Classic Provence Highlights
5 Days & 4 Nights 4.6 Read 5 reviews- The highlights of Provence’s Luberon National Park
- A short break walking through classic Provençal landscapes
- Scents of lavender, wild herbs and blossoming cherry trees
- Perched villages of Bonnieux and Roussillon
- A picnic lunch of crusty French baguette, with creamy goats cheese
Tour Style:
Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent tour.
Activity:
Multi Center Walking | You will spend multiple nights in one or more of the locations on this walking tour
This trip is suitable for:
First Timers
Activity Level & Terrain
This tour has an easy to moderate grading. The trails are a combination of dirt or wooded trails, gravel tracks and tarmac country roads. This tour is suitable for walkers with good physical fitness. There are some rolling hills and while in the Petite Luberon range some fairly significant elevation gains and losses. It is also pertinent to note that the terrain in Provence is fairly rugged and quite rocky at times, you will need to be sure-footed in order to negotiate the terrain. Water refill points may not be readily available throughout the day of walking, so you should fill up at your overnight locations before setting off each day.
Navigation
The tried and tested detailed routes notes and maps are easy to follow during your self-guided adventure and we also supply GPX tracks via our easy to use Macs Adventure Navigation App.
Accommodations
On this tour you will stay in hand-picked charming and characterful hotels, B&B’s and chambres d’hotes. These lodgings are truly special places and one of the highlights of this tour.
Alternate Accommodation
We will always try and accommodate you at the accommodations listed. However, if those listed are unavailable, alternative accommodation of the same or better standard than those described will be provided. Goult in particular has only one hotel option, in cases where this is not available, you will be staying nearby.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. A solo supplement is not available as it is it cost-prohibitive. Therefore, unless you are willing to pay substantially more to do this tour by yourself, it is not available to solo walkers.
Meals
A continental or buffet breakfast is included each morning. Lunch is not included. On most days you will be walking through small villages with cafes, restaurants and a shop or two, so you will be able to buy lunch en route. However on some of the walking days it will be essential to take a packed lunch as there are no cafes or restaurants en route. Dinner is not included, but you will be able to try some excellent local cuisine in nearby local restaurants or you can dine at your accommodation if they have a restaurant.
- 4 Nights accommodation in hand-picked hotels, B&B’s and chambres d’hotes
- 4 Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Transfer from Roussillon to Apt
- Detailed information pack, route notes and IGN maps
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to & from Apt
- Lunches & Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights
- Taxi transfer from Apt to Avignon or Aix-en-Provence
When To Go
This trip is available to start on any day of the week from the beginning of April to the end of October. The best time of year to walk in the Provence and the Luberon is the Spring and Autumn/Fall. In the spring the wild flowers will be blooming and in the Autumn/Fall it is quieter with lovely autumnal colours, whilst still being warm and sunny in the day time. Provence boasts over 300 days of sunshine per year. The summer months of July and August are very hot. We do not advise choosing this holiday during this time unless you are accustomed to intense heat. iI must be noted that if you choose to walk in July and August there may be fire restrictions set in place by local authorities, in which case you will need to find an alternate walk or not walk at all that day. Also please note that lavender is usually in bloom from mid-June to August.
Local Markets
Apt—Saturday
Bonnieux—Friday
Lacoste—Tuesday
Goult—Thursday
Roussillon—Thursday
These local markets are usually open in the mornings and finish around lunchtime (12-1pm)
Getting to the Start
Getting to and from Apt
There are a number of different options available in order to get to Apt. If you want to fly, the closest airport is Marselles-Provence Airport. From the airport you can take a bus/train to Apt, via either Cavaillon or Aix-en-Provence. The journey takes anywhere between 2 and 3 hours, depending on your route. For more information on local bus/train timetables please visit Lignes Express Régionale or SNCF.
Alternately you can arrive by train into Avignon. It is possible to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord - Paris, then take the TVG train to Avignon (approx 7 hrs),or fly into any of the Paris Airports and take a train south to Avignin from here (a journey of just over 3 hours). From the Avignon TGV Station you can take a bus (takes approx. 1H15) directly to Apt. Again you can check out times and schedules on the Lignes Express Régionale website.
Macs Adventure can also arrange private transfers to and from Apt to local airports/train stations. Please contact your Destination & Adventure Specialist for details.
Getting from the End
From Roussillon a transfer to Apt is included and from here you can take a train to major gateways for your onward journeys.Luggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
General Information
Zusatznächte
Sie können überall während der Reise Zusatznächte einplanen oder die Reise auch verkürzen. Gerne stellen wir Ihnen den Reiseverlauf ganz individuell nach Ihren Wünschen zusammen. Sprechen Sie uns einfach an.
Kur- und Ortstaxen
An einigen Orten können Kur- oder Ortstaxen anfallen. Wo möglich, übernimmt AbenteuerWege Reisen diese Taxen vorab für Sie. Nicht immer ist es möglich die Taxe im Voraus zu begleichen und Sie müssen diese in Ihrer Unterkunft direkt vor Ort zahlen. Die Höhe variiert je nach Ortschaft und beträgt in der Regel zwischen 1 € und 3 € pro Person und Nacht.
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.