Journey into the aromatic hinterland of the French Riviera — Grasse, perfume capital of the world, then the medieval fortress-village of Gourdon, and finally Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the hilltop haven beloved by Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall. A full-day immersion in Provençal beauty.
What to expect
The morning opens in Grasse at the Fragonard or Galimard parfumerie, where a master perfumer walks you through the alchemy of scent — jasmine, rose, tuberose — and you blend your own bespoke fragrance to take home. Gourdon perches at 760 m with vertigo-inducing panoramas over the Loup gorge; its château gardens are pure theatre. Saint-Paul-de-Vence rewards slow wandering: cobbled lanes, contemporary galleries, and the legendary Café de la Place pétanque court. Lunch at a village restaurant lingers over rosé and ratatouille.
Good to know
Confirm departure time to allow a comfortable buffer before all-aboard. Grasse parfumeries sometimes require advance booking for private 'nose' sessions — Ophorus handles this. Comfortable walking shoes essential for cobblestone villages.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Cannes — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Cannes
- Private Boat to Îles de Lérins: Sainte-Marguerite & Saint-Honorat
- Private Riviera Day Tour: Monaco, Monte Carlo & the Grande Corniche
- Cannes Cinema & Glamour Walking Tour by a Working Screenwriter
- Le Suquet Old Town & Marché Forville: Private Food & History Morning
- Private Helicopter Flight: Cannes, Monaco & the Côte d'Azur from Above