Newsletter - September 2025

Greetings from Robbi and Jim

A warm welcome to all of the members of our Aroma Tours Newsletter in over 30 countries around the world.

Robbi and I are greatly looking forward to completing the remaining chapters of our Aroma Tours adventures this year, with our delightful Aromas of Tuscany and Flavours of Italy tours.

We feel truly blessed to be able to share our passion for the fabulous places and experiences that we love, with delightful people from around the world.

We are also delighted to see that demand for our Aroma Tours is the strongest we have ever seen.

As always, it is our returning guests and their friends who are leading this fabulous response.

• For more details, prices and itineraries please visit our tour information page and if your would like to "Seize the Day" and journey with us next year, your adventure begins on our make a reservation page.

Memorable Photos from Aroma Tours 2025

One of the best ways to enjoy the spirit of our Aroma Tours is by taking a peek at some of the photos we have taken during our adventures in France.

We are too busy to be able to share any more of this year's lovely photos with you but as soon as we have time we will be adding them for your viewing pleasure.

Memorable Photos 2025-1

Memorable Photos 2025-2

Memorable Photos 2025-3

We also invite you visit our other Photo Galleries Pages to enjoy more of the 1000's of other lovely photos of our Aroma Tours adventures.

La Lumiere de Provence

Provence is famous for the vibrant clarity and intensity of its light and many famous painters such as Monet, Renoir, Piccasso, Dufy, Chagall, Cezanne, Gaugan and Van Gogh were drawn to this beautiful region to capture this unique quality of colour and light in their paintings.

Robbi and I clearly recall our first time travelling to Provence by train from Paris and observing the character of the sky gradually changing. It was almost like a curtain being drawn back and it was clear to us why "Provincia Gallia" as the Romans called it, has for thousands of years been renowned as a place of special beauty and wonder.

The painting above is by Vincent Van Gogh, who in February 1888, escaping winter and the intrigue of Paris, journeyed to Arles in Provence. With the arrival of spring he started exploring this new paradise and painted many of his most famous works, including this whimsical bridge with the glorious blue of the sky reflected in the canal.

During several of our Provence tours we walk in Van Gogh's footsteps and witness that same magical beauty of Provencale light.

Our Current Booking Status

This year has become our most successful season ever with all of our 2025 tours sold out and our 2026 season now down to the last few vacancies.

In addition, due to our past guests and their friends securing their places well ahead of time, our 2027 season which we only officially opened last month, is already almost half full.

• For detailed information about any of our tours please visit our tour information page and if you would like to join us please visit our make a reservation page.
• It is our pleasure to assist you with any questions you may have and we invite you to get in touch with us at [email protected]

Please note

• Our up-to-the-minute booking status is available via our calendar page

Treasures of Provence - Ladies Only Special Event

We are very excited to announce that Robbi and our dear friend Megan Larsen are continuing to be able to offer our delightful "ladies only" Treasures of Provence Tour

They bring together many of the delightful elements that they love about Provence, for women travellers desiring to be cared for and nurtured by the beauty that the French aspire too so well…Simply a beautiful immersion into the essence of French style and charm.

"To be in Provence is to be in a joyful dream full of beauty and delight." ~ Jean Moreau

For more details please visit our information request page and if you would like to reserve one of the remaining places please visit our booking request page

Markets of Provence

Visiting an open-air market in Provence is one of life's little pleasures and allows us to interact with the locals as well as getting a glimpse into the everyday life in Provence.

Robbi is the Empress of Shopping in Provence and enthusiastically encourages and advises our guests on the ins and outs, best buys, where to find.......

In one of the lovely perched villages that we visit, there has been a market without fail on every Wednesday for over 400 years. Now that's a lifestyle commitment!

Markets generally offer a selection of fish and meats from local butchers, fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers, as well as other specialties such as bread, cheese, olives, spices and wine.

You will find smiling stall holders offering plants, fabrics, clothes, shoes, honey, olive oil, soaps, gifts and everyday items such as table linens, shoes, clothes, flowers, and books. Some markets also offer very specific goods such as antiques and artwork.

There are also specialty stalls offering freshly cooked chickens, paella, fish, bread, meat, dried herbs and spices. A veritable riot of colour, movement and heady aromas!

Early on market day the stall holders arrive, transforming each town into a vibrant hive of activity from 8am until noon or 1pm and by early afternoon, as if by magic, they are gone almost without a trace. Until next time of course!

Robbi's Triumph

A few years ago after saying farewell to our final group of happy aroma travellers, Robbi and I spent several well earned days relaxing with our friends Jack and Sophie, whose family own the largest lavender farm in Provence. We stayed in their traditional "mas" (stone farmhouse), surrounded by sweeping fields of fragrant purple lavender with the Mistral blowing across the plateau.

On Saturday morning Robbi was up early - 'a woman on a mission' to visit one of Provence's most popular markets in the delightful village of Apt. Being one of the most popular and busiest markets, Robbi found it very difficult to find a park and so in true French tradition, gallantly parked her car on the nearest piece of footpath, just like a local.

She plunged into the market stopping only momentarily for a fortifying cafe au lait and to watch the colourful passing parade of characters. The market stalls wind their way through the town which is alive with boisterous merchants, musicians and people carrying baskets filled to the brim with fresh market produce.

Some hours later, weary but triumphant, Robbi returned to the farm just in time for le dejeuner (lunch) of succulent fresh rascas (red mullet) barbequed Provencale style. As we sat drinking and chatting Robbi leapt out of the car, crispy baguettes and golden loaf of olive bread in hand, carrying her "piece de resistance" - a beautifully packaged white box tied gaily with coloured ribbon, containing a most sumptuous tarte citron (lemon tart). All of our faces lit up in anticipation of the coming lemony delight and Robbi received a rousing round of applause.

As we were eating our lunch looking out across the lavender fields, George, the patriarch of the family said to his son Jack with a hearty laugh, "yesterday it was my 74th birthday, even I forgot". Jack ran over to the house and in the cellar found a fine bottle of champagne so that we could toast the birthday
boy.

Most importantly though, Robbi had inadvertently saved the day by purchasing her tarte citron which turned out to be George's favourite dessert. Not only that, she had bought it from the most prestigious patisserie in Apt. As the love of good eating is central to French culture, this raised Papa's estimation of Robbi's shopping prowess greatly. And oh yes, the tarte citron? It was fantastic!

The Tour de Jim

Before each tour season I spend a significant amount of time on what I like to call my "Tour de Jim"; travelling about checking all of the particulars for our upcoming tours, including finalizing the menus at the beautiful restaurants we enjoy during our time together.

It is always a great pleasure to connect with our restaurateur friends to chat about our upcoming meal arrangements, catch up on the news and share a glass of wine; knowing that their skills and hospitality will soon once again be tantalizing our guests.

I also love exploring new gastronomic possibilities, especially the "up and coming" or undiscovered jewels that arise to become a lovely new experience for us all to enjoy.

Here are a few images from my past gastronomic adventures to give you an idea of the wonderful moments will soon be sharing with our guests this year.

There is quite a constellation of Michelin stars on display here and Robbi and I hope that we will have the pleasure of sharing some of these amazing gastronomic experiences with you.

For more details please visit our information request page and if you would like to reserve one of the remaining places please visit our booking request page

Travelling Solo in a Group

As well as couples and friends travelling together, we are regularly joined by solo travellers - mostly women, who appreciate being able to journey with liked minded people from around the world, without the need to do all the planning and take on the daunting task of touring by themselves.

Joining one of our small group tours is easy and we have already made all of the arrangements on your behalf to ensure that you have a delightful, stress-free holiday with the focus on having fun.

Having a ready-made group of friends to travel with, and us to take wonderful care of you is the way to go!

We have carefully crafted off-the-beaten-path itineraries that are the perfect balance of structure, experiences, details and free time to enjoy in your own way.

Our Invitation

Robbi and I look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you to enjoy one of our delightful Aroma Tours in 2026.

• For detailed information about any of our tours please visit our tour information page and if you would like to join us please visit our make a reservation page.
• As always if you have any questions or if you would like us to assist you personally with advice about your travel arrangements or with any other details please contact us at [email protected]

Warmest regards,

Jim and Robbi