Landscapes of the Luberon Walk
Landscapes of the Luberon Walk
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:
Tour code:
W08PL
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
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
Itinerary
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
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Walking transfers
Transfers for walking routes are included.
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Luggage transfers between hotels
Luggage transfers between hotels are provided.
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All accommodation
All accommodation during the tour is included.
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Route notes and maps
Route notes and maps are provided for the walking routes.
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All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals
All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals are included.
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Meals
7 breakfasts and 4 dinners are included.
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High-quality hotels with swimming pools
Accommodation includes high-quality hotels, all with swimming pools.
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Spa facilities
Some hotels include spa facilities such as a sauna, hot tub, and massage room.
What's Not Included
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Single supplements
Single supplements are not included.
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Visas and vaccinations
Visas and vaccinations are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
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Any Solo traveller supplements
Supplements for solo travelers are not included.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Is there any transportation provided during the tour?
Yes, walking transfers and luggage transfers between hotels are included in the tour package.
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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.
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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.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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