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
:
3 to 8 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 Fontaine de Vaucluse, beverages, picnics,
dinners is Fontaine de Vaucluse and in Rustrel.
STARTING
DAY:
Any day of the week possible (March 25 - October 30) at the hotel
in l'Isle sur la Sorgue.
l'Isle sur la Sorgue 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.
- 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 Fontaine de Vaucluse
Access by train via Avignon to l'Isle sur la Sorgue and taxi. You can arrive
at any time. Your room should be available by midday, or in the early afternoon
early enough to visit the famous and impressive resurgence of an
underground river.
Night in hotel *** in
Fontaine de Vaucluse.
Evening meal in restaurant hotel.
Day 1 of the 4-,5-,6-,7-,8- and
9 days walks.
Fontaine de Vaucluse via Gordes to Roussillon.
21 km, 8h00 effective walking
past Abbaye de Senanque and Gordes to your hotel in Joucas at 5km from Gordes.
Night in hotel** in Joucas. Evening meal at the hotel restaurant.
Day 2 of the 4-,5-,6-,7-,8- and
9 days walks.
Roussillon 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, 7h00 effective walking
past the last effective ochre mines of Gargas.
Night in hotel** in St.Saturnin-lès-Apts. Evening meal at the hotel
restaurant.
Day 3 of the 4-,5-,6-,7-,8- and
9 days walks.
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!
15 km, 6 hours effective walking.
-140m altitude, +250m.
Night in guesthouse in Saignon** with a pool. Evening meal at the
hotel restaurant.
Day 4 of the 5-,6-,7 days walks.
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, your base for the next one or two nights.
Night in hotel at Buoux.
Evening meal in restaurant
5h30 effective walking , +450m altitude, -625m, 11km. (without extra option)
Stage of the 6-,7-,8- and 9 days
walks.
Buoux to Bonnieux or Buoux
A circular 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.
You return to Buoux for the night.
Night in auberge or in hotel
at Buoux. Evening meal in restaurant
17 km, 6h00 effective walking , +305m altitude, -305m.
Stage of an extra day.
St.Saturnin-lès-Apt to Rustrel (8-days walk)
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.
21 km 8 hours effective walking.
Night in hotel** in Rustrel. Evening meal at restaurant 200m from
the guesthouse "de charme".
Stage of the 8- and 9 days walks.
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.
15 or 17 km, 5 or 6 hours
effective walking. -150m altitude, +250m.
Night in guesthouse in Saignon ** with a pool. Evening meal at the
hotel restaurant.
Stage of the 8 days walk.
Viens
to Rustrel
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
5h30 effective walking , +235m altitude, -455m, 16km.
Stage of the 9 days walk.
Leaving the Luberon (8-days walk)
Your walk ends after breakfast
and you will get a transfer (included) back to Avignon if your last
night is in Fontaine de Vaucluse or to Cavailllon in all other cases (Cavaillon railway station
for a train at 11h44 to Avignon departing at 12h19).
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