Landscapes of the Luberon Walk

Landscapes of the Luberon Walk

235 Views
9 Days From

$2180

Landscapes of the Luberon Walk

9 Days Starting and ending in Pernes-Les-Fontaines, France

Visiting: Pernes-les-Fontaines, Roussillon, Gordes, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

W08PL

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Group size:

1 - 16

Physical rating:

Easy & Moderate

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $2180

NB: Prices correct on 18-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on the "Landscapes of the Luberon Walk" and immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Provence, France. This delightful walking tour takes you through the enchanting Luberon landscape, where you'll encounter dazzling ochre cliffs, stunningly beautiful villages, and endless swaying vines. Enjoy superb views of Mont Ventoux and a heady mix of lavender, wild herbs, olives, pine, and colorful flowers. Stay in high-quality hotels full of local character, each boasting swimming pools and extensive grounds. Savor wonderful regional wines and classic Provencal cuisine, with four evening meals included. This tour promises a perfect blend of trekking, history, and photography opportunities, making it an ideal active holiday.

Highlights

  • Wonderful regional wines and classic Provencal cuisine

  • Delightful walking through the timeless Luberon landscape

  • Dazzling ochre cliffs; stunningly beautiful villages; endless swaying vines; superb views of Mont Ventoux

  • Heady mix of lavender, wild herbs, olives, pine and colourful flowers

  • Explore the medieval village of St-Saturnin and its sprawling chateau ruins

  • Visit the picturesque hilltop village of Gordes, one of France's Most Beautiful Villages

  • Discover the Fountain of the Vaucluse, the biggest spring in France and the fifth largest in the world

  • Enjoy a stroll through the winding streets of Roussillon, famous for its streaked ochre cliffs

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1

Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines

Accommodation Name: Hotel l'Hermitage

Meals Included: Dinner

Arrive at your hotel, located just north of the town of Pernes-les-Fontaines.

Day 2

Location: Roussillon

Accommodation Name: Les Sables d'Ocre

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we'll take you to medieval St-Saturnin on the edge of the Plateau de Vaucluse. Start the day with a stroll through its narrow streets up to the sprawling chateau ruins which overlook the village and offer your first superb views over the entire Luberon valley. Then head south through classic Provencal countryside - vineyards, cherry orchards, fig trees, olive groves and fragrant lavender - enjoying a magnificent panorama across the Apt plain. Pass the village of Gargas, home to the vast Ochre Mines of Bruoux and continue through pine forest along ochre-red tracks, before descending into Roussillon.

Day 3

Location: Roussillon

Accommodation Name: Les Sable d'Ocres

Meals Included: Breakfast

Roussillon is famous for its streaked ochre cliffs and is the starting point of the Ochre Trail. It's also considered one of the Plus Beaux Villages of France, with the winding streets full of brightly coloured houses in wonderful shades of red, pink, orange and yellow. You could, perhaps, visit the perched village of Bonnieux, full of art galleries, pavement cafes and little restaurants just perfect for lunch.

Day 4

Location: Roussillon

Accommodation Name: Mas de la Senancole

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

You set off today through vineyards, passing the Domaine de Tara wine estate before following footpaths and quiet country lanes with fabulous views south across the Luberon valley and north to the perched village of Gordes. After a short climb along pine-scented footpaths, you'll descend into Les Imberts where your hotel awaits with a swimming pool and spa.

Day 5

Location: Gordes

Accommodation Name: Mas de la Senancole

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Just a few kilometres away is the picturesque hilltop village of Gordes, one of the region's most famous and another of France's Most Beautiful Villages. Made up of wonderfully photogenic houses, terraces and gardens, Gordes is dominated by its Renaissance chateau, which also houses a museum. Explore its streets, crammed with cafes, restaurants and shops.

Day 6

Location: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Accommodation Name: Hotel du Poete

Meals Included: Breakfast

You begin today following quiet lanes past olive groves and vineyards before arriving at the medieval village of Cabrieres-d'Avignon with its golden stone houses and old castle (now a private residence). You'll then head up into the hills under the shade of beautifully scented pine forests, past a section of the 27km-long Mur de la Peste, a wall built by locals in 1720 in a vain attempt to stop the spread of the Plague. Continue over the north edge of the valley for spectacular views of the whole Luberon. Descending, the views switch to look north across the Vaucluse, as you head into Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.

Day 7

Location: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Accommodation Name: Hotel du Poete

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you can explore the village, home to the Fountain of the Vaucluse (the biggest spring in France and the fifth largest in the world). You'll also find the crumbling ruins of the castle of the Bishop of Cavaillon, a museum about the Resistance and a number of lovely cafes and restaurants. Or why not visit the 'island city' of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, surrounded by the clear waters of the Sorgue River? With its many riverside shops and cafes it makes a good choice for lunch.

Day 8

Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines

Accommodation Name: Hotel l'Hermitage

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Ascend through pine and oak forest, then out across the Plateau de Vaucluse for stunning views of Mont Ventoux and the jagged peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Head down through cherry orchards to popular St-Didier; perhaps enjoy a drink before your transfer to Pernes-les-Fontaines.

Day 9

Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines

LEAVE PERNES-LES-FONTAINES

What's Included

  • Walking transfers

    Transfers for walking routes are included.

  • Luggage transfers between hotels

    Luggage transfers between hotels are provided.

  • All accommodation

    All accommodation during the tour is included.

  • Route notes and maps

    Route notes and maps are provided for the walking routes.

  • All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals

    All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals are included.

  • Meals

    7 breakfasts and 4 dinners are included.

  • High-quality hotels with swimming pools

    Accommodation includes high-quality hotels, all with swimming pools.

  • Spa facilities

    Some hotels include spa facilities such as a sauna, hot tub, and massage room.

What's Not Included

  • Single supplements

    Single supplements are not included.

  • Visas and vaccinations

    Visas and vaccinations are not included.

  • Travel insurance

    Travel insurance is not included.

  • Any Solo traveller supplements

    Supplements for solo travelers are not included.

  • Lunches

    Lunches are not included in the tour package.

Food

All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals Whilst not the most sophisticated of the French cuisines, most dishes use the excellent tasting local fresh produce. Cooking à la Provencale uses local olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and wild herbs, all ripened by the sun to give an intensity of flavour. You can browse among the colours and smells, and make picnic purchases at the lively local markets.The proximity of the sea makes fish and seafood an important element of the local cuisine. Regional dishes include the famous bouillabaisse, a rich fish stew served with aioli and rouille; the bourride – a lighter version of the bouillabaisse; pistou soupe (summer vegetable soup with a blend of garlic, basil and olive oil); authentic ratatouille, large colourful salads an delicious courgette flower fritters. Tapenade and anchoïade are savoury dips made with local olives and anchovies; pissaladière is an onion tart with olives and anchovies and is very likely to have come from the Romans. Making wine, particularly rosé, has been Provence’s specialty for a long time. The grapes and soil throughout the region vary a lot, but the hot, sunny and dry climate is ideal for the local wines. The local red grape varieties are used because they cope well with strong sun exposure and poor soils: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Tibouren and Calitor. The rosés are made out of the same varieties but the musts only macerate for a few hours so the fruits’ skin don’t darken the juice or release too many tannins.

Accommodation

We've hand-picked high quality hotels for you to stay in, all of which boast swimming pools in their extensive grounds. Your accommodation includes a 19th century stately manor house with its own orangery and swimming pool; a charming hotel with heated outdoor pool and spa facilities including a sauna, hot tub and massage room; and a converted water mill whose millstreams are now a tranquil water garden. We've included four evening meals, so you're free to choose from some great nearby restaurants on your remaining nights.

Mode of Transport

Walking transfers and luggage transfers between hotels are included, ensuring a seamless and stress-free journey through the beautiful Luberon landscape.

Check out our Q&As

  • What type of accommodation can I expect during the Landscapes of the Luberon Walk?

    You will stay in high-quality hotels, all of which have swimming pools. The accommodation includes a 19th-century stately manor house with its own orangery and swimming pool, a charming hotel with a heated outdoor pool and spa facilities, and a converted water mill with a tranquil water garden.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    Yes, the tour package includes all continental breakfasts and four evening meals. You are free to choose from nearby restaurants for your remaining nights.

  • What kind of landscapes and scenery will I experience on this tour?

    You will experience a variety of landscapes including vineyards, cherry orchards, fig trees, olive groves, fragrant lavender fields, pine forests, and ochre-red tracks. You will also enjoy superb views over the Luberon valley, the Apt plain, and Mont Ventoux.

  • What are some of the notable villages and towns I will visit during the tour?

    You will visit several notable villages and towns including Pernes-Les-Fontaines, St-Saturnin, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Gordes, Cabrieres-d'Avignon, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, and St-Didier.

  • What activities are available during the free days in Roussillon and Les Imberts?

    In Roussillon, you can explore the famous ochre cliffs and the Ochre Trail, visit art galleries, pavement cafes, and restaurants in the perched village of Bonnieux. In Les Imberts, you can visit the picturesque hilltop village of Gordes, explore its Renaissance chateau and museum, and enjoy the cafes, restaurants, and shops.

  • What historical sites can I explore during the tour?

    You can explore the sprawling chateau ruins in St-Saturnin, the Renaissance chateau in Gordes, the old castle in Cabrieres-d'Avignon, and the crumbling ruins of the castle of the Bishop of Cavaillon in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Additionally, you will pass a section of the 27km-long Mur de la Peste, a wall built in 1720 to stop the spread of the Plague.

  • Is there any transportation provided during the tour?

    Yes, walking transfers and luggage transfers between hotels are included in the tour package.

  • What kind of cuisine can I expect to enjoy during the tour?

    You can expect to enjoy classic Provencal cuisine, which includes dishes made with local fresh produce such as olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, and wild herbs. Regional dishes include bouillabaisse, bourride, pistou soupe, ratatouille, large colourful salads, and courgette flower fritters. You can also enjoy local wines, particularly rosé.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

paul green (Google Reviewer)  

Went on a tour of...

14-Jan-2022

Went on a tour of morocco in October and loved it ,mohamed the tour guide was excellent, probably go with exodus to India next year

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
Ann B (Google Reviewer)  

We had a week walking...

08-Oct-2024

We had a week walking and wine in the Duro valley with two local guides Louis and Theresa. They were both exceptional, knowledgeable, professional and funny. Our group of 11 had a great time. This was a premium tour. Our 4 star hotels were both well located clean and with great views. We had several local meals arranged by our guides with local people cooking for us. We did not meet any other walkers during our hikes only two shepherds. I would certainly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the local produce and wine. We both felt as we had learnt a lot about Portugal during this tour. We will use Exodus again. One of our group had done 30 tours with Exodus over the years. Quite an endorsement.

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

David (Google Reviewer)  

Exodus are generally a good...

21-Aug-2024

Exodus are generally a good travel company. Things tend to run smoothly and trips well organised. Their customers tend to be at retirement age. Trips are a bit overpriced. I would also avoid trips in Europe, as these often focus on more coffee stops and meals, rather than walking. I would also recommend making sure your guide records any accidents you have, hopefully not applicable. I had one on Sierra de Aitana which the guide saw and knew about, but he and Exodus said it never happened when I followed up after the trip. I wasn’t putting in a claim, just suggested a safety improvement. They have since apologised and acknowledged this as an error. They are a good reliable option for outside of Europe trips.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

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  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.