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
We can arrange for a taxi from Avignon or l'Isle sur la Sorgues. Your room should be available by midday, or in the early afternoon
early enough to visit the town and the famous
and impressive resurgence of an underground river.
Night in hotel *** in
Fontaine de Vaucluse.
Evening meal in restaurant near (or at) the hotel.
Fontaine de Vaucluse via Gordes to Roussillon.
16,5 km, 8h00 effective walking
past Abbaye de Senanque and Gordes to your hotel in Roussillon at 9 km from Gordes.
Or 15 km without walking to Senanque.
Night in hotel *** in Roussillon. Evening meal at the hotel restaurant.
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
foothills of
the Monts de Vaucluses with panoramic views on the Petit and grand Luberon.
14 km, 5h00 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 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 foothills of the Monts de Vaucluse.
13 or 21 km 5 or 8 hours effective walking.
Night in hotel** in Rustrel. Evening meal at restaurant 200m from
the guesthouse "de charme".
Rustrel to Saignon
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 6 hours effective walking.
-140m altitude, +250m.
Night in Hotel Presbytère in Saignon or CH *** with a pool. Evening meal at the
hotel restaurant.
Saignon to Bonnieux
Saignon - Sivergues - Buoux-Bonnieux 11,16 or 19 km (transfer
for 11 or 16 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. 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 ** hotel superior
room in Bonnieux. Evening meal in restaurant
4, 6 or 7 hours effective walking , +405m altitude, -605m.
Or a short walk to Buoux
(11 km)
Bonnieux to Ménerbes or Goult.
12 km. You first walk to Lacoste,
and by the Petit Luberon you descend to Ménerbes, From here you
walk to Goult.
Night in CH *** with a pool. Evening meal at the
restaurant nearby.
Leaving the Luberon (8-days walk)
Your walk ends after breakfast
and we can arrange for a taxi transfer (not included) back to Avignon, Fontaine de Vaucluse or to Cavailllon,
where you can catch the train to Avignon or Marseille.
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