To embark upon a trip to Provence with Madeleine is to enter a secret world of friends, family, food, and wine that are slowly revealed over the week. Our visit began at the Avignon train station. After that, we were transported into a world like no other. From the opening feast to the final teaching day, our only decisions were whether to take a walk when we returned to the lovely villa or nap before another sumptuous feast. Madeleine had everything else organized and our only duty was to pay attention, participate, and enjoy the marvels that awaited.

What was especially noteworthy was the way that Madeleine’s friends welcomed us into their homes and businesses to share their experiences with us. From truffle hunting to vineyards, and delightful picnics, wonderful people awaited at every stop. And that was during the day. Every night had a different theme, and frequently a guest chef as we enjoyed candle light, food, companions, and wonderful wine.

The week flew by and, eventually, we had to return to our normal lives. However, our family still breaks into the Châteauneuf-du-Pape! chant from time to time in honor of one of our guest chefs when she bade us to begin our meal. Now, with some time to reflect, we have all agreed that the week was, the “best family vacation ever.”

Ben, Debra, Ellie, Geoff, Winter Truffle Tour, 2023

We had the pleasure of experiencing the Winter Truffle Tour. Madeleine is well organized and accommodating. We felt well taken care of during our stay. More than once on the tour a fellow traveller had a special request that Madeleine accommodated in her typical cheerful way.

A lasting memory was donning an apron and assisting the chefs who prepared gourmet meals at our grand Provence home away from home. Some on the tour chose to help cook while others, like my husband, were more content watching or photographing the kitchen activity. One such night with French wine flowing, and candles burning, our charming chef broke out into song around the communal dining table. Can you believe that was not the only time during our trip that a chef shared their musical talents with us?

Travel is all about making fond memories and we made enough for a lifetime.

Tom & Sheila, Winter Tour 2022

Dave and I are typical of engineers in that we do not write eloquently. All our training taught us to use the minimum number of words possible, because the people reading our work would prefer everything to be an abstract! That said, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with you in Provence & have recommended your tour to a number of friends. We have steadfastly avoided tours for years (just not interested in visiting every gift shop!), but yours was wonderful

Gastronomic delight! The entire tour is filled to overflowing with wonderful food, wonderful wine, and wonderful company. Madeleine and Martine prepared excellent, fresh foods, and served delightful wines throughout the tour. Several chefs were included & we even participated as sous chefs, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Visiting Provence with Madeleine and meeting her friends whose expertise enhanced our experience gave us access to things a simple tourist visit would not have done. We highly recommend touring with her. Madeleine is great!

Cathy & Dave Winter Tour 2023

This was a once in a lifetime experience for us. Madeleine created a warm, comfortable, beautiful home environment for us, and provided terrific tours and spectacular food. Aside from the great activities, Madeleine herself was key to this experience, with her personal contacts, knowledge, and good humor, she helped us understand and appreciate the culture, food, and countryside and was just all around fun.

Cathy, Winter Tour 2019

PS I hope to get back to Provence!

If you love wine, check out tours in France with Madeleine Hill Vedel. She's friends with vintners and wine distributors who work with the vintners of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region (plus she shared remarkable bottles of wine during all of our dinners). Vintner Jean-Paul Versino told us about his multi-generational vineyard and winery Domaine Bois de Boursan - EARL Versino Jean et Jean-Paul, and wine distributor Guy Brémond treated us to a tasting of many Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines and then hosted us with an amazing meal. We were in the beautiful Rhone River Valley, home to great wines.

"the food!!!" Indeed this trip with Madeleine was an extraordinary food experience. Chef Erick Vedel picked up three ducks from a nearby small farmer (30 ducks raised at a time) and taught us how to deconstruct it and make a wide variety of dishes with all its parts. Another night he came over and made us his famous soupe de poissons after we watched him make a bee-line to the very specific fish mongers he wanted to buy from at the Arles farmers market. And yet another night we were making a delicious almond cake with a young chef who made us an amazing multi-course meal.

Diane & Dean, Truffle Tour 2024

Near the end of October, my boyfriend and I joined Madeleine for her Art and Markets Tour. It was like going to the Riviera with a friend who has a spacious comfortable villa and her friends.

Every day after breakfast we drove off to somewhere special: a museum, shopping, a special cooking class, a sailboat ride, even a dip in the Mediterranean. Home to wine and hors d'oeuvres and an ooh la la French dinner. We had plenty of time to ourselves and always knew the upcoming plans. A fantastic trip.

Lynne, Rivieria Tour 2023

I have enjoyed several tours with Madeleine since the early 2000's, and each one has been a feast for the senses. I keep coming back for more. I highly recommend any experience Madeleine offers, as you will learn fascinating details about the south of France and its history, eat (and cook, depending on the tour) amazing food, and meet talented, gracious, creative people. Her prices are very reasonable in comparison to other tours. She provides for comfortable and charming accommodations and you will dine at wonderful local restaurants. She and her assistants are so gracious and accommodating. A number of my favorite recipes come from those she has shared from her cooking classes.

Kathryn C. Riviera Tour 2023

Happiness is a day of truffle hunting and a sweet dog.

A tour in Provence with Madeleine Vedel is magical! She curates a tour of cultural gems for her guests, and has a wealth of knowledge about French cuisine, wine, architecture, and history. Madeleine's French language skills are enviable. My time in Provence was outstanding, The professional chefs that we cooked with were amazing - at both their craft and teaching the guests how to create delicious foods. The accommodations were perfect - cozy, a wonderful location in St. Remy, We could walk to town, to the Van Gogh sanatorium, and to a beautiful lake. My daughter and I were very comfortable in the rooms, and sharing the house with 4 other guests was fun as well as helped create new friendships. We had just the right amount of down time and time to explore venues and towns on our own. Madeleine gave us very informative tours of locations like Les Baux (my favorite) and Pont du Gard. I would (and have) recommend taking a French tour with Madeleine Vedel - it is a once in a lifetime trip!!

Sheila, Winter Tour 2023

I have the impression that I have been your most frequent visitor during a certain period of time. Of course I'm not sure if my impression is right, but in any case I would love to give my feedback of my experience during so many seasons in Provence. The first one, in 2005, French and cooking classes, two weeks in Arles, my first time in Provence. Incredible. Then, the following year, I went for two different tours, one after the other: Yoga and cooking classes and Hiking and Feasting. In 2007 I had the internship helping Erick in the cooking classes and day tours with guests. And many years later I spent one week in your house in Avignon for the Winter Truffle Tour.

Those were amazing moments that I spent with you, Erick, your friends, the artisans, the other guests.. I can't describe how great it was for me to stay in a different country, learning about different cultures and ways of life, and always feeling so welcome and so well looked after, and the concern you and Erick always had in meeting your guests’ demands and expectations. I can only thank you a lot for your generosity in sharing with us your knowledge of the region and every little restaurant, market, boutique, atelier where you took us, the goat farmers, the chocolate maker, the baker, all of them such talented artisans with a passion for their craft. And you with your passion for discovering new places and new themes for the design of new tours. Congratulations, Madeleine! ❤

Helena, Brazil, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015