TOUR AT A GLANCE – Provence Walk
Departures 2012: May 26, Sept 8, & private departures
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departing from: Avignon, at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Day 2.
Tour finishes: Avignon, at 9 a.m. on Day 8
Price 2012: €2,150 per person based on double occupancy and minimum 6 people. Single supplement €260.
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All dates are Guaranteed departures. You can create your own date for a small group. Click on any picture to enlarge. (CD 250112)
Provence has been blessed with may of life’s treasures: beauty, art, fine food and wine, and an irresistible joie de vivre. Our tour begins in the medieval splendor of Avignon, then heads north to the slopes of the Mont Ventoux and finishes amidst the vineyards and hilltop villages of the Luberon. Explore the Roman ruins at Vaison-la-Romaine, experience a Provençal farmer’s market, and marvel at the 600-year-old ochre quarries of Roussillon. At the end of the day relax with a cool glass of rosé in a shaded village square and toast a wonderful day of hiking. We walk on quiet trails through fields and forests redolent with wild thyme and rosemary, and then stop at historical villages for lunch or a wine-tasting. The combination of natural beauty, vibrant local culture, and great food and wine make Provence one of the most beloved regions in Europe.
Trip Design: After years of touring near St. Rémy, Les Alpilles and the Gard region around Uzès, we regretfully came to the conclusion that these areas have become saturated with tourists. We wanted to step back in time and renew our acquaintance with the Provence that we first fell in love with back in 1990. Therefore we shifted our trip east into the Luberon mountains around the market town of Apt, and north to the slopes of the Mont Ventoux. These areas are still largely unspoiled and the rhythm of Provençal life continues in the towns and villages we visit. Finally, we found some excellent small hotels that offer a wonderful welcome and a high standard of comfort and décor. (Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Avignon, 3 nights Vaison-la-Romaine, 3 nights Apt. Tour finishes in Avignon.)
Day 1 – Saturday: Arrive in Avignon anytime today. There are many trains from Paris, and the travel time is about 3 hours. Depending on when you get in, you may have time to explore this historic Provençal town which has been deemed a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Sights include the magnificent Papal Palace, home to the Popes during the 14th century, the famous medieval Avignon bridge, and “Les Halles,” Avignon’s covered market square open every morning. Our lodging for the night is located in the heart of the historical center. Hotel included. Dinner not included.
Day 2 – Sunday: Meet your group at 9:00 this morning for a 45-minute drive to the charming town of Vaison-la-Romaine along the banks of the Ouvèze River. We drop off our bags and then transfer up the slopes of the mighty Mont Ventoux, Provence’s highest peak (6,262 ft.) and famous as one of the most grueling stages of the Tour de France. We follow a nature trail along the lower flanks of the mountain, where a series of plaques explain the flora, fauna and geology of this unusual region. We stop for a picnic in a pine forest with commanding views down over the valley. Back in Vaison, we check into our home for the next three nights, either the charming Hostellerie Le Beffroi or the Hotel Burrhus, a “boutique hotel” with a contemporary art theme located in the heart of the old town. We dine tonight at a family-run restaurant that serves traditional specialties. Overnight in Vaison la Romaine. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 – Monday: We transfer to Gigondas this morning to begin a hike through the Dentelles de Montmirail, jagged limestone mountains overlooking the Rhône valley. Although not high in elevation, the peaks have a distinctly Alpine appearance and create a striking backdrop against the valley of terraced vineyards below and the famous wine villages of Gigondas, Sablet, and Séguret. We stop for lunch at a colorful bistrot in Gigondas and then have a wine tasting at a local cooperative before returning to our hotel. Overnight in Vaison la Romaine. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 – Tuesday: Today is Le Grand Marché in Vaison, full of stalls selling handicrafts, linens, ceramics, herbs, soaps, and of course olives prepared in 20 different ways. Enjoy this quintessential Provençal shopping experience in the morning and then meet up with your group to explore the rest of the old town, including the 2,000 year old Roman ruins and the dramatic medieval town, built in the 8th century when France was overrun by marauding barbaric tribes. Our afternoon walk takes us out through the tiny alleyways and cobbled streets of the old town out to a 12th-century castle overlooking the surrounding countryside. Tonight is a “free night,” which means you dine on your own. You can choose to go easy and walk to a nearby pizzeria, or go “big” and try one of Vaison’s fancier restaurants, like Le Moulin à Huile, which recently won a coveted Michelin star. Overnight in Vaison la Romaine. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 5 – Wednesday: After breakfast we have a short transfer to the start of a two-hour walk to the beautiful village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the source of the Sorgue river and the largest spring in Europe! Its waters were the object of a cult in ancient times and there are archaeological remains from Neolithic times, through the Greco-Roman era, and into the medieval era when the poet Petrarch lived here and composed poems to his beloved Laura. After lunch we continue our journey with a visit of the beautiful town of Gordes, one of the gems of the Luberon. We then make our way to our home for the next three nights, Apt, whose history goes back to the 1st century BC. In the Middle Ages it became an important stop along the pilgrimage route between France and Rome. We receive a warm welcome from Laurent and Marie, owners of Le Couvent, a charming boutique hotel that they lovingly transformed from a convent to their family home. We have a short walk to dinner tonight, in a renovated tower-house. Overnight in Apt. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 – Thursday: We begin our walk amidst the ruins of the Fort de Buoux, perched high on a craggy plateau above a steep gorge. The site was inhabited some 10,000 years ago and was later used as a command post to control river traffic during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. After our visit, we have a beautiful loop walk around the gorge before returning for lunch in the valley. We return to Apt in late afternoon, giving you time to explore its colorful streets and shops. Tonight is another “free night,” so you are free to dine as you like. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 7 – Friday: Our walk today explores the hilltop villages of the Luberon, an area whose natural and cultural heritage is protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Explore the local market in Bonnieux, then walk to the nearby town of Lacoste, dominated by the ruined castle of the infamous Marquis de Sade. After our walk we transfer to the amazing “red town” of Roussillon. Centuries of mining for the richly-colored earth have left a surreal landscape of eroded cliffs and bizarre peaks in a rainbow of red, yellow, mustard, and cream. We dine together tonight in Apt and say goodbye to a great week of hiking. Overnight in Apt. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 – Saturday: Today we shuttle everyone back to Avignon for the 9:30 train to Paris or other destinations. Breakfast included.
The walks in Provence contain moderate hills over some uneven terrain. We usually walk between 3-5 hours a day, divided between morning and afternoon. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or explore the towns we stay in. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.
Useful Links –
Provence info: nice website with good photos
Avignon History: Wikipedia has a good site, with lots of info on the Great Schism
Côtes du Rhône: very informative site on one of France’s best wine families
Mont Ventoux: interesting Wikipedia entry, including lots of Tour de France stats
Parc National Régional du Luberon: park website, in English
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: look at all the fabulous things to see in France!
General Information
| Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate, with some challenging uphills. We regularly walk between 10-14 kms a day (6-9 miles), which translates into about 4-5 hours of walking more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon.
Trip Cost Includes: 7 nights accommodations in superior thee-star hotels (1 night Avignon, 3 nights Vaison-la-Romaine, 3 nights Apt); 7 breakfasts and 4 dinners; bilingual Customwalks guide(s) to accompany the tour and lead you on the walks; support vehicle; all van and luggage transfers starting with pick-up from Avignon and ending with the final transfer to the Avignon train station. Getting there this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.  We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
