Provence Lavender Field Full Day Tour

I like Nice. It has a lot of local museums (especially art) and is a convenient base for visiting the Riviera by train. But it is not in Provence.

I haven't been to the lavender fields, but Google tells me the area around Valensole is good for that. Valensole is about 100 miles from Nice by the shortest route, which Google Maps indicates is not actually the fastest route. The driving time is estimated at about 2-1/2 hours each way, and Google is often optimistic. So your full-day tour from Nice would give you a scant half day in the lavender fields--if you didn't stop for a sit-down lunch. I doubt if that is the sort of day you have in mind. The trip to that area would be considerably faster from Aix-en-Provence. Of course, there are smaller towns even closer, but I'm guessing Aix would be the closest origin point for commercial (non-private) tours of the lavender fields.

I know from comments here that the peak blooming period--aside from varying a bit from year to year--depends on the elevation of the various fields, so you may benefit by doing some research on best places and best times for this jaunt.

Thanks so much for your advice. Aix-en-Provence is another town that we are considering ss a base.

You can visit the town of Grasse by train from Nice. It is famous for the Musee International de la Perfumerie, the tour of the Parfumerie Fragonard, and the Jean-Honore Fragonard 1600s Villa with 12 of his paintings, including "The Swing". The Old Town is charming and you can visit Lavendar Fields nearby.

I drove around the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Luberon to see the lavender fields so didn't use a tour company. However, you can check this website to see if any of them fit your preferences and budget. Private or semi-private all day tours to the fields from Nice can be a bit pricey.

Just to verify, you will be there between mid-June and mid-August, right? That is the general time frame for the blossoming of the lavender depending on the weather that year and the elevation of the fields (some areas at higher elevations peak later in the season).

Hi,

Thanks for that website link. We plan to be there either the last week of June or the first week of July.

Lavender is a farmed crop in Provence and the flowers will be cut at some point. Here is an article excerpt :

When is lavender harvested in Provence? Harvesting starts in mid-July. By the middle of August, the lavender fields in the Luberon, Sault and Valensole Plateau will have been harvested

Yeah Aix will be a better location to visit the lavender fields.

I believe Viator or GetYourGuide lists day tours which will take you north probably around some Luberon villages where the fields are found.

Villages like Gordes and Rousillon won't have fields but the areas between them will.

One of the most well-known ones is north of Gordes, the Abbaye Notre Dame de Senaque.

I found a nice one south of Gordes, no real place to park you have to pull off to the side of the road but you could see Gordes in the distance with the lavender fields in the foreground.

Definitely easier to get to if you drive. But like I said, I believe there are guided tours where they take you on a coach.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful information and advice.

On the Provence tourism website you will find all the information (in English) about the lavender fields.
Check here:

https://provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en/provence/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/5-spots-to-admire-lavender-in-bloom/

And many other ideas for visits by returning to the homepage

https://provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en/provence/