Walking Tours in Provence

Provence is a destination that was made for walking; from its famously picturesque landscapes and hilltop villages to its scent of lavender fields on the air as you follow trails through forests and poppy fields. Imagine sitting in a restaurant in one of Gordes medieval streets sipping on a glass of crisp rosé wine and walking up a trail to the impressive 12th Cistercian Abbey of Senanque on our Classic Provence tour. This enchanting corner of France is very special indeed and well-worthy of exploration.

Macs Adventure has been organising self-guided walking tours in Provence for over ten years. Our knowledgeable team will be able to assist you with all your questions and enquiries, so that they can guide you to choose the right holiday for you.

Perhaps you would like to explore the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape and experience a wine-tasting on our Provence Walking and Wine or discover a local market with traditional gourmet specialities. The Provence: Mountains to the Mediterranean takes you on trails beginning in the Baume Mountains all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and the charming town of Cassis, with its famous Calanques. Whatever your choice you will return home full of great memories from your independent walking adventure.

Discover Provence

Why Book your Provence Walking Holiday with Macs Adventure?

We have been operating walking holidays in Provence since 2014, and our range has grown from just one tour to a handful. Our flagship tour is Classic Provence, proving to be the most popular choice with our customers. It mixes easy-going walking on dedicated hiking trails with picturesque hilltop villages and towns, and beautiful rolling Provençal landscapes.

We offer a flexible, tailor-made Provence experience staying in charming B&Bs, guesthouses & hotels – we have a range of accommodation options to meet everyone’s needs! We carry your bags to lighten your load so you can concentrate on enjoying all that sun-drenched Provence has to offer. You can book with confidence that we have it all covered for you.

We want to showcase our expertise, by giving you all the resources you will ever need. You can read our customer reviews for each itinerary and our Destination Specialists have their own experiences of walking in Provence and are waiting to answer your questions. On the route, we use high-quality digital mapping to make sure you find your way, as well as a host of tips, facts and recommendations to enrich your time in Provence.
Provence Facts

Weather in Provence

Provence benefits from a staggering 300 days of sunshine a year and less than 60 rainy days, making it an ideal destination for outdoor pursuits. The most pleasant months for hiking are May, June, September and October when the days are warm but not stifling. Provence also experiences the famous Mistral wind which can be very powerful. The wind generates in the Alps and gains speed as it blows down the Rhone Valley towards Provence. It tends to occur in Spring and Winter but can indeed appear at any time and can last a day, or over a week! The Mistral is said to clear the Provence skies of dust and dirt and could be to thank for the region’s popularity with artists, who are drawn to Provence because of its light and clear skies.

Mont Ventoux

Often referred to as the ‘Giant of Provence’, Mont Ventoux is perhaps most famous as a tricky stage of the famous Tour de France. It is therefore a very popular challenge with cyclists. It is geographically part of the Alps, however it stands alone, adding to its intrigue. As the name may suggest, (Venteux is French for windy), it can get very windy at the summit which adds to the challenge for cyclists taking on this gruelling ascent. At a staggering 1,909m in height, the mountain can be seen from many vantage points in Provence, and you’ll find the peak follows you all day on some hikes through the surrounding countryside

Artists in Provence

There are many reasons why artists of the 19^th and 20^th centuries were so drawn to Provence, among them the fantastic light and the beautiful landscapes. Cezanne is perhaps one of the most famous artists associated with Provence. He was born in Aix-en-Provence and after having spent time in Paris and Switzerland, soon returned to his roots to paint the landscapes of Provence. His presence attracted Picasso to Provence who was said to admire Cezanne greatly. Another famous artist strongly associated with Provence is of course, Van Gogh. He based himself in Arles and St. Remy for 15 months where he created 350 works, some of them his most famous, such as Starry Night. He admitted himself to Saint Paul Asylum in St Remy after removing part of his ear. Here he continued to paint the gardens and surrounding Provencal landscapes. His presence in Arles and St Remy can still be felt today with numerous plaques indicating his favourite haunts, a museum, and guided tours of Van Gogh’s Provence.
FAQs

What is the walking like in Provence and how difficult is it?

This depends on which itinerary you choose. Our ‘Classic Provence’ itineraries are all rated easy-moderate (2/5), which means they are suitable for most walkers, including beginners. Walking days are relatively short, the longest on Classic Provence is 16km, however the walking is quite varied and can be more challenging than expected. The terrain is changeable and includes easy flat tarmac sections alongside quiet country roads, rocky ascents and descents, walks though fields (which can be muddy/slippery when wet) and forest trails. Many of the towns and villages along the way are hilltop towns, which inevitably includes an ascent to reach. Our Provence: Mountain to the Med itinerary is more difficult than Classic Provence and is graded moderate (3/6). As the name suggests, the walking on this itinerary is more mountainous, with relatively high ascents and descents, before dropping down to the coast where there are a few coastal walks. The varied terrain is one of the charms of walking in Provence, and the landscapes and experiences along the way are very rewarding, not to mention the food and drink!

How will I find my way?

Most of the walks on our Provence itineraries follow GR routes, these are dedicated walking trails and are often signposted. However, these itineraries do include a lot of walking in and out of small towns and villages, and through woodland, which is where navigation can get a bit trickier. For that reason we provide you with tried and tested detailed routes notes and maps and we also supply GPX tracks via our easy to use Macs Adventure Navigation App. We highly recommend the use of the Macs App, so you can just focus on enjoying the walking and the landscapes along the way.

When is the best time to go walking in Provence?

We recommend walking in Provence in the months of May, June, September and October when the weather is warm but not scorching! Lavender is in full bloom from approximately mid-June until it is harvested, usually end of July to mid-August. The exact dates of bloom and harvesting depends on the weather and in turn, soil conditions. We recommend avoiding July and August for walking in Provence as it can be very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.

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