“Best of Provence” Hiking

Itinerary

Best of Provence Hiking

Pre-Trip Suggestion:
We recommend our guests spend at least one night in Avignon, the old capital of Provence, and visit the numerous historical sites, including the Pope’s Palace and the bridge that is the theme of one of France’s best-known folk songs “Sur le Pont D’Avignon…”.

Day 1
Pick up at 3PM in Avignon, either at the TGV train station or downtown at a prearranged location. Avignon is easily reached by High-Speed Train TGV from Marseille or Paris. We will drive to our base town of Buis les Baronnies, about 1 hr from Avignon.

Day 2
Circumnavigation around the limestone crest of the Dentelles des Montmirails through the wine country of Gigondas and Cote du Rhone followed by wine tasting in the village of Gigondas.

Day 3
Traverse of the Mont Ventoux (almost 2000 meters tall) which offers the most encompassing views of southern France from the Alps to the North and East all the way to the coastline of the Mediterranean.

Day 4
Shorter hike today and transfer (3 hrs drive) to the quaint mountain town of Moustiers St. Marie in the “Alpes Provencales”.

Day 5
Sentier de l’lmbut through the spectacular “Grand Canyon du Verdon” – Europes deepest Canyon. A trail right above the gushing waters of the Verdon with passages that features hand railings made of cables and chains. Return by the Sentier Vidal. Transfer to the port town of Cassis at the Cote D’Azure (1.5 hrs of driving).

Day 6 and 7
Traverse of the Calanques from Cassis all the way to the outskirts of Marseille.

The contrast of the blue sea and the rugged limestone cliffs along the coastline is stunning. Some of the trails are cut into the rocks and require a bit of scrambling or hand-railing along cables but via ferrata gear is not usually used. Every once in a while narrow bays (i.e. “Calanque”) with little pebble beaches invite for a swim.

The hiking ends on Day 7 and the guide departs. Guests are able to choose whether they spend their last night in Cassis, Marseille, or Avignon.

Day 8
Departure after breakfast. Transportation at the end of the trek is not included but we can assist with the arrangements.

Detail and Logistics

Meeting Point

Transport/Pick ups can be provided from Marseillie airport or Avignon train station the day before your hiking begins

Climate, Weather, Temperatures

The best seasons for hiking in Provence are spring and fall when the air is crisp, temperatures are cooler, and the tourists are gone. It is possible to hike right through the summer, as our destinations are either in mountainous regions or along the coastline, however, for trips in July and August you should be prepared for (very) warm temperatures and lots of tourists.

Can I Do It?

Challenging day hikes, at times on narrow, gravely trails which may involve short sections of exposure to drop offs and short rocky sections that require using your hands. Daily hiking times are usually up to 6 hrs (up to 12 km = 7.5 miles horizontal and a maximum of 600 m = 2000 ft vertical) however the last day of the Calanques traverse can stretch out a little longer. Optionally, we can also offer a full or half day on one a via ferrata trail, for which we can choose from introductory level to expert! If you are looking for a Provence hiking trip that is largely about eating, drinking and sightseeing, this will not be the right trip for you.

Booking

Please read and fill out this additional Reservation Form and FAQ.

References of prior guests: We will gladly put potential clients in touch with previous participants of each trip in order for interested guests to get personalized references and their questions answered from a more objective point of view than what our office could provide.

“Guide: Exceptional
Communication/trip organisation: Excellent
Itinerary: Great
Lodging/food: Fantastic
Already recommending 🙂 10/10 for all! Thanks so much for the great trip. And thank you so much for letting us have Franck! He is the gem of this profession, the best of best!”
Lily Z., MD, USA

Getting There

Meeting Point

Our meeting point will be either at our hotel in Buis les Baronnies, about a one hour drive north-east of Avignon in the hill country of the Drome Provencale, or at our pickup location in Avignon – see below.

Getting There

The closest international airports are in Marseille (2 hours driving) and Lyon (3 hours driving). From there, you can take the TGV train to Avignon, Bolene, or Aix en Provence – each about 1 to 1.5 hours drive to Buis les Baronnies.

We can pick you up at the Avignon train station or downtown Avignon at 3PM on Day 1 of the itinerary without extra cost. Alternatively, for a fee, we can pick you up and drop you off at either airport as well as at the TGV train stations of Bolene or Aix en Provence. Other meeting points can be arranged in accordance with your individual travel plans.

You can research your options and make train bookings at thetrainline.com. Try and book your train tickets as early as possible, as they become more expensive closer to the travel date.

Best Of Provence Hiking Gear List.PDF

Please download a PDF copy to use as a checklist when preparing for your trip.

*Optional
**Optional but recommended

Hiking Gear

• Sturdy approach shoe or light trekking boot
• Lightweight, collapsible ski poles**
• Daypack (25-30 litres) with rain cover specific to the pack

Clothing

Even though Provence has a Mediterranean climate, some of our hikes will be at higher elevations (i.e. 2,000 m / 7,000 ft) and there are occasional rainy days in spring and fall. We recommend the ‘layering system’: Bring light, technical clothing that doesn’t take much space in your backpack and dries quickly when sweaty or wet. Layers must be put on and taken off quickly as weather conditions change during the day. There may be days when you can wear cotton, but your main clothing choices should be synthetic or wool. Merino wool is a nice material for base layers and t-shirts because it is comfortable, warm, and it does not retain odours even after many days of use.

• Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or similar)
• Lightweight wind and water-resistant over pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
• Lightweight synthetic trekking pants or zip-offs
• Light to medium weight Primaloft jacket with hood
• Light to medium weight fleece sweater
• Synthetic or wool base layers – top and bottom
• Synthetic shorts and t-shirt
• Quick-drying sports bra
• 2-3 pairs good quality trekking socks
• Warm hat that covers your ears
• Lightweight synthetic gloves
• Sun hat, preferably with a wide rim
• Bandana or Buff*

Lodging

• Casual clothing, spare socks and underwear, and comfortable footwear for the nightly accommodations
• Toiletries

Other items

• Sunglasses with high UV protection
• Sunscreen and lip protection with high SPF
• Small container bug spray or cream
• One or two, one-litre water bottles
• Headlamp with new battery
• Your favourite hiking snacks – candy bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc. Lunches and snacks can be purchased at the huts or in the villages
• Personal first aid kit and other needs (eg. blister kit, prescription medicine, anti-inflammatory, contact lenses, prescription glasses, etc.)
• Pocket knife*
• Passport, health and travel insurance documents
• Light stuff sacs or Ziploc bags to keep your backpack organized and important items dry**
• Camera, spare batteries*
• Maps, GPS, altimeter watch*
• Hand sanitizer or sanitary hand wipes
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Telephone with charging cable*
• Adaptor for European charging system*

“Best of Provence” Hiking Custom Trips / Private Group Departures:

Provence Private Group Pricing:
Why not find some friends and put together your own group? For private groups, we can offer the following pricing assuming the same inclusions :

2 participants: 60% premium in addition to our advertised per person price
3 participants: 40% premium in addition to our advertised per person price
4 participants: 8% premium in addition to our advertised per person price
5 participants: Our advertised per person price
6 participants: 8% discount from our advertised per person price
7 participants: 12% discount from our advertised per person price
8 participants: 15% discount from our advertised per person price

For groups larger than 8, please reach out to us for a custom quote.

Custom Trips

Custom trips are available any time from April – November, anywhere in Provence

FAQ

Do I need to sign a Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk Agreement (a.ka. liability waiver)?

Yes, you do. Mountaineering, skiing, climbing, hiking, via ferrata and all other wilderness and adventure travel activities are inherently risky with potential for injuries or even death.
It is very important to us that you are aware of those risks before you start the booking process, which includes filling out a booking form and paying a deposit.
With signing the liability waiver, you confirm that you understand the potential risks and hazards, and are willing to accept the risks, which includes giving up legal rights you may have.
This would also be the time to ask questions or address concerns before you book.
For your reference here is a link to our Liability Waiver. Our booking terms & cancellation policy with more details can be found here