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 (2/6), 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.
