
Meet Christy Destremau:
Founder & President of France Off The Beaten Path
Experience France with Destination Expert Christy Destremau & Her UNESCO Award-Winning Team!

RATED EXCELLENT WITH 500+ REVIEWS

2019 WINNER!! 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR!

RECOMMENDED BY FROMMER’S FRANCE!
I’m Christy Destremau.
As the founder of France Off the Beaten Path Tours, my connection to this enchanting country runs deep. It’s not just a business for me; it’s my life: it’s a part of who I am. I arrived in Provence, France, 31 years ago to start a new chapter of my life by marrying a French man. I later relocated to a small village of less than four thousand people in the French countryside of coastal Brittany in northwestern France, where I raised my two children and three dogs. Following my divorce six years ago, I relocated and now call Bordeaux home. My personal bond with France remains the driving force of my passion for sharing unique and personalized cultural experiences with travelers.
My story in France began three decades ago when I first stepped foot on French soil with my freshly acquired degrees from San Diego State University. Having sold my belongings following graduation, except what I could fit into a single suitcase, I hopped on a plane to Provence, France, with the audacity to chase my aspirations. “My dream? To live a dream.” Equipped with an extensive education in Political Science, French history, language, and international relations, and my heart full of passion for and knowledge of this historically and culturally rich country, I dove into French life head first and never looked back. Soon after my arrival, I discovered that working as a non-European citizen in France presented many challenges, but I persevered and transformed my experience into something positive and fruitful. As an immigrant, it’s a great source of pride to contribute to my adopted country of France by bringing hundreds of groups to visit this magnificent country I call home.
I launched Off the Beaten Path, LLC with nothing but an idea, a guide license, my programming skills, and a burgeoning sense of adventure. My first website came to life, showcasing multi-day tours with all the trimmings to share the heart and soul of my favorite regions of France with travelers. I dedicated every waking minute between my kids’ school schedules and family obligations to realizing my dream. My journey was not without its uncertainties. I built my company and established my internet presence, which, at the time, was a new frontier, and navigated the waves of uncertainty every start-up company faces. As an entrepreneur, I rode those waves alone, fueled by hope and determination to succeed as a woman breaking into a male-dominated industry. While building my business, I learned the true essence of both French and village life, being married into a traditional French family and raising two children and three dogs in the countryside. I embraced the spirit of French life, seamlessly blending my roles as a mother and entrepreneur.
Today, my children are thriving adults. My son Oliver, a proud Penn State graduate, is now an electrical engineer in the USA. My daughter Chloe, also a graduate of Penn State, returned to France, where she recently earned her master’s degree at the University of Marseille and is now a marine biologist. Throughout their childhood, I cherished every summer vacation with my kids, birthday celebrations, and family holidays. Steadfast on my new path in life, I forged ahead with my ideas, transforming my dream into reality on my terms. I sold my first tours three months after going live with my first website. Today, my passion continues to flourish and has blossomed into a thriving venture, welcoming hundreds of travelers each year to my beautiful country, France.
Together with my dedicated team of expert guides, I breathe life into French culture, traditions, and history, ensuring that each tour is not just a trip but an unparalleled adventure. Through my extensive network of local friends in every region, we curate once-in-a-lifetime experiences for English-speaking travelers from around the globe. When you join us, you step into my French friends’ homes, workshops, and kitchens, where the true essence of their culture unfolds before you. Each day transforms into a vibrant journey through history, filled with captivating anecdotes and laughter. In these intimate small groups, you’re not just a tourist; you’re welcomed as a friend.
Tours that don’t feel like a tour!
Our tours redefine the concept of a typical tour, offering an experience that feels more like a personal journey with friends than a guided visit.
Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure? Let us guide you through France’s captivating landscapes and rich traditions—where every tour feels like a warm embrace rather than a checklist of sights. Join us on one of our cultural, walking, and gourmet foodie tours to Provence, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne, and Normandy. Each small group tour invites you to delve into the rich history and tantalizing stories of French life, complete with delightful culinary and wine experiences that celebrate each region’s local flavors and delicacies.
Your adventure begins here. Join us and live the dream of everything French!
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Looking back on 30 years celebrating France with our small group tours!
Recommended by Frommer’s !
Prominent travel magazines and fellow guides recognize Christy Destremau as a leading France travel expert. Her tours are featured in major travel magazines, Frommer’s France Guide, Best of France Guide, and many more. She has been featured in FORBES as an up-and-coming female entrepreneur. Best-selling travel author PJ Adams and Christy also co-authored a Loire Valley, France guidebook, Intoxicating Greater Paris – Loire, Valley of the Kings.
**Please note – Our toll free number listed in Frommers France guide is no longer in service. Our service provider ceased operations at the onset of the pandemic.
Our contact number is +1.717.683.2827.
Prominent travel magazines, fellow guides, and industry colleagues recognize Christy Destremau, as a leading France travel expert. Anything you want to “make happen” in France, she can make it happen. Her tours are regularly featured in prominent travel magazines, as well as being included in Frommer’s France Guide and Best of France Guide. Christy is a free-lance journalist, member of the International Federation of Journalists, a published book author and member of the National Writers Union. Christy co-wrote a Loire Valley, France guidebook – Intoxicating Greater Paris – Loire, Valley of the Kings – with best selling travel author PJ Adams, and she has been featured in FORBES Traveler.
FEATURED IN “LOVING BORDEAUX” MAGAZINE JULY 2020!

NOT JUST A TOUR: IT’S A PERSONALIZED, SMALL GROUP, FRANCE TOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER!
Christy’s extensive network of professional connections and personal friends in France is the key to her “exclusive” and unique tour itineraries setting France Off the Beaten Path small group tours well above the offerings of other tour companies. Christy recognizes that no one can specialize in everything, and she has chosen to concentrate on small group travel and small group touring within her adopted home country of France!
When Christy launched Off the Beaten Path, LLC, she made a conscious decision and commitment to focus her time, energy, and “savoir-faire” on specializing exclusively on what she knows best; active, small group walking, wine, cultural and gourmet food tour travel in France. Though many industry professionals have tried to recruit her to broaden France Off the Beaten Path’s tour offerings into other countries, Christy has remained steadfast and committed to delivering what she loves; creating and delivering the finest personalized itineraries of the very best “insider” experiences in France.

Join Christy and her team to share in active experiences with other like-minded travelers to experience “authentic France” in a small intimate group, led by her UNESCO award-winning team of guides! Christy and her team understand both French and Anglophone culture, and ensure a perfect blend and balance between the two to deliver memorable experiences. Exceeding guest expectations on every tour is paramount.

Christy’s commitment to designing exceptional and personalized itineraries, delivering unparalleled customer service, and ensuring unsurpassed value has propelled Off the Beaten Path, LLC to the head of the tour industry in France. Regularly awarded professional accolades by many top-tier travel industry organizations, as well as numerous travel magazines and journals worldwide, validates that Christy’s dedication remains to her tour guests.

A published photographer featured in National Geographic and the Loire Valley Guide, “Loire, Valley of the Kings,” which she also co-wrote, contributing as the content specialist and photographer, Christy spends her off-season time traveling around France, photographing the countryside. All photos published on this website, both slideshow photos and page content photos, are compliments of Christy. Her images reflect a distinct passion for France, the French, and sharing “all that France has to offer” with tour guests. Many of Christy’s France and regional specific landscape and foodie images can be seen featured on other travel industry websites, as well as in print. She also contributes photography to hotel partners, who are personal family friends, for use on their professional websites. Considered a France destination expert and leading authority on French history, traditions and culture, she has authored and edited travel articles about France for prominent travel guides and magazines worldwide.










RATED 5 STARS BY HUNDREDS OF HAPPY TOUR GUESTS
