• Secret Provence: Les Baronnies

• Everyday during April, May, June, September and October (subject to availability)

• Please contact us for a quote for your group

• grade explained

• 8 days: 6 days guided walking holiday staying in two different guest houses central to the walking areas
• How do our guided walking holidays work?

• Unspoilt picturesque landscapes, quiet trails and varied walking through scented lavender fields, fruit orchards, wild scrub and forests
• Lavender in flower at the end of June.
• Sleepy historic villages, unaltered for centuries perched on rocky slopes
• A favourable climate with 300 days of sunshine per year makes this an ideal destination for a walking Holiday
• Visiting the historic towns of Buis les Baronnies and Nyons with their wonderful markets
• Great local cuisine and fine local wines. Beautiful guest houses
• Visits to discover more about the local agricultural production

• “Thank you so much for the wonderful holiday. We had a great time seeing parts of Provence we would never have known. The experience of eating with our various hosts has been wonderful. Thank you for your company & for all the little details you put into making every day special.” A Gilliver, UK
• "The variety of the walks was excellent, no two days had the same scenery" A. Lewis, UK
• Take a look at what other customers had to say about this walking holiday

• Take a look at our photo slideshow of the Baronnies region

• Spacious and very comfortable rooms in small B&B style accommodation in two historic properties with swimming pools in rural peaceful locations, central to the walking area

1. Transfer to and from Lyon and transport during the week. 7 night's full board accommodation with the exception of one evening meal. 6 guided walks

1. Travel to Lyon, France, lunches on day of arrival and departure, one evening meal, drinks during the day, any entrance fees or excursions, travel insurance

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Walking Profile

The walking on this guided holiday is mixed allowing walkers of moderate ability to enjoy the ever changing views and landscapes. Some moderate ascents up and down valleys and hills are included in the week. Average distances are about 13km with about 400m of ascent. Most walks are well within the grade, although due to the nature of the landscape some small sections can be relatively steep. Paths are generally good and well defined, although they can be rough in places. The steep terrain means that it would be unwise to do this holiday if you suffered from vertigo.

Day 1: Arrival

Your walking holiday in France starts with a welcome, pick-up from Lyon airport or train station and drive to northern Provence

Day 2: Around Montbrun-les-Bains

Our day starts by a visit to the nearby hamlet of Reilhanette, which has little changed since the middle ages. Our day's walk then starts and finishes at Montbrun les Bains, a beautiful historic village perched on the hillside. It is classed as one of the prettiest villages in France and has buildings progressing up the hillside on 6 levels, with the remains of a renaissance chateau sitting prominently above. Our walk will explore this fascinating village before doing a short circuit contouring around the surrounding hills. 11km  240m climb

Day 3: Tour of Fort de Mévouillon

Our days' walk leaves direct from the guest house and makes its way through delightful countryside passing through a number of pretty hamlets. We'll then continue our tour around the cliff-lined rocky outcrop of Mevouillon where the Lords of the area ruled for 300 years. Passing beautiful scented lavender fields, the trail traverses the hill slopes to pass into a wilder landscape under the Buc mountain. A gentle walk through forest leads us back to La Honas. 16km, 380m

Day 4: Lavender country

Our walk today starts from Sault on the plateau d'Albion. Our walk traverses woodland before arriving at the beautiful perched village of Aurel. After visiting the village's narrow streets, our route takes us to the edge of the plateau for great views of the rugged mountains to the north. The walk traverses lavender fields and woods as it winds its way to the tiny hamlet of St Trinit. On our return to Sault, we get the chance to explore this pretty village and enjoy a well earned drink. Drive to Lavender farm to find out all about its production. 14km, 250m

Day 5: Buis les Baronnies & Nyons

Our rest day will take in visits to the historic centres of Buis les Baronnies for its market and narrow streets, and Nyons, where you'll be able to visit its historic buildings and monuments, its roman bridge as well as its olive mills and lavender distilleries. Our day will finish with a wine tasting visit in the Eygues Valley.

Day 6: Montagne de Chamouse

We'll drive to the Col de Perty which at 1302m allows us to start our walk from high up. Our route takes us along a fairly gentle ridge through forest and then moorland to the summit of the Montagne de Chamouse. At 1531m this summit offers exceptional views across the summits and valleys of the Baronnies. The extraordinary light in this part of France makes for clear luminous views where the relief really stands out. 12km +230m

Day 7: Circuit de la Bohémienne

Walking from Aulan, a pretty 12th century castle that sits at the top of the gorge Couranche at the start of the Toulourenc Valley. Our walk follows a picturesque valley through mixed woodland to reach the Col de la Bohémienne with its rocky slopes and ravines. We then contour to the small perched village of le Poêt en Percip - the former historic capital of the Baronnies - before gradually climbing through slopes of scrub, pasture and lavender fields, to reach a ridge with great views over the valleys and hills to the east. Descent directly to our B&B.  14km 530m climb

Day 8:  Departure

Drive to Lyon and transfer home. If time allows we will stop off in Grignan, a picturesque historic village with an amazing chateau.

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