The Best of Provence Walking Tour is designed to encapsulate all that is great about Provence in 6 days of unforgettable experiences. From iconic hikes to historical monuments and world class art galleries and from wine tastings to gourmet meals, the tour is a sensory and visual delight.
Expect days filled with sunshine, as you travel through countryside filled with sweeping fields of lavender. Enjoy cities replete with beauty and historic buildings, bubbling fountains and cafe terraces overflowing with the joy of life in a part of the world the locals call “un coin de paradis” – a corner of paradise.
The Tour includes visits to: Aix en Provence, Saint Remy de Provence, the Luberon hill villages, and Cassis and Les Calanques, as well as numerous hikes. Click on the photos tab above to give yourself a real flavour of the places we visit.
At the end of every day we will return to the village of Lourmarin. Clients can relax by the pool of the hotel, or indulge in a spa treatment. For those still keen to explore the village has plentiful art galleries, shops, and cafes. It’s a delightful place to spend time. Every evening clients can choose a new restaurant or opt to return to a favourite from earlier in the week. Total flexibility is our aim.
Find out more about tour leader Jamie Ivey here and don’t forget to check out our testimonials and other Provence Small Group Tours.
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | Pick up from Marseille Airport or Aix en Provence TGV | ||||
| DEPARTURE/RETURN TIME | To be arranged with tour organiser. | ||||
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Additional information
| Average age | 45+ |
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| Physicality | 7/10 |
Sunday - Arrival
Pick up by taxi or minibus (depending on numbers) at an agreed time from either Aix en Provence TGV or Marseille airport. You will be transferred to your accommodation in a 4 star hotel in the gorgeous Luberon village of Lourmarin. The journey is an easy hour’s drive through picturesque countryside.
Upon arrival a small hamper of luxurious Provencal goodies awaits in your bedroom. Any free time can be used to explore the village. On Sundays from Easter to the end of September there is usually an artisan market or brocante market.The group will gather for a drink’s reception around 6.30pm and a gourmet welcome dinner.
Monday: Arles
First up is picturesque Saint Remy, and the charming two-holed rock hike. The hike takes around 2.5 hours and offers beautiful views over the Les Alpilles countryside. It takes its name from a rock with two holes which featured in a Van Gogh painting. Non hikers can explore the Roman Site of Glanum or the hospice where Van Gogh was treated for his madness. After lunch in Saint Remy, it’s time to explore the town. This being Provence, there are also plenty of cafes and squares where you can sit and watch the world go by, as well as shops galore.
Returning to Lourmarin tour members can choose from any of numerous village restaurants in which to eat. Our touring ethos is that members should be free to spend as much or as little time together as they wish. Gregarious couples who enjoy company can choose to eat with the group. More private couples can take the opportunity for some time apart from the group.
Tuesday: Luberon Villages
The locals call the Luberon a corner of paradise. It’s not hard to understand why: – there are countless picturesque villages; numerous vineyards producing sumptuous wines; olive groves that stretch for miles; cherry orchards which produce snow storms of blossom in Spring and rolling mountains stretching away towards the Alps.
In Spring the Luberon is awash with color. We will stop by fields of poppies, and orchards of blossoming cherry and almond trees.
Our day starts with a visit to an Olive oil estate where tour members can tour the mill and taste the various oils. This is followed by a visit to Cucuron market – one of the most picturesque in Provence. After lunch we will hike back to Lourmarin (2.5 hours). Non hikers will be transported back to Lourmarin, where they can spend the afternoon.
In the evening for supper guests can choose from among the numerous village restaurants.
Wednesday: Aix en Provence
A highlight of the tour is our visit to Aix en Provence and the 2 hour morning hike in the foothills of Mont Saint Victoire.
Non hikers can spend the morning in Aix – known as the Paris of the south, an enjoyable day can easily be spent people watching from the cafe terraces and indulging in a little retail therapy.
After the hike the group will lunch together in a typical Aix restaurant, loved by the locals, but off the beaten tourist track. Group members can then choose between the main sights including, the Hotel Caumont Art Center; Cezanne’s atelier and the viewpoint from which he painted Mont Sainte Victoire; and the Musee Granet, a world-class painting and sculpture museum.
In the evening for supper guests can choose from among the numerous village restaurants.
Thursday: Cassis
We will head for the glittering Mediterranean and the charming port of Cassis. Here there is a choice of hiking out into Les Calanques or taking a boat. The hike is 2.5 hours and takes in 2 calanques (rocky coves). The boat ride takes 90 minutes for 5 calanques.
Arriving harbour side for lunch we will explore the port and enjoy lunch together. Enthusiasts of seafood should not miss the opportunity to try Provence’s famed Bouillabaisse fish soup.
In the evening for supper guests can choose from among the numerous village restaurants.
In the event of bad weather our trip to Cassis will be substituted by the following:
First stop is L’Isle sur La Sorgue, a gorgeous market town nicknamed the Venice of Provence thanks to the canal system on which it sits. Waterwheels and charming antique shops make for a memorable visit.
Next up is Avignon and one of the sights of Provence – the Palais des Papes. Built in under 40 years this gothic monolith inspires awe and reverence. Adding a touch of humour to the visit we advise our groups to read Alphonse Daudet’s short story – The Pope’s Donkey, before the visit. It gives a wonderful insight into the world of the Avignon Popes.
Friday: Lourmarin
On Friday our home village of Lourmarin hosts one of the largest and best Provencal markets. It’s the perfect opportunity to do something last minute shopping before heading home.
There’s an opportunity for a further hike.
All our groups are based in the village of Lourmarin at the 4-star Bastide du Lourmarin Hotel. The Hotel has a swimming pool and spa, and is conveniently located a 1 minute walk from the center of the village. In the event of shortage of rooms guests may be also be accommodated in the historic Moulin de Lourmarin hotel right in the heart of Lourmarin.
Lourmarin is classed as one of France’s most beautiful villages. It is filled with shops, cafes, restaurants and art galleries and is an enchanting place to spend time. The village has an extensive literary heritage claiming Albert Camus, Henri Bosco and Peter Mayle as past residents. It is located in the Luberon Regional Nature Park, in the heart of Provence, 30 minutes north of Aix en Provence. Little known outside France, Lourmarin is beloved by the famously hard to please Parisians. Mention the name of the village to a Parisian and watch a wide smile spread across their face as they confess: “J’adore Lourmarin”.
One of the reasons to choose our tour is that you will spend 5 nights in the village soaking up its unique atmosphere. Each night you will be able to choose a different restaurant to suit your mood. Tour members can dine together, or choose to spend some time apart. Please see the photo tab above for more images of Lourmarin.
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