About Aix Tours
Get to know who we are
Zero
Microphones or flags ever flown. We keep things small and personal.
Award Winning Tour
Selected by TripAdvisor. GetYourGuide and other Industry leaders as the hottest up and coming tour operator in the world!
Founded in 2023
Though my family has been shaping Aix since the 1800s.
3000+ Travellers Guided
From solo wanderers to multi-generational families.
500+ Five-Star Reviews
Across Google, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, and other direct feedback.
Meet the Founder
Five generations of my family have called this city home. My family were merchants in the streets you walk through in Aix. My great-great-grandfather fought in the resistance in these streets. My grandmother was a messenger for the resistance. My mother taught me which café makes the best Calisson — not the touristy ones on you find in Airports, but the family place tucked behind Place Richelme where locals go – next door to the shop they owned selling medical supplies.
I was schooled in the UK, and left Aix after university to explore the world. I ran a language school in Peru, chased adventure, saw the world. But when everything shut down in 2020, I came home.
Walking these streets again after years away, I saw Aix differently. Tourists were wandering past my great-great-grandfather’s name without knowing his story.
They were photographing buildings without understanding why they mattered. They were missing the best places to eat in the least expected places, instead of the hidden gems my family has known for generations.
That’s when I realized: I don’t just know Aix’s history from textbooks. I know it from childhood memories, family dinners, and stories passed down over generations.
And I could share that. AixTours started in 2023 not as a business, but as an invitation:
Come see my Aix.
The one my family built, lives in, and loves.
— Benjamin Reilly
Founder of AixTours
The Stories Behind the Guide
This isn’t just history to us—it’s family. When we show you Aix, you’re seeing the city from a locals perspective, with the hospitality you would expect from a family member.
Marcel Cremieux
My great great grandfather succumbed to Gestapo operations and was taken to the camps in Nazi Germany. He never returned.
Family Roots
His name sits on the plaque in the plaza of the martyrs of the resistance in Aix. By telling you his story, we make sure we never forget.
Adolphe Cremieux
One of the most prominent 19th Century Lawyers who worked for the Minister of Justice. A distant relative.
San Pareil Café
My great uncle sitting in front of his café on the Cours Mirabeau, a postcard long before colour photography (coloured using AI).
what drives Us
Education and Entertainment
Benjamin brings his decade of teaching experience, and a passion for drama, learning and history, to create a tour balanced between entertainment and education.
Travel like a local
My family have wandered these streets for generations. Their stories can't be found in the guide books. Local insights are more valuable than general information.
British Humour, French Soul
I've been told I'm "the most un-French-sounding Frenchman you'll ever meet." Which means: punctual, loves a good cup of tea, appreciates self-deprecating humour, but absolutely French when it comes to wine, food, and arguing about the best boulangerie.
AixTours Started because there was something missing...
Visitors were coming to Aix-en-Provence and leaving with lovely photos—but no real understanding of the place. And surprisingly, there were very few high-quality tours in English, none that combined small, personable groups with depth, humour, and genuinely good storytelling.
That’s where I stepped in.
I’ve always explored Aix the same way—with my family, with friends, and with locals. And as someone who loves to travel, I’ve learned one thing very clearly: the best way to understand a place is through the people who live there. That’s the experience I wanted to offer.
I’m a teacher at heart. I love helping people see differently, think differently, and—most importantly—fall in love with a place they may have never considered deeply before. History matters to me, not as a list of dates, but as something that makes us sharper, more curious, and more connected to the world. We need that now more than ever.
On my tours, I’m not racing through 20 stops or competing with bus tours. I keep groups small. I choose stops that are relevant to you. And while conversation is important, this isn’t just a casual walk—this is storytelling. I perform, I guide, and I entertain, because stories are what stay with us long after the trip ends.
I believe everyone has a message to share. This is mine.
If great composers had never written their music, we’d have nothing to listen to today. This is how I contribute—by sharing Aix in a way that’s thoughtful, human, and memorable.
If you’re looking for a tour that’s personal, intelligent, and genuinely fun, you’re in the right place.
Are we for you?
You are in the right place if...
You’re In the Right Place If…
✓ You’re tired of tour guides who can’t be understood properly
✓ You want to understand Aix, not just photograph it
✓ You value small groups over megaphone crowds
✓ You appreciate nerdy historical details delivered with humor
✓ You want to eat where locals eat, not tourist traps
✓ You’re curious about how a city shapes the people who live in it
✓ You believe travel should change you, not just check boxes
This isn't for you if...
✗ You want a quick 90-minute Instagram photo tour
✗ You’re looking for the cheapest option (I charge what I’m worth)
✗ You prefer bus tours with 40+ people
✗ You want a guide who stays “on script” without adapting
✗ You’re uncomfortable with honest opinions about Aix (I’ll tell you which “famous” spots to skip)
What Our Guests Say
Not just a one man band
meet the team
Powered by our people
Want to work with us?
If you’re interested in being part of the team – shoot us an email!
We’re always looking out for talent to join our team.