Provence's Grand Canyon & Lavender: Small Group Journey

The reason for the 4stars and not 5, in the fall, no lavender fields, however we seen a little patch by the road and had a good giggle. Our driver Christof was awesome and friendly. We visited a small waterfall and a little lavender shop where they make their own oil. We visited a pretty little town with hundreds of years of a star suspended over the town, nice lunch on own at a recommended restaurant. Note, you will hours in the van looking at gorges. We did see a man made reservoir. A nice touch was to see eagles flying in a canyon. Be careful of the step at the last rest stop gas station, poorly made into a v and tripping hazard with a distraction of a purple plant next to it. lol One of our tour members had fun shaking apple and walnut trees. Christof was nice enough at the end of the tour to drive through old town Nice so we could see it before dropping us off. Overall, we had a lovely time.

We went on this tour mid-July. Our driver (Vasily) was more of a chauffeur than a guide. He was more interested in demonstrating his Mario Andretti-style driving (with children in the van) than in showing us the sites. He skipped the lavender field entirely. While we understood that the fields may or may not be in bloom, we were still expecting to see them. At this time I have a complaint in to Viator, and am awaiting a partial refund.

This was a wonderful experience! Laurent was our guide, and he was very knowledgeable, funny and tried to accommodate everyone in the group in terms of their interests. He even knew where to get the best pastries from! The sites visited were beautiful, and wonderful to immerse in. Definitely worth it!

We booked the Grand Canyon of Europe and Lavender Fields tour expecting an English-language experience, but were extremely disappointed. Despite the tour being advertised in English, our guide, Isa, spoke in French for about 85% of the time. When I asked for clarification, Isa told me there was a family from Quebec who didn't speak English—so apparently, the rest of us were sidelined for their sake. Her response? “If you don’t like it, you should book a private tour.” Completely unprofessional. Nowhere were we informed that the lavender fields had already been harvested. Had we known, we would have canceled. That omission alone made the tour feel misleading. What we got instead was a long, tiring day—6 hours in the car with only 3 or 4 brief stops. The villages were pretty but completely quiet, and there was no information shared about their history or significance. Isa spent most of the time chatting in French with others instead of engaging the full group. The lake stop was fine, but nothing remarkable—I’ve seen better, and definitely not worth the journey. Overall, this tour was a complete waste of time and money. Isa might be more suited to leading hiking trips, which seems to be her real passion. If you’re looking for a cultural or historical experience, look elsewhere.

Ruben was a great driver navigating the twists and turns! He was knowledgeable and engaging! We enjoyed pedal boating in the lake! So beautiful!

Great tour! Our guide Stephane was very flexible and allowed us extra time at the lake Gorge du Verdon, which was amazing for boat ride and kayaking at the lake. Great experience!

Beautiful landscapes and quaint Provençal villages. Our guide Stephane was outstanding, both in his knowledge and in his attention to the varying interests of the group. We had a taste of everything, including time on a beautiful lake. The only downside was beyond our control. The lavender fields, which we were so looking forward to, where cut down before our tour date so that part of the excursion was cancelled. Even so, the tour was well worth it.

The grand canyons and the lake were gorgeous. Isa, our guide, was professional, polite, welcoming and very kind. One thing you must know though is that you will be spending long periods of time with the guide driving you on mountains with lots of loops. Can get you feeling queasy.

The guide (Marcos) and the group we went with were really great! The views were gorgeous, and we got time to stop for coffee and lunch in picturesque villages. The only thing I’d say is that if you get carsick, this may not be the tour for you. The roads are very windy. Other than feeling sick for part of the day (which in no way is the fault of the driver or the company), I had a very nice time!

I recently experienced a van tour through the lavender fields and mountain ranges of southern France, led by Laurent. From start to finish, this was the kind of trip that turns a good holiday into a truly spectacular one. We met Laurent early in the morning, bright and eager. Instantly, his warmth and enthusiasm set the tone. He greeted each one of us by name, offered chilled water, and provided a quick overview of the day ahead. You could tell he genuinely loved both the region and his job. Laurent’s commentary throughout the tour was informative and full of little local stories. He pointed out landmarks along the way and historic hilltop villages. Stepping into our first lavender field was amazing. The rows stretched out in perfect purple waves. Laurent made sure we had plenty of time to wander, take photos, and even sneak a few sprigs to carry home. As we climbed higher into the foothills, the landscape shifted—from lavender to pine-scented trails, olive groves, and then jaw-dropping views of the mountains. The lavender fields were fragrant and endless, the mountain views were awe-inspiring, and Laurent made it all come together with his kindness, patience, expertise, and genuine love for the region.