Provence Walking & Hiking
- Sunny walks through limestone hills, olive orchards, vineyards and perched villages
- Exclusive tours and tastings at an organic winery and a family-run olive oil mill
- Private cooking class with a Provençal chef
- Savor Michelin-starred cuisine and regional wines
- Marie-Charlotte Bouton, local art historian and van Gogh expert
From Les Baux to the Lubéron
Provence is beautiful. You'll feel it. Cézanne and van Gogh felt it. To think they could have been anywhere and they were here. Among the burnt oranges of Roussillon. The rugged cliffs of Gordes. They could have taken your same path through the gardens of St-Rémy and through the olive groves van Gogh painted. Cézanne gazed up at the same Alpilles mountains you will. It won't surprise you they were inspired to express the beauty of Provence. But you won't need us to tell you that.
Day
1 Savor Michelin-starred cuisine and regional wines 
A world of windswept crags dotted with oak, pine and cypress trees - the Alpilles is an unforgettable place to walk Behold medieval Les Baux, perched on a rocky plateau above an eerie landscape pockmarked with caves and wildly eroded limestone.
Day
2 Private cooking class with a Provençal chef who reveals the secrets of classic Provençal dishes, such as gigot d'agneau (roasted lamb) and papeton d'aubergines (eggplant mousse) Ramble through piney woods and along limestone hills where goats happily graze on wild herbes de Provence.
Day
3 Local van Gogh expert and art historian Marie-Charlotte Bouton leads our visit to St-Paul-de-Mausole, where Vincent van Gogh secluded himself and painted some of his most significant works, including Starry Night Footpaths lead through a beautiful weathered landscape to Château Romanin, a family-run organic winery where we stop for a private tour and tasting.
Days
4-6 Sunny walks through limestone hills, olive orchards, vineyards and perched villages Discover vibrant St-Rémy, filled with fountains, cheery cafés, tree-lined boulevards and a lively outdoor market, where you'll rub elbows with locals How many shades of ochre grace radiant Roussillon? Try 16 - no wonder artists are drawn here! The Lubéron's fragrant foothills and the cliffs beyond Buoux set the scene for lovely rambles Dive into the history and hidden corners of picture-perfect Gordes with a local guide.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This trip exceeded all expectations! I never felt rushed, yet never was at loose ends. The pace and variety was somehow perfect everyday. The ability to walk ahead or behind, choose longer or shorter hikes, or even skip a segment, made the trip perfect for everyone. The guides were helpful, gracious and loads of fun! Our group bonded instantly and I know some lifetime friendships were formed. I was at ease walking or eating with anyone. The special presentations by local guides in Gordes and St. Remy (on Van Gogh) were indeed special - it's clear these ladies loved their subjects. A surprise evening option of a vespers service in an ancient abbey was a definite treat.- Redwood City, CA
We have taken 9 trips with another company in the last 6-7 years. They were all an enjoyable. But, we found our Backroads trip to be far, far superior.- Fox Point, WI
What an unbelievable trip! I couldn't think of a better way to experience Provence. The accommodations were so authentic to the area and the meals did more than just satisfy hunger - they allowed us to totally immerse ourselves in the aura of the region. Backroads somehow must have chosen THE best hotels and restaurants available! Nothing was overlooked.- Stillwater, MN
Premiere Inns
La Cabro d'Or
Les Baux-de-Provence (1 night) An enchanting hideaway in the heart of the Alpilles mountains with a Michelin-starred restaurant and magnificent gardens. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa, tennis)
Le Château des Alpilles
St-Rémy-de-Provence (2 nights) An elegant 19th-century manor house owned by a mother-daughter pair who have lovingly renovated and decorated this peaceful property. (pool)
La Bastide de Gordes & Spa
Gordes (2 nights) Within the ancient city walls of Gordes, a 16th-century mansion with splendid hilltop views of the Lubéron Valley. (pool, spa)
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Classic:
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 2.8 | 200 | 4.9 | 200 | ||||||
| 2 | 6.0* | 400 | 7.8 | 400 | 9.5 | 500 | ||||
| 3 | 4.5 | 0 | 5.6 | 1000 | 10.9 | 1000 | ||||
| 4.5* | 200 | |||||||||
| 4 | 3.7* | 500 | 6.5 | 1000 | ||||||
| 5 | 4.8 | 400 | 7.6* | 700 | ||||||
| 6 | Gordes guided walk (1 hour) | |||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
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For 34 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Provence tour experts. See our award-winning Europe France walking tours and hiking tours, Europe France biking tours and Europe France multisport tours.
