Priya's trip to Provence

When Priya spotted a photo of Provence’s lavender fields last summer, the idea of a trip took root. But there was one catch: they didn’t want to fly.

“We weren’t sure if it was going to be too complicated without flying. But once I realised I could use Climate Perks days off we figured why not just try it?”

Their route started in London with the Eurostar to Paris. A sunny afternoon in the city broke up the journey nicely, before boarding a high-speed TGV to Avignon the next morning. As the scenery shifted from city to countryside, Priya felt truly relaxed.

“It was actually one of the most relaxing journeys we’ve done. No airport queues, no rushing, just good food, quiet time, and incredible views. The journey became part of the holiday for sure.”

They spent the week exploring rural villages, tasting local wines, and wandering through open-air markets. Without the pressure of air travel, the pace of the whole trip shifted.

“It felt like we were really travelling, and connecting with where we were - not just arriving at a place from the sky. We would’ve missed so much if we’d flown.”

And the impact?

“Combatting climate change was our primary reason for not wanting to fly, but by going flight-free, it completely changed the tone of the holiday. Slower, calmer, more connected. We did get lucky with how smooth everything was, but we’ve been on so many flights that were delayed (and even had two cancelled!). And even if we had experienced delays or missed connections, I feel like our mindset towards the journey was already so different that we wouldn’t have minded at all.”