Guided tour - In English 🇬🇧

Go behind the scenes at a family distillery that has been in operation since 1930, and leave knowing how to recognize lavenders… and how to use your essential oils on a daily basis.

At the foot of the Vercors mountains, the Distillerie des 4 Vallées welcomes you for an educational, lively, and sensory guided tour. Here, you don't just "look" at lavender: you understand it, you smell it, you learn how to choose it and use it.

For one hour, your guide will take you to the heart of a family farm founded in 1930, which is still in operation. You will discover:

• The history of lavender and why it has become a pillar of our daily lives (perfumery, well-being, domestic uses, etc.).

• The main families of lavender: fine lavender, lavandin, spike lavender… how to differentiate them (cultivation, smell, uses, yields).

• Markets and opportunities: What are the flowers from thousands of hectares cultivated in France used for (essential oils, floral waters, cosmetics, aromas…).

• Distillation explained simply: from traditional methods to current processes (vocabulary, steps, logic "from flower to bottle").

• An interactive olfactory workshop: guided comparison of aromatic profiles (lavender, lavandin, spike lavender) + concrete guidelines to choose according to your needs.

• A practical conclusion: how to use your bottles of essential oils and floral waters on a daily basis, with clear and responsible advice.

After the visit, you can extend the experience at your own pace: "distillation memory" area with old stills, free walk nearby, then visit to the producers' shop (more than 300 artisanal and French references).

Highlights ☀️

• Family distillery since 1930: an authentic place, a true living know-how.

• A comprehensive and easy-to-understand tour: history, botany, economics, technology… without unnecessary jargon.

• Olfactory workshop: we compare, we identify, we remember (and we leave with reference points).

• Practical usage tips: you know what to do with your essential oils when you get home.

• Exceptional setting at the foot of the Vercors mountains in the Drôme: perfect for a family outing, couple, group.

Key information ✅

Prices 🏷️

• €5 full adult price

• €4 group rate (15 people or more)

• €3 solidarity and local rates (residents of Diois and Chamaloc)

• €3 for children aged 6–17

• Free for children under 6

Schedules and time slots ⏰

• Open every day: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, non-stop

• 6 slots, doubled, one departure in French, a second in English:

  • 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

• Tour duration: 1 hour

• Please arrive 15 minutes before departure

Meeting point 📍

Distillerie des 4 Vallées

302 chemin des Garandons, 26150 Chamaloc (Drôme)
Google Maps link: https://share.google/vWk6EcJKBquruo3Wt

Contact 📞

• By email: contact@lavandes.fr

• By phone: 04 75 22 20 12

• On our website: https://www.reservation.lavandes.fr/contact.html

Capacity & audiences 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

• Ages: 2 to 99 years

• Groups:

  • From 15 to 50 people for private hire (on request)

  • Groups / private events / specific needs: contact recommended

Accessibility & comfort 🥰

• Accessible for people with reduced mobility and strollers

• Service animals allowed

• Toilets and water point on site

• Chairs available

• Children's area available with educational booklet

• No particular physical condition required

Parking 🚗

• Private parking directly at the distillery: approximately 30 spaces, including bicycles/motorcycles and camper vans

• Public parking 150m away

• Accueil Vélo label (secure parking, charging station, repair kit, route advice)

"On-the-ground" tips 🤠

• Closed shoes + hat or cap + water bottle (especially in summer).

Educational sequence 👨🏻‍🏫

1) Welcome & contextualization (distillery, territory, promise of the visit)

Let's start by setting the scene: We'll explain where you are, what's produced here, and why the Drôme region is a strategic area for lavender. Our guide will also give you the key points of interest for the visit so everything is clear from the start.

2) History of the distillery (1930 → present day) and transmission

You will discover the history of a family distillery founded in 1930, its evolution, its technical choices, and the realities of the business. The aim is to connect heritage with current activity: this is not a set, it is a living company.

3) Lavender through the ages: uses, beliefs, industrialization

This book traces the evolution of lavender from traditional uses (hygiene, perfumery, folk remedies) to more regulated modern applications. You'll also understand why lavender has become a symbol… and an economic sector.

4) Identifying lavenders: true lavender, lavandin, spike lavender (appearance + smell + uses)

You learn to differentiate between varieties, using simple indicators: appearance, growing areas, olfactory profile, yields, and common uses. The idea is that you can answer a real visitor's question: "What did I see on vacation/in my garden?"

5) Markets & outlets: what are the hectares of lavender used for in France?

We explain where the production goes and why: perfumery, cosmetics, wellness, household cleaning, flavorings… shedding light on the value, quality expectations, and what makes French production unique. This section adds depth: lavender is also an industry, not just a postcard image.

6) Distillation decoded: ""from flower to bottle"", without jargon

The guide details the steps: raw material, loading, steam, condensation, separation of oil/floral water… and what changes depending on the practices (sheaf, crushed, types of condensers). You leave with a clear understanding of "why it works" and essential vocabulary.

7) Interactive olfactory workshop: compare, memorize, choose

We move on to the sensory experience: smelling, comparing, and identifying the differences between lavender, lavandin, and spike lavender. The guide provides concrete guidelines for choosing a product based on your objective (ambiance, skincare, household use), without vague promises.

8) Responsible uses: essential oils & floral waters in everyday life

The visit concludes with examples of simple and realistic uses, and common-sense advice (dosage, precautions, for whom/for what). The aim is to ensure that your bottles at home no longer remain "pretty but unused".

9) Time for discussion & extensions (museum/old stills, walk, shop)

You have a real question and answer session, then the possibility to extend freely: historical space/old stills, photos, walk nearby. And for those who wish, the shop allows you to leave with products aligned with what you have just learned.

Customer reviews ⭐️

• Tripadvisor: 4.9/5 (33 reviews) ( Tripadvisor )

• Google: the distillery has over 300 reviews with a rating of 4.9/5 ( Distillerie des 4 Vallées )

What visitors remember most: clear explanations, informative tour, friendly welcome, attractive shop.

FAQ 🙋🏻

1) How long is the visit and should we arrive early?

The guided tour lasts approximately 1 hour. To start on time and fully enjoy the introduction (instructions, context, immersion), we advise you to arrive 15 minutes before your reserved time slot.

2) At what times do the tours take place and in which languages?

Tours are offered at six different times: 9:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00, and 17:30, with departures in both French and English. This allows us to welcome both local visitors and international travelers without compromising the quality of the explanations.

3) Is this a visit suitable for children and families?

Yes, it's a family outing: children discover lavender through their senses (scents, visual cues, stories) and understand "how it works" without getting bogged down in technical jargon. The prices are designed for families, with free admission for children under 6 and a child rate for ages 6 to 17.

4) Is the visit accessible to people with reduced mobility and strollers?

Yes, the site is wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly. The goal is for everyone to be able to follow the route, participate in the olfactory workshop, and enjoy the discussion sessions, without logistical constraints.

5) Can we come as a group, book a private tour, or adapt the visit?

Yes. The tour is available for groups of up to 40 people in a standard configuration, with the possibility of increasing to 50 for private tours. For groups (associations, schools, companies, coach operators), we recommend contacting us in advance so we can tailor the arrangements and ensure a smooth experience.

6) Is the distillation visible and is it a "real" working distillery?

Yes: you'll be visiting a family-run distillery founded in 1930, with a strong historical background and a real, active operation. The aim of the tour is precisely to make distillation understandable: what is distilled, why, how the flower is transformed into the bottle, and what differentiates the various methods.

7) Can we buy products on site after the visit?

Yes. The visit naturally continues with a stop at the producers' shop, featuring products from our own production (essential oils, floral waters, cosmetics, gourmet treats) and a selection of local artisans. It's the perfect opportunity to leave with a useful souvenir that complements what you've just learned.

8) Is there parking and convenient facilities on site?

Yes. There is a public car park nearby and a private car park with approximately 30 spaces, including spaces for bicycles, motorcycles and camper vans. Toilets and a water point are available, and in summer we recommend closed shoes, a hat/cap and a bottle of water.

Keywords 📃

Lavender – Lavandin – Spike Lavender – Essential Oil – Floral Water – Distillation – Still – Family Farm – Expertise – Drôme – Vercors – Guided Tour – Scent Workshop – Family Outing – Industrial Tourism – Craft Tourism – Museum – Local Producer – Producers' Shop – Bike-Friendly – Accessible to People with Reduced Mobility