Trips & Tours: Colours of Provence

Collection can be arranged either from Marseille Marignan Airport or Avignon TGV station. You’ll then transfer to Vinsobres, settle into your accommodation then get together at 6pm with an aperitif to discuss the week.

Dinner is in the hotel at 7.30pm and wine is included.

A lovely easy walk leads from Vinsobres onto the lavender plateau, through vineyards, olive orchards and through rolling lavender fields. There are excellent views towards Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles and we enjoy a picnic en-route with excellent salads and wine included.

The return is via a very attractive viewpoint over the village, often photographed. Vinsobres itself dates from the Roman era and is a delightful little village, lived in and loved by all its inhabitants. A wine tasting in the local cave rounds off this day.
Walking 3/ 4 hrs graded easy, around 6 kms.

A 20 minute transfer takes us to the dramatic hill area, of the Dentelles de Montmirail. It gets its name from the weird holes found in the dramatic rockfaces so famous to rock climbers and walkers alike. In the spring the area is covered in yellow flowering broom with its distinctive perfume.

Our walk starts from a high point below the Dentelles ridge and leads around to the second of theses ridges and a scenic picnic spot. From here there are views of Mont Vertoux and the Luberon hills in the distance.

After lunch a narrow path leads down over some stony ground to a little wine cave famous for its Gigondas wines. We return by an easy track to the starting point. We end the day by visiting Gigondas village and some of its famous wine caves… again!
Walking 4 hrs graded moderate, around 6 to 7km.

A 15 minute transfer to Vaison la Romaine and its famous Provencal market starts the day This is a large market full of the colour and aromas of Provence – fruit, vegetables, cheeses, row after row of local seasonal produce and all sorts of materials and artisanal products. 

Vaison itself is 3 towns in one and dates from pre-Roman times. There are interesting Roman ruins to visit, the Cathedral built on Roman foundations and the amphitheatre. High above the modern/Roman town lies the fascinating medieval village and is well worth a visit.

After the market a 15 minute drive leads to the start of our afternoon walk which is all downhill! It follows a delightful ridge through soft pine forest, cherry and apricot orchards down to the Monastery of St Madelaine and then onto Le Barroux with its impressive chateau. Walking 2/3hrs graded easy, around 6km.

We are off to explore another different part of Provence, the hill country in the Baronnies around the town of Buis les Baronnies famous for its herb production, olives and fruit.

Our walk follows part of a famous GR (Grande Randonnee) route which passes through the town. After a short climb up through the orchards and forest a superb ridge is followed up to an impressive viewpoint which is also our lunch stop. From here there are tremendous views of the Ventoux massif, often with traces of snow left well after Easter. Wild thyme and rosemary are all around us as we sit back and enjoy lunch and the view.

The descent is down another ridge, a little steep in places but quite easy. Signs of wild boar abound and you may well hear them crashing away in the undergrowth. The path emerges from the forest at a lovely little chapel. From there we pass the famous St Julian Mountain and we may well see climbers on its steep rock faces.

We return to Buis les Baronnies for a welcome drink and then visit the old town and an interesting herb shop. Its owner is a mine of information on both herbs for cooking but also medicine and cosmetics.
Walking 4hrs with stops, graded moderate, around 7km.

A 25 minute transfer takes us deep into the mountainous part of Provence and the Gorge of St May. A very narrow road leads up to a lavender covered plateau with delightful views over the whole region. Our walk leads to a rocky point which is a favoured viewpoint for seeing the 100 or so massif European vultures that live along the cliffs below. Sit in this natural amphitheatre and watch these amazing birds soar and glide often only 10 or 15 metres away. With their 2 to 3 metre wingspan they are truly fascinating.

After reluctantly moving on we then walk up an easy but dramatic ridge to a viewpoint from where the distant Alps can be seen. The sun glints on the snow slopes and glaciers of the Ecrins range. The descent is through sheep grazing country back to our vehicle.

On returning to Nyons there is plenty of time to explore its olive mills, lavender distilleries and wineries.
Walking 4 to 5hrs and with 300m of ascent, graded moderate, around 5km.

Our final day and we drive up Mont Ventoux to the upper slopes where suddenly we are in alpine forest and pasture. Our walk starts in this alpine landscape and leads down through impressive forests with views plunging down into the valley below until we emerge back into Provence again.

The valley of Beaumont du Ventoux is full of cherry and apricot trees and a fitting ending to the walking week. This programme depends both on the weather and the abilities of the group. There are numerous alternatives including an ascent of Ventoux, 600m up from the alpine meadows. The views from Ventoux cover the whole panorama of Provence from the distant Alps via the hills of Provence to the valleys of the Luberon and the Ardeche.
Walking 4 to 5hrs and with descent of 600m spread throughout the descent.

Sadly the end of the tour has arrived all too soon. We depart after breakfast for a 10.15am arrival in Avignon and 11.45am arrival at Marseille Marignan.