First, by limiting each tour to a maximum of 10 Guests, we ensure an intimate experience—and that you’ll never feel like you’re on a typical package tour, being herded on and off large coach buses.

And that’s the second thing—there aren’t any coach buses. We travel in smaller, comfortable vehicles, allowing us to go far off the beaten path to places those large coach buses never could. Most notably, our tours are walking-intensive… exploring the magical charm of rarely seen villages and vistas—the heart and soul of Provence.

Our third distinguishing feature is that our tours aren’t structured rigidly, allowing ample options for spending time as you wish.

Next, our tours include options for French cooking classes with a Michelin Star rated Chef—a richly rewarding experience.

Last and far from least, and in addition to touring Provence, our Guests are also treated to the French Riviera—adding extraordinary value to an already incredible trip of a lifetime.

Jackdaw Journeys was founded and is run by a single owner, Dee Poquette—who also happens to be your Personal Tour Guide for the entire trip. Additionally, Dee is easily reached to answer any of your questions before, during and after your trip.

While we follow an itinerary, our comparatively tiny group size allows us the luxury of making unexpected stops along the way. For example, if we happen upon an interesting looking antique store or outdoor market, we can simply stop and explore… just part of what makes our “off the beaten path” difference all the more fun and exciting!

And while our itinerary involves different locations, we tour in utterly unique ways that give our Guests ADDED VALUE in the form of exposure to less traveled destinations and pleasures—from quaint villages to charming hotels, the French Riviera, a greater variety of authentic French foods and more.

And once again, due to our small size, you’ll NEVER waste precious moments or photo ops being herded on and off coach buses.

Welcome Kit including your detailed itinerary and a Jackdaw Journeys market bag.

Licensed, comfortable Mercedes transportation (gas, tolls and parking included) for each destination and activity. This includes transfer from Nice airport to our first hotel upon your arrival to beautiful Southern France – all guests will be asked to arrive at the same time so we can coordinate the group pickup and kick off the tour together.

Accommodations (room + tax) for 9 nights through the duration of our tour. Incidentals are on own.

Breakfast each morning (9 days).

1 Lunch included – most days we are out and about and grab lunch while exploring.

1 Welcome dinner – the beauty of our tour is we have the ability to experience the many tastes of Provence, and guests enjoy the local restaurants and cafes or a simple supper of goods from the farmers market (local bread, cheese, charcuterie and wine)!

Group tour of La Maison Godet Parfumeur in Saint Paul de Vence

1-2 Cookery classes. (May change due to Covid-19 issues.)

Three hour walking food tour in the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence.

Wine tasting in the sun kissed hills of Bandol.

Boat ride along the French Riviera.

Tour a 121 year old soap factory in Salon de Provence.

Priceless memories and new friends along the way.

Flights – Your flights to & from your home to Nice are not included in our tour package. We recommend using such online resources as kayak.com or hopper.com to search for the best flight costs. We’ve also found that flight searches on Tuesday nights are sometimes best for landing great deals!

Travel Insurance – We recommend travel insurance for all our Guests.

Any meals not specified in the “what’s included” section – We’ve designed our itinerary so that our Guests can experience Provence optimally. Some meals are included but for those that aren’t, the beauty of our tour is the flexibility to eat with the group, or do what suits you best. Our goal is for you to truly relax and rejuvenate, never feeling strapped to a rigid timeline or itinerary.

Your return transfer to Nice Airport – Some Guests decide to tack on a few extra days, while others may opt to leave on our last ‘official’ day. You Guide will arrange for your transportation back to the airport, depending on flight times and schedules—however, each Guest is responsible for paying for that transportation (if leaving from our last hotel in Nice, this cost is typically $15-$20/person,as we are only about 25-30 minutes away).

Jackdaw Journeys happens to be based in Connecticut, US, thus one might assume that our Guests come largely from the Tri-State Area of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. However, our Guests hail from all over—including from France and points throughout the globe.