Provence with Jenner Tomaska & Katrina Bravo

October 19 - 25, 2023 | One Exclusive Departure

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Soul of Provence

Wine, art, culture, cuisine—Provence's heart & soul with Jenner Tomaska & Katrina Bravo

October 19 - 25, 2023

One exclusive departure — likely to sell out, reserve your spot

7 Days, 6 Nights

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

Price from

$8,900

Per person, based on double occupancy

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

You’re biking along a narrow country lane, the gentle hills give way to an ancient medieval village, the peal of bells ringing from a centuries-old church tower over fields and vineyards. Yesterday, you sailed down a towering limestone calanque, turquoise waters shimmering against golden beaches; this afternoon, you’ll literally wander through the works of Van Gogh, Dalí and Cézanne. You’ve explored the markets of Aix-en-Provence and prepared a North African feast in Marseilles alongside a local master chef. Right now, at a family-run vineyard with roots stretching back centuries, you raise a glass in celebration of a Provence that inspires all the senses. This is the France you’ve been dreaming of.

With us on this artful exploration are Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo. Jenner is a James Beard Award–winning chef; Katrina is Jenner’s wife and business partner. Together, they’ve created a glorious gem of a restaurant, Esmé, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. It’s so much more than a reimagined take on fine dining — it’s a monument to rarefied food driven by art and philanthropy, a true community-focused restaurant. Together, they make for the perfect pair to explore an artful region such as Provence, where the smell of lavender still fills the air, but with a new meaning when you pair it with the scents of saffron and sea, modern art, and perfectly curated dinner playlists.

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 Jenner & Katrina

Why We Love Jenner & Katrina

You're just not going to pigeon-hole Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo. Their super powers transcend genre or technique, a gift that accounts not just for the food they put on their acclaimed Esmé menu but the creative energy that exudes from kitchen to the dining room. It’s not about what you consume with them, it’s how you consume it — and we will spend seven days exploring just what that means in Provence.

Food is Fun Again

Housemade cheetos served with a flute of Champagne? It could very well be the first thing you taste at Esmé. Jenner, who has caught and won the attention of James Beard Foundation over the years, will never get caught making the same dishes as everyone else.

Force for Good

Jenner and Katrina’s mission at Esmé is to create a space to push others forward. Health insurance for their staff, a wine list with proceeds that go to nonprofits, and a partnership with Kitchen Possible are just some of the ways they fulfill their promise each and every day.

Home is Where the Art Is

Art is everything to this duo—think graffiti art aprons floating on white-washed walls as part of a rotating special exhibit and delicate hand-thrown ceramics as tableware. Esmé catches the eye of the passerby not just for the food, but the art on the walls and the sounds of the serenading playlists inside.

Our Provence Experience

“Exploration for me always leads to inspiration.”
Jenner Tomaska

Marseilles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

“Wherever you come from, you are at home in Marseilles.”
Jean-Claude Izzo

Day by Day

Day 1: Marseilles

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 Jenner and a renowned local 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: Marseilles Highlights

  • Vieux Port walking tour
  • Hands-on cooking & lunch with Jenner
  • Stay at InterContinental Hotel in Marseilles

Day 2: Calanques National Park

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll walk to the port and board our private catamaran 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: Calanques National Park Highlights

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

Day 3: Bandol

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 Domaine de la Begude, one of Bandol’s premiere wine estates, first planted by the Phoenicians and Romans. Our backdrop? Just a stunning view of the vineyard and Mediterranean hills rolling majestically toward the sea.

Up next is another iconic winery that triples as a picturesque vineyard, historical museum and art gallery. The first harvest here was in 1256, and their wines—legendary in Provence—run the gamut between light and nutty Grenache to lesser known varietals like Clairette Blanche.

In the late afternoon we’ll head back to the city, 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: Bandol Highlights

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

Day 4: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

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: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence Highlights

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

Day 5: Arles & Saint-Rémy

Provence’s colors and texture—its ancient ruins and medieval villages, its dappled fields and swirling skies—have inspired artists for generations. Today, we’ll head to the town of Arles and stand in awe of Provençal art and ecology. Our first stop today is a love letter to modernism. We’ll stroll the corridors of the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh Arles with Katrina—herself an admirer of the artist—as she walks us through contemporary paintings and installations and traces their lineage all the way back to Van Gogh. 

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: Arles & Saint-Rémy Highlights

  • Van Gogh Museum
  • Lunch at La Chassagnette
  • Luma Arles arts complex
  • Stay at Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa

Day 6: Les-Baux-de-Provence

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 prepared by Jenner, a celebration of our time together and a meal as rich and enchanting as Provence itself.

Day 6: Les-Baux-de-Provence Highlights

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

Day 7

It’s our last day, and after breakfast we’ll bid adieu to Jenner and Katrina 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.

I've been telling so many people about the trip ever since I got back. Looking forward to another one!
Royce K.
It really was the trip of a lifetime. Perfectly curated and balanced, we did more than I ever would have organized myself... delightful from start to finish.
Julian C.
Unique experiences, well-organized, outstanding leadership and service.
Susan G.

Book Provence with Jenner Tomaska & Katrina Bravo

Number of Travelers

Payment

Reserve your spot today with a $2,000 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

$8,900

Per person, based on double occupancy

Can't travel on these dates?
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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 June 21, 2023 and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after June 22, 2023, there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after August 20, 2023 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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