Get to Know our Beautiful Places

We fell in love with Europe over 30 years ago. We’re romanced by the beauty, the history, the lifestyle of Europe. We’re enchanted by the variety of scenery, culture, tradition, and language we experience, sometimes dramatically different just an hour or two away. And we’re embraced and enriched by the warm and friendly people who have opened their hearts and homes to us. The magic of Europe has captured our hearts, changed who we are, and impacted the way we live even when we’re back at home.

Over the years we’ve found ourselves returning again and again to several very special areas… mostly rural areas of incredible natural beauty, smaller villages that have retained their unique character and tradition, cultures that are distinctive and welcoming. These places feel like home and are the “beautiful places” we feature in our Experience trips.

Our European Experiences schedule varies every year, and we don’t return to every destination ever year. We normally offer trips in the spring and early summer and then in the fall, the best times of year to enjoy ideal weather and fewer visitors. Our Morocco Experience trip is offered in the late winter, and our European Christmas Experience in early December.

We know many of our travelers plan ahead, and so do we. Specific dates for the following year are usually announced in mid-March. Our trip sometimes book 6-18 months in advance, so early booking may be important if you want to book a specific trip.

Learn more about each of our special places in Europe. Be sure to look at the photo albums to see what you would experience during each week. Meet our team and our local partners through our Virtual European Experiences. We’d love to share these beautiful places with you!

Trips in France

The Luberon Experience

(7 nights – our signature trip!) The Luberon is an incredibly beautiful valley surrounded by low mountains, with views in every direction. Our village of Bonnieux is the perfect base to experience the best of Provence. We love simplicity and tradition of the area, and it has just the right amount of French sophistication. This award-winning week includes perched villages, colorful outdoor markets, wineries, picnics, ruined chateaus, a lavender distillery and more. Learn more here.

This trip is usually offered four times a year, in May and September/October.

Return to the Luberon

(7 nights) This trip is designed for Travelers Circle members who have experienced the Luberon once and want to discover more of this special area. Bonnieux will continue to be our home base, but much of the week will involve a variety of new experiences in the Luberon and other parts of Provence. Learn more about this special week here.

We’re offering this special trip in 2025. We also sometimes offer a Luberon Christmas Experience trip.

The Périgord Experience

(7 nights) This trip is based in the lovely Dordogne region of southwest France, famous for its rivers, castles, prehistoric sites, and distinct cuisine. The week includes an archaeology day, a visit to the town of Sarlat and its famous market, explorations of several of France’s most beautiful villages, and memorable meals in a variety of settings. Learn more here.

We’re offering this trip in 2025 and expect to offer it again in 2026.

The Alsace Experience

(7 nights) This trip is focused in the wine region of Alsace, in the foothills of the Vosges mountains near the German and Swiss borders. We stay in the colorful village of Kientzheim on the Route des Vins, the famous wine road. Our week will include picturesque villages, the charming town of Colmar, the 12th century Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, winery tours and tastings, and visits to historical sites. We enjoy the distinct cuisine of Alsace in a variety of settings. Learn more here.

This trip is offered every other year.  We’re offering it next in 2025.

The Paris Experience

(7 nights) You may have visited Paris before– maybe several times, but you’ll discover a very different Paris during this week. The focus of this Experience is the locals’ authentic Paris, the less-discovered sites and experiences most tourists never discover. On themed days we explore French gastronomy and food history, art and architecture, homes and gardens, neighborhoods, and history, offering a true “inside” experience. We also travel outside the center of Paris for a memorable adventure. Learn more here.

This trip is offered annually, usually in the spring and fall.

The Mediterranean Provence Experience

(7 nights) This week is based in a waterfront village in the protected, lesser-known western area of the French Riviera. The landscape features a mix of natural Provence forests, rocky cliffs, coastal paths, discreet sandy coves, and the azur blue sea. Our week includes day trips to Marseille and Toulon, visits to coastal villages and vineyards, boat trips to enjoy the spectacular scenery, and much more. Learn more here.

This trip is usually offered a few times a year.

The Riviera Hillsides Experience

(7 nights) This week is based in the scenic foothills behind the French Riviera, offering a very different ambiance from the glitzy beaches. The backcountry of the Côte d’Azur is bathed in sunshine and carpeted in olive groves. The protected micro-climate favors temperate plant species and flowers of all kinds. Our week includes visits to perched villages and lush gardens, a special day focused on art and artists, an excursion to an offshore island, food-related experiences and much more. Learn more here.

This trip is usually offered annually in May.

The Normandy Experience

(7 nights) This Experience is based in the charming, medieval town of Bayeux, just a few miles from the sea. One important day focuses on the World War II and D-Day history, which took place on the nearby beaches. But Normandy has much else to enjoy. We make day trips to the lovely waterfront town of Honfleur and experience the lush countryside of the Pays d’Auge. We visit apple distilleries, cheese dairies, chateaus and gardens; and of course we enjoy memorable meals featuring local specialties. Learn more here.

This trip is offered in 2025; we hope to offer it annually.

Inside Paris

(4 nights) This special “insider’s” experience in Paris introduces you to a more authentic Paris, including experiences not normally accessible to visitors. We’ll explore French gastronomy and food history, art and architecture, and homes and gardens, often through the perspective of Parisian hosts. (Note: we won’t visit the major tourist sites, so this is not intended as a traveler’s first visit to Paris.) Learn more here.

This trip is offered annually, in May and September.

Inside Lyon

(4 nights) Lyon is one of France’s best-kept secrets and known as the capital of French gastronomy. Its hilltop perches offer dramatic panoramic views of the city, and the banks of its two rivers. With a range of neighborhoods, from the chic to the offbeat, Lyon retains its authentic, local character. In addition to explorations of this very interesting city and memorable meals (of course!), we’ll make a day trip to the surrounding Beaujolais wine region. Learn more here.

This trip is being offered for the first time in 2025. We hope to offer it annually.

Trips in Italy

The Chianti Experience

(7 nights) The famous wine region of Chianti is located between Florence and Siena in the heart of Tuscany. From our small hotel in the village of Castellina in Chianti, we can relax and savor the beauty of the Chianti countryside. Our week includes bustling towns (with great shopping), quiet hilltop villages, a cooking class in a country kitchen, three distinctly different winery visits, and dinner at a private castle. Learn more here.

We’re offering this trip every other year and will offer it again in 2026.

The Puglia Experience

(7 nights) During this week we’ll experience a less-discovered area of southern Italy, the “heel of the boot.” Our base is the hilltop “white city” of Ostuni, with its whitewashed walls and buildings and views to the Adriatic Sea. During our week we’ll explore unique towns and villages on the sea and in the countryside, including Alberobello with its “trulli” houses and historic Lecce. We’ll also visit small wineries and food producers and enjoy the outstanding culinary specialties of Puglia. Learn more here.

We offer this trip every other year and are offering it next in October 2025.

Trips in England

The Cotswolds Experience

(7 nights) The Cotswolds is the English countryside you’ve dreamed of: an idyllic land of rolling hills, gentle streams, grazing sheep, and quaint stone cottages. The well-preserved town of Chipping Campden, with its lovely High Street, is our home for the week. Our week includes historic castles, traditional pubs, magnificent gardens, lunch on a working farm, and surprisingly good food! Learn more about our week in the Cotswolds here.

We offer this trip annually, in late June or early July. In 2025 we’re also offering a special Cotswolds Gardens Experience.

The Cornwall Experience

(10 nights) This extended Experience trip is based on the southwestern tip of England, offering a distinctly different culture and climate. We spend eight nights on the mainland, based in Penzance, and two nights on the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles off the coast. Our groups enjoy spectacular coastal scenery, picturesque fishing villages, interesting historic sites, beautiful subtropical gardens, and some of England’s best cuisine. Learn more here.

We’re offering this trip in April 2025 and expect to offer it in April 2026.

Inside Bath

(4 nights) We explore this fascinating UNESCO World Heritage City on this intensive experience, hosted by a former Bath resident, who can offer a true insider’s perspective. Our group discovers Roman history, Georgian architecture, Jane Austen sites, and favorite local spots for food and drink. We also make a day trip to the nearby port city of Bristol, with its own interesting history. Learn more here.

This trip is offered annually, usually before or after one of our Cotswolds Experience weeks.

Trips in Other Countries

The European Christmas Experience

(12 nights) This “trip of a lifetime” takes us to three different areas during the magical Christmas season: Salzburg, Austria; Munich, Germany; and Colmar in Alsace, France. We enjoy the holiday atmosphere and traditions through special experiences including walking tours, Christmas markets, visits to museums and historical sites, day trips to the countryside and small villages, musical events, and a cooking class. So much more than a Christmas markets trip! Learn more here.

We offer this trip annually, in early December.

The Morocco Experience

(11 nights) Morocco is a country of incredible contrasts and deep history, a blend of Arab, Islamic, Berber, Jewish, African, and European cultures. This 11-night trip begins in Paris and includes three nights each in the very different environments of Marrakesh, the coastal town of Essouira, and the natural beauty of the Atlas Mountains. We experience the welcoming hospitality of the Moroccan people as we visit historical and cultural sites, observe artisans in their workshops, and learn to prepare traditional dishes in a cooking class. Learn more here.

We’re offering this trip in 2025 and hope to offer it in 2026.

The Portugal Experience

This new Experience focuses on Northern Portugal, the oldest part of the Portuguese nation, offering us a wide diversity of cultural, historical, and religious sites; areas of natural beauty; and culinary traditions. Based in the charming town of Guimarães, we’ll explore the Douro River valley and the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the city of Porto, and nearby towns and villages, including three boat trips. Learn more here..

This trip is being offered for the first time in September 2025. We’ll offer it again in 2026.