In preparation for the 2014 Alsace tour

On my way back home, I visited the Alsace area in preparation for the 2014 tour. This is part of the 'Little Venice' in this German-influenced Alsace region town - close to the wine route where you will find plenty of wonderful white wines which grow well in this cooler climate.

Another part of the 'Little Venice' where on the left of the photo, there is a large market hall with fresh bread, fruit, vegetable, cheese, fish and meat market - in fact you can buy almost any food you want in order to prepare a sumptuous meal or picnic.

On the right is part of the old centre of Colmar with many restaurants, bistros, cafes and bars. One of the local foods is the Tarte Flambante. If you are not sure of what that is, maybe that's an excuse to go there! Click here to find out more about the 2014 tour.

Early Bird Discounts on 2012 Slow Tours

If you would like to benefit from the 2012 Tours Early Bird Discount of A$250 per person per tour, the deadline for bookings and payments is 10th December 2011.

A wonderful selection of regions - even across the border of France to Italy - is waiting to be discovered. From Provence to the Dordogne, from Brittany to Alsace, there is something for everyone to enjoy at a leisurely pace. Good food, good wine, good company and delightful accommodation are part of the recipe for a relaxing holiday. Add to that the possibility of heading gently down a cool river in a canoe, a quiet bike ride in a country lane, boat trips on a local river or the ocean, excursions to beaches, chateaux, monuments, art galleries, village shops and markets, and your holiday tour will go quicker than you would believe possible.

If you are inclined to think it's too good to be true, read the testimonial from Jenny and Ray (Victoria, Australia) which has just been put onto the website. Jenny and Ray joined a small group of people for a week in the Loire Valley in September and sent a wonderful account of their Slow Tour in France. Click here to view their Testimonial

2012 tours

The 2012 tour dates are now available. There are no documents to download as yet, but they will be coming soon. Several clients have asked me if I would do a tour in Italy, so that is also in the program for 2012, staying near the Cinque Terre for 6 nights, and near lake Como for 6 nights (photo above) - more details click here - special tours I'm very excited about taking guests to some of my favourite areas, and both of these are great for photographers! The Classic Wooden Boat sailing regatta in Marseille which was so successful this year will also be available in 2012 details here Sailing Week. Some of France's beautiful regions are available in week-long options:  In June - Provence and two weeks in the South West - Dordogne and Bordeaux -Quercy. In September and October - Normandy,  Brittany the beautiful Loire Valley , Burgundy and Alsace Lorraine.

Each 6 or 7 night tour will have a maximum of 8 guests in 2012, so if you are interested, put an option on your place now. Tours run consecutively through May/June and September/October, so guests can join me for 1,2,3 or more weeks - or if you want to rent a car through us and follow at your own speed - send us an email.