Classic Provence

Whether you’re a first-time walker or a seasoned traveler, a reasonable level of fitness is all it takes to enjoy the walks on these tours in the Provence.

Before your tour, we recommend walking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The trails are a combination of dirt or wooded trails, gravel tracks and tarmac country roads. The terrain in Provence is fairly rugged and quite rocky at times, you need to be sure-footed to negotiate these rocky sections. There are some rolling hills and while in the Petit Luberon range some significant elevation gains and losses.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

Accommodation on this tour is a hand-picked selection of charming, characterful hotels, B&Bs and chambres d'hotes, chosen to be one of the real highlights of your time in Provence.

If you choose the In Style tour, you'll stay in a range of 4* and 5* boutique hotels instead, each with its own distinct style and character, with some set just outside village centres for a quieter, more scenic setting.

We'll always try to book the accommodation listed in your itinerary, though if any of these are unavailable, we'll provide alternative accommodation of the same or better standard. On the In Style tour, properties can have a limited number of rooms, so an alternative occasionally means a different town.

Some locations get very busy, and a small supplement may apply during peak season - we'll always check with you before going ahead with this. We advise booking early.

We can easily arrange additional nights in any of the villages or towns if you would like further time to explore or simply relax.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome on the standard accommodation variation of the Classic Provence. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

If you choose the In Style tour, please note it isn't currently available to solo travelers or with single rooms, as the costs that would normally be shared make the supplement prohibitive.

Breakfast (continental or buffet) is included each morning across all tour options.

Lunch isn't included, but on most days you'll pass through small villages with cafes, restaurants and the odd shop where you can pick up lunch en route - on a few days you'll need to take a packed lunch instead, as there's nowhere to stop. Your accommodation will often be able to supply you with a packed lunch if you ask the night before.

If you choose the Classic Provence dinner is at your own expense, and you try the local restaurants nearby or dine at your accommodation if it has one.

If you choose the In Style tour, two dinners are included at your hotel, and one of these is at a Michelin-starred restaurant on the hotel's premises, a genuine treat (this particular restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and for its seasonal break from the end of September to the end of April, in which case we'll arrange a reimbursement). On any evening when dinner isn't included there are local restaurants nearby or you can dine at your accommodation.

This tour is available to start on any day of the week from the beginning of April to the end of October (some itineraries have specific start-day restrictions, so check when booking).

It's unavailable in July and August due to the heat and the risk of wildfire-related trail closures. Occasional closures can still occur during particularly hot spells outside those months.

If you are looking at the In Style tour and have your heart set on the Michelin star restaurant in Bonnieux, note that it is closed on Sundays & Mondays, and from the end of September to the end of April.

Provence is extremely popular and accommodation in the smaller villages is limited, so this tour can sell out months in advance - we recommend booking as soon as you can, and having some flexibility with your dates improves your chances of getting your preferred accommodation.

Local markets take place in the villages along the way (for example in Apt, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Goult, Roussillon and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue), usually running through the morning until around lunchtime.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

The route is generally way marked (when on a GR trail) with red and white GR signs or wooden posts with yellow markers.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Both Classic Provence tours finish in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The Classic Provence Walk starts in Apt, while Classic Provence in Style starts in Bonnieux, with a transfer from Apt included.

APT, FRANCE

Tours: start of the Classic Provence Walk, arrival point for Classic Provence in Style

Closest airport: Marseille-Provence (MRS)

From Marseille-Provence Airport. Take a bus or train to Apt via either Cavaillon or Aix-en-Provence (2 to 3 hours, depending on your route). For current timetables, check ZOU! or SNCF.

Via Paris. Fly into one of the Paris airports and take a train south to Avignon (just over 3 hours), then a bus from Avignon TGV station direct to Apt (around 1 hour 15 minutes).

From London by train. Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, then the TGV on to Avignon (around 7 hours in total), and pick up the bus to Apt as above.

Private transfers. Macs Adventure can arrange a private transfer to Apt from local airports or train stations.

BONNIEUX, FRANCE

Tours: start of Classic Provence in Style

Closest airport: Marseille-Provence (MRS)

Getting to your hotel. An included transfer takes you from Apt to your first hotel in Bonnieux. If you are getting a taxi from a train station or airport you should get it directly to Bonnieux, rather than Apt.

L’ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE, FRANCE

Tours: end of the Classic Provence Walk and Classic Provence in Style

Closest airport: Marseille-Provence (MRS)

To Marseille-Provence Airport. Take a regional train or bus. The usual route is a train to Vitrolles Aéroport station followed by a short shuttle (around 1 hour 15 minutes in total). You can also take a train direct to Marseille Airport (around 1 hour), though you will need to walk about 1 mile / 1.6 km from the station to the terminal, or take a taxi.

To Paris. Take a train to Avignon TGV station, with departures roughly every hour and a journey of around 30 minutes. From there, a high-speed train runs to Paris (around 3.5 hours), with onward connections to any of the Paris airports.

By bus. Local buses run with operators such as ZOU!.

Private transfers. Macs Adventure can arrange private transfers between Apt or L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and local airports or train stations.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation