Valensole Plateau Lavender Fields Tour from Marseille Small Group

See the Valensole lavender fields at their peak with a guide who knows when to go

A full-day small-group tour from Marseille to the Valensole Plateau, where a local guide takes you through lavender fields in bloom (June and July) with photo stops and time in Valensole village. The afternoon moves to Lake Sainte-Croix for views of the Verdon River before returning to Marseille. Groups are limited to eight travelers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valensole Plateau2h
2. Lake of Sainte-Croix1h

Explore lavender fields and local sights

• Visit Valensole lavender fields
• Stop by local producer
• Free time in Valensole village
• Lunch in Moustiers Sainte Marie
• Admire and photograph Lake of Sainte-Croix

The experience

The tour centers on timing: the operator adjusts the route based on when the lavender actually blooms, so you're not chasing purple fields that haven't opened yet. A local guide leads the small group through the Valensole Plateau during peak season, stopping for photographs and giving you free time to browse essential oils and flowers in the village or at a producer's shop. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, which matters on a nine-hour day in Provence heat.

Lunch happens in Moustiers Sainte Marie, a hilltop village between the plateau and the afternoon's second stop. After eating, the route heads to Lake Sainte-Croix, where you get time to photograph the Verdon River and its gorge. The itinerary builds in space to stand and look, not a sprint through two sites, and the guide's knowledge of the landscape shapes what you actually see when you arrive.

The group cap of eight keeps the pace manageable and the guide's attention real. The tour runs in English or French, and children from age four travel at a reduced rate when two paying adults are on the booking. You'll need to arrange your own lunch in Moustiers and your own way to the departure point in Marseille.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or French.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• photo stops throughout the lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau.
• free time in Valensole village to shop for oils and flowers.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 10 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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by A La Française Marseille

Is this one for you?Nine hours means you leave Marseille early and return in the evening, so this tour fills a full day but leaves the morning and night free for the city. Groups stay under eight, which keeps the pace unhurried and the guide's attention personal: useful if you want to linger on photographs or ask questions about the landscape.

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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.

When do the lavender fields bloom in Valensole?

The fields peak in June and July, when the Plateau fills with purple swathes. The operator adjusts the tour schedule based on the blooming stage each season, so you're seeing the fields at their best rather than arriving too early or too late.

What exactly happens at Lake Sainte-Croix in the afternoon?

Lake Sainte-Croix sits where the Verdon River widens into a glacial blue expanse surrounded by limestone cliffs. You have time to take photographs and admire the landscape. If you bring a swimsuit, you can enter the water, though swimming is optional.

How much of the day is spent actually looking at lavender?

The morning is devoted to the Valensole Plateau: photo stops in the fields, then free time in Valensole village to explore and shop. Lunch in Moustiers takes an hour or so, and the afternoon shifts to Lake Sainte-Croix. The lavender is the centerpiece of the first half.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most of the day involves riding in the minivan and standing for photos. There's no hiking or strenuous walking required.

Can I bring my four-year-old on this tour?

Children from age four are welcome. A child rate applies when traveling with two paying adults. Children under four cannot join the tour.