Marseille Shore Excursion: Private Aix-en-Provence and Valensole Lavender Tour

Brighten up your time in port in Marseille with this private shore excursion to the spectacular lavender fields of Valensole, in addition to a walking tour of the charming town of Aix-en-Provence. Visit the Valensole Plateau, whose landscape comes alive in the summer months with blooming fields of fragrant lavender. Capture the scenery on camera and then venture into town to enjoy the heady scents of aromatic lavender and thyme while strolling through Valensole village, shopping for essential oils and flowers along the way.

When your cruise ship arrives at the Marseille port, you'll be picked up by luxury minivan and taken on a private shore excursion with your private guide. Travel inland to the elegant Provencal town of Aix-en-Provence, where you'll hop out for a walking tour. Stroll through Aix's lovely streets and browse one or two of the town’s bustling markets.

You'll then have some free time to explore, soak up the ambiance and have lunch at your leisure and expense. Your guide will happily give you suggestions for the best places to eat or to simply sit and people-watch.

At a pre-arranged time, hop in the minivan and leave Aix behind for the stunning Valensole Plateau – an area that bursts to life in the summer with an abundance of fragrant lavender and almond trees. Aptly translated from Latin as ‘valley of the sun,' Valensole is perfectly positioned with its warm climate and fertile soil to grow huge swathes of lavender.

Traveling through Valensole's picture-perfect streets, pause for photos of the spectacular lavender fields, and then take time exploring Valensole village independently, soaking up the intoxicating scents and perhaps shopping for flowers and essential oils to take with you as souvenirs.

Pass through more picturesque stretches of the Provence countryside and the Mediterranean coast on the way back to Marseille, arriving at the port in the late afternoon.