Steep yourself in the hearty spirit and warmth of Provence on this leisurely circumnavigation of the Dentelles de Montmirail, a beautiful sun-dappled region of wild massifs, hilltop fortresses, picturesque villages, and gentle rolling vineyards. You’ll take in an A-list of scenery, feast on delicious food, and sample the area’s noted wines (this is the Côtes du Rhône, after all) as you walk in the shadow of Mont Ventoux, whose 6,000+-foot white limestone summit dominates the surrounding countryside. Your in-country host will meet you upon arrival and provide you with detailed route notes to get easily from one inn to the next; your luggage will be safely transported separately.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Self-guided hiking in the heart of France’s most celebrated region
- Discover picturesque hilltop villages, fortresses, Roman ruins; sample the local gastronomy and fine wines!
- Stunning scenery includes the jagged limestone peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux, the “Giant of Provence”
What is a Self-Guided Tour Like?
A self-guided tour is a fully organized vacation that's a balance between doing everything on your own and being on a fully-guided group tour. You can choose when you want to go and with whom—we do the planning and look after the logistics while you enjoy the tour. There is no guide, no support vehicle and no group to hurry you along or slow you down. You can enjoy the freedom of going at your own pace, with support behind the scenes. More than being in good shape, a spirit of open-mindedness is recommended. It helps if you can take the initiative and be comfortable with the adventure of learning and exploring.
DAY 1 ~ Vaison-la-Romaine
Arrive in Vaison-la-Romaine, a delightful town snuggled in green hills in the heart of Provence. It lies about 390 miles southeast of Paris, due east of Orange. To get here, you can take the TGV—train à grande vitesse—a high-speed train that takes you from Paris to Avignon in two hours and 40 minutes. There is a convenient TGV station right at the Charles de Gaulle airport, or you can board the train at the Gare de Lyon in the center of Paris. From Avignon you will need to take a taxi to the hotel in Vaison-la-Romaine. This is about 25-30 miles and will cost around 45-55 euros. After checking into the hotel. you'll have some time to stroll along streets lined with plane trees, have coffee in one of the many squares, visit the famous Roman ruins, or explore the medieval quarter perched high above the town.
Your in-country host will meet you at your hotel at 7:00 p.m. for a thorough briefing on the days ahead.
Hotel Burrhus, Hostellerie Le Beffroi, Le Château de Taulignan, or L'Eveche, Vaison-la-Romaine
DAY 2 ~ Gigondas
Today you'll begin the circumnavigation of the Dentelles following the Randonnées du Pays: Tour des Dentelles de Montmirail. The route takes you through the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail range and overlooks the valley of the Ouvèze River, with its fertile vineyards, orchards, and picturesque villages. Dentelles means lace and these crenellated formations tower above you as you hike along the path. Midway through the hike is Séguret, known as an artists' colony, including makers of santons, delicate and detailed figurines in regional costumes. Continue to the famous wine village of Gigondas, on the western side of the hills. Time permitting, you can enjoy the fine view from the castle ramparts and perhaps sip a glass of the wonderfully complex and aromatic Gigondas red wine. (6-8 hours hiking.)
Breakfast, Dinner...Les Florets or Les Ravigotte, Gigondas
DAY 3 ~ Day hike around Gigondas
Today you'll have several choices for a day hike. We suggest exploring Les Dentelles des Sarrasins, the spiky line of limestone peaks that form the heart of the Dentelles. There is an easy and a more challenging but spectacular option. Return to Gigondas at the end of the day.
Breakfast…Les Florets or Les Ravigotte, Gigondas
DAY 4 ~ Le Barroux
From Gigondas, head to Le Barroux via Beaumes-de-Venise a delightful town famous for its sweet, white dessert wine. Le Barroux is dominated by a huge feudal castle, first restored during the Renaissance, then again in the 1900s, only to be destroyed in World War II. It was restored for the fourth time early in the 20th century. (7 hours hiking.)
Breakfast, Dinner...Les Geraniums or Mas de la Lause, Le Barroux
DAY 5 ~ Malaucène
Today you'll wind your way through vineyards and apricot orchards as you head for Malaucène. Along the way you'll stop at the Monastery Sainte Madeleine, where you can sample the wonderful traditional walnut or olive bread, or the croques-moines (honey and almond cookies) from the monastery. Continue to Malaucène, in the shadow of Mont Ventoux, with long winding streets lined with mottle-barked plane trees. (3-4 hours hiking.)
Breakfast…La Demeure du Manon or Domaine des Tilleuls, Malaucène
DAY 6 ~ Malaucène
Relax in Malaucène for the day, exploring the narrow winding streets of the village, or enjoy a day hike along the edge of Mont Ventoux as you search for linden trees, cultivated for their fragrant blossoms. Famous for impressive features, but also as a challenge to many a Tour de France cycling races, a hike in this area will be a unique take away experience.
Breakfast…La Demeure du Manon or Domaine des Tilleuls, Malaucène
DAY 7 ~ Crestet – Vaison-la-Romaine
Today you'll enjoy a remote walk among craggy limestone rocks and wild mountain streams as you return to Vaison-la-Romaine. Along the way you'll visit the village of Crestet, with a 14th-century church, Renaissance homes, and a 12th-century château offering superb views of Mont Ventoux, the Ouvèze valley, and the mountains of the Barronies. (7 hours hiking.)
Breakfast…Hotel Burrhus, Hostellerie Le Beffroi, Le Château de Taulignan, or L'Eveche, Vaison-la-Romaine
DAY 8 ~
Return to Avignon for departure to Paris or other destinations in France or Europe.
Breakfast…
Stay a Little Longer
Prefer a Group Adventure?
Check out our Provence: Hiking Village to Village group adventure. Or you may wish to combine this trip with one of our regular group departures in Europe, or other individual travel on your own.
Arrival & Departure Information
You need to arrive in Vaison-la-Romaine by the late afternoon of Day 1. Your in-country host will meet you at your hotel and conduct a thorough trip briefing. The trip ends on Day 8 and you will need to transfer back to the Avignon train station on your own.
Air Travel
Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their "frequent flyer" miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets, so we may verify your arrival and departure schedule.
Activity Level
Mountain Travel Sobek trips are designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. The hikes vary in difficulty, and some can be shortened with the judicious use of a taxi ride; most days you will be hiking from three to eight hours.
If you are not optimally conditioned, we recommend that you start a training program at least three months before departure, gradually increasing the intensity and duration. If your health is questionable or your physical stamina is limited, please discuss other trip options with us.
What's Included
- services of an in-country host and emergency contact
- 7 nights' accommodations in three- and four-star hotels and B&Bs
- breakfasts from Day 2-8 and two dinners
- luggage transfer from Day 2-7
- step-by-step hiking directions and detailed trail maps
- suggestions on where to eat and interesting side trips to take
- basic medical and evacuation insurance
What's Not
Travel to Vaison-la-Romaine and return; lunches and 5 dinners; transportation during the tour (taxis, etc.); optional tip to your in-country host; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); excess baggage charges; airport taxes (if any); cost of medical immunizations; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone calls, etc.).
Payment & Cancellation Policy
(This differs from regular Mountain Travel Sobek trips.)
I. Payment
At time of reservation: $800
120 days prior to departure: 25% of Land Cost ($747.50)
90 days prior to departure: Balance of Land Cost
II. Cancellation
If written notice of cancellation is received:
Cancellation Fee will be:
From time of reservation until
90 days prior to departure $800
89 to 60 days prior to departure 50% of Land Cost ($1495)
59 days or fewer prior to departure 100% of Land Cost
Note on Itinerary
This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.
Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website.
Limitation of Liability
“Mountain Travel Sobek” is defined to include its owners, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives and affiliates (collectively “Mountain Travel”). Except for the Alaska Discovery Inn, some small craft and some vans in Alaska, Mountain Travel does not own or operate any entity that provides goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Mountain Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party. Without limitation, Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with animals, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of, access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Mountain Travel. In addition, participants release Mountain Travel from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Mountain Travel, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form, which you can find on our website (or call us at 1-888-687-6235 and request a copy).
Arbitration
Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law without regard to the California Arbitration Act.
Conditions of Participation
Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. Specific information on payment and cancellation policies is also contained within this document, as well as in our current catalog and on our website. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you have any questions.
Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure
Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers.
References
Don't take our word for how great our trips are. We'll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers. Just give us a call at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235).
Questions?
Feel free to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you still have any questions or concerns. We're here to help you.
Note on Itinerary
Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Please read the Limitations of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form.
This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.
Conditions of Participation
Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us if you have any questions.
Note on Services
We often use local suppliers who provide services that may include transportation, equipment, logistic support, and other services (hotels, restaurants, etc.). We do not own or operate these independent suppliers. We work with service providers who share our commitment to safety and quality, and work closely with them to develop itineraries unique to Mountain Travel Sobek.
Ready to go? Signing up is easy!
Just call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) or make a reservation request online. Immediately after we receive your deposit, we will request your preferred dates. Upon confirmation (usually within four business days), we will send you a packet with all the information you need to get ready for your trip, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, and other details.
Approximately 30 days before your departure, we'll send you detailed, step-by-step instructions, with emergency contact numbers, a detailed map, and other important information. Upon arrival at your destination, you will be met by your in-country host who will help orient you and describe what to expect in the week to come.