What you get on this adventure: An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area (English/French speaking) 8-day walking tour of Provence Accommodation for 7 flights (in two to three-star hotels & simple auberge in Buoux, ensuite bathrooms & breakfasts) All meals — 7 breakfasts, 6 picnics, 6 dinners (starter, main, desert) Private transportation during the tour Entrance to Buoux Fort What’s not included: Transportation to the meeting point and from the endpoint Drinks Any other activities or meals not noted in the “what you get” part Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

This walking tour of Provence is ideal for people who enjoy regular exercise, are in good shape, and used to regular and sustained physical activity. Hikers joining this tour should be able to handle walking uphill at a slow and steady pace for up to 2 hours at a time. Daily walks are generally under 5 hours per day, on various types of terrain—though nothing too difficult and technical—with up to 600 m (2,000 ft) of climbing per day.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag) Hiking poles — optional Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Lightweight hiking boots or shoes Spare clothes for layering Waterproof rain jacket Sunhat Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Headlamp or flashlight Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: For this walking tour of Provence, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 13:1. It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. If not enough people sign up, the tour is canceled at the latest 60 days prior to departure date. The cost does not decrease as the group grows. Walking tours of Provence can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Avignon, the starting point of your walking tour in Provence, most people fly into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) or Paris, which has two airports: Aeroport Paris-Beauvais (BVA) or Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) . From there, there are fantastic fast train options—it will take you two to three hours to reach Avignon, depending on your departure point.

Safety measures in France

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in France, please refer to France’s foreign travel advice . If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

Hikers walking along a shoreline in Provence

PROVENCE | FRANCE

Hiking Holidays in French Provence

5.00 ()

Season

Spring and Fall

Nearest city

Your tour starts in Avignon, 3 hours from Paris

Duration

8 days

Difficulty

Accommodation

Two and three-star hotels

Guide

Walk inn

From $2,200 () / 8 days

Got any questions? or Talk with us

Overview
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

This is more than just a hiking trip through Provence. This is also a culinary journey, a journey for the soul—one where we’ll discover stunningly beautiful landscapes, explore historical places of Provence, and get to know the authentic culture of this southeastern region of France. We’ll saunter through aromatic lavender fields, walk along the Mediterranean Sea, and stroll through charming villages perched atop hills. All our efforts will be rewarded with out-of-this-world food: just picture yourself in a typical French bistro, sipping on a glass of delicious rosé, and feeling fabulous. This is just a tiny portion of what’s expecting us—ready to discover the rest?

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Lush landscapes in the Mediterranean sun

Every day we’ll walk through poppy fields, rolling vineyards, thyme-carpeted hillsides, and endless lavender fields
A change of scenery every day

We’ll explore calanques (steep-walled rocky coves), orange-hued Colorado Provençal, verdant cedar forests, plateaus…
Get into the Provençal state of mind

See, feel, taste, and smell Provence over the course of 8 days: visit local markets, taste the olive oil and many cheeses, and admire its beauty

Itinerary

Savor an intimate glimpse into Provence, a charming region in the southeast of France over the course of a week! This hiking tour will have us exploring all things Provençal—apart from marveling at incredibly diverse landscapes, we will also taste its delicious wine, explore local markets where we’ll be able to get traditional products, and feel the serenity of this region by walking among its lavender fields. With an expert guide by our side who knows the absolute best places to take us, we can count on an adventure we won’t forget!

Meet at 6 pm at the hotel in Avignon, a papal city and World Heritage Site. The city is surrounded by its 14th century ramparts, behind which a unique world waits to be discovered. After a welcome meeting paired with local wine, meander through the labyrinth of cobbled streets in the old center, just enough to work up an appetite for a great meal ahead! Have dinner with your guide and your group and spend the night in Avignon.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Avignon
A short morning transfer takes you to the village of Lacoste, crowned by the ruins of the castle of Marquis de Sade. Explore the charming village, its old gates, cobbled streets, and, of course, the castle. Have a cup of coffee prior to moving into Bonnieux, another gem of Luberon, immortalized in Peter Mayle’s book A Year in Provence—visit its beautiful town squares and old cobblestone streets going back to the 12th century.

On the crest of Liberon, you will stroll under canopies of cedar forests, and find a secluded spot to enjoy your Provencal picnic. Beyond Bonnieux, enter the Grand Luberon and follow lavender fields before reaching Buoux castle and the village. Arrive at the Auberge des Seguins, deep in the Aiguebrun gorge. This Auberge castle is hidden in the heart of the Luberon Mountain—set in a quaint hamlet, off the road, and at the crossroads of the most beautiful walking paths in Luberon. You will spend 2 nights here.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Buoux
Hiking: 5 hours / 15-16.5 km (9.3-10.3 miles)
Elevation: +450 m / +1,476 ft | -350 m / -1,148 ft
Leave Auberge des Seguins by foot and reach the 3,000-year old Buoux Fort. With cliffs on all sides and outstanding views, you’ll explore the ruins of many different civilizations that sought refuge atop this rocky crag. From medieval ramparts and churches to Romna silos and watchtowers, and even Celto-Ligurian ruins—this site is fascinating.

If you’ve got enough energy left, climb up to the rounded crest of the Luberon mountains, carpeted in thyme and wildflowers. On a clear day, the views extend to the Alps to the north, and even to the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Buoux
Hiking: 4.5 hours / 12 km (7.4 miles)
Elevation: +500 m / +1,640 ft | -500 m / -1,640 ft
Follow the Aiguebrun river up past cliffs and dry stone terraces that were once farmed. Continue along the Claparèdes plateau through lavender fields and truffle oak plantations to the perched village of Saignon—built on a terraced hillside, it’s considered one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Take a stroll through its narrow streets and Place de la Fontaine, after which you’ll continue down to Apt, the capital of Luberon, renowned for its candied fruit, ochre production, and lavender essence. Dinner tonight is on your own!

Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Apt
Hiking: 3.5 hours / 13 km (8 miles)
Elevation: +140 m / +460 ft | -380 m / -1,247 ft
A short transfer takes you to the foot on Caseneuve. The trail climbs up a ridge where cherry trees, crops, and dry stone huts switch up to the crests. Descend to the Colorado Provençal, from where you’ll see red and orange ochre peaks in the distance.

Arrive in Rustrel, the heart of these ancient ochre quarries, which form a red, yellow, and orange maze of combes sculpted by erosion. You can choose to walk along the ochre trail. Transfer from Rustrel to Apt, where you’ll have dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Apt
Hiking: 3.5 hours / 11 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation: +330 m / +1,083 ft | -180 m / -590 ft
Stroll through Saturday’s morning market, mingle with the locals, grab some souvenirs, and taste local specialties: olive oil. Wine, and cheese! Then you’ll transfer southbound towards the Mediterranean Sea and the quiet riviera town of Cassis situated on the eastern edge of the Calanques—a set of dramatic limestone inlets spanning 20 km from Marseille to Cassis.

Each of the isolated coves unveils its secrets, the pure white limestone casting turquoise reflections in the still waters. This site has become France’s newest national park! You can go for an optional boat excursion to the famous Calanques (one-hour tour approximately 25 euros) or just relax on the beach.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cassis
After breakfast, a short transfer takes you to the Route de la Gineste, from where you’ll start your walk to the Col de la Gardiole pass, high above the Calanques of Cassis. You will be hiking among shrubs and aromatic herbs. Soon you’ll find a shaded and deeply encased valley that descends in tight zigzags towards the sea, and here is where you’ll reach the Calanque of En Vau.

This is followed by a short but steep climb through the jagged limestone to reach the Calanque of Port Pin, a narrow finger-of-an-inlet complete with a sandy beach, the perfect stop for your secluded picnic and a refreshing dip in the sea! The third Calanque is Port Miou, over a kilometer long, but ultra-thin, lined on both sides by sailboats. Soon you’ll reach Cassis, where you’ll have your farewell dinner!

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cassis
After a hearty breakfast, there will be an organized group transfer to Aix en Provence. You can catch a fast train to Paris! If you’d like to stay longer, just ask your guides for some recommendations!

Meals: Breakfast

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Meet your guide

5.00

Walk inn

Walk Inn have been organizing cycling and hiking tours for over 15 years now. All their tours were created by their expert team of local guides that have been on site, drew the itineraries, and walked the paths that you will be walking on.

5.00 (2 reviews)

Martha Schrader (source: Google Reviews)

One of our most memorable trips with our kids.

Bastien Serafin (source: Google Reviews)

Very professional service coupled with great customer care.

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area (English/French speaking)
  - 8-day walking tour of Provence
  - Accommodation for 7 flights (in two to three-star hotels & simple auberge in Buoux, ensuite bathrooms & breakfasts)
  - All meals — 7 breakfasts, 6 picnics, 6 dinners (starter, main, desert)
  - Private transportation during the tour
  - Entrance to Buoux Fort
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to the meeting point and from the endpoint
  - Drinks
  - Any other activities or meals not noted in the “what you get” part
  - Guide gratuities — optional
This walking tour of Provence is ideal for people who enjoy regular exercise, are in good shape, and used to regular and sustained physical activity. Hikers joining this tour should be able to handle walking uphill at a slow and steady pace for up to 2 hours at a time. Daily walks are generally under 5 hours per day, on various types of terrain—though nothing too difficult and technical—with up to 600 m (2,000 ft) of climbing per day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  - Hiking poles — optional
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  - Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  - Spare clothes for layering
  - Waterproof rain jacket
  - Sunhat
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  - Headlamp or flashlight
  - Sunglasses
  - Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
- - For this walking tour of Provence, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 13:1.
  - It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. If not enough people sign up, the tour is canceled at the latest 60 days prior to departure date.
  - The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
Walking tours of Provence can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Avignon, the starting point of your walking tour in Provence, most people fly into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) or Paris, which has two airports: Aeroport Paris-Beauvais (BVA) or Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). From there, there are fantastic fast train options—it will take you two to three hours to reach Avignon, depending on your departure point.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in France, please refer to France’s foreign travel advice.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Secure your spot for 2025 with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!
- - Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t suit you by the end of the year.
  - Once the set dates for the following season are live, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
  - The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
For set dates, a 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If the Client cancels….
- - More than 60 (sixty) calendar days prior to departure date, Client is entitled to a full refund.
  - 59-22 (fifty-nine to twenty-two) calendar days prior to departure date, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of 50% (fifty percent) of the total amount.
  - After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund.