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Secret Trails Of Provence (Self-Guided)


With each turn in your path on this self-guided adventure, the Luberon Mountains offer a new discovery: 1000 year-old perched villages rising spectacularly from the valleys below, many of which are considered amongst the most beautiful in France; open fields laden with poppies and wildflowers; centuries’ old stone huts that offer the most intimate of picnic spots; beautiful trails far off the beaten track. Beginning in the town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, with its antiques and Venice-like canals, your journey will take you through the mysterious springs of Fontaine de Vaucluse, famed villages such as Gordes and Bonnieux with some of France’s most beautiful walking paths linking it all together.



Gallery View map

Tour Highlights

  • Luberon’s lavender landscape

Inclusions

  • Transfer on Days 2 & 7, luggage transfers, detailed route notes and maps.

  • 6 breakfasts

Secret Trails Of Provence (Self-Guided)

Day 1
Arrive l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Meals Privided:
Your trip starts with your arrival in the town of L'lsle-sur-la-Sorgue, a veritable island of a village, surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Sorgue river. Please make your own way to the joining hotel which is centrally located (further details are in your travel documents). We recommend arriving/departing by train where possible within Europe due to this method of transports minimal carbon emissions. l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is located 25 kilometres from Avignon and is easily accesible from Avignon by bus, train or taxi. Getting to Avignon is easy with regular fast TGV trains and regional train services from Paris (Lyon) and other cities in France. On arrival your route notes outlining everything you need to know for the week ahead will be waiting for you at the hotel reception. If arriving on a Sunday, the Sunday market is among the most colourful in Provence and definitely worth a visit. The town's canals are bordered by quaint cafés, restaurants, and antique shops so why not lose yourself among a labyrinth of narrow streets and in the town’s warm, Provençal charm.
Day 2
Fontaine de Vaucluse – Gordes
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
A short transfer by taxi this morning will take you to Fontaine de Vaucluse, the mysterious spring that heads the Sorgue River. Through cedar forests you follow a 300-year old mur de la peste: a stone wall built to protect Provence from the 1720 plague. After walking through Cabrières and its castle, the path leads to Gordes, a town built of majestic grey limestone, rising dramatically out of the valley and crowned by its Renaissance castle. (Walking time 4 - 4.5 hours, +450m/-200m)
Day 3
Sénanque Abbey
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Today’s circular walk takes you through thyme-laden fields dotted with old stone huts, and down into the Sénancole valley. You will soon arrive at Sénanque Abbey, built in 1148 and still in use, the abbey is one of the best conserved Romanesque buildings in France, and certainly one of its most magnificent. You will have time to explore the abbey before returning to Gordes via a cobbled path. (Walking time: 3 - 3.5hrs, +250m/-250m)
Day 4
Gordes – Goult
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
With superb views of the Calavon valley your path takes you via the quaint town of St Pantaléon and to the little known village of Goult. Goult, a timeless village carved out of the limestone boulders, offers an authentic medieval feel and narrow streets untouched by modern tourism. A handful of cafés and restaurants will reward the tired walker with a great Provençal meal. (Walking time: 4 - 4.5 hours, +20m/-300m)
Day 5
Goult – Bonnieux
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Crossing the Calavon valley you pass the ruins of ancient stone farmhouses before reaching the town of Lacoste. Crowned by the ruins of the castle of the Marquis de Sade, Lacoste offers a stunning ensemble of old village gates and cobbled streets, not to mention the haunting allure of the castle and its Marquis. You continue to Bonnieux, another gem of the Luberon, immortalized in Peter Mayle’s 'A Year in Provence'. Visit its beautiful town squares and the old cobbled steps leading to its 12th century church. (Walking time: 3 - 3.5 hours, +320m/-250m)
Day 6
The Cedar Forest
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Above Bonnieux you climb steadily up the slopes of the Luberon, on a seldom-used trail through the oak forests. Before long you reach the rounded plateau of the mountain, with wide-sweeping views extending across the plains, to the hilltop villages that dot the landscapes, and on a clear day to the snow-peaked Alps that paint the backdrop. Atop the Luberon you stroll under a majestic canopy of cedar trees, with an optional loop through the cedar forest, before following a trail back to Bonnieux. (Walking time 4 hours, +/- 400m).
Day 7
End l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
This morning you will be transfered by taxi back to l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue where your trip comes to an end. Regular trains and buses leave from l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for Avignon, alternatively you may wish to book a private transfer - contact Peregrine or your travel agent for details. Additional nights' accommodation can also be booked in l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or in Avignon should you wish to extend your stay in Provence - enquire at time of booking.

IN A NUTSHELL

7 days
from $1,395
6

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
18/09/201224/09/2012 $1,475
07/06/201213/06/2012 $1,475
06/06/201212/06/2012 $1,475
05/06/201211/06/2012 $1,475
04/06/201210/06/2012 $1,475
03/06/201209/06/2012 $1,475
02/06/201208/06/2012 $1,475
01/06/201207/06/2012 $1,475
31/05/201206/06/2012 $1,475
30/05/201205/06/2012 $1,475
08/06/201214/06/2012 $1,475
09/06/201215/06/2012 $1,475
17/09/201223/09/2012 $1,475
16/09/201222/09/2012 $1,475
15/09/201221/09/2012 $1,475
15/06/201221/06/2012 $1,475
14/06/201220/06/2012 $1,475
13/06/201219/06/2012 $1,475
12/06/201218/06/2012 $1,475
11/06/201217/06/2012 $1,475
10/06/201216/06/2012 $1,475
29/05/201204/06/2012 $1,475
28/05/201203/06/2012 $1,475
16/05/201222/05/2012 $1,475
15/05/201221/05/2012 $1,475
14/05/201220/05/2012 $1,475
13/05/201219/05/2012 $1,475
12/05/201218/05/2012 $1,475
11/05/201217/05/2012 $1,475
10/05/201216/05/2012 $1,475
09/05/201215/05/2012 $1,475
08/05/201214/05/2012 $1,475
17/05/201223/05/2012 $1,475
18/05/201224/05/2012 $1,475
27/05/201202/06/2012 $1,475
26/05/201201/06/2012 $1,475
25/05/201231/05/2012 $1,475
24/05/201230/05/2012 $1,475
23/05/201229/05/2012 $1,475
22/05/201228/05/2012 $1,475
21/05/201227/05/2012 $1,475
20/05/201226/05/2012 $1,475
19/05/201225/05/2012 $1,475
07/05/201213/05/2012 $1,475
01/11/201207/11/2012 $1,475
20/10/201226/10/2012 $1,475
19/10/201225/10/2012 $1,475
18/10/201224/10/2012 $1,475
17/10/201223/10/2012 $1,475
16/10/201222/10/2012 $1,475
15/10/201221/10/2012 $1,475
14/10/201220/10/2012 $1,475
13/10/201219/10/2012 $1,475
12/10/201218/10/2012 $1,475
21/10/201227/10/2012 $1,475
22/10/201228/10/2012 $1,475
31/10/201206/11/2012 $1,475
30/10/201205/11/2012 $1,475
29/10/201204/11/2012 $1,475
28/10/201203/11/2012 $1,475
27/10/201202/11/2012 $1,475
26/10/201201/11/2012 $1,475
25/10/201231/10/2012 $1,475
24/10/201230/10/2012 $1,475
23/10/201229/10/2012 $1,475
11/10/201217/10/2012 $1,475
10/10/201216/10/2012 $1,475
28/09/201204/10/2012 $1,475
27/09/201203/10/2012 $1,475
26/09/201202/10/2012 $1,475
25/09/201201/10/2012 $1,475
24/09/201230/09/2012 $1,475
23/09/201229/09/2012 $1,475
22/09/201228/09/2012 $1,475
21/09/201227/09/2012 $1,475
20/09/201226/09/2012 $1,475
29/09/201205/10/2012 $1,475
30/09/201206/10/2012 $1,475
09/10/201215/10/2012 $1,475
08/10/201214/10/2012 $1,475
07/10/201213/10/2012 $1,475
06/10/201212/10/2012 $1,475
05/10/201211/10/2012 $1,475
04/10/201210/10/2012 $1,475
03/10/201209/10/2012 $1,475
02/10/201208/10/2012 $1,475
01/10/201207/10/2012 $1,475
19/09/201225/09/2012 $1,475
06/05/201212/05/2012 $1,475
22/03/201228/03/2012 $1,475
10/03/201216/03/2012 $1,475
09/03/201215/03/2012 $1,475
08/03/201214/03/2012 $1,475
07/03/201213/03/2012 $1,475
06/03/201212/03/2012 $1,475
05/03/201211/03/2012 $1,475
04/03/201210/03/2012 $1,475
03/03/201209/03/2012 $1,475
02/03/201208/03/2012 $1,475
11/03/201217/03/2012 $1,475
12/03/201218/03/2012 $1,475
21/03/201227/03/2012 $1,475
20/03/201226/03/2012 $1,475
19/03/201225/03/2012 $1,475
18/03/201224/03/2012 $1,475
17/03/201223/03/2012 $1,475
16/03/201222/03/2012 $1,475
15/03/201221/03/2012 $1,475
14/03/201220/03/2012 $1,475
13/03/201219/03/2012 $1,475
01/03/201207/03/2012 $1,475
01/11/201107/11/2011 $1,395
20/10/201126/10/2011 $1,395
19/10/201125/10/2011 $1,395
18/10/201124/10/2011 $1,395
17/10/201123/10/2011 $1,395
16/10/201122/10/2011 $1,395
15/10/201121/10/2011 $1,395
14/10/201120/10/2011 $1,395
13/10/201119/10/2011 $1,395
12/10/201118/10/2011 $1,395
21/10/201127/10/2011 $1,395
22/10/201128/10/2011 $1,395
31/10/201106/11/2011 $1,395
30/10/201105/11/2011 $1,395
29/10/201104/11/2011 $1,395
28/10/201103/11/2011 $1,395
27/10/201102/11/2011 $1,395
26/10/201101/11/2011 $1,395
25/10/201131/10/2011 $1,395
24/10/201130/10/2011 $1,395
23/10/201129/10/2011 $1,395
11/10/201117/10/2011 $1,395
05/05/201211/05/2012 $1,475
23/04/201229/04/2012 $1,475
22/04/201228/04/2012 $1,475
21/04/201227/04/2012 $1,475
20/04/201226/04/2012 $1,475
19/04/201225/04/2012 $1,475
18/04/201224/04/2012 $1,475
17/04/201223/04/2012 $1,475
16/04/201222/04/2012 $1,475
15/04/201221/04/2012 $1,475
24/04/201230/04/2012 $1,475
25/04/201201/05/2012 $1,475
04/05/201210/05/2012 $1,475
03/05/201209/05/2012 $1,475
02/05/201208/05/2012 $1,475
01/05/201207/05/2012 $1,475
30/04/201206/05/2012 $1,475
29/04/201205/05/2012 $1,475
28/04/201204/05/2012 $1,475
27/04/201203/05/2012 $1,475
26/04/201202/05/2012 $1,475
14/04/201220/04/2012 $1,475
13/04/201219/04/2012 $1,475
01/04/201207/04/2012 $1,475
31/03/201206/04/2012 $1,475
30/03/201205/04/2012 $1,475
29/03/201204/04/2012 $1,475
28/03/201203/04/2012 $1,475
27/03/201202/04/2012 $1,475
26/03/201201/04/2012 $1,475
25/03/201231/03/2012 $1,475
24/03/201230/03/2012 $1,475
02/04/201208/04/2012 $1,475
03/04/201209/04/2012 $1,475
12/04/201218/04/2012 $1,475
11/04/201217/04/2012 $1,475
10/04/201216/04/2012 $1,475
09/04/201215/04/2012 $1,475
08/04/201214/04/2012 $1,475
07/04/201213/04/2012 $1,475
06/04/201212/04/2012 $1,475
05/04/201211/04/2012 $1,475
04/04/201210/04/2012 $1,475
23/03/201229/03/2012 $1,475
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