Discovering villages amongst the mauve of lavender fields of the
Luberon and the different ochres of the earth will leave lasting impressions
for your minds eyes. Starting in Avignon, l'Isle sur la Sorgue
orFontaine-de-Vaucluse you will walk to the Abbey of Senanqueand
Gordeson your first walking day into the Luberon. Following are walks
from one village to another you will see the authentic character of
St.Saturnin-les-Apt, Rustrel, and the Colorado Provençal. Saignonand
or Buouxand Bonnieux or Ménerbes will be the last stages in the Luberonmountain.
Self Guided Walking 5 to 9 days, 4 to 8 nights 3 to 7 days
walking Days of 10-15 km or 15-22 km walking
Villages of the Luberon The Luberon is a unique regional park
offering visitors an infinite variety of colourful and fragrant landscapes.
Part of Provence and yet separately identifiable due to the rolling
hills and beautiful "villages perchés", it makes an excellent
base for a holiday. The Luberon is full of romantic villages, dramatic
ruins, deep gorges, the gulf of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and pretty valleys
– you will probably not want to venture beyond its boundaries!
The Luberon, a rugged, wooded region stretches for about 65 kilometres
between Cavaillon, in the West, and Manosque in the East, at its Western
extremity. The Western end is known as the ‘Petit Luberon’ and the Eastern
end as the ‘Grand Luberon’. The two sections are divided by the Combe
de Lourmarin (the old pathway), which cuts across the mountains between
the charming villages of Bonnieux and Lourmarin. It’s a beautiful region,
rich in colour and contrasts, with vivid sprays of scented lavender,
bright green vines, ochre-coloured villages and austere white limestone
hills. This is an area that has attracted artists and writers for centuries,
with dozens of lovely villages to explore, ancient forts, spectacular
abbeys and countless other geographical and historical sites. There
are some marvellous walks in the area, following the GR9 from the medieval
village of Viens to picturesque Rustrel, or hiking across rocky escarpments
down into dramatic gorges, where ochre was once mined. Provence is also
known for its food, with garlic, olives and olive oil playing an important
role in the preparation of many dishes.
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 : 5 to 8 nights Half board in **hotels (shower-bath
en suite) and chambres d'Hôtes, all dinners except day 1, 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 l'Isle sur la Sorgue, dinner Day 1 in l'Isle
sur la Sorgue, beverages, picnics.
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
beready 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 to Avignon Centre, ride of about
40minutes.
- 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).
Tour du Luberon
Self Guided Walking
Train & Bus From Marseille Airport to Luberon and Avignon
in Provence
