Activity Holidays in France

Fervent foodies, beginners who struggle to chop an onion, lifelong cooks – everyone is welcome to come and learn French cooking with the locals. Get to grips with flavour combinations, develop your culinary skills, sample the freshest local ingredients and, most importantly, share stories & a glass of wine with other passionate cooks.

From classics like onion soup and beef bourguignon to cutting edge cuisine, in stunning locations from Provence to Paris, Brittany to Bordeaux, come and learn to cook like a local in a country madly passionate about food.

Most Popular experiences

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  • Gourmet Cookery Course In Rural France

    5 Nights France

    Discover the beauty of rural French countryside and learn the art of gourmet french cuisine with a world-renowned chef! ..

    Price from

    £2089 pp
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  • 8 Days Intensive French Cooking Course

    7 Nights France

    Enjoy this immersive experience in which you will be able to learn all about French cuisine with a world class Michelin ..

    Price from

    £3591 per person
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  • A Week of Yoga, Gastronomy and Culture in Provence

    6 Nights France

    Relax and unwind during yoga lessons then go discover yoga philosophy, nature and gastronomy in Provence and the Côte ..

    Price from

    £910 pp
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  • French Culinary Adventure

    6 Nights France

    Learn to master French cuisine on this 6 night culinary adventure in a quiet hamlet with not one but two qualified and a..

    Price from

    £2591 pp
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  • French Dessert and Pastry Making Holiday

    6 Nights France

    Calling all baking & French patisserie enthusiasts! Learn to master classic French desserts and pastry on this 6 night c..

    Price from

    £2591 pp
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  • Fantastic French Cookery Course in Brittany

    6 Nights France

    This fantastic French cooking holiday will change the way you cook and think about food; get immersed in French food and..

    Price from

    £2728 pp
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  • Best Places to Visit

    Nice

    Welcome to a city of azure seas, pristine beaches, fresh Mediterranean cuisine and lifestyle to matc

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    Nice

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    Gascony

    Rolling hills bearing winding vineyards, Gascony is a region best savoured slowly.

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    Gascony

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    Normandy

    Windswept beaches, quiet village communities - there are wonderful experiences to be found in Norman

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    Normandy

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    Provence

    Travel along roads that wind their way through the hills of Provence to find truly offbeat experienc

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    Provence

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    Loire Valley

    Incredible chateaux, beautiful countryside, exquisite wine, all this & more in the Loire Valley.

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    Loire Valley

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    Bordeaux

    Historical & cultural hub in a region of world-class vineyards, Bordeaux is a rewarding destination.

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    Bordeaux

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    French Riviera

    Glitz and glamour await in a land where all pleasures & unique experiences can be found.

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    French Riviera

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    Biarritz

    Tucked away on the south Atlantic coast, France’s surf capital hides a number of offbeat experienc

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    Biarritz

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    Toulouse

    A picturesque maze of cobbled alleys reveals a city on the forefront of France’s cultural scene.

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    Toulouse

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    Paris

    What can be said that hasn’t been said already, the romantic capital of the world sits on the Sein

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    Paris

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    Nouvelle-Aquitaine

    A scene conjured up by gently ringing church bells & smells of boulangerie wafting through its stree

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    Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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    Lyon

    The culinary capital of France, if you’re a food lover, look no further than this charismatic city

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    Lyon

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    Brittany

    Fishing villages, stretches of deserted coastline & all the cheese and bread you can eat, sounds lik

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    Brittany

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    French Pyrenees

    Lesser visited than the Alps but still incredibly beautiful, authentic, and truly off the beaten tra

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    French Pyrenees

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    Culinary adventures in France

    The French view food as absolutely central to a content way of life, and we agree. It’s something that brings people together, to bond a group of friends or family.

    And French food is about so much more than cheese, croissants and coq au van, (though they are classics for a reason). A cooking holiday in France will reveal to you the complexity of French flavours and the balance of each individual dish – all whilst helping you understand French culture and how is reflected in their food.

    A French cooking holiday will help expand your knowledge of food combinations and allow your creativity to flourish in your own kitchen. Understand the elements of local French ingredients and intuitively know how to combine them, and – most importantly – share stories and a glass of local wine with other foodies, over a meal you’ve prepared together.

    With local chefs, fourth-generation cooks and French artisans showing you the way around the kitchen, you’ll return with new skills and satisfied tastebuds.

    Where to experience cooking courses in France

    Explore one of the many diverse regions in France on a pure cooking holiday, or combine your French cooking classes with another passion like yoga, jewellery making, or learning to speak French.

    Cook hearty stews with a stunning view of the rolling hills and fields on a French cookery break in Gascony, or discover the stunning French Riviera with one-day French cooking classes in Nice.

    Find the freshest French ingredients in the enticing daily markets of in Brittany or craft incredible seafood dishes along the rustic coast of Normandy.

    Head to the buzzing cities of Lyon or Toulouse and learn the gastronomic secrets of these two powerhouses of French cuisine with French cooking classes during the day, and then soak up the addictive urban atmosphere by night.

    Whatever your tastes, you can find a cookery holiday in France to indulge your inner chef and a group of like-minded people to experience it with. Never settle for an ordinary French holiday again.

    Who are our French cooking holiday guests?

    Fervent foodies, beginners who struggle to roll fresh dough, lifelong chefs – everyone is welcome in the kitchens of our French cooking schools.

    You’ll meet people of all ages and nationalities on cooking holidays in France, from solo travellers to couples to friends. Some love local, seasonal food, others are simply looking for a getaway that blends relaxation with life-enhancing activities (and excellent meals).

    All that’s required is a passion for food, a love of learning and a refusal to be boxed in. Sound like you?

    Thousands of people have already discovered that our eclectic mix of cooking holidays in France are as diverse as the people who go on them. Come and join them.

    Why choose Not In The Guidebooks?

    We’re passionate about helping people find the most amazing experiences on their travels, through meeting local people, exploring new places, and discovering alternative activities that make holidays special. We do this by carefully selecting partners in countries around the world who are experts in their local area, sourcing interesting people who can guide you through immersive experiences.

    We’ve got local partners all across France, from the Mediterranean coast to the wild beaches of Britanny. Choosing a Not In The Guidebooks holiday in France means you don’t have to choose between a beach holiday or an activity-filled break, you can get the best of both worlds with a unique trip.

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