Friend-in-France, an English-run company based in the South of France, offers a free reservation and English language information service covering a wide selection of activities and tours in the region. We asked Mira, the company director, to recommend some outings that will make your stay on the Riviera all the more memorable.
To add a touch of glamour to your holiday, lunch and shop in St Tropez.
Take a 90 minute scenic drive with our chauffeur service to Port Grimaud, France’s answer to Venice. This chocolate-box village is built on a maze of canals and can be explored on foot or by boat (small electric boats are available for hire).
Then St Tropez, is just a 20 min ferry boat ride away and our chauffeur will be waiting to escort you to the famous Place des Lices where authentic Provençal pétanque is played in the shade of centenary plane trees.
The colourful streets of Old St Tropez lead down to the port, where an alfresco lunch can be had at one of the trendy eateries along the quay. We recommend that you skip dessert and head back to the Place des Lices to indulge in a local specialty, ‘The Tropézienne’ at the Tarte Tropezienne bakery.
If you fancy trying your hand at a game of pétanque before the return drive, the staff at the coffee shop ‘Le Café’ are usually happy to lend a set of boules to visitors.
Take advantage of the Spring and Autumn months to take this trip as traffic around St Tropez in peak season (July & August) can be congested. A day trip costs 130€/PP.
Create your own fragrance in the Perfume Capital of the World.
If a miniature Eiffel Tower or a yellow provencal table cloth aren’t quite your cup of tea, perhaps the famous perfume factories of Grasse can provide you with an exceptional souvenir.
The perfumerie Galimard was founded in 1747 and they still maintain the traditional methods of production. Their multilingual staff are passionate about perfume and as they guide you through the factory they will share their enthusiasm and knowledge about the history of Grasse and the manufacturing process. Visitors are shown ancient copper stills and fragrance extraction tables as well as the state of the art laboratory and conditioning room.
Galimard offer you the opportunity to compose your own fragrance with the expert guidance of a ‘
Nose,’ who will explain the architecture of a good perfume and evaluate your olfactory sensitivities. Armed with this knowledge, you will be allocated your own individual perfume organ from which to compose your unique fragrance.
The guided visit is free. The perfume creation and 100ml bottle of your very own scent costs 40€/PP and a private chauffeur to ferry you back and forth costs 250€ for a half day.
Ever wanted to Pilot a Helicopter?
Treat yourself to this very “Côte d’Azur” experience! After a 20 minute lesson covering the essential controls, aerodynamics and mechanics you can take to the skies with an experienced instructor in a joint-controlled helicopter. Flying over Cannes and the Lérins islands, you will see Cap d’Antibes, Monaco and Italy to the East, St Tropez and the Estérel mountains to the West, as well as the Southern Alpes inland. This is most definitely the playground of the rich and famous and for at least 20 minutes you can be the king of the castle!
Share this experience with up to 3 passengers.
Prices start at 170€ for the piloting lesson and 1 passenger.
If you prefer to take a back seat, we recommend a 30 min helicopter transfer to the stunning village of Moustiers Sainte Marie in the Gorge de Verdon. This is arguably the most beautiful village in France, surrounded by spectacular gorges, turquoise lakes and lavender fields. A wonderful glimpse of authentic Provencal life, culminating in a leisurely meal at ‘La Bastide de Moustiers’, owned by the famous French Chef Alain Ducasse.
A return transfer to Moustiers Sainte Marie (based on 2 hours for lunch and a total of 60 minutes transfer time) costs 1800€ for 5 people.
Gastronomic helicopter transfers are also possible to top restaurants in other locations including, St Paul de Vence.
Visit Friend-in-France online to discover their full range of activities:
Website: www.friend-in-france.com
Enquiries: info@friend-in-france.com