Walking in Provence

Our Provence walking tour starts today in Seguret, a charming village at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for welcome meeting. There are no other activities planned today, so you have time to explore the village at your own pace. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Marseilles airport (MRS), which is about a one-hour drive from our hotel.

We begin with a short drive to medieval Vaison-la-Romaine, where history spans from antiquity to the Middle Ages. After wandering the old town and Roman ruins, we transfer to Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux Abbey, the starting point of our short hike along vineyard tracks and rural lanes to the Chateau du Barroux. During the hike we'll have a picnic lunch prepared by our guide. As we approach the end of the walk, we're rewarded with a panoramic view of Mont Ventoux - one of the most iconic peaks in the Tour de France. There'll then be time for a self-guided tour of the chateau and a guided tour of the distillery. Today's 6 kilometre/3.7 mile walk has a total ascent of 150 metres/492 feet and descent of 180 metres/590 feet. We expect it to take around two hours.

Today we hike from Gigondas to Beaumes-de-Venise, winding through vineyards and the aromatic landscape. The trail offers spectacular views of the jagged Dentelles ridges before descending into a village surrounded by orchards. We'll finish up with a visit to Cave de Beaumes de Venise Rhonea, a local winery, for a tasting. Along with a visit to the cellars and introduction to the wine production, we'll have the opportunity to taste four of Rhonea's must-try cuvees. Today's 11 kilometre/6.8 mile walk has a total ascent of 250 metres/820 feet and descent of 400 metres/1312 feet. We expect it to take around four and a half hours.

We drive to Monieux to explore the Gorges de la Nesque, a spectacular canyon in the heart of the Mont Ventoux Regional Natural Park. Our route takes us deep into the gorge where we can see the clear waters framed by towering cliffs. The landscape here is wild, connecting the peaceful Lac du Bourget with the winding course of the Nesque River. We'll also come across the Saint-Michel Chapel, a remarkable 12th century Romanesque building that is partially built directly into a vast rocky overhang and is only accessible on foot. At the end of our walk, we drive back to our hotel. Our 10 kilometre/ 6.2 mile walk is expected to take four hours, with an elevation gain and loss of around 400 metres/1312 feet

This morning we'll drive to the dramatic village of Gordes our next base. With winding cobbled lanes and tall stone houses clinging to the cliffs of the Vaucluse Plateau, all the while dominated by its chateau, Gordes is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Our walk today showcases some of the Luberon's most memorable sites such as the Village des Bories, an open-air museum made up of dry-stone huts, called 'bories', built without mortar. and the Senanque Abbey. This Cistercian monastery is nestled in a secluded valley and has been home to a community of monks for nearly 900 years. We'll return to Gordes on foot and check in to our hotel. Our 10 kilometre/ 6.2 mile walk is expected to take four hours, with an elevation gain of around 400 metres/1,312 feet, and a loss of around 375 metres/1230 feet.

After breakfast, we drive to the elegant town of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, a place synonymous with both Roman history and artistic legacy. Vincent van Gogh spent a prolific year here, inspired by the unique Provencal light to paint masterpieces such as The Starry Night. We begin a progressive ascent on rocky trails through pine forests and the limestone crags of the Alpilles. As we cross the Vallon de la Fontaine and the Plateau des Antiques, the landscape opens up into far-reaching views over the vast Crau plain. The trail then follows a dramatic ridgeline, providing 360-degree panoramas of the rugged massif. The day's highlight is our approach to Les Baux-de-Provence; arriving from above, we enjoy a near bird's eye perspective of this medieval eagle's nest perched on a rocky spur. The village has been officially recognized as one of the most beautiful in France, and on arrival we have time to explore its cobbled lanes and visit the majestic Chateau des Baux. This sprawling fortress offers a fascinating glimpse into the turbulent history of the lords of Baux before we transfer back to Saint-Remy for the evening. Our 10 kilometre/ 6.2 mile walk is expected to take four hours, with an elevation gain of around 385 metres/1263 feet, and a loss of around 230 metres/754 feet.

We begin our final walking day with a short but atmospheric loop hike in the Baux valley. Setting out from the foot of the limestone cliffs, our path leads us through the ancient olive orchards that are the source of the region's famous AOC olive oil before entering the Val d'Enfer (Valley of Hell). This narrow gorge is a landscape of limestone formations carved into bizarre shapes by centuries of erosion that is said to have inspired Dante's Divine Comedy. In the afternoon we transfer to Avignon, the UNESCO World Heritage city on the banks of the Rhone. We head out on a guided tour of the 'City of the Popes', wandering through its medieval streets and grand squares. One of the highlights of our visit is a tour of the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes). As the largest Gothic palace in the world, this fortress-like residence was the seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century. We'll explore its vaulted ceremonial halls, cloisters, and private chapels adorned with priceless frescoes, gaining a true sense of the power and opulence of the medieval papacy. Our final walk covers 7 kilometres /4.3 miles and is expected to take two hours and 30 minutes, with an ascent and descent of 200 metres/ 656 feet.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Avignon. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Marseilles Provence airport (MRS), which is approximately a one-hour drive from our hotel.