Adventure Travel by Big Earth Adventure

Europe

With each country's diverse history, archeology, culture and languages make it very appealling and rewarding to visit - and visit more than once - many times. You now have the opportunity to experience many different travel styles. Take guided or self-guided trips through Italy, France, Germany. Take the Eurorail from Zurich to Munich, walk the Danube Canal. Whether you want to stay in a villa in France, bike the Loire Valley or take a guided walk through Tuscany.
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HIKING IN PROVENCE

Trip code:

 ex-wp

Trip length:

 8 days

Group size:

 Maximum 16

Transportation:

 Energetic Hiking, Bus & Taxis

Trip Overview

This energetic one week hike will take us through an area of Provence that is contained mainly in the Alpes-de-Haute Provence. We’ll enjoy wonderful walks on old Roman paths and through quaint villages in the day, then taste the gastronomic delights of world renowned french cuisine in the evening. We stay in small, simple, family run hotels and our main bags are transported ahead for us by taxis. The terrain is varied,

This short, hotel based walking trip is graded moderate. Trails are usually rocky and there are some challenging ascents and descents (up to about 900m per day) but the rewards are spectacular. Luggage is transported on from hotel to hotel, so you can walk unencumbered.

Itinerary & Departure Dates

Day 1 - Join tour in Nice; drive to St-André-les-Alpes Arriving in Nice we drive north into the mountains to St-André-les-Alpes (900m), a
sleepy little town with magnificent views of the mountains and the lake of Castillon. Overnight hotel with breakfast. H+.

Day 2 - Walk to Castellane We begin our hike with a walk through St André, then ascend steeply through beautiful woods where we are likely to see a mass of summer flowers and butterflies. We ascend to an isolated settlement at les Granges (1281m), then continue across high pastures over the Crete du Loup, (1440m) with fabulous views of the lake of Castillon below. En route we pass the weird and wonderful statues of the community of Mandarom, a
temple of Aumism, the so called Universal Religion. We continue to the small hamlet of La Baume and then descend by an old droving road to Castellane, (720m) an attractive market town. Approx. 6 to 7 hours walking
with one long initial ascent and various further ascents and descents. 2 nights hotel with breakfast and lunch. H+.

Day 3 - In Castellane Castellane is an ancient settlement dating from pre Roman times. Napoleon passed through here in 1815 on his way to Paris and
has a memorial in the town, which even specifies what he had for his lunch! The town is dominated by a limestone crag, le Roc, which has been a place of pilgrimage since the 9th century. A short but steep walk will take you up to the 18th century church situated on the summit, dedicated to Notre Dame du Roc. The views from here of the surrounding countryside are spectacular.
Alternatively, you can take a hike to the summit of nearby Mount Robion, (1660m) the highest peak in the area, and enjoy the amazing views from there. Approx. 5 hours walk; steep ascents and descents.

Day 4 - Walk to La Palud-sur-Verdon From Castellane we climb to below Villar Brandis village and then contour round beneath the impressive rocky pinnacles of the ‘Cadières de Brandis’ (the Giant’s seats). We take time to visit the tiny chapel of St Jean set on a crag high above the Verdon from where there are spectacular views of the river below and the summit of Mount
Robion in the distance. Continuing along an old Roman path, we come to the picturesque village of Chasteuil, recently restored and now inhabited by a small community of craftsmen in the summer months. Traversing the breezy pastures of Suech (1228m) where flocks of sheep graze, we descend via the ruined castle of Rougon to a viewpoint over the Verdon river from where we take taxis to our base for the next two nights, the small village of La Palud-sur-Verdon (933m). Approx. 6 to 7 hours walk, with a sustained ascent at the start of the day and steep descent at the end. 2 nights hotel with all meals. H+.

Day 5 - Walk through the Gorges de Verdon Today’s optional walk, tackled by means of winding footpaths, tunnels and metal ladders, is one of the highlights of the tour. In the morning we take a short taxi ride to la Maline
(893m) where we commence our walk. Reaching the Breche Imbert (Imbert Gap), we cross the rocky spur of Mescla, a challenge rewarded by superb views of the Verdon river. We finally emerge at the Pointe Sublime belvedere (785m), high above the flowing river below (550m), from where we take another taxi back to La Palud. Approx. 7 to 8 hours walking with one long descent and many shorter ascents and descents.

Day 6. Walk to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Today we climb up through forest from La Palud to reach the highest point of the ridge above Moustiers at the Signal de l’Ourbes (1216m). The trail is rocky in places, though the views
more than compensate – on a clear day it is possible to see as far as Mont Ventoux in the Luberon. Finally we make the steep descent into Moustiers (630m), enjoying panoramic views over the blue waters of Lac-Ste-Croix on
the way. Approx. 6 to 7 hours walking, with one long ascent and one long descent. 2 nights hotel with breakfast and one lunch. H+.

Day 7. In Moustiers-Sainte-Marie There has been a settlement in Moustiers since around 435 AD, and from the 17th century the town has been famous for its fine glazed and painted ‘Moustiers Blue’ pottery. Many workshops still produce and sell this pottery or ‘faience’ as it is called locally. This morning we take an optional walk through pine forests up to the limestone uplands above Moustiers, finally descending by way of an ancient, cobbled Roman road. It is well worthwhile visiting Notre Dame de Beauvoir (800m), an old, atmospheric church set in a gorge above the town, where people have, over the ages, left tokens in thanks for wishes granted by the saint.

Day 8. Sunday. Bus to Nice where tour ends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Look below for departure dates.

Accommodations

8 Days in hotels

Meals

7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Departure Dates

29 May - 05 June
05 June - 12 June
19 June - 26 June
26 June - 03 July
03 July - 10 July
10 July - 17 July
17 Julyl - 27 July
24 July - 31 July
31 July - 07 August
14 August - 24 August
28 August - 04 September
04 September - 11 September
11 September - 18 September

Local payment $260 CAD (160EUR)

Please contact us for a detailed trip dossier, free brochure, availability and prices.