Provence trip –
for the love of Lavender and taking the path less travelled.
Summer dreams are made of these; sunshine on your back, lavender blooms at your feet and the lightness of its perfume in the gentle breeze.
This summer, I got to live the dream, strolling through lavender fields in the south of France. The bees, buzzing in the ‘champs de lavande’ however, are the one thing that will make you grasp the reality of you ‘living’ the moment. But they won’t harm you unless they perceive you as a threat. So, you must walk on by tenderly and go unnoticed as they busily continue to collect nectar. I smilingly recollect that buzzzzz now, glancing back at the beautiful pictures of the fields.
We began planning for this trip to Provence, quite many months ahead and started gathering all the essential information such as which region would be most suitable to stay, when is the best time to visit, how to get to the region – transportation within the region etc. The general information available was about hotel accommodations and guided trips to the lavender fields and then some others suggested that it is best to rent a car and drive through the ‘route de lavande’ – the lavender route that covers the main areas where lavender is grown.
Discussing the pros and cons and looking at our budget, we decided to do a family road trip. We had already planned a holiday in Annecy, which is in the south-eastern part of France. Extending our vacation dates, we decided that going further down to the south of France from here, was a better option.
Now that our ‘how to travel’, was in place, we decided to take the off beaten path – relying on the GPS system to make things easier. Next, we began our search for ‘where we could afford to stay’. From expensive boutique hotels to pocket friendly home stays, the holiday accommodation in the region of Provence is as varied as is its northern and southern side.
Keeping it short and simple, I have divided the details of our Provence trip into 2 posts below ; click on each to continue reading…
31 Comments
Gabrielle · January 17, 2018 at 11:10 pm
OMG, those purple rows of flowers are a DREAM! I have to go there! Thank you so much for sharing your experience!!
Leigh · September 16, 2017 at 2:57 pm
I seriously cannot wait to visit Provence! We love France but haven’t visited the countryside much. The lavender fields are so beautiful — Im going to snap a million pics when we’re there!
Mamta · August 29, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Reading your blog feels like reading a poésie.. what beautiful play with words.. I visit France through your words , every time you write a post .. thank you for that and keep penning your lovely thoughts ..
Viveena Rodrigues · September 16, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Thanks Mamta ♥️
fashion-mommy · August 21, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Provence is so beautiful and a walk through the lavender is a must. I love L’Occitaine toiletries which come from Provence I believe.
GiGi Eats · August 21, 2017 at 1:15 am
I haven’t been to France in eons. I need to check out your posts to remind myself of what I have been missing!
Cynthia Nicoletti · August 20, 2017 at 10:11 pm
It is nice that did find out all your information and prepare earlier so you know what to expect and where to go.
Natalia · August 19, 2017 at 9:09 pm
I always wanted to go to Provence and stroll through lavender fields just as you did! Now I got even more exciting that I want to go there as soon as I get the opportunity to do so.
Aida Ingram · August 19, 2017 at 11:27 am
I love traveling and your review made me want to put this destination on my list. The picture with you with the lavender is beautiful, I can only imagine how beautiful it was to travel to.
Viveena Rodrigues · August 19, 2017 at 6:00 pm
I’m happy this is on your travel list now Aida.
Angela Milnes · August 18, 2017 at 7:36 pm
This is just beautiful. This is a nice and thorough review. Would love to visit!
David Elliott · August 18, 2017 at 6:24 pm
I really love the lavender section and would love traveling there. But honestly, I love to travel where off the beaten path things are found. The best part of trips to me are the parts that you do not plan.
Viveena Rodrigues · August 18, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Hi David,
Provence is filled with hidden gems waiting to be discovered. For us, going to Banon was taking the off beaten path. http://www.mysnapshotstories.com/banon
Alicia Taylor · August 18, 2017 at 4:13 pm
I would love to walk through lavender fields. Bees don’t bother me, though. Wasps and hornets do! France is high on my bucket list. Off to read your other posts about this trip!
Viveena Rodrigues · August 18, 2017 at 4:21 pm
Hope you enjoy my virtual tour of France for now Alicia.
Paula Bendfeldt · August 18, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Wow, what an amazing place to live. I would love to spend some time in Provence and be surrounded by the scent of lavender!
Denay DeGuzman · August 18, 2017 at 1:55 pm
What amazing posts! Walking through lavender fields in Provence is something straight out of a dream. It’s on my bucket list. 🙂
Gideon · August 18, 2017 at 6:24 am
Really lovely place to visit hope the bees are friendly? Lol!
Heather Johnson · August 18, 2017 at 2:02 am
What an amazing place to visit! I have yet to get out of the US but would love to go here!
Claudia Krusch · August 18, 2017 at 12:28 am
Provence sounds like a great place to go to. I have always wanted to go to France.
Betty Boiron · August 17, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Provence looks like one of those picture-perfect places. I would also start planning month ahead of time just like you!
corinne & kirsty · August 17, 2017 at 5:32 pm
You really make me want to go to Provence. I am french and I know some part of France but Provence is so pretty! I am going on holiday in Normandy. Up north and not as nice ahah
Viveena Rodrigues · August 17, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Hi Marie,
Provence in summertime has been my dream for a while & I am so happy I made it there. I like the bucolic side of Normandy. I’ve written a weekend getaway post on Normandie . You can read it here –
http://www.mysnapshotstories.com/normandy/
Sarah Bailey · August 17, 2017 at 2:55 pm
I’ve always fancied getting to visit the Lavender fields of Provence, I think they would be the most magical place. Perhaps one day I shall make it.
Familyearthtrek · August 16, 2017 at 3:45 pm
Wow what a dream! We dont live “very far” but still has not manage to get there yet. Its need the perfect timing to see the lavander when they are in full bloom so its hard to be flexible. Hopefully next year!
http://www.familyearthtrek.com
Viveena Rodrigues · August 16, 2017 at 3:55 pm
Yes lavender bloom season is short and varied, hope you got some good pointers from my post to plan your visit to the fields at the right time and right place.
Susan Nazareth · August 13, 2017 at 8:56 am
Hey Viv,
Your doing an amazing job… Every detail is pen down so perfectly… Just feel like I could smell the lavender…
Way to go gal… All the best
Viveena Rodrigues · August 13, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Thanks Susan ☺️
Alita · August 12, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Wow, Viv! I just love all your pics, especially the first one on this page!
France has made a wonderful writer-poet out of you, if you weren’t one already, that is 😉
Keep posting these beautiful reads qnd keep the wanderlust alive in us all 🙂
Viveena Rodrigues · August 12, 2017 at 10:37 pm
Thanks Alita 🙂 Your review has put a huge smile on my face.
The charm of France is surely rubbing off on me.
I plan to post something new, every weekend. Stay tuned girl.
Oh Provence! — My snapshot stories | viveena · August 21, 2017 at 6:25 pm
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