---

European Experiences

www.european-experiences.com

Trip Planning, Europe, Group Tours

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

Location: France, Italy, England, Austria, Germany

---

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 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 Provence, France in 2006. Over 250 people have now joined us for The Luberon Experience, a week in the the countryside of Provence, based in the village of Bonnieux. In 2012 National Geographic Traveler magazine recognized The Luberon Experience as one of their 50 Tours of a Lifetime. We’re very proud to be identified as one of the best tours in the world, “designed for experience, immersion, sustainability, and cultural connection.”

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 35 U.S. states as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. 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.

We'll always offer several weeks of The Luberon Experience each year, normally in May and early June, sometimes also in September.  Our other trips are normally offered in June and early July and vary each year.  See our European Experiences website for more detailed information about each trip, and lots of photos.

Our trips include:

The Luberon Experience in Provence, France (offered annually)

The Chianti Experience in Tuscany, Italy (offered in 2012 and 2014)

The Salzkammergut Experience near Salzburg, Austria (offered in 2012; future trips TBD)

The Périgord Experience in the Dordogne in southwest France (offered in 2013 and 2014)

The Cotswolds Experience in the heart of England (offered in 2013 and 2014)

The Bavarian Experience in the German Alps (TBD)

The "Kathy and Charley" Experience

We're former members of "Corporate America" who have traveled extensively in Europe for 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.

Booking an Experience Trip

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

Our groups are small (typically 10-14 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.

A $500 per person deposit is required to confirm a reservation.  The balance is due 90 days before the trip.  See our website for information about our cancellation policies.

2013 Schedule

We're now booking for our 2013 trips:

The Luberon Experience: May 11-18; May 18-25; May 25-June 1 (Return to the Luberon)

The Périgord Experience:  June 8-15; June 15-22; June 22-29

The Cotswolds Experience:  July 6-13, July 13-20; July 20-27

We'll announce our 2014 schedule and start taking bookings on March 1, 2013.  Visit our website to sign up for our newsletter and schedule announcements.

Prices

Double occupancy: $2,800 per person (Luberon and Cotswolds); $2,900 per person (Périgord)

Single occupancy and triple occupancy rooms are usually 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