Off the Beaten Path Signature Tour Activities and Excursions

Award winning Off the Beaten Path Tours voted BEST small group tours in France for active travelers by Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes Traveler, CNN Traveller, The New York Times and Travel & Leisure!

Off the Beaten Path works exclusively with the "Cream of the Crop"...

...in Provence, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Dordogne and Champagne regions of France. Each of our small group tours combines culturally enriching and personalized experiences that are not available to tourists. Along with our local French friends of each region, we organize every activity and outing exclusively for you to ensure you an authentic French experience that far exceeds every expectation.

Our local friends and professionals welcome you to their homes, professional workshops and kitchens, as a group of friends, and offer you a fun experience to discover French cuisine, culture, wines and traditions.

Each tour includes a mix of fun, hands-on and demonstration oriented culinary classes...

...with our friends who are Michelin Star and celebrated Master Chefs. You'll prepare recipes that reflect cuisine of each individual region along side these culinary stars, as they welcome you into their world. No experience necessary! Learn about local culinary traditions and technics, and prepare regional recipes at your own pace during our Loire Valley, Provence, Bordeaux, Champagne and Dordogne cooking classes and cooking class demonstrations. (Photo left: Christophe Cosme preparing macaroons with our Loire Valley Tour group. Photo right: Loire Valley Tour guests showing off their "Tarte Tatin" during cooking class at home with Christophe and Angelique Q.)

Recipes reflect each individual region and are based on seasonal ingredients. Following each culinary class, you are personal Guests at our Chef's table in his/her home, restaurant or private workshop for a cocktail and gourmet lunch or dinner of the recipes prepared together or demonstrated by our Chef. Meals are paired with regional classified wines. (Photo right: Guest Terje prepares a sauce during one of our Provence cooking classes. Photo left: Provence Tour guests with our Chef, Pascal preparing summer dessert.)

For "The LOVE of WINE"...

...a wine "tasting and appreciation" workshop on our Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Walking tours plus wine tasting on our Loire Valley Gourmet and Castle Tours and our Provence Tours provides you, nomatter your level of wine knowledge, the opportunity to deepen your appreciation for French wines under the guidance of our local wine professionals. And, to complement our exclusive workshop on Bordeaux Wine Tours, we include private cellar tours and VIP wine tasting at classified growth chateaux that are only available to Bordeaux wine industry insiders.

Discover local traditions...

..."The Art of French Cheese Making", through a private tour, tasting, visit or lunch at a local Cheese-Maker's "fromagerie" (cheese making workshop) on select tours. Learn about many varieties of cheeses for which the French are so famous.

"Easy to moderately rated", cultural theme and leisure walks...

...comprise our Provence Tours and Bordeaux Wine and Gourmet Walking Tours. Our walks include a choice from one of the following themes: "Medieval & Renaissance villages", "Castle to Castle", "premiere vineyards and wine growing villages" or "along France's most beautiful waterways, canals and coastal areas". Walks include gourmet picnics or a specially reserved lunch at a select restaurant along our walking trail.

Enjoy the slow road to discover France during our personally designed walking tours. We pause for winery tours, wine tasting and independent exploration.

NOTE: Our Bordeaux Wine Tours include three cultural theme walks during the 5 day tour, our Provence Tours include 2 optional walks during the 6 day tour and our Dordogne Tours include 2 walks. Our Loire Valley and Champagne Tours include light "leisure walking" at producers, castles and in villages that is appropriate for all travelers. Check out our Walk Ratings.

Float away in a Hot Air Balloon...

...with our friend and celebrated pilot Charles and his crew during a sunset flight on our Loire Valley Tours. You'll be mesmerized, as Charles and his crew escort you above the spectacular countyside to view some of the most beautiful castles of the Loire Valley.

Learn about French history in a fun and relaxing environment...

...with our professional Guides during expert commentated tours in English at our favorite castles, historical sites, markets, villages, monuments and wine producers.

Expert guided tours of villages and regional markets...

...followed by shopping at art, regional, farmers and artisan markets and fairs, as well as antique markets in historical villages & towns adds to the excitement of discovering local heritage and traditions. Our guides take you on tours of the markets, discussing local products of the region, and offer you assistance, as needed, with purchases and selections in the marketplace.

Sumptuous, Michelin star gourmet and bistro style lunches and dinners with regional and classified wines...

...during each tour reflect the heart & soul of each region. Meals offer an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of French cuisine and discover local gourmet and traditional recipes through our personalized restaurant selections and with celebrity Michelin Star and Master Chefs who welcome you, as friends, to their restaurants and homes.

Personal Freedom: Leisure time...

...is incorporated into every tour permitting you time to explore personal interests, discover villages and historic monuments independently of the group or simply just shop, enjoy a local cafe and watch the livelihood of local French villages. And, you always have the possibility to opt-in or -out of any activity scheduled on a tour to pursue independent interests. It's an appealing feature to all of our small group tours that some Guests like to know about in advance of booking their tour.

"The Loire Valley trip was my first trip to France, and I would highly recommend it! Our stay at the very charming Chateau was perfect... The wine and the food was beyond wonderful...I learned a great deal while having such a fun time on this trip! The value I received for the money spent was well worth it. This was a trip I will always remember, Thank you!" --Karen Paige, San Diego, Calif., (Loire Valley Tour)

"Great group of people and mix of activities! Thank you for a wonderful trip! Especially enjoyed the cooking classes and castles." Michael and Sue Minshall, Perth, Australia (pictured above in cooking class photo) (Loire Valley Tour)

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