Luberon, Provence in France

Luberon: Classic Provence

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7 nights - From £1170/€1295 - 6 days independent walking between hotels

This self guided French walking holiday in Luberon takes in some of the best loved historic hill-top villages in Provence. Easy to moderate walking lets you discover a pretty landscape covered with vines, lavender, orchards and forests where small hills provide generous vantage points. You'll explore the beautiful historic villages of Gordes, Goult, Lacoste, Bonnieux and Roussillon, each with their own special character.

Panoramas of Provence: Grand Tour of Luberon

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12 nights - From £1795/€1995 - 8 - 10 days independent walking between guest houses

This unique self-guided walking holiday undertakes a beautiful circuit around the hills, gorges and historic villages of the Luberon Regional Park in Provence. As well as visiting some of the best loved historic hill-top villages in Provence such as Gordes, Lacoste, Bonnieux, Roussillon and St Saturnin les Apt, your walking trail takes you off the beaten track into the higher hills and through some less frequented, charming hamlets and villages. Choice of walks on most days.

Classic Provence: Luberon Trails

7 nights - two-centre based, day walks, price dependent on number in group

Our guided walking holiday in the Luberon takes in some of the best loved hill-top villages in Provence. Moderate walking lets you discover a pretty landscape of vines, lavender, orchards and forests where small hills provide generous vantage points. You'll explore the beautiful historic villages of Gordes, Lacoste, Bonnieux, St Saturnin and Rousillon. Despite the popularity of the region, your holiday explores quiet trails inbetween the villages where each step is infused with the small of Provence herbs. At the end of each day relax by the pool and soak up the Provence sunshine at your deligtful accommodation.. See full holiday details.

Luberon

The Luberon region of Provence, designated as a regional park, has inspired artists and painters for centuries. On our guided walking holiday you'll complete a number of delightful day walks across the region, discovering not only those "must-see" sights such as the beautiful perched village of Gordes or the dazzling rich ocre coloured cliffs at Rustrel. But also some less trodden trails taking you into hidden corners of the Luberon region.

The area has a beautiful mix of Provence landscapes centred around the limestone Luberon hills (named Petit Luberon and Grand Luberon). They run west-east, with their rounded summits reaching over 1000m and cloaked in oak and cedar forests. On either side the slopes taper into wide valleys covered in a patchwork of cherry orchards, vines, olive groves and lavender. The hilly promontories and bluffs are decorated with exquisite villages some washed with ochre coloured stone, whilst a number of narrow gorges snake off into the recesses of the hills with dramatic cliffs and beautiful springs.

Our 6 day independent walking tour of the Luberon - Classic Provence - takes in some of the best loved historic hill-top villages in Provence. Easy to moderate walking lets you discover a pretty landscape covered with vines, lavender, orchards and forests where small hills provide generous vantage points. You'll explore the beautiful historic villages of Gordes, Goult, Lacoste, Bonnieux and Roussillon, each with their own special character. Despite the popularity of this picturesque part of Provence, your walking holiday explores quiet trails inbetween the villages where each step is infused with the smell of Provence herbs. At the end of each day, relax by the pool and soak up the Provence sunshine at your delightful hotels and guest houses.

Our Panoramas of Provence self guided walking holiday undertakes a beautiful circuit around the hills, gorges and historic villages of the Luberon Regional Park in Provence. As well as visiting some of the best loved historic hill-top villages in Provence such as Gordes, Goult, Lacoste, Bonnieux, Roussillon and St Saturnin les Apt, each with their own special character, your walking trail takes you off the beaten track into the higher hills and through some less frequented, charming hamlets and villages. On most of the days you'll have the choice between easy and more challenging walks, meaning it is suitable for those looking for a fairly relaxed walking holiday as well as those seeking a tougher walking trip. This walking holiday is available as a 10 night option with one rest day or as a 12 night option with 2 rest days.

On our tailor made guided walking holiday you'll be based in two charming guest houses, where you'll experience the real Provence, one each side of the Luberon hills. This guided walking holiday is ideal in the spring, when you'll enjoy pleasantly warm weather for walking, with white cherry blossom decorating the hillsides bathed in a pure azure light. It will also mean that the trails and villages will be peaceful compared to the summer when crowds of tourists descend on the area.

There will be the chance to visit a number of historic villages such as St Saturnin les Apt and Roussillon; and enjoy sitting outside their quaint cafés soaking up some Provence sunshine. Another historic perched village is Cuceron, with its religious buildings, medieval walls, bell tower and ruined chateau. This village is surrounded by olive groves and vines (Cote du Luberon) which cover the valley slopes encircling the village and the forests of the Grand Luberon above. Walking trails explore two of the beautiful nearby villages - Ansuois and Lourmarin.

The lovely preserved village of Gordes is classed as one of the prettiest villages in France and is dominated by its renaissance chateau and perched on the end of a promontory. Close by are the 12th century Senanque Abbey, which is still in use and the ancient Borie Village of quaint, small dry stone houses.

One of the most spectacular areas in the Luberon in southern France is the amazing "Colorado Provencal", a former ochre quarry which was used as a colouring material for building and painting. Valleys, cliffs and rock towers glow in countless shades including shimmering white, brilliant gold and deep orange as you pass from one small valley to the next. Topped by vivid green trees, beneath a deep blue sky, this magical place is a pure spectacle.

Fontaine de Vaucluse is the source of the Sorgue river - the outlet of an underground river which forms a spectacular site after heavy rainfall. Our walk ascends the Fontaine de l'Oule Valley surrounded by impressive rocky crags to climb onto the Vaucluse hills for impressive views, and returns by following the Wall of the Plague, constructed in 1721 to stop the population from fleeing from the disease.

See more details of our guided walking holiday in the Luberon

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