Walking Provence Fitzamblers

Itinerary – Walking in Provence

Saturday 05th October: ARRIVAL Transfer to Greoux les Bains.
One of your guides for the week will meet you at Nice airport at the arrival of the Aer Lingus flight (EI 544) from Dublin. You will then travel by coach to your 4 star “Hotel Villa Borghese” in Greoux les Bains which will will take around 2 hours 30 minutes.
Your hotel, Hotel Villa Borghese, is located in the centre of Greoux les Bains village. The hotel has an outdoor heated swimming pool and well renowned restaurant.
In Greoux les Bains you will discover a beautiful part of Provence that is still untouched by tourism. You will visit charming hill-top villages including Moustiers Sainte Marie, officially one of the prettiest in France.
Everyday three levels of walks will be offered, with professional mountain leaders.
Dinner included
Sunday 06th October: Quinson – Lower Verdon Gorges.
After a private transfer in the morning to the lovely village of Quison, today’s walk will take you to a superb walkway newly renovated along the lower Verdon gorges. This walkway follows an old canal which was used in the past to bring drinking water to Aix en Provence. The views of the Turquoise Verdon are truly amazing. The walk continues up to the chapel Saint Maxime ideal spot for lunch.
Breakfast & dinner included – Picnic lunch not included
Monday 07th Ocober: Forcalquier
Private transfer in the morning to the bustling hill town of Forcalquier, a beautiful town with its old centre paved street. It hosts the biggest market of Provence every Monday. After a short visit around the town, you will climb on the plateau to see the Mourres plateau, site of geological interest with its mushroom shaped limestone.
Breakfast & dinner included – Picnic lunch not included
Tuesday 08th October : Céreste walk
This beautiful and varied hike in the Luberon starts and finishes in the picturesque village of Céreste. The paths follow a scenic ridge that leads to the old citadel of Montjustin. On the other side of the valley, after descending through the woods, then passing through grassy meadows, we will find the Medieaval priory of Carluc with its amazing rocky necropolis. A day to discover a rich and interesting flora, ancient ruins and remainsas well as enjoying panoramic views of the Luberon.
Breakfast included – Picnic lunch & dinner not included
Wednesday 09th October: Excursion day to Aix en Provence
Today take a bus to Aix en Provence, 1h15 min. This is a city with a strong History with the main 2 quarters, one medieval and the other from the 17th century. You will be charmed by its beautiful architecture, its numerous fountains that each holds a secret and the mansion houses that each has a story to tell. Then, enjoy some shopping time in the lively centre or just relax at a café terrasses.
There will be a guided tour of the city as part of the day.
Breakfast included – Picnic lunch & dinner not included
Thursday 10th October: The ridges above Moustiers St Marie.
After a private transfer in the morning to Moustiers St Marie we will climb up to the craggy ridge of l’Ourbes with great views over the lake of St Croix. After crossing the summit and descending to a dry riverbed the terrain becomes more open before the final descent to Moustiers on an old Roman road.
Today will also an opportunity to admire the Verdon gorges. The Gorges du Verdon, also called the Grand Canyon du Verdon, is a spectacular canyon that forms a border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var counties. Up to 700 m deep, the 21-km-long canyon varies in width between 6 and 100 m at the bottom and 200m to 1500m at its rim.
Breakfast included – Picnic lunch & dinner not included
Friday 11th October: Lavender fields, plateau between Greoux and Valensole.
Start walking from the hotel to Greoux les Bains centre. Then walk up the pedestrian street of the village all the way up to the château. Then you will enjoy a relatively level walk on the remarkable Valensole plateau. Return to Greoux by a nice track along the stream “Laval”.
The countryside all around (plateau de Valensole) is filled with the almond treesand the lavender fields confirming the fact that Valensole is one of the most important producers of lavender in Provence. Valensole comes from the Latin “vallis” and “solis” meaning the valley of sun. in autumn the contrast between the ochre of the laboured fields and the azure blue of the sky is amazing.
Breakfast & dinner included – Picnic lunch not included
Saturday 12th October: FAREWELL!
Spend the morning at your own pace in Greoux les Bains before a transfer to Nice airport to match group transfer flight, Aer Lingus EI 545 from Nice to Dublin.
Breakfast included – Picnic lunch not included