LEVEL :
Hiking trip on good trails, without technical difficulties, but
a good physical condition needed..
3h30 to 8 hours walking per day (15 - 22 km a day).
We also provide a customized Luberon walk with daily 10 to 15 km.
Contact us for these short walks
Elevation gains: cumulative from 300 to 650 m per day up and from
-400 to -570m per day down.
INCLUDED :
4 to 11 nights in *** and ** hotels (shower-bath en suite) and
chambres d'hôtes, all dinners except day 1 and in Rustrel, local specialties,
continental breakfast, all local transfers, baggage transports, a folder
with maps and written instructions. We assume you are able to read a
map 1:25000. We don't encourage using a compass.
Not included: Travelling to Vaison-la-Romaine, beverages, picnics, dinners
in Fontaine de Vaucluse and in Rustrel.
STARTING DAY:
Any day of the week possible (March 25 - October 30) at Vaison-la-Romaine.
Vaison-la-Romaine is
accessible
from Avignon by train.
In July and August best
is to take a break at 12h00 of 2 - 3 hours for lunch in a restaurant,
swimming, resting, seeing a museum etc..
If you start in August or September some trails might be closed for
walkers, we'll take this into account and show you the free accesible
trails.
If you start mid September
you might encounter hunters and should be
ready to hear shooting and come across
men with guns.
ACCESS
:
- By train :
Many TGV from Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse directly to Avignon.
From the railway station of Avignon Centre by train to l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
(departure every two hours). The ride takes about 30 minutes.
Info : 08.36.35.35.35.
At the end we can arrange
for a transfer (not included) to the closest railway station or to Avignon
or Aix-en-Provence.
- By train back from Cavaillon
or l'Isle sur la Sorgue to Avignon Centre, ride of about 40minutes.
Leave
at railway station Cavaillon on Monday-through Saturday: 06:45, 07:34,
08:45, 13:32 and 17:02hr
Leave at railway station Cavaillon on Sunday and Holy days 07:34
and 17:02hr
- By car :
Situation : Paris 742km - Lyon 271km - Marseille 80km - Avignon 56km
- Aix en Provence 50km.
Highway from Paris, Lyon, Marseille to Avignon; N100 from Avignon
to Apt (56km).
-By airplane:
Aiports : Avignon – Caumont, tel : +33 490 812 039, Marseille
– Provence, tel : +33 442 141 414
Marseille
– Provence, tel : +33 442 141 414 (From the airport take shuttle bus
(3 times, every hour at 0,10, 0,30 and 0,50h) to SNCF railway station
of Marseille. Train to Avignon (60 minutes) or to Cavaillon (1h45 minutes)
and change on train to l'Isle sur la Sorgue (30 minutes).
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PROGRAMME
Description of the various stages.
First day of arrival
in Vaison-la-Romaine.
Night in hotel ***
Visit of the roman ruins and medieval town (Haute Ville)
(Market on Tuesday)
Vaison-la-Romaine
► Malaucène. 15
km
The Dentelles de Montmirail, le Crestet,
and Suzette on your way to the foot of the Mont Ventoux in Malaucène
(Market on Wednesday)
Malaucène
►
Bedoin. 14 km
By the GR91, over the foothills of the Mont Ventoux through the
vineyards of the Côtes du Mont Ventoux you walk towards the Petit and
Grand Luberon at the other is the of the plaine.
Bedoin
►
Venasque / Fontaine
de Vaucluse. 12, 16 or 20 km
Walk to the fascinating resurging
underground river Sorgues at Fontaine de Vaucluse (Vallis Clausa, where
Petrarca wrote his poems)
Fontaine de Vaucluse via Senanques and/or
Gordes to Joucas.
After breakfast you get a transfer to Fontaine de Vaucluse, the
famous and impressive resurgence of an underground river.
19 km, 5h30 effective
walking past Abbaye de Senanque and Gordes to your hotel in Joucas at
5km from Gordes. or 15 km without walking along Abbaye de Senanque.
Night in hotel ** in Joucas. Evening meal at the hotel restaurant.
Joucas
to St.Saturnin-lès-Apt
Past the ochres of Rousillon,
l'un des plus beaux villages de France you walk the GR-6 to the slopes
of the Monts de Vaucluses with panoramic views on the Petit and grand
Luberon.
18 km, 6h30 effective
walking past the last effective ochre mines of Gargas.
Night in hotel** in St.Saturnin-lès-Apts. Evening meal at the
hotel restaurant.
St.Saturnin-lès-Apt to Saignon
Transfer to Colorado Provençal.
Past discovery paths around The Colorado provençal you walk on the GR-9
and the GR-6 and some PR-walks to Saignon. Saignon is a peaceful
little village that you can easily explore on foot. Opposite the
town hall there is a pretty 12th century Roman church and while walking
through the narrow streets you will see ancient fountains, picturesque
shady squares and beautiful old houses with intricate doorways.
It is worth climbing up to the ‘Rock of Saignon’ where you can enjoy
a marvellous panoramic view of the plains and the Luberon range. If
the weather is fine, you can see Mont Ventoux, the Lure Mountains, the
Alps of Haute Provence and even the heights of Avignon! Thanks to its
rock, Saignon played a key defensive role for the town of Apt, attacked
through the centuries by numerous invasions... although not yet by tourists!
12 or 15 km, 4 or 5 hours
effective walking. -140m altitude, +250m.
Night in guesthouse in Saignon** with a pool. Evening meal at
the hotel restaurant.
Saignon
to Buoux
Saignon - Sivergues - Buoux of 10 km
You first walk to Sivergues. The cliffs for alpine climbing are
impressing. You then continue to your ‘auberge’ just outside Buoux.
Night in hotel at Buoux.
Evening meal in restaurant
5h30 effective walking , +450m altitude, -625m, 11km. (without extra
option)
Buoux
to Bonnieux
A walk from Buoux allows
you to discover the many layers of history in this region, with impressive
views of the Aigue Brun Valley. The limestone cliffs around Buoux are
equally interesting; they were once a retreat for hermits, in the 15th
century, and now they offer an exciting challenge for rock-climbers.
You continue, towards Bonnieux, and doubtless you will spot its church
tower long before the rest of the village comes into view. Built on
a plateau above the valley, it is one of the finest villages in the
area. Some of its houses date back to the 16th century and, if you climb
the 86 stone steps to the old church, you’ll enjoy an outstanding view
of the mountains of the Vaucluse, with Mont Ventoux towering in the
distance. While here, don’t miss the Boulangerie Museum that houses
an interesting display on bakery and bread production.
Night in hotel at Buoux.
Evening meal in restaurant
10 or 16 km, 6h00 effective walking , +305m altitude, -305m.
St.Saturnin-lès-Apt to Rustrel
St.Saturnin-lès-Apt
- Aiguier Neuf - Cabane du Garde - Aiguier d'Auribeau - Lagarde d'Apt
- Rustrel
Past discovery paths around
St. Saturnin and the Massif de la Bruyère you walk on the GR-9 and the
GR-6 to Rustrel, a small village built against the slopes of the Monts
de Vaucluse.
22 km 7 hours effective
walking.
Night in hotel** in Rustrel. Evening meal at restaurant 200m from
the guesthouse "de charme".
Rustrel to
Saignon
Past the Colorado Provençal
and discovery paths around Saignon you walk to Saignon. Saignon is a
peaceful little village that you can easily explore on foot. Opposite
the town hall there is a pretty 12th century Roman church and while
walking through the narrow streets you will see ancient fountains, picturesque
shady squares and beautiful old houses with intricate doorways.
It is worth climbing up to the ‘Rock of Saignon’ where you can enjoy
a marvellous panoramic view of the plains and the Luberon range. If
the weather is fine, you can see Mont Ventoux, the Lure Mountains, the
Alps of Haute Provence and even the heights of Avignon! Thanks to its
rock, Saignon played a key defensive role for the town of Apt, attacked
through the centuries by numerous invasions... although not yet by tourists!
We recommend the brasserie-restaurant
Le Bartavelle in Apt (near the Hôtel de Ville) for lunch.
12 or 15 km, 5 or 4 or
5 hours effective walking. -150m altitude, +250m.
Night in guesthouse in Saignon ** with a pool. Evening meal at
the hotel restaurant.
Viens to Rustrel
(Extra stage)
Stage from Viens to Rustrel (with a transfer to Viens to begin with)
or Rustrel to Viens;
Surrounded by magnificent
countryside, and perched on a rocky outcrop, Viens is an ancient village
with a charming medieval atmosphere. It boasts a Renaissance château,
restored in the 14th century, where you can enjoy a panoramic view from
the Montee de la Pousterle to the Lure gorges. Continuing along
the GR97, in the direction of Rustrel, you have the opportunity to hike
along the famous ‘ochre route’. The mining of ochre began more than
a century ago, and Rustrel soon become an important production centre.
Today, after a long decline, the exploitation is almost at an end, although
the ‘Colorado Provençal’, as it is known, has received a second lease
of life, attracting numerous visitors each year. Your route takes you
past an incredible succession of rusty-coloured rocks, golden cliffs
and red earthen chimneys that rise majestically out of the vegetation.
Rustrel itself is dominated by a beautiful 17th century château, and
during the summer months visitors can relax in the municipal outdoor
swimming pool. The village is also known for its ‘Côtes du Ventoux’
wines.
According to hotel availability your night stop will be either at Rustrel
or Apt (with an additional transfer at the end of the day from Rustrel
to Apt) This will be determined at the time of reservation.
Night in local hotel.
Evening meal in restaurant
19 km and 5h30 effective walking , +235m altitude, -455m, 16km.
Leaving the Luberon
Your walk ends after breakfast
and you will get a transfer (included) back to the railway station of
Cavaillon to travel back to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence or Marseille .
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