Hiking stay in the Luberon
Duration : 7 days
France, Provence
Level : easy
from 1380 € / p. from 4 to 8 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
I suggest a trip to the Luberon, where you can discover the best hiking trails and visit some iconic sites (Sénaque Abbey, the village of Les Bories de Gordes, an oil mill, a lavender distributor, etc.).
The Luberon massif is a low mountain range stretching from east to west between the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse in France.
Composed of Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks, mainly limestone, the massif is rich in fossils and includes numerous quarries. Its Mediterranean-type climate gives it very distinct seasons and rainfall and temperatures that favor a wide variety of ecosystems. The massif is now located in the heart of the Luberon Regional Nature Park and has become an iconic location in Haute Provence, renowned beyond the borders of France.
I also offer several hiking trips to discover other places in the Southern Alps:
- a 7-day trekking in the Valgaudemar valley,
- the Merveilles valley tour in the Mercantour massif,
- the Dévoluy massif tour,
- the Clarée tour
- and the Vieux Chaillol tour in the Hautes-Alpes.
Program
Day 0: Welcome to the hotel.
Check-in at the hotel from 5pm.
Day 1: Rustrel and Colorado of Provence.
Today we will visit the Colorado of Provence, a former open-air ochre mining site from the 19th and 20th centuries. The first pickaxe strike was made here in 1871 and the last ochre wash took place in 1993 by Roger Arnaud. It is a private site, classified as a Natural Monument of Historical Interest. You will discover exceptional colors in the old ochre quarries, as well as the remains of its industrial past, such as quarry faces, settling basins, channels, and pipes.
Elevation gain and loss: 430 meters, distance: 15 km.
Day 2: Gordes and Sénanque.
We leave the village of Gordes to visit the village of Les Bories. From there, we continue on to Sénanque Abbey. Nestled since the 12th century in the hollow of its Provençal valley, the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque is one of the purest examples of Romanesque Cistercian architecture.
Elevation gain and loss: 300 meters, distance: 9 km.
Day 3: The Nesque Gorges.
We head for the spectacular, wild Nesque Gorges, dotted with caves! Carved into the southern foot of Mont Ventoux, they stretch from Monieux to Méthamis. These are some of the most majestic and flamboyant cliffs to be seen in Provence...
Elevation gain and loss: 700 meters, distance: 7 km.
Day 4: Buoux and Aigue Brun.
The Luberon is full of surprising and unexpected places. This is the case with this charming little valley, which is very easy to access and allows you to discover the impressive cliffs of Buoux and visit the picturesque village of Sivergues. Today's hike is quite comprehensive and allows you to discover several of the Luberon's faces in the cool shade of the Aigue Brun valley.
Elevation gain and loss: 420 meters, distance: 15 km.
Day 5: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
We set off for Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse for a walk to Mourre de la Belle Étoile before going to see the source of the Sorgue, the largest spring in mainland France. It is even ranked fifth in the world with an annual flow of 630 to 700 million cubic meters of water.
Elevation gain and loss: 700 meters, distance: 14.5 km.
Day 6: Mont Ventoux.
We head for Mont Ventoux, which rises to 1,910 meters. Nicknamed the Giant of Provence or the Bald Mountain, it is the highest point in the Vaucluse mountains and the highest peak in the department of the same name. Its geographical isolation makes it visible from far away. It also forms the linguistic border between northern and southern Occitan.
Elevation gain and loss: 550 meters, distance: 13 km.
Day 7: End of the trip.
Check out of the room by 10am and departure.
The price includes
- Supervision by the mountain leader.
- 6 nights full board (hotel, nights inshared room).
- Meals from the evening of day 1 to the morning of day 7 (dinners, breakfasts, picnics).
- Logistical organization of the trip.
The price does not include
- Return transport to the meeting point.
- Personal expenses (drinks or other purchases).
- Cancellation insurance (optional).
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
Hotel, shared room.