.jpg)
- At a glance
- Locality & Walks
- Accommodation & Meals
- Travel options
- Photos
Your Holiday at a Glance
| Independent Walking Holiday |
|
| Dates for 2023 |
|
| Price 6 nights |
|
| Grade | |
| Profile |
|
| Highlights |
|
| Accommodation and Meals |
|
| What's included |
|
| What's not included
|
|
|
Cotes du Rhone Wine Trail
Our Cotes du Rhone Wine Trail (short break) walking holiday explores the eastern side of the Rhone Valley taking a circular tour around the impressive rock spires of Dentelles de Montmirail in the shadow of Mont Ventoux. This page presents our short break 5 day walk but we also have a longer 8 day self-guided walking holiday which starts further north in the Baronnies. This Provence walking tour takes in some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region as well as the best known of the Cotes du Rhone wines such as Beaumes de Venise. You’ll also explore plenty of beautiful historic villages and hamlets along the way, many of which are sheltering under rocky towers or perched atop ridges, crowned by impressive castles. Your walking holiday starts in Vaison la Romain where you can explore its famous Roman remains before circumnavigating the wonderful hills and rocky ridges of Dentelles de Montmirail.
Walking ProfileWalking on this holiday is moderate in grade with some longer days, especially on the 8-day walk. The terrain is sometimes stony. Mainly on good paths, tracks and quiet lanes. Average distances are about 16km with about 300-400m of ascent. Some small sections can be steep. Maximum altitude is 500m in one day. |
|
Day 1: ArrivalTransfer to Vaison la Romaine. Explore this historic Roman settlement with its castle, cathedral and cloisters and Roman remains including an amphitheatre. Day 2: Vaison-la-Romaine - MalauceneHead into the hills towards the famous Montmirail rock fins. You’ll pass through enclosed vine filled valleys before reaching the wonderful historic perched village of Crestet. Pass back onto wooded slopes above the vines crossing the Pas de Loup pass on the GR4 before descending to the historic village of Malaucene situated at the base of the mighty Mont Ventoux. 20km, +460m Day 3: Malaucene - LafareHead back passed terraced orchards back into the hills past the stunning Abbey of St Madeleine and then head to Barroux, a pretty limestone village with its castle on top of the hill overlooking the plains to the south. You’ll then explore the wonderful hamlet of La Roque Alric sheltering at the base of a rocky tower before descending to Larafe in a vine covered valley. 15km, +330m Day 4: Lafare - Beaumes-de-VeniseFor those looking for an easier day it would be possible to head directly towards Beaumes via terraces of vines. Otherwise you can take a lovely circular trail via a panoramic ridge walk to the perched hamlet of Suzette with great views of the Monmirail rock spires. Return via the Chapel St Christophe and its rock faces before heading to the historic village of Beaumes-de-Venise, home of celebrated Cote du Rhone wines sheltering beneath terraced slopes. 6 or 15km, +130m or +500m Day 5: Beaumes-de-Venise - GigondasAfter an easy walk through vines above Beaumes you’ll climb onto a track which takes you back and forth around the valleys under the towering fins of Montmirail through a pleasant mixture of vines and forest. You’ll then descend to the picturesque historic village of Gigondas, home of one of the 17 Cote du Rhone Crus. Short walk to your wonderful hotel. 15km, +290m Day 6: Gigondas - SeguretA final morning back in the valleys and ridges in the Montmirail hills before reaching the lovely perched village of Sablet its historic alleyways circling the hill top. Afterwards it’s an easy walk to the fortified village of Seguret which shelters underneath large limestone cliffs. Explore the historic sites before reaching your last guest house. 15km, +330m Day 7: DepartureTransfer to Avignon after breakfast. Contact us about this self-guided walking holiday
|
|
.jpg)
For useful advice about independent walking and preparing for your self guided holiday please take a look at the articles in our top-tips section.
Once you have booked on this independent walking or trekking holiday, further information about the walking, the region and what to bring, will be sent to you. We do have a web page dedicated to what clothes and equipment you should bring. In addition, our travel shop has direct access to all the top walking and travel retailers. Please contact us if you need any further information.
Accommodation & Meals
A mixture of small B&B style guest houses full of character providing wonderful home-cooked meals and charming friendly hotels. They are all 3 star or equivalent in quality, & are traditional properties offering an authentic and very comfortable stay. They are often in historic properties which have been beautifully renovated. Mixture of rural and village locations. Many have swimming pools.
| Name | Type | Details | Rating | |
| Les Tilleuls d’Elisee | B&B | Beautiful 19th century house at Vaison la Romaine, where you can explore the Roman remains of this pretty historic village. | 3* eq. |  |
| Hotel Les Florets | Hotel | Very comfortable 3 star hotel in a superb rural setting with swimming pool | 3 star |
Travel Options
Pick up and drop off in Avignon. Taxi transfers included in the holiday price
Train
TGV trains run from Paris and Lyon to Avignon. During the main holiday season TGV trains run direct from London to Avignon.
Flights
The closest airport to your walking holiday is Avignon. There are regular flights from a number of UK airports as well as French airports. Flybe has services which run at certain periods of the year from Exeter, Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
There are a number of car hire firms at the airport including Avis, Europcar and Hertz.
Please visit our travel shop for links to useful sites for reserving airport parking or booking train tickets in the uk
Note: Please check concerning the availability of a holiday before booking any flights. If you need further information or would like to discuss any aspect of your travel arrangements, please contact us, we’re here to help you.
We would be happy to book travel arrangements to France on your behalf for this self guided walking holiday.
Self Drive
Channel ferry crossings from Dover are provided by a number of operators including P&O Ferries, Eurotunnel and DFDS Seaways.
Once in France, the journey from Calais to Vaison la Romaine takes about 11 hours (excluding long breaks).
Tolls amount to about 45 euros each way.
Non secured parking is available in Vaison la Romain. Please inform us of this at the time of booking so when can provide you with directions to the first guest house. A short transfer would be provided at the end of your walking holiday to collect your car.
Photos
