Provence: Walking and Wine

Trip Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Grade & Terrain

This walking tour is graded easy to moderate. On the first few days of the tour there is very little elevation gain and loss as you will be walking through vineyards. After this the walking does get a little more challenging, but you will have time to get used to the walking and the terrain. As is the norm in Provence the walks can be tough underfoot in places with rocks and routes to negotiate. You will need to be sure-footed. There are also some prolonged climbs and steep hills.

Navigation

You will have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS so you will have no problems finding the way. You can simply download the GPX tracks to your phone for offline use and off you go! As the trails are off the beaten track they will not be way marked, but the detailed route notes and GPS Tracks will be more than sufficient to help you find your way. You will also be provided with maps. 

• 7 Nights accommodation in very comfortable hotels and B&B's
• 7 Breakfasts
• 1 Dinner on Day 5
• Transfers on Days 1 & 3
• Luggage transfers
• Detailed route book, maps and pre-departure information pack
• GPX tracks and access to our GPS Macs Adventure smartphone app
• 24 hour assistance by phone

• Lunches and dinners (except one dinner on Day 5)
• Snacks and drinks
• Optional Wine Tour
• Travel insurance
• Tips and gratuities
• Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
• Any items not specifically mentioned in the programme

• Optional Wine Tour
• Additional nights

When To Go

This tour is available between the months of March and November. The climate in Provence is genreally mild all year round. April, May, Spetember and October would be our first choices.

Although this tour is available through July and August we do not recommend these moths as it can get very hot. If you cannot avoid travelling during these months then it is advised that you start the walks early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. Between July 1st and 1th September access to forest paths may be forbidden or partially restricted if the risk of forest fire is high in the Ventoux and Dentelles area. You can check any such restrictions before embarking on your walk. Information on this can be found in your trip information document.

If you want to visit the excellent local markets you can look at the Meals information or your trip document to see when they are open and book your start date accordingly. Also finishing your tour on a Tuesday is recommended as this is when the great market in Vaison La Romaine is open.

Getting to the Start

You will be transferred from Avignon train station (16:30) to Chateauneuf du Pape for your first overnight. 

To get to Avignon you can fly into either Paris Charles De Gaulle or Marseille Provence Airport. Both are serviced by BA and easyJet from UK airports. Alternative airports are Lyon Airport (serviced by easyJet) or the local Avignon Airport, which is served by Flybe.  You could also take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord - Paris, then take the TVG train to Avignon (approx 7H). There is also a direct train from Marseille Vitrolles Train Station to Avignon. Find more information on the SNCF website.

If you want to drive you can drive through the Eurotunnel from Folkstone to Calais (approx 0H35 mins). Then drive from Calais to Avignon (approx 10H).

Dover to Calais by ferry is a 90 minute journey. Drive from Calais to Avignon (approx 10H). Alternatively Portsmouth to St Malo by ferry is a 9H journey. Drive St Malo to Avignon (approx. 10H). 

Getting from the End

From Vaison La Romiane you can take a bus to Avignon via Orange and the journey takes approximately 2H. You can also take a bus to Orange and then a train to Avignon and if you do this then the journey will be slighlty shorter around 1H15. For information on the bus schedules please check here.

The closest airport is Marseilles, which you can access by bus to Orange and then by train. The journey here takes approximately 2H30. Please check any train schedules here.

We can also offer a transfer to Avignon or Orange. Please contact your Destination & Adventure Specialist for details.

Baggage Transfer

Your luggage will be transferred between accommodations. We ask that you keep your baggage to one bag per person (maximum weight 20kg).

General Information

The distances and descents / ascents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necesssary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking/ cycling gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take with you to France. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.