Provence with Daisy & Greg Ryan

September 7 - 13, 2022 | Sold Out - Join Waitlist Below

Sold Out

Heart & Soul of Provence

Culture, wine, art, cuisine—the very best of Provence with Daisy & Greg Ryan

September 7 - 13, 2022

Sold Out – Join the Waitlist

7 Days, 6 Nights

Marseilles, Calanques National Park, Arles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Price from

$8,000

Per person, based on double occupancy

Questions? Text or call us
+1 (855) 219-8018

SOLD OUT  –  JOIN THE WAITLIST
We will contact you if and as space becomes available.

Interested in traveling with Daisy & Greg to Portugal next year? Find out more.

You’re sailing down a towering limestone calanque, turquoise waters shimmering against golden beaches and narrow fjord-like cliffs, swimming and sailing the Mediterranean aboard a private yacht. Yesterday, alongside one of France’s revered  chefs, you prepared an aromatic French-North African feast; tomorrow, at a family-run vineyard with roots stretching back centuries, you’ll meet the producers and savor wines recognized among the most renowned in France. This is Provence, timeless muse to artists, with its signature fields of scarlet poppies, its ancient vineyards and quiet medieval villages. This is the France you’ve been dreaming of.

Our travel companions are Chef Daisy Ryan and Greg Ryan, the culinary duo behind Bell’s, their Michelin-star bistro in Los Alamos on California’s central coast. They approach life with whimsy and thoughtfulness. The result is a delightful clashing of France’s old-world charm with coastal California’s joie de vivre, and it’s why they’re a perfect match for us in Provence.

If your idea of the perfect getaway is a cultural and culinary adventure in the most stunning settings, this trip is for you. We’ll meet vintners and chefs, farmers and cheesemakers, traditional producers and modern creatives. From buzzing cities to bucolic countryside, this is an exclusive, immersive expedition into the heart of Provence, one of France’s most storied regions. Join us for a true feast for the senses.

Explore

Colorful markets, majestic calanques, rolling vineyards, medieval hilltop villages

Savor

Exquisite local specialties, Michelin-star meals, exclusive tastings and pairings

Luxuriate

In the finest accommodations—artful hotels and noble country villas, all perfectly located

Go Deeper

Connect with local winemakers, artists and chefs, alongside Daisy & Greg Ryan

3 Reasons to Travel with Daisy & Greg

Daisy and Greg Ryan are restaurateurs who recognize that atmosphere is a key ingredient in any dish. Their culinary resumes are impeccable—Gramercy Tavern, Tribeca Grill and Per Se to namedrop just a few—but it's more than mere food they feature at Bell’s, their Michelin-star bistro in Los Alamos, California. It's also their community, and the passionate, thoughtful care they lavish on everything they do.

La France, Mon Amour

“The design elements of life that influence me so often come from my time spent in France,” says Daisy. “Seeing the different ways people eat, the cultural traditions and architecture throughout France, Paris, Provence—it's a huge influence for me.”

Old World Meets New

Walking into Daisy and Greg's restaurant, you know they're onto something very different, and cool. Like Provençal-meets-Ranchero cool. “I don't just think about the food I'm eating,” says Daisy, “I think of things like, 'What’s the space around me like? What bowl am I going to serve it in? And what are you drinking out of?' It's not just about what we're consuming, but how.”

Paying It Forward

“There's a certain level of hospitality that's just kind of ingrained in us,” says Greg. Not only did they found Feed the Valley, a non-profit that provides hot meals to families with food insecurity, but they consistently source local ingredients, too.

Our Provence Experience

“So much of my food is visual — the design elements come from my time in France, exploring the cultural traditions and architecture.”
Daisy Ryan

Marseilles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

“Marseilles is a glorious stew of a city, smelling of Middle Eastern spices, garlic, saffron and the sea.”
Anthony Bourdain

Day by Day

Day 1

Bienvenue à Marseilles! France’s ‘second’ city is one of the busiest seaports in Europe, with a buzzing energy, an infectious charm, and a sprawling patchwork of cultural influences: Provençal and Corsican, North African and Arab. We’ll dive right in at the Vieux Port, in the heart of Marseilles’ old town, to select our catch of the day: sardines, swordfish, oysters, whatever is fresh off the fishing boats.  Then it’s onto our unforgettable hands-on lunch of French-North African dishes, prepared alongside Daisy and a local master chef.

We’ll have time this afternoon to relax at our hotel or continue exploring Marseilles’ cobblestoned streets and steep twisting alleyways. We’ll reconvene for cocktails on our terrace before sitting down for a truly special welcome dinner at Ludovic Turac’s Une Table au Sud, overlooking the harbor. Chef Turac is one of the youngest chefs ever to earn a Michelin star; tonight we celebrate the traditionnel and moderne sides of Provençal cuisine, along with the city’s most famous culinary creation: bouillabaisse.

Day 1 Highlights

  • Vieux Port tour
  • Hands-on lunch with Daisy
  • Stay at InterContinental Hotel in Marseilles

Day 2

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll walk to the port and board our private yacht for a half-day cruise through stunning Parc National des Calanques. Majestic limestone cliffs tower above narrow fjord-like channels of turquoise waters and golden beaches—the national park’s landscape is unique in the world. We’ll explore by sea, with plenty of time for swimming and soaking up the sun deck-side. Lunch on board is an elevated picnic of Provençal cheese and charcuterie accompanied by a full-bodied white from the fishing village of Cassis, a tiny appellation that produces highly prized white wines in a region famous for its rosés.

We’ll have free time late this afternoon back in Marseilles to flaneur our way around and maybe join a game of pétanque at one of the city’s many tree-lined parks. Tonight is yours to enjoy in Marseilles, with dinner at one of the city’s many atmospheric brasseries.

Day 2 Highlights

  • Private yacht tour of Parc National des Calanques
  • Lunch and wine tasting on board
  • Stay at InterContinental Hotel in Marseilles

Day 3

Our theme for today is wine in the coastal hills of Bandol, recognized among France’s most renowned wines–Bordeaux, Burgundy, Côte-Rôtie, Châteauneuf–with a traditional blend of earthy Mourvèdre grapes and Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Syrah. Bandol may be the most famous French terroir you’ve never heard of. 

After breakfast in Marseilles, we’ll wind along the Côte d’Azur to La Font Des Pères, one of Bandol’s premiere wine estates, first planted by the Phoenicians and Romans. Our backdrop? Just a stunning view of the vineyard and rocky Mediterranean hills rolling majestically toward the sea. We’ll sit on the terrace and enjoy bistro-style lunch, with curated wine pairings, of course. Then, we’re off to another heralded estate for a tasting of the region’s lesser known varietals at Domaine de la Bègude.

In the late afternoon, we’ll head back to the city where you’re free to relax or explore on your own. In the evening, we’ll reconvene for a casual family-style dinner, a kind of only-in-Marseilles playful feast for the senses.

Day 3 Highlights

  • Visit Bandol wine region
  • Vineyard tours & tastings
  • Marseilles dinner
  • Stay at InterContinental Hotel in Marseilles

Day 4

Today, we bid adieu to Marseilles for the idyllic hamlet of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Known as a haven for artists and writers, it’s also the cityscape featured in Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Our first stop is the iconic market in Aix-en-Provence, a year-round foodie and antique haven. We’ll explore on our own and have plenty of time for a market lunch.

Our next stop is a modest fromagerie for an authentic Brousse du Rove—a soft, cone-shaped cheese made from fresh, un-aged goat’s milk—at a family-run goat farm. We’ll nibble on this seasonal delicacy and sip their wine, grown and planted just steps away in the AOC vineyard.

Feeling euphoric and full, we’ll make our way to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and settle in at our luxurious Provençal accommodations. Take a swim or have a glass of wine in the gardens, or simply unwind in the glorious countryside. In the evening, we’ll reconvene for a casual dinner at the hotel’s renowned restaurant. 

Day 4 Highlights

  • Aix-en-Provence market
  • Wine and cheese pairings at family estate
  • Stay at Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa

Day 5

Provence’s colors and texture—its ancient ruins and medieval villages, its dappled fields and swirling skies—have inspired artists like Van Gogh, Cézanne and Picasso for generations. Today, we’ll head to the town of Arles and stand in awe of Provençal art and ecology.

While the wines of Provence are heralded across the world, the rice of the Camargue is the actual red carpet of this particular region. Our first stop today is a visit to one of the area’s most innovative rice farms. We’ll witness firsthand their dynamic farming methods that rely on local salt, sunflowers, and algae.

Next is lunch is at La Chassagnette, which has earned a rare Michelin ‘green’ star, recognizing culinary excellence and an unparalleled commitment to sustainability. We’ll feast on local dishes sourced straight from the delta, including the Camargue’s legendary red rice.

After the meal, our learning experience continues at Luma Arles, a newly opened, 27-acre arts complex with a spectacular tower designed by Frank Gehry. This is no mere museum; it’s an interdisciplinary creative campus offering a total environment at the intersection of art and ecology, and an homage to the unique ecosystem of the surrounding Camargue wetlands.

The rest of the evening is ours to enjoy back in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. A swim? A soak? A soufflé? We recommend all three.

Day 5 Highlights

  • Camargue rice farm tour
  • Lunch at La Chassagnette
  • Luma Arles arts complex
  • Stay at Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa

Day 6

Today it’s off to the countryside to take in Provence’s stunning beauty by bike. We’ll hop on our e-bikes and climb up gentle hills, through the vineyards, by and past picture-perfect villages and up into the medieval hilltop town of Les-Baux-de-Provence, perched on a rocky outcrop crowned with a ruined castle. The town, inaccessible by car, is a storybook of cobbled alleyways, Renaissance facades and several magnificent hôtels particuliers that have been revived as art galleries and museums.

After soaking up the view and the history, we’ll meander down the hill into the heart of the Alpilles mountains to Carrières de Lumières, an immersive art museum unlike any other: from the limestone confines of a former quarry, we’ll take in the larger-than-life multimedia works by Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Kandinsky and Dalí among others, stretching floor to ceiling across the giant stones. 

We’ll bike back to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence for an afternoon to relax and explore on our own. In the early evening we’ll reconvene for the ultimate pièce de résistance of our trip, a farewell dinner in a historic bastide prepared by Daisy, a celebration of our time together and a meal as rich and enchanting as Provence itself.

Day 6 Highlights

  • E-bike to Les-Baux-de-Provence
  • Carrières de Lumières multimedia installation
  • Farewell dinner by Daisy 
  • Stay at Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa

Day 7

It’s our last day, and after breakfast we’ll bid adieu to Daisy and Greg, and to our fellow explorers. Then we’ll head to the airport in Marseilles, renewed and invigorated by the food, drink and memories of Provence. Until we meet again! 

Day 7 Highlights

  • Transfer to Marseilles' MRS airport

Where We Sleep

Our elegant accommodations strike the perfect balance between luxury and intimacy, all delivered with incomparable Provençal hospitality.

InterContinental Hôtel Dieu

Marseilles

Housed in the majestic 18th-century Hôtel Dieu, a landmark designed by Louis XIV's own architect, this sumptuous property is accented with fragments of Roman mosaics and swirling wrought-iron staircases. Perched on a hill between the Vieux Port and the historic Panier district, it’s also an improbable oasis in the heart of bustling Marseilles, where the only sound you’ll hear is gentle chiming of bells from a nearby church. The hotel has all the comforts you'd expect, plus some you may not—the city's finest views from the outdoor terrace, and a mosaic swimming pool inspired by traditional Provençal fountains.

Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Arriving at this five-star Greco-Roman bastide (manor house) feels like a fairy tale. It's nestled in beautiful gardens just outside Saint-Rémy at the foot of the Alpilles mountains, filled with the warmth, light and colors of Provence. The songs of chirping wildlife set the soundtrack as you make your way through the manicured grounds to a full spa, and the outdoor swimming pools. Take time to slow down and enjoy village life, with just a 15-minute walk to the village center.

Book Provence with Daisy & Greg Ryan

Number of Travelers

Payment

Reserve your spot today with a $1,000 per-person deposit plus room supplements (if relevant). Full payment is due 180 days prior to your trip departure date. We’ll email you a reminder. If your trip departs in less than 180 days, we’ll collect full payment either 30 days from when we receive your deposit, or 60 days prior to your trip departure date, whichever is sooner. For details read our Deposit FAQs

$8,000

Per person, based on double occupancy

Sold Out

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+1 (855) 219-8018

Questions?

We have answers! Read our FAQs below. Or text or call us at +1 (855) 219-8018 to speak with a Modern Adventure trip specialist.

  1. What does the price include?

    Six nights at unique 5-star accommodations; private travel between destinations and for all day trips and excursions; departure airport transfer; private tours with local guides and cultural experts; exclusive access and tastings; guided activities and exclusive private tastings, tours and activities; entrance fees; daily breakfasts, most lunches and dinners; local beverages with meals; gratuities for local staff.

  2. What does the price not include?

    International roundtrip airfare; travel insurance; transportation to the trip start; activities not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs; food and beverage not included in itinerary; gratuity for tour leader.

  3. Where does this trip start and end?

    Our adventure begins at the InterContinental Hôtel Dieu in Marseilles. We recommend booking flights to/from Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). On the final day of our trip, we will organize a group transfer from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to Marseille Provence Airport.

  4. What travel documents are needed?

    US citizens are not required to have a visa for stays in France under 90 days. Just bring a valid US passport. For citizens of other countries, please check with the French Embassy or Consulate for information and requirements.

  5. Do I need to pay a solo traveler supplement?

    For solo travelers, there is a $1,800 single-supplement fee—paid at the time of booking to secure a private room. These spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

  6. Who is going on this trip?

    Our adventures typically have between 10 and 18 guests, plus our Modern Adventure team. This specific trip is limited to 20 guests. Our experiences are fun and inclusive and you can expect to be joined by a diverse group in terms of age, background and interests—including solo travelers, couples and friends traveling together. This adventure is for travelers age 18 and above.

  7. Who is leading this trip?

    This trip is led by an expert Modern Adventure trip leader. They’re an experienced travel guide, a representative of Modern Adventure and your go-to person for questions or concerns on the trip. We’ll be joined throughout our adventure by local, expert guides who are deeply knowledgeable with respect to local cultures, customs and history and are passionate about sharing that with us.

  8. Do I need travel insurance?

    We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance allows you to seek reimbursement for your trip costs; if your trip plans change for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to get medical help, emergency transport, and for theft, loss or damage of items while traveling. For best coverage, always insure the full trip cost within two weeks of your initial trip deposit and note that most ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ policies must be purchased on the date of your initial deposit.

  9. What is the cancellation policy?

    You may cancel before May 10, 2022 and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after May 11, 2022, there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after July 9, 2022 there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we are not able to make exceptions to this policy in cases of family/medical emergency or cases of the trip being canceled (see our Terms and Conditions for full details).

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