7-Day Languedoc-Roussillon, South of France Gallivant

Arrive in Montpellier, the vibrant southern gateway where history, food and youthful energy collide. Settle into your boutique hotel before stepping straight into local life with a private guided walk through the historic centre, its covered markets, local produce stalls, and a few hidden gems opened just for us.

Unwind over a relaxed Michelin-starred welcome dinner, where seasonal cuisine and local wine pairings set the tone for the journey ahead.

After breakfast, travel south to the coast and arrive in Sète, often called the “Venice of the Languedoc.” Begin with a private boat cruise through its canals and fishing port, gaining insight into the town’s maritime soul.

Head to the Étang de Thau for a hands-on visit to a working oyster farm, learning about lagoon farming before enjoying a Picpoul-paired tasting at the source. Lunch follows at a shellfish farm in Bouzigues, feet almost in the water.

The afternoon is devoted to a relaxed cooking class, where you’ll learn to prepare classic local dishes. Evening at leisure back in Montpellier.

Travel west to Narbonne, once a thriving Roman port and still very much a living food city. With a local guide, explore its historic centre, Roman remains and covered market, meeting producers who shape the region’s everyday culinary life.

After lunch, continue into the rolling Corbières hills for a tasting at a historic estate founded in 1605. Discover bold Mediterranean wines shaped by wind, sun and stone, then stretch your legs on a vineyard walk — or join the winegrower for a playful, slightly wacky escape game rooted in vineyard life.

As dusk settles, gather for a long-table dinner under the stars — one of those quietly magical evenings that lingers long after the last glass is poured.

This morning, head into the hills north of Montpellier, where vineyards are framed by wild garrigue and open skies. At a family-run estate, step briefly into the shoes of a winemaker and try your hand at blending your own cuvée before sitting down to a relaxed lunch cooked on site.

Meandering gently back toward Montpellier, stop at a second vineyard to taste wines crafted largely from native grape varieties — expressive, characterful and deeply rooted in place.

The afternoon slows to a southern rhythm: learn the rules of pétanque, stretch out in a hammock with that holiday book, or simply do nothing at all. Dinner is light and informal, laid out to pick and nibble at your own pace — a perfect expression of the art of slow living.

After breakfast, follow the coastal road south into Roussillon, arriving in Perpignan — a city layered with Catalan, medieval and royal history, once described by Salvador Dalí as “the centre of the world.” A private guided walk brings its stories to life before a relaxed bistro-style lunch.

In the afternoon, continue along the Côte Vermeille, where the Pyrenees tumble dramatically into the Mediterranean, arriving in Collioure, a painterly harbour town of pastel façades and luminous light. From the water, board a traditional Catalan boat to explore the bay and uncover the secrets of local anchovies — a quietly iconic South of France moment to end the day.

Enjoy a leisurely morning, with time for brunch or lunch at your own pace. In the early afternoon, travel to the historic Caves Byrrh, home to the largest wine vat in the world and a cornerstone of Roussillon’s wine and aperitif history.

Continue with a playful mixology session, learning to create — and, of course, taste — a series of off-beat cocktails inspired by the region’s flavours, recipes you may well find yourself recreating back home.

As evening falls, gather for an elegant food-and-wine pairing dinner in a private historic villa, hosted by a Master Sommelier. Before sitting down to dine, enjoy a private visit of the villa itself, once the residence of one of the region’s most influential wine merchants in 1907 — a fitting and atmospheric setting for a memorable final evening.

Enjoy a slow, unhurried morning — perhaps a final wander through a gallery, a little shopping, or one last proper French coffee enjoyed without a glance at the clock.

Late morning, travel to a truly one-of-a-kind wine estate for a farewell lunch served outdoors beneath the trees. The meal is cooked for you — and in front of you — by the winegrower himself, a final expression of the generosity, simplicity and joy that define this region. Wines flow easily, conversations linger, and the week gently comes full circle.In the afternoon, return to Montpellier for farewells. Your Culinary Gallivant through the Languedoc-Roussillon draws to a close, leaving you with lasting memories — and, quite possibly, a quiet determination to return.
For those wishing to continue the adventure, Barcelona lies just two hours away by road or an easy train journey, offering a natural and tempting extension.