France Provence Village to Village Hiking Tour
Lavender Trails, Hilltop Villages & World-Class Wineries
- Available: May, June, September, October
- Activity: Level 3
- Accommodations: Comfortable Hotels
Highlights
- Hike the postcard-perfect medieval villages of Bonnieux, Gordes, and Les Baux de Provence
- Walk vineyard trails, enjoy gourmet picnics with fresh Provencal fare, and stroll through bountiful markets
- Marvel at Van Gogh's St. Remy landscapes, just as he painted them
Itinerary
Welcome to Avignon
Day 1
An MT Sobek representative will meet you at Avignon TGV station this afternoon and transfer you to your hotel. After a welcome group meeting, complete with wine, it's time to head to dinner at a local restaurant. Meander through a labyrinth of cobbled streets, passing 14th-century ramparts, and the Papal Palace — all within Avignon's historic UNESCO-listed town center.
Accommodation: Cloitre Saint Louis
Meals: Dinner
Hike from Saint Remy to the Alpilles
Day 2
After breakfast, take a 30-minute transfer to Saint Remy de Provence, nestled at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains. Follow Van Gogh's footsteps through an aromatic landscape of wild herbs and sun-baked pine trees up towards the jagged ridge of the windswept Alpilles. Enjoy panoramic views from the summit and a gourmet Provencal picnic before completing the loop back to Saint Remy. After completing the hike, visit with a local producer of goat's cheese to tour the farm and have a taste of fresh cheese.
Accommodation: Le Gounod-Saint Remy, France
Activity: 3.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 600' elevation gain & loss
Transportation: 30-minute private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey to Les Baux de Provence
Day 3
Start the day at Saint Remy's morning market with its bounty of fresh regional produce - perfect for today's picnic. From there, follow a path up a shaded valley laden with cedar and pines, back up to the crest of the Alpilles. From here, take an easy trail along the ridge, enjoying wide-sweeping views. Perched atop the ridge is the 1,000-year-old village of Les Baux de Provence - a few dozen stone homes huddled together high above the valley. Meander through its narrow, cobbled streets, then stop at a working olive mill for a visit and a tasting. In the evening, savor a group dinner in Saint Remy.
Accommodation: Le Gounod-Saint Remy, France
Activity: 3.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 600' elevation gain & loss
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Walk in the Luberon
Day 4
After breakfast, transfer from Saint Remy to Bonnieux, a village nestled between the two Luberon Mountains that took center-stage in Peter Mayle's best-selling memoir, A Year in Provence. Walk across the plains through vineyards, cherry orchards and truffle oak plantations to the medieval village of Lacoste, crowned by the ruins of the Marquis de Sade's castle. Enjoy lunch with a scenic view, then visit a lavender farm. Continue to the lofty medieval village of Gordes, its golden-stone homes rising in vertiginous circles above the Calavon valley. Here you will spend the next two nights.
Accommodation: Le Mas des Romarins-Gordes, France
Activity: 2-3 hours/4 miles hiking with 820' elevation gain & 490' elevation loss
Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Senanque Abbey and Roussillon
Day 5
After breakfast, head out for a walk along thyme-laden hills toward Senanque Abbey, a collection of 850-year-old Romanesque structures hidden among lavender fields. Enjoy a private guided tour, then hike up for aerial views before returning to Gordes. In the afternoon, transfer to Roussillon. The village is built at the top of an ochre cliff face and offers a perfect blend of colors with its stones, roofs and facades mirroring the red tones of the neighboring landscape. Tonight, you can choose from one of the many restaurants in town.
Accommodation: Le Mas des Romarins-Gordes, France
Activity: 3.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 820' elevation gain & loss
Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hike the Vineyards Above Gigondas
Day 6
Today set out for the tiny medieval village of Gigondas, nestled under the imposing limestone cliffs of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and renowned for its rich red wines. Walk between the gnarled vines, and above them into the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Trails crisscross the dramatic rock formations and lead to the top of a ridgeline that soars above the village. After the hike, enjoy wine tasting at one of the local estates. Return to Vaison for dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Le Beffroi
Activity: 3 hours/7 miles hiking with 1,200' elevation gain & loss
Transportation: 1.5-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart from Avignon
Day 7
After breakfast, take a morning shuttle to the Avignon TGV train station for your onward journey.
Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Why Travel With Us?
MT Sobek has been leading adventures in France for over 50 years and this trip pairs incredible hikes in majestic landscapes with Provencal picnics and guided tours of quaint medieval towns.
In 8 well-paced days, you'll experience Provence's stunning village-to-village trails and explore the landscapes of the Les Alpilles, the Luberon, and the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Enjoy the company of expert Provencal guides, who will give you that je ne sais quoi perspective you can get only from a local.
Dates & Prices
Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
Ludovic R.
After experiencing long hiking trails and sacred paths such as St James Way, Celtic and Neolithic routes, Ludovic decided to create his own activity to share his experience. He started walking in the Channel Islands when he was young, following the French poet, Victor Hugo. He fell in love with the whole experience of hiking and continued to follow this passion throughout France and Spain. He has been living for more than 20 years in the heart of Provence, the artsy town of Saint Rémy de Provence. He’s also teaching conscious walking to help people to get a deeper connection with nature. Warm at heart and attentive to his guests, Ludovic is a wonderful travel companion.
Arnaud P.
Arnaud’s first trips were through the writings of Jack London, Jules Vernes, Herman Hesse or the explorations of Nansen & Shackleton before starting his real guiding career in the Himalaya, the Sahara and the Middle East. He spent 15 years guiding in the Artic territories, before deciding a few years ago to move back to France and to make Provence his new home, he lives in the small village of Banon (well known here for its goats cheese too). He enjoys sharing his knowledge of stories written by Provençal authors, local food & wine, admiring wildlife, and simply uncovering Provence’s secrets!
Anne-Charlotte L.
“Life is too short to be bored” could be Anne-Charlotte’s mantra. Her travels have taken her around the world, and she’s worked several trades, from denturist to lumberjack! But the one constant has always been her love of nature. As a guide, Anne-Charlotte began along the rough trails of Corsica and the rolling hills of Provence. Soft-spoken, attentive, and with a heart of gold, Anne-Charlotte will ensure your experience will be a memorable one. And don’t try to stump her on anything botany-related: it won’t work.
Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 3. This is a moderately challenging hike with hiking distances of 6-7 miles per day. You should be comfortable hiking 3-4 hours per day. Elevation gain and loss is moderate, usually 600-1,500 feet.
Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 2
3.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 600' elevation gain & loss
Day 3
3.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 600' elevation gain & loss
Day 4
2-3 hours/4 miles hiking with 820' elevation gain & 490' elevation loss
Day 5
3.5 hours/6 miles hiking with 820' elevation gain & loss
Day 6
3 hours/7 miles hiking with 1,200' elevation gain & loss
*Mileage and elevation change information is approximate and may vary slightly depending on trail conditions, weather, and route adjustments, and the guide’s discretion.
Accommodations
Boutique hotels with classic French flair, historic hideaways, and artsy retreats, all with stellar locations and amenities.
Le Gounod-Saint Remy, France
Centrally located in Alpilles, in the heart of Saint Remy de Provence, this eclectic boutique hotel boasts a classic French flair. Set in a 16th-century inn but newly renovated, Le Gounod is perfect for unwinding after a day of exploration, with a private terrace, beautiful stone pool, hot tub, and a spa offering a variety of soothing treatments.
Le Mas des Romarins-Gordes, France
Housed in an atmospheric 19th-century building, Le Mas des Romarins is a spectacular property in the quaint hilltop village of Gordes. Each comfortable room has its own unique theme and stunning views. The three-star hotel's cafe offers delectable snacks and light refreshments.
Hotel Le Beffroi
Composed from 16th century estates, the Hotel Le Beffroi is a short cobblestone stroll away from the historic sites in Vaison-la-Romaine. Each room is individually decorated and modernly equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, cable TV, mini-bar and a hair dryer. Guests can relax at the outdoor pool and terraced gardens with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Cloitre Saint Louis
Weather
May is usually dry with moderate sun. June is hot and rain is rare. September is warm but flash storms can occur.
FAQs
Please arrive at the Avignon TGV train station by 2pm on Day 1. An MTS representative will meet the group and transfer you to our hotel in Avignon, at 2:30pm.
Take the high speed TGV train from either Charles De Gaulle airport or from the Gare de Lyon train station in downtown Paris.
You can arrive at either train station. The TGV station is a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. The Avignon Centre station is a 4-minute walk to the hotel.
Yes, all of the hotels have swimming pools.
Purchase your train tickets online at either Trainline or Rail Europe.