Heart of Provence

Self Guided - 6 Days/5 Nights

Provence is rich in colour and contrasts with vivid sprays of scented lavender, bright green vines, ochre-coloured villages and white limestone hills. The area has attracted artists and writers for centuries. There are dozens of enchanting villages to explore, ancient forts, spectacular abbeys and countless other fascinating geographical and historic sites.

The paths of the Luberon reveal untamed hills and hidden canyons, hilltop villages, cultivated fields of olive groves, cherry orchards and vineyards, as well as colourful Provençal markets.
The Luberon harbours prestigious villages, among the most beautiful in France: Isle sur la Sorgue, Gordes, Bonnieux… all with their typical Provençal charm and flair.
This trip combines the best of what Provence has to offer: scenery worthy of endless postcards, a rich history and culture, great Mediterranean food, stunning walking paths.

Highlights:

The lavender fields in front of Sénanque Abbey
Walking along dry stone walls and the "Plague wall"
The hilltop villages of the Luberon, including Gordes, Goult, Lacoste and Bonnieux
Old stone farmhouses, walls, and huts along centuries-old paths

Your Journey

Day 1: l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue:

Arrive l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a veritable island of a village, surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Sorgue river, its canals bordered by quaint cafés, restaurants, and antique shops.

Day 2: Fontaine de Vaucluse > Gordes (4h30 – 13 km)

From Fontaine de Vaucluse follow a 300 year-old wall built to ward off the plague in 1720, then along paths carved into the bush and cedar forests to the picturesque perched village of Gordes.

Day 3: Gordes > Senanque > Gordes (3h20 -10 km)

Gordes is perched high above the Calavon valley, its majestic stone homes rising dramatically in concentric circles to its castle, crowning the village. Atop a vast plateau, you cross through lavender and thyme-laden fields dotted with old stone huts, on your way to Abbey Senanque - a jewel of 12th century Romanesque architecture.

Day 4: Gordes > Lacoste > Bonnieux (3h45 -11 km)

Today walk through the thyme and rosemary scented hills, passing isolated farms, to the villages of Lacoste. You then continue to Bonnieux, anther gem of the Luberon, one of the centre-stage villages in Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence'. Visit its beautiful town squares and the old cobbled steps leading to its 12th century church.

Day 5: Bonnieux (12 km, ascent +400m / descent -400m)

Climb through the forest to the ridge of Petit Luberon mountain for outstanding views from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 6: Bonnieux – Isle sur la Sorgue

After breakfast transfer to Isle sur la Sorgue where arrangements end.

Days 6 - 7: Extend your stay: Chateauneuf du Pape wine experience

Morning transfer Avignon > Chateauneuf du Pape
Morning : choice of 2 self-guided loop walks in the vineyards of Chateauneuf - with a road-book - passing along the way the wine estates of: Vaudieu, Nalys, Solitude, Chateau Mont Redon
1pm: gourmet lunch at the famous restaurant "La Mère Germaine" (your own expense)
Afternoon with a wine expert for 3 hours (non private)

Walk into the vineyards with explanation about the grapes
Private visit to a family run winery : explanation of the vinification and barrel wine tasting
Private visit to a Château (one of the most famous and oldest cellars in the area) + wine tasting
if time permits, chocolate and wine tasting

Transfer to Avignon at the end of the day and night in Avignon centre

Note: not available on Sundays