European Experiences

www.european-experiences.com

Trip Planning, Europe, Group Tours

Small group tours in Europe's beautiful places with Kathy and Charley Wood

Location: France, England, Austria, Germany

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Experience Europe's Most Beautiful Places

• Are you dreaming of a different kind of European vacation?
• A beautiful setting in the countryside?
• An immersion in a different culture and way of life?
• The opportunity to get to know local people?
• A focus on simple pleasures?
• A leisurely and relaxed pace?

If this type of vacation appeals to you, you’ll enjoy our European Experiences trips! We offer small group tours in the most beautiful areas of Europe, special places that have captured our hearts in almost 20 years of European travel.

Our groups base for one week in one place, typically a centrally-located authentic village in beautiful surroundings. We focus on seeing what's nearby and immersing ourselves in the culture of the local area. We especially enjoy experiencing the local cuisine! Most of our days are spent within 30 minutes of our village. Our trips involve making connections with local people and sharing unique experiences.

We began offering small group tours in France in 2006. Over 150 people have now joined us for The Luberon Experience, a week in the the countryside of Provence, based in the village of Bonnieux. In 2009, at the request of our Luberon travelers, we began offering similar trips to other special areas of Europe that we know well and love.

Our groups have included people from 30 U.S. states as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Participants have ranged from mature teenagers to active seniors. We've welcomed couples, friends and family members, small groups, and many solo travelers. Regardless of age our travelers share a sense of adventure and an eagerness to experience all aspects of another culture. We love the camaraderie and friendships that develop in every group.

In 2009 we hosted five Experience weeks in Provence, a week in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, and a week in the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany. In 2010 we'll return to Provence and the Salzkammergut, and we'll also host two weeks in the beautiful Cotswolds region of England.

See our European Experiences website for more photos and more detailed information.

The Luberon Experience

The Luberon is the most beautiful area in Provence, stretching 34 miles on either side of a small, rocky mountain range, an hour or so north of the Mediterranean Sea. This is the area Peter Mayle described in his best-selling book, “A Year in Provence” and was featured in the 2006 movie “A Good Year.” Our base for The Luberon Experience is the ancient perched village of Bonnieux with sweeping views across the valley.

Highlights of our week in the Luberon include:

• The perched villages of Bonnieux, Lacoste, Roussillon, Saignon and Oppède-le-Vieux
• Outdoor markets at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes and Bonnieux
• A very special winery lunch at Domaine Faverot, a family-owned winery with delightful owners
• A tour and tasting at Château la Canorgue, filming location for the movie A Good Year
• The Abbaye de Sénanque, a 12^th century monastery hidden in a deep gorge near Gordes
• A visit to a goat farm to learn about cheese making, including a delicious tasting of a variety of different cheeses
• A memorable evening at our friend Janice’s home, including the opportunity to help prepare the meal and learn about Provençal cooking.

On our day "Beyond the Luberon" we offer longer trips to the fishing village of Cassis on the Mediterranean Sea or the beautiful mountain region of the Alpilles, beloved by impressionist painters.

We meet travelers at the Avignon TGV station or the Marseille airport. Most people extend their week with us to spend time in Paris, Avignon or Aix-en-Provence.

Learn more about The Luberon Experience here.

The Cotswolds Experience

The Cotswolds is an unusually beautiful, mostly rural area located in west-central England, about an hour and a half from London. The Cotswolds are best known for rolling hills, gentle streams, grazing sheep, and well-preserved villages constructed of honey-colored limestone. Our Cotswolds Experience groups base in Chipping Campden, a welcoming village in the northern Cotswolds.

Highlights of our week in the Cotswolds include:

• Picturesque villages and towns as intriguing as their names: Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh, Upper Slaughter, Lower Slaughter.
• Beautiful English gardens at Hidcote Manor and Kiftsgate and the lavender farm at Snowshill.
• Sudeley Castle, one of England’s most famous castles, with a history extending almost 1000 years.
• The ruins of Hailes Abbey, a 13^th century abbey dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539.
• Blenheim Palace, one of England’s largest country houses, with extensive parks and gardens.
• Market day at Moreton-on Marsh.
• Typical British experiences, including strolls in the countryside, afternoon tea, lunch at a working farm, and visits to several pubs.

Our day “Beyond the Cotswolds" enables our travelers to experience Stratford-upon-Avon, a lively town known for its most famous resident, William Shakespeare, or the architecturally-rich city of Oxford, home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

We meet our groups in the village of Moreton-on-Marsh, an hour-and-a-half train ride from London's Paddington Station. Most travelers spend several days in London before our week begins.

Learn more about The Cotswolds Experience here.

The Salzgammergut Experience

The Salzkammergut is a magnificent region of mountains and lakes, southeast of Salzburg, Austria. Our home for The Salzgammergut Experience is the storybook village of St. Gilgen on the shores of Lake Wolfgang, about 30 minutes from Salzburg. Salzburg—the birthplace of the composer Mozart—is one of our favorite city in all of Europe; watch the classic movie "The Sound of Music" to understand its appeal. Summer is the perfect time to experience the magic and beauty of the Salzkammergut, as we explore its villages, mountains and lakes. We'll travel by ferry, cogwheel mountain train, cable car, and funicular.

Highlights of our week in the Salzkammergut include:

• The picturesque villages of St. Gilgen, Mondsee, St. Wolfgang and Hallstatt
• The Schafberg and Zwölferhorn mountains and the high meadow at the Postalm, including easy walking and lunches with awe-inspiring views
• The spa town of Bad Ischl and the Kaiservilla, the summer home of Emperor Franz-Joseph and the Empress Elisabeth
• A trip to the ancient Salt Mines above Hallstatt, where we’ll don protective miners’ clothing before traveling deep within the mountain
• An evening in Salzburg, including dinner and a classical concert in an historic setting

Our day trips "Beyond the Salzkammergut" include an excursion to Berchtesgaden, Germany and Lake Königssee or a full day in Salzburg.

Most travelers fly into Munich and spend several days in Munich at the beginning or end of their trip. Some also extend their trip to spend more time in Salzburg at the end of the week.

Learn more about The Salzkammergut Experience here.

The "Kathy and Charley" Experience

We're former members of "Corporate America" who have traveled extensively in Europe for almost 20 years. We share a passion for Europe and for sharing the special places we love with others. After taking a family sabbatical in 2004-2005 to travel and live in Europe for 14 months with our daughter, we developed more flexible careers so we could continue to travel as a family and with our groups. We now spend about three months a year in Europe, usually preferring the "slow travel" approach of spending a week or more in each place.

We've always been independent travelers, and our goal was to develop tours that didn't feel like tours. We want you to feel like you're traveling with a group of friends. Our schedule is stimulating and varied, but also relaxed and flexible, including a mid-week day when when we host longer day trips to interesting areas beyond our main destination. Some people choose to take a day off during the week to enjoy a quieter day and explore the village. Each week's plan can be adjusted based on the weather, the preferences of each group, and an unexpected opportunity like a concert or festival.

You don't need to be an athlete, but you do need to be in good physical condition to participate in a European Experience trip. Be prepared to walk one to two miles in the course of a typical day, sometimes on moderate inclines. We include several options for short hikes each week, but there is always another, less strenuous activity available.

2010 Dates

All weeks are Saturday to Saturday. We meet our groups on Saturday afternoon and drop them off the following Saturday morning.

The Luberon Experience: May 15-22 (Women’s Week - full); May 22-29; May 29-June 5; September 18–25; September 25-October 2

The Cotswolds Experience: June 12-19; June 19-26

The Salzkammergut Experience: July 3-10

Our groups are small (typically 10-12 people), and we are often fully booked many months in advance. Early reservations are strongly encouraged to ensure your place. We do keep a waiting list in case of cancellations.

2010 Prices

Double occupancy: $2,800 per person

Single occupancy and triple occupancy rooms are available, but the prices vary for each trip. Contact us for details.

This price includes: 7 nights accommodation with en-suite bath; 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners (with beer or wine); guided daytrips, admissions and special activities; all local transportation; and many extras.

Travelers make their own arrangements for air transportation and travel to and from our designated meeting place. We provide detailed information and suggest other resources to help you plan your trip.

Please Contact Us!

We're always happy to provide additional information or answer any questions. Visit our websites www.european-experiences.com or www.luberonexperience.com. Or contact us by e-mail or phone!

Contact Information

Company: European Experiences

Name: Kathy and Charley Wood

Street: 945 Ethans Glen Drive

City: Knoxville

State/Province: TN

Country: USA

Zip/Postal Code: 37923

Phone: 8656933036

Website: www.european-experiences.com

E-mail: Click here to send an e-mail inquiry