• Grand Tour of Les Alpilles

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

• From £1365
• From €1515
• Prices per person based on 2 sharing
• Please contact us concerning single supplements
• Loyalty scheme reduction applies for returning customers (see terms and conditions)

• 9 nights, 6 days independent walking moving between guest houses

• Beautiful Provence landscapes with olive groves in the Alpilles Regional Park.
• Get off-the-beaten track on this extended tour whilst still passing through beautiful villages
• Classic historic provence villages of Baux de Provence, St-Remy-de-Provence, Eygalieres & Fontvieille
• Visit the Roman amphitheatre and Van Gogh museum in the historic town of Arles
• Historic sites and places to visit in Avignon

• "We had a superb holiday. We loved the countryside, the walks and the hotels. Overall a fantastic experience." J. Shemilt, UK
• "Fabulous scenery. Enjoyed the lovely walks and being able to absorb the culture." A. Leete, UK

• Small guest houses and 3 star hotels often in beautiful historic properties, many with swimming pools. Accommodation located for the most part within the towns and villages

1. Transfers between Arles and the start of the first day's walk and after the last day's walk to Avignon.
2. 9 nights' accommodation.
3. All breakfasts and 3 evening meals
4. Full walking notes and maps (see more information)
5. Transport of luggage between guest houses
6. Read more information about our independent walking & trekking holidays

1. Travel to Arles at start of walking holiday and from Avignon at the end of the trip
2. All lunches, 6 evening meals
   
3. Any excursions or entrance fees
4. Travel insurance

1. See also our 6 night walk: Les Alpilles - Van Gogh's Provence
2. Highlights of Provence: Best of Les Alpilles & Luberon
3. Return to full list of self-guided walking holidays
4. Return to Home Page

Walking Profile

Walking on this holiday is moderate in grade mainly due to the nature of the terrain which can be rocky. It is also because it's possible to walk for 6 days in a row, as well as increase the difficulty on some days. Otherwise the walking is at the upper end of the easy grade for the most part in terms of distances and amount of ascent. Mainly on good paths, tracks and quiet lanes. Average distances are about 15km with about 300m of ascent. Some small sections can be steep. Maximum altitude is 350m in one day.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive in the historic town of Arles.

Day 2: Arles

Explore Arles and its Roman treasures including its Roman Arena and its theatre. Take in the atmosphere of this lively Provence town surrounded by city walls on the banks of the Rhone River. There are numerous museums to visit. It was Van Gogh's home for a year when he produced about 300 of his celebrated paintings. Transfer to Fontvieille at the end of day 2. Stay in a beautiful 3 star hotel. Fontvieille is a picturesque village with its ancient houses built from local stone. Fontvieille is the village where Alphonse Daudet wrote his famous "Lettres de Mon Moulin".

Day 3: Fontvieille - Baux de Provence

Your walk starts by climbing the small hill to visit the "Moulin de Daudet" and from where there is a superb view of the Alpilles and the "Chateau de Montauban" where Daudet lived from time-to-time. Walk through a landscape of limestone, olives, pine-trees and oaks before climbing to the perched village of Les Baux de Provence: its homes packed tightly on top of the hill and listed as one of the prettiest villages in France. 13km, +350m

Day 4: Circular Tour from Les Baux de Provence

Explore Baux de Provence with it 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments" (including the church, chateau, town-hall, hospital, chapels, houses, doorways etc). This car-free village has plenty of ancient houses that have been carefully restored, beautiful Renaissance facades and several magnificent "hotels particuliers". Above are the ruins of the citadelle which crown the hill. Visit the chateau ruins, cost about 8 euros. One of the must-see sites close to the village is the Carrieres de Lumieres, where artistic works are projected on enormous quarry walls. Currently (2019) Van Gogh's works are being shown.

You also have the option of a walk onto the hills behind les-Baux-de-Provence. After passing through neat olive groves and vines climb slowly in a wild and rugged valley cut off from the surrounding plains. Reach the ridgeline with great views. Return to Baux-les-Provence via a wonderful viewpoint overlooking the village. 12km, +300m

Possible to book extra days and nights at Baux-de-Provence.

Day 5: Baux de Provence - Aureille

Pass over the Majan Hills with great 360 degree views before reaching the pretty village of Maussane in the heart of the most important olive producing area in France. Visit the famous 17th century Cornille mill where you can taste one of Provence’s best olive oils. Afterwards, you have the option of going via the unique site of les Caisses de Jean Jean, a dry limestone grassy plateau encircled by cliffs. At the end of the plateau are the remains of a pre-historic settlement. Great views before descending. Afterwards a beautiful walk alongside the irrigation canal of the Baux Valley as it cuts across the hillside with views towards the higher hills. End the day at a beautiful guest house in the quiet village of Aureille. 20km, +300m

Day 6: Aureille - Eygalieres

A beautiful walk leads you past the rugged hills of les Opies and the highest summits in the Alpilles. A steady climb takes you up to a look-out tower at 337m with superb views across much of Les Alpilles. Descend gently through scrub with more great vistas to reach the Grande Randonnee GR6. Follow it to return to a pretty valley planted with vines and surrounded by the fin-like rock cliffs of Les Calans hills. A last climb permits you to get further panoramic views before descending to the historic village of Eygaliers. 14km, +350m

Day 7: Eygalieres - St-Remy-de-Provence

Eygalieres is less busy than St Remy de Provence but has loads of Provence charm. There is a wonderful Provence market on Fridays. Climb to the remains of its old citadel for great views of the Alpilles hills. An easier walk through a patchwork of olives and vines brings you to St Remy de Provence, one of the most famous villages of Provence and celebrated for being the adopted home of Van Gogh. Visit its pretty squares, fountains, Medieval buildings and cobblestone streets enclosed by the remains of its 14th century walls. On the way you can also explore the remains of the Roman town of Glanum. 14km, +60m

Day 8: Circular Tour from St Remy de Provence

Spend the day visiting St Remy de Provence and/or do an optional walk.
Among the possible visits in St Remy is the Saint-Paul de Mausole monastery where Van Gogh created 150 paintings in a year. Vincent Van Gogh had been living in Arles during 1888-89. In May 1889 he was voluntarily confined in the Asylum of Saint Paul de Mausole where in a productive year he painted two of his most notable works: Starry Night and Self-Portrait. Saint Remy de Provence is also home to the historic remains of Glanum which was founded in the 3rd century BC, before control passed to the Romans under Julius Cesar. Two important monuments are visible next to the site: l'Arc de Triomphe and the Mausolee des Antiques.

You have the choice of doing a walk around St Remy, climbing onto the Plateau de la Caume for wonderful views. The far end of the plateau arguably provides the finest views in the whole of the Alpilles. On the way visit the bizzare fin of rock with two holes. Return to St Remy via the beautiful Lake Peirou.
13/18km, +350m

Possible to book extra days and nights at St-Remy-de-Provence.

Day 9:  Avignon

Short transfer to Avignon one of the prettiest cities in Provence, which includes famous sites such as the Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon.

Day 10: Departure

Holiday ends after breakfast. Option to book extra nights in Avignon.

Contact us about this self-guided walking holiday