Provence Lavender Full Day Tour from Avignon: Gordes & Senanque

Sault lavender tour, bloom viewing, seasonal timing for peak fields

A full-day tour from Avignon through the lavender fields and villages of the Luberon, with a local guide and air-conditioned minivan. You drive through purple fields in summer bloom, stop in Roussillon or Sault depending on the flowering stage, spend free time in Gordes, and pause for photos at Senanque Abbey. The itinerary adjusts to match when the lavender peaks (early summer favors Roussillon, late July shifts to Sault), so you see the fields at their best. Suitable for all fitness levels. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Roussillon45m
2. Sénanque Abbey30m

Explore lavender fields and villages

• Visit Luberon villages and lavender fields
• Stop at Roussillon village and market
• Free time in dry stone architecture village
• Photo stop at Sénanque Abbey
• Visit Sault village and lavender capital

The experience

The tour centers on timing: lavender blooms from early June through July, and the operator adjusts which village you visit based on where the flowers are fullest. If you book in early summer, you'll stop in Roussillon, the village famous for red ochre. Book later in July and the route takes you to Sault, the lavender capital, where the fields stretch across the plateau. Either way, you drive through the purple fields themselves, stop at an open-air market to browse lavender shops and local goods, and have free time to wander the village on foot.

Gordes sits on a hillside with dry stone architecture, and you get free time there to explore. The Abbaye of Senanque is a photo stop: the monastery sits in a valley surrounded by lavender, and it's the kind of view that justifies the camera. The whole day runs about eight and a half hours from Avignon, and you travel in an air-conditioned minivan with a local guide who speaks English or French. The guide handles the route and the timing. You step out at each stop and decide how long to linger.

No meals are included, so bring snacks or plan to eat in one of the villages during your free time. The tour operates year-round, but the lavender itself is the draw, and the operator reserves the right to adjust the stops if the bloom timing shifts unexpectedly. Children from age 4 can join. Younger children are not permitted.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or French.
• air-conditioned minivan transportation.
• photo stops in the lavender fields and at Senanque Abbey.
• free time in a traditional Provençal market and in the villages of Roussillon or Sault and Gordes.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 7 Jun 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by A la Francaise Tourisme

Is this one for you?The tour runs a full eight and a half hours with several stops and free time in each village, so it's a day-long commitment. Book this if you want to see the lavender fields themselves and have time to explore the villages rather than a quick hit of multiple sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

When do the lavender fields actually bloom in Provence?

Lavender blooms from early June through July, with peak bloom typically in mid-to-late July. The tour adjusts its route to follow the flowering stage: Roussillon is the stop in early summer, and Sault becomes the destination in late July when the fields there are fullest.

What exactly is the Abbaye of Senanque?

Senanque Abbey is a Cistercian monastery set in a valley, surrounded by lavender fields. The tour includes a photo stop there, so you get out to photograph the building and the landscape, but it is not a guided visit inside the abbey itself.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes free time in Roussillon or Sault and in Gordes, where you wander the villages on foot at your own pace. The amount of walking is up to you. There are no mandatory hikes. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

Does the tour include lunch or any meals?

Food and drinks are not included. You'll have free time in the villages and at the market, where you can buy local products or eat at a café, but you need to arrange and pay for your own meals.

What's the difference between Roussillon and Sault, and why does the tour visit one or the other?

Roussillon is famous for its red ochre cliffs and buildings. Sault is known as the lavender capital, sitting on a plateau where vast fields surround the village. The operator chooses which one based on where the lavender is in bloom (Roussillon in early summer, Sault in late July), so you see the fields at their peak.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the tour departure point?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you'll need to make your own way to the meeting point in Avignon. The minivan provides all transportation once the tour begins.