in spirit, up for adventure, appreciative of design, and looking forward to traveling and bonding with each other.

• Tips for servers, guides, local creative hosts, and the hotel front desk.

• A room with bathroom in a stylish boutique hotel in one of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Either double or single occupancy, based on availability and which option you sign up for.

• All food, soft drinks, and 1-2 glasses of wine for every meal mentioned in the itinerary, as well as any coffee or snack breaks included in the itinerary.

• A private chauffeur with a Mercedes sprinter van to drive us around while we are together as a group.

• Transfers at an allocated time to/from the Marseille airport and the Avignon TGV train station.

• 6 nights / 5 full days / 2 partial days.

WHAT IS THE TRIP PRICING?

• 4500€ for double occupancy and 4900€ for single occupancy (both types subject to availability).

• Note the price is listed in euros, as we price trips according to the currency of our destination. Conversion rates may vary, depending on when you pay.

• Once your application is accepted, you will be asked to pay a 50% deposit. The remainder will be due approximately 90 days before departure. But we can also offer payment plans upon request.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICING?

• Airfare (and any other transportation) to/from Provence.

• Any meals, transportation, or activities you do during free time. 

• Any personal souvenirs and other shopping purchases.

• Any additional alcohol beyond what is offered at meals.

• Travel insurance and trip medical coverage (both HIGHLY recommended). You can find more information about this here.

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

• Because of all the up-front costs and labor incurred from planning a highly curated trip like this, we cannot give refunds if you change your mind, become afraid to travel, or if something else comes up. Trip cancellation insurance with a Cancel for Any Reason rider, as well as medical and evacuation coverage is highly recommended for everyone.

• However, if we have someone on our waitlist who would like to take your place, and/or if you are able to find someone to fill your spot, you may transfer your spot to them, pending our approval and the standard application procedure.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE ARE RENEWED COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS OR A TRAVEL BAN?

• In the event of renewed Covid-19 travel-related restrictions or travel bans imposed by the relevant authorities in the US or in France that make it impossible to travel or to do the majority of the planned activities, we will postpone the trip to a later date, making our best efforts to choose new dates that work for everyone, so that you do not lose your deposit and we all still get to go on the trip.

• If you are unable to make the new dates work, and if we do not have someone on the wait list to take your spot, you may find someone to fill your spot, pending our approval.

WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES?

• We are committed to cultivating a culture of kindness and connectedness on this trip for all, and ask that all participants do the same.

• We believe in the transformative nature of travel, especially through connections made with people, whether they’re locals or fellow travelers.

• We are able to grow and learn better together with a diverse group of travelers. In recruiting for this trip, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, gender expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, size, beliefs, etc.

• Supporting, celebrating, and gathering inspiration from independent artists, makers, designers, artisans, chefs, etc. is a critical part of everything we do, including these trips & retreats, the Paris by Design book, Letters from Eva, etc.

• We know that giving back is important to many of you, and it’s an essential part of our ethos, too. A percentage of proceeds from each guided trip is donated to vetted non-profits doing crucial work. Non-profits we’ve donated to include our local food pantry, World Central Kitchen, First Peoples’ Fund, Give Kids the World Village, Active Minds, the United Way, The Trevor Project, International Rescue Committee, and more.

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Thanks to Jane Merritt (a past participant!) for the photos on this page, and to Chaunte Vaughn for the portrait of me with friends.

 “I have post travel euphoria and am up wide awake in middle of the night thinking about the amazing experiences. Was it last Saturday already that we were at the incredible flea market together? I was able to bring everything back home and am currently using and displaying all of it in my kitchen as I write!”

JENNY B.