Provence itinerary: Luberon villages, lavender and Roman towns
Provence is a puzzle of market days, lavender timing and village hopping. Go a week too early and the fields are green; arrive on the wrong day and the market is gone. This prompt asks your todo.is agent to plan Provence around what's on during your dates, from one or two bases, with drive times and the best hours for each village.
The prompt
- Create a Provence itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING], starting from [START POINT] with a rental car. Suggest one or two bases. Include Avignon's Palais des Papes, the Pont du Gard, Arles, Luberon villages (Gordes, Roussillon, Lourmarin, Bonnieux) and Sénanque Abbey. Tell me whether lavender will be in bloom on our dates and where it's best (Luberon or Valensole). Fit in at least two village markets on their real days, and [EXTRAS]. Our interests: [INTERESTS]. Send a PDF with the daily plan, drive times, market days and links. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "6". A week covers the Luberon, Avignon and Arles comfortably.
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "28 June to 4 July". Lavender usually peaks late June to mid July.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple", "family with young kids", "retired friends".
- [START POINT]: E.g. "Marseille airport", "Avignon TGV station", "Nice".
- [EXTRAS]: E.g. "the Camargue", "Gorges du Verdon", "Aix-en-Provence", "Châteauneuf-du-Pape wineries".
- [INTERESTS]: E.g. "markets, wine, Roman history, painting, photography".
Example result
- Provence in 6 days, couple, from Avignon TGV
- Lavender, markets, wine · early July
- Base 1: Luberon, near Gordes or Bonnieux (4 nights)
- Day 1 (Thursday): Avignon
- • Afternoon: Palais des Papes and the half bridge, the Pont Saint-Bénézet.
- • Drive to your Luberon base (about 45 min). Dinner on a village terrace.
- Day 2 (Friday): Gordes and Sénanque
- • Early morning: Sénanque Abbey with its lavender rows in front (best before 9:00 for light and few people). Respect the monks' quiet.
- • Late morning: Gordes, then the Village des Bories (dry-stone huts).
- • Afternoon: rest, pool, rosé.
- • Evening: Roussillon's ochre trail at golden hour, when the cliffs glow red.
- Day 3 (Saturday): Apt market and the Luberon
- • Morning: the big Saturday market in Apt (produce, cheese, crafts).
- • Afternoon: Bonnieux and Lacoste, then the cedar forest above Bonnieux for shade.
- Day 4 (Sunday): L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Valensole
- • Morning: the Sunday market and antique stalls along the canals of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
- • Afternoon: drive to the Valensole plateau (about 1.5 hours) for endless lavender fields, then back via Manosque.
- Base 2: Arles (2 nights)
- Day 5 (Monday): Pont du Gard and Arles
- • Morning: Pont du Gard, the Roman aqueduct; swim in the river below in summer.
- • Afternoon: Arles: the Roman arena, theatre and Van Gogh's sites.
- Day 6 (Tuesday): Les Baux and departure
- • Morning: Les Baux-de-Provence and the Carrières des Lumières light show.
- • Lunch: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, then back to Avignon (about 30 min).
- Good to know
- • Lavender usually blooms from late June; harvest begins in July. Bloom shifts with weather, so check local updates.
- • Markets are morning only and finish around 12:30.
- • Don't walk into the lavender rows; they're farmers' crops.
- • Market days and site links are in the PDF; confirm hours before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your days, dates, group, starting point and extras.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or message your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent checks lavender timing and market days, then emails a PDF with links.
- Reply to change it ("add the Camargue", "swap Arles for Aix"). You book the car and rooms.
Tips for a better result
- Plan the trip around market days. Write them down first, then fill in the sights.
- For lavender, aim for late June to mid July. In early June or August you may see green or cut fields.
- Visit hilltop villages early or after 17:00. Midday in July is hot and coach groups fill Gordes.
- Ask your agent to set a recurring check each week before you go that messages you lavender bloom reports.
Provence itinerary: FAQ
- When is lavender season in Provence? Usually from late June to mid or late July, depending on altitude and weather. The Valensole plateau often blooms a little earlier than the higher Sault area.
- How many days do you need in Provence? Five to seven days covers the Luberon, Avignon, Arles and the Pont du Gard. Add days for the Camargue, the Verdon gorge or the coast.
- Where should I stay in Provence? The Luberon (Gordes, Bonnieux, Ménerbes) is best for villages and lavender. Avignon or Arles suit people who want towns, restaurants and trains.
- Do you need a car in Provence? For villages and lavender fields, yes. Avignon, Arles, Aix and Marseille are linked by train, but the countryside isn't.
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