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Winter Sun in Provence 6-Day Self-Guided Walking Tour (Level 2)
This stunningly beautiful region in the South of France can be just as exciting in winter as during the busy hot summer months. Its mild temperatures and bright blue skies reveal a very different kind of charm in the low season and the places are less crowded and overrun than during the busy hot summer months. On this self-guided walking holiday you will explore Provence’s 2 most important mountain ranges: Le Luberon & Les Alpilles. On some days, you can choose from easy or moderate hikes. Your trip starts in Isle sur la Sorgue, the “Venice of provence” with its lovely canal, and antique shops : famous for its Sunday morning typical market ! You can add a pre-night in Avignon : visit the famous Pope’s Palace, walk on the famous “Pont d’Avignon” and stroll through the cobbled streets. Trails gently descend through olive and almond groves to quaint medieval villages shaded by ancient trees, where colorful markets, fountains, and narrow cobbled lanes invite exploration. You walk along the Plague wall, and explore & visit the Senanque abbey ( not open every day ) Then you continue onward in the Van Gogh Alpilles. You explore the Alpilles mountains, stay in the artsy town of St Remy and walk literally through Van Gogh landscapes. The route takes you along centuries-old paths to picturesque hilltop villages. Explore Gordes & Les Baux de Provence amongst some of the most beautiful villages in France without the crowds!
Easy to moderate wakling. Please see the itinerary for daily distances.
Slow Tours offers a range of Walking Tours France
Arrival in Isle
Arrive in Isle on your own. Explore the lovely village of Isle sur la Sorgue- also called the Provencal Venice- with its many waterwheels & canals, and its famous antique shops. Famous & typical market on Sunday morning.
Meals included: none Night: Isle
The Plague wall
After breakfast, a short taxi transfer takes you to the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse, with its magical water source: a well that descends into infinity. If you would rather ease into your holiday, and have an easier walk, you can ask the taxi driver to take you to the village of Cabrières d’Avignon. We strongly recommend doing the whole walk though, as the first section is the most stunning, especially the views from the Mur de la Peste – the Plague wall. Your path climbs through the pine and cedar forest on seldom-used trails, and up to a plateau from where the panorama extends to far-reaching hilltop villages. You follow the 300 year-old Mur de la Peste, constructed when the plague hit Marseille in 1720, as a means to protect the Provence of the Popes (where you now stand) from the ravaging disease. Your journey ends at the magnificent village of Gordes, perched up on its rocky crag, its majestic grey stone homes rising vertiginously from the valley below. Transfer back to Isle.
Walk: Short option : 3h15 | +400m / -200m or Long option : 4h15 | 13 km | + 450m /- 200 m Meals included: breakfast Night: Isle
The Senanque abbey
Short transfer to Gordes. Today’s circular walk takes you through thyme-laden fields dotted with old stone huts, and down into the Sénancole valley. Soon Sénanque Abbey will appear: built in 1148, and still in use, the abbey is one of the best conserved Romanesque buildings in France, and certainly one of its most magnificent. You will have time to explore the abbey before returning to Gordes via a cobbled path. Transfer at the end of your walk to St remy
Walk: Gordes > Sénanque Abbey > Gordes | 3h15 | 10 km | +250m/- 250m Meals included: breakfast Night: Saint Remy
A walk through Van Gogh’s landscapes
You start your walking day in St remy. You pass Saint Paul de Mausole, the former monastery where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. From there you head up a quiet valley, following a botanical path, and to the ridge of the Alpilles mountains, and to the “Rocher des deux trous”, from where the views are outstanding ! You then have two options: either a leisurely stroll back down the mountain or a breathtaking path on a rocky crest, adding a bit of adventure and a lot of “wow” to the day’s walk (followed by the same leisurely stroll back down the mountain…). Note that the second option is a more challenging walk in an otherwise easy walking holiday, and you may not feel comfortable completing it unless you have some walking experience on jagged and uneven paths
Walk: St Remy loop | 3h30 | 10 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +300m/-300m or Longer option | 6h | 18 km -11 miles | Elevation: +550m/-550m Meals included: breakfast Night: St Remy
Maussane and its olive fields
Today's scenic forestry path hovers high above the valley, giving you spectacular views. Your walking path descends through the village of Maussane. Visit the famed 17th century Cornille mill where you can taste one of Provence’s best olive oils! Transfer to Arles, at the end of your walking day
Walk: Saint remy > Maussane | 4h | 13 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +270m/-270m Meals included: breakfast Night: Arles Spa access included – 1 hour ( non private )
Free day in Arles
End of the trip after breakfast in Arles. Enjoy a fee day in the beautiful town of Arles, the Rome of Provence. Famous typical market on Saturday morning !
Meals included: breakfast
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