Provence: Lavender Distillery Tour & Aromatic Plant Tasting

Summary

Provençal mas tour with lavender fields and essential oils between nîmes and arles

You’ll wander Provençal fields between Nîmes & Arles with local guides who show you how lavender and other aromatic plants are grown and transformed into essential oils. Try your hand at crushing herbs, explore a working distillery, sample scents at the olfactory bar, and pause for snacks under shady trees. It’s quietly memorable—the kind of day that lingers long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Guided tour of Provençal Mas and distillery

• Explore fragrant Provençal Mas lands
• Discover cultivation of aromatic plants
• Identify agricultural tools
• Learn essential oil extraction secrets
• Visit in-store and get advice

Top questions

Is this lavender distillery tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, including transportation options.

Are children allowed on the Provence distillery tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are welcome.

Where is the Provençal Mas located for this tour?

The Mas is situated between Nîmes and Arles in Provence, near the Camargue region.

What plants will we see during the tour?

You’ll see lavender, verbena, immortelle, and several other aromatic plants grown on site.

Is there parking available at the distillery?

Yes, free parking is provided for buses, cars, and bikes.

Can I bring my service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

What’s included in the distillery experience?

The visit covers guided field walks, oil extraction demos around the steam still, an olfactory scent bar session, snack area access, restrooms, and shop testing opportunities.

Is lunch provided during this Provence day trip?

No full lunch is included but snacks and drinks are available for purchase on site.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walks through aromatic plantations near Camargue with hands-on plant experiences; demonstrations around the steam still showing essential oil extraction; access to a scent bar for olfactory discovery; time in the shop to test oils or perfumes; use of snack tables with drinks for sale; restroom facilities; plus free bus, car or bike parking—all alongside local producers happy to share their craft before you head back toward Nîmes or Arles.

What’s the experience like?

"You have to crush it gently—like this," Jean-Claude said, holding a sprig of lavender in his palm. His hands were stained with something purple and earthy. I tried to copy him but ended up with bits everywhere; he just grinned. The Mas was already buzzing when we arrived, sun barely overhead, and the air smelled sharp—almost peppery from all those herbs drying in bundles near the door. There’s something about the way locals here move—slow but never lazy, like they’re tuned to some old rhythm I can’t quite catch.

We wandered through rows of lavender and immortelle, bright against the dusty ground. Our guide pointed out each plant by name (I forgot half of them instantly) and let us touch the leaves—some soft as felt, others sticky or almost metallic-smelling. The main keyword for this day trip was definitely “distillery”—that’s where things got real. Watching steam curl around copper pipes while Jean-Claude explained how oils are coaxed out of plants felt oddly magical. I didn’t expect to be so fascinated by a big metal still, but there you go.

Inside, there was a scent bar set up—tiny bottles lined up like soldiers. We sniffed our way down the row; some made me think of summer rain, others just made my nose twitch. The shop had soaps and oils you could actually test (I might’ve gone overboard). There’s a snack area too if you need a break or just want to sit under the trees for a bit—I did both. At one point someone’s dog wandered over and flopped at my feet like we’d known each other forever.

I left thinking about how much work goes into every little bottle on that shelf—and how different lavender smells when you’re standing right there in the field versus opening it at home months later. Not sure I’ll ever get that exact scent back again.