Cote du Rhone Wine Trail Walking Holiday, France | Self Guided Walking Rhone Valley, Provence

Your Holiday at a Glance


Independent Walking Holiday	Cotes du Rhone Wine Trail
Dates for 2023	Everyday during April, May, June, September and October (subject to availability)
Price 9 nights	From £1395 From €1560 Price per person based on 2 sharing Loyalty scheme reduction applies for returning customers (see terms and conditions)
Grade
Profile	9 nights, 8 days independent walking moving between guest houses 6 night, 5 days version of this walking holiday also available
Highlights	Dramatic walks around the rocky spires of Dentelles de Montmirail Sleepy historic villages perched in dramatic settings A favourable climate - 300 days of sunshine per year Visiting the wonderful historic villages of Grignan, Vaison-la-Romaine and Beaumes de Venise Great local cuisine and wines in beautiful guest houses & hotels
Testimonials	Great region and variety of accommodation and eating options." D &D Leembruggen, Australia
Accommodation and Meals	Small guest house accommodation in beautiful historic properties, many with swimming pools in rural peaceful locations
What's included	Transfer from Montelimar train station to Grignan on day 1. Transfer at the begining of day 2. Transfer after holiday to Avignon train station or airport. 9 nights' accommodation. All breakfasts, 4 lunches on walking days and 4 evening meals Full walking notes and maps (see more information) Transport of luggage between guest houses Read more information about our independent walking & trekking holidays
What's not included	Travel to Montelimar or Avignon (pick up points), France 4 lunches, 5 evening meals Lunches on the day of arrival and departure Any excursions or entrance fees Travel insurance
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Cotes du Rhone Wine Trail

Our Cotes du Rhone Wine Trail explores the eastern side of the Rhône Valley from the Baronnies Regional Park in the north, to the slopes of the impressive rock spires of Dentelles de Montmirail in the south, passing by the foothills of Mont Ventoux. This page presents our 8 day walk but we also have a shorter 5 day walking holiday available. Both self-guided walking holidays take in some of the most beautiful landscapes in this part of Provence as well as the best known of the Cotes du Rhone wines such as Beaumes de Venise and Vinsobres. 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. Enjoy their Provence markets, historic buidlings and wonderful panoramic views. The wonderful hill-top village of Grignan is your starting point for the longer version of the holiday, before heading south through vines to reach Vaison la Romain where you can explore its famous Roman remains. Your walking holiday in Provence then circumnavigates the wonderful hills and rocky ridges of Dentelles de Montmirail.

Walking Profile

Walking on this holiday is moderate in grade with some longer days on the 8-day walk. The terrain is sometimes stony. Mainly on good paths, tracks and quiet lanes. Average distances are about 17km with about 300-400m of ascent. Some small sections can be steep. Maximum altitude is 500m in one day

cotes du rhone location map france

Day 1: Arrival

Transfer to Grignan and explore this beautiful village and its wonderful castle.

Day 2: Rousset-les-Vignes - Venterol

Transfer to Rousset-les Vignes and explore this pretty historic village. Traverse slopes between steep forested hills and vine covered slopes where the sandstone has been eroded into strange hills and deep ravines. Reach your beautiful guest house located on a vineyard on a historic fortified farm in the heart of the Cote du Rhone vines. Wine tasting. 14km +340m

Day 3: Venterol - Visan

Typical Provence landscapes as you walk through vineyards of the famous Vinsobres Cru with great views towards the Mont Ventoux. Night at a lovely guest house near Visan. Cote du Rhone Village. 19km +300m

Day 4: Visan - Vaison-la-Romaine

Head south crossing the Aygues valley before passing through the pretty village of Buisson. Traverse gentle slopes to the pretty historic village of Villedieu, with the remains of its historic castle and village walls. Climb onto a ridge for panoramic views of Mont Ventoux and reach Chapel de St Croix before descending to the wonderful town of Vaison la Romain with its Roman remains. 19km, +250m

Possible extra night in Vaison la Romaine to explore this historic site in more detail, with its castle, cathedral and cloisters and Roman remains including an amphitheatre.

Day 5: Vaison-la-Romaine - Malaucene

Head 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 6: Malaucene - Lafare

Head back into the hills passing terraced orchards & the stunning Abbey of St Madeleine before reaching Barroux, a pretty limestone village with its castle on top of the hill. 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 7: Lafare - Beaumes-de-Venise

Partial rest day possible by heading directly to Beaumes. Otherwise you can take a lovely circular trail via a series of panoramic ridges and the perched hamlet of Suzette with great views of the Montmirail rock spires. Descend to the historic village of Beaumes-de-Venise and its celebrated Cote du Rhone wines. Up to 15km, +130m or +500m

Day 8: Beaumes-de-Venise - Gigondas

After an easy walk through vines above the village of Beaumes you’ll traverse back & 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 9: Gigondas - Seguret

A 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. Easy Provence walking to the fortified village of Seguret which shelters underneath large limestone cliffs. 15km, +330m

Day 10: Departure

Transfer to Avignon after breakfast.

Contact us about this self-guided walking holiday

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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 and 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
Mas des Source	B&B	Lovely guest house located in a renovated farm among the vines on the edge of the village of Visan with pool.	3* eq.
Domaine de Provensol	B&B	Renovated fortified farm which is now a vineyard and beautiful guest house in superb setting. Wine tasting	3* eq.
Hotel Les Florets	Hotel	Very comfortable 3 star hotel in a superb rural setting with swimming pool	3 star

Travel Options

Train and bus

TGV trains run from London, Lille & Paris to Lyon and Avignon. Some TGV trains go direct to Montelimar from Paris, whilst for others you will need to take a local TER train from Lyon. Return includes transfer to Avignon for TGV trains or air travel.

Flight Drive

The closest airports are Lyon St Exupery & Avignon. The airlines Easy jet, Flybe and British Airways have scheduled flights from the UK Luton, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Gatwick - to Lyon St Exupery airport. Regular flights from a number of UK airports to Avignon. Flybe has services from Exeter, Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester & 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 Gringan takes about 10 hours (excluding long breaks).

Tolls amount to about 45 euros each way.

Non secured parking is available at your second guest house. Please inform us of this at the time of booking so when can provide you with directions to the first guest house. Transfer provided at the end of your holiday to collect your car, included in holiday price.

Photos

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