Lavender Fields Provence — Private Tours and Exclusive Experiences
The lavender fields of Provence are one of the most iconic natural spectacles in Europe. Aura Provence designs private tours to the lavender regions of Provence for travel agencies, incentive groups and private clients.
Where the Lavender Grows
True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) grows at altitude in Provence — on the high plateaux of Valensole, Sault and the Luberon, between 600 and 1,500 metres. The fields typically bloom from mid-June to mid-July, depending on altitude and the year's weather patterns. The Plateau de Valensole, visible from the road between Manosque and Digne, is the most photogenic — hundreds of hectares of violet rows stretching to the horizon under the Provençal sun.
The Plateau de Sault, at over 700 metres altitude on the eastern flank of the Mont Ventoux, blooms two weeks later than Valensole. Its fields are smaller, framed by oak forests and dry-stone walls, and feel more intimate. For groups visiting in late July, when Valensole has already been harvested, Sault is the alternative — and is also home to a long-established lavender festival held each year on 15 August.
The Sénanque Abbey and Lavender
The most extraordinary juxtaposition in the lavender calendar is the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque — a 12th-century Cistercian monastery built in a narrow valley in the Vaucluse, surrounded each summer by a small but perfect field of lavender. The abbey is still inhabited by monks who produce honey, lavender essence and monastery-crafted products. It is one of the most photographed buildings in France, and one of the most genuinely moving to visit.
We arrange private guided visits including access to areas not normally open to the public, brief interactions with the brothers, and a stop at the monastery shop for honey, lavender essence and the monks' own publications.
Beyond the Photograph: A Multi-Sensory Experience
A lavender experience designed by Aura Provence is not a photo stop. We work with specific producers and distilleries in the Valensole region who receive our groups for private visits: walking between the rows at the moment of maximum bloom, understanding the difference between lavender, lavandin and true lavender, observing the distillation process and the production of essential oils, and leaving with a curated selection of artisan products.
For corporate and incentive groups, we have designed a private workshop format combining a guided field walk, a hands-on harvest demonstration with antique copper sickles, a distillation observation and a small individual atelier in which each participant blends a personal lavender-based room essence to take home. The workshop runs about three hours and is a highlight for many of our groups.
Sunrise and Sunset: When to Visit the Fields
The Valensole plateau in midday July light, with thirty tour buses parked along the D6, is not a beautiful experience. The same plateau at 6am, with the first orange light raking across the rows and no other vehicle in sight, is one of the most beautiful sights in Europe. We always design our lavender programmes around the early morning or the last hour of daylight — not because of photography alone, but because the temperature, the light and the silence at those hours are entirely different. Our local partners hold private access to specific fields where we can stop the convoy, walk freely and even (in arrangement with the producer) lay out a small Provençal breakfast among the rows.
Combining the Lavender with the Verdon
The Plateau de Valensole sits at the entrance to one of the most spectacular natural sites in France: the Gorges du Verdon, the deepest river canyon in Europe. A two-day programme combining a sunrise lavender visit on day one with a Verdon kayak descent or scenic drive on day two is one of our most requested high-summer formats. The contrast between the violet flatness of the plateau and the dramatic turquoise depths of the Verdon is one of the great visual experiences in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly do the lavender fields bloom in Provence?
The bloom dates vary by altitude and year: the Valensole plateau typically peaks in the first two weeks of July; the Sault plateau (higher altitude) peaks in late July. The Sénanque Abbey lavender blooms in June. We monitor conditions carefully and communicate with our partners to advise on optimal visit timing.
Can the lavender tour be combined with other Provence destinations?
Yes — the Valensole plateau is naturally combined with a Luberon programme (Gordes, Roussillon) or a visit to the Gorges du Verdon. We design full-day or multi-day itineraries combining the lavender experience with wine estates, village markets and gastronomic tables.
What is the difference between lavender and lavandin?
True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) grows above 600 metres altitude and produces a fine, complex essential oil prized in perfumery. Lavandin is a hybrid that grows at lower altitudes, produces much higher yields, and is used mainly for soaps and household products. Most of the photogenic 'sea of purple' fields you see online are lavandin. Our visits include both, with clear explanations of the difference.
Do you organise hot-air balloon flights over the lavender fields?
Yes. Sunrise hot-air balloon flights over the Valensole plateau in early July, when the bloom is at its peak, are one of the most spectacular experiences in Provence. We coordinate with a small group of certified operators and arrange the post-flight Provençal breakfast at a partner estate.
Can you arrange a perfumery workshop linked to the lavender visit?
Yes. We organise private nose-led workshops in Grasse (a 2-hour drive from Valensole, the world capital of perfumery) and shorter atelier sessions in the Luberon, where guests blend their own personal fragrance using lavender alongside other Provençal essences — rosemary, thyme, immortelle, mimosa.
What about photography — can you arrange a professional photographer?
Yes. We work with a network of Provence-based professional photographers who specialise in landscape, portrait and group photography in the lavender fields. Sessions are typically scheduled at sunrise or in the last hour of daylight for optimal light. Edited high-resolution files are delivered within 7 days.
Are the sunflower fields in Provence as spectacular as the lavender?
Yes — and they bloom at the same time. The sunflower (tournesol) fields of the Valensole plateau and the Vaucluse peak from late June through July, often alongside the lavender. We design itineraries that combine both: a sunrise lavender visit, mid-morning sunflower photography, and a long Provençal lunch in a partner estate.
What is the best month overall to visit Provence?
For most travellers, June is the perfect month: the lavender is starting to bloom in the Valensole, the days are long, the light is golden, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. May, September and early October are also exceptional. July is the only month when the lavender is at its absolute peak.
Where exactly are the most photographed lavender fields located?
The three iconic spots are: the Plateau de Valensole (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), the largest and most cinematic with hundreds of hectares of rows stretching to the horizon; the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque near Gordes (Vaucluse), where the 12th-century monastery is framed by lavender each summer; and the Plateau de Sault (Vaucluse), higher in altitude and blooming two weeks later than Valensole.
How do I get to the lavender fields from Marseille or Avignon?
From Marseille: 1h30 to 2h00 by private vehicle, depending on the field. From Avignon: 1h00 to 1h30. We always recommend a chauffeured day excursion rather than self-drive, both for the early sunrise departure and to allow guests to enjoy the Provençal wine pairings at the partner estate without any driving constraints.