Distant Journeys

Day 2: From Annot, you hike to St. Andre les Alpes. This hike takes you through wooded hillsides, past secluded farms and into tiny hamlets. There are two options for today’s hike, both are wonderful. The pleasant village square and old town of St. Andre is fun to explore. The hotel is located a bit outside of town.

Day 3: From St. Andre you will hike to Castellane. This trail follows the narrow route high above the western side of the Lac de Castillon. Part of this hike will be on jeep roads, through forests and on high overlooks.

Set along side at the northern end of the Verdon River, the village of Castellane is known as the gateway to the Verdon Gorge region. This picturesque village is strikingly nestled beneath a high rock promontory crowned by the chapel Notre Dame du Roc, Our Lady of the Rock. The leafy town square, where locals gather to play boules, is appealingly bordered by shops, hotels and cafes. Narrow lanes wind through the cozy village interior leading to fountains, tiny shops, boulangeries, and boucheries. Castellane has been inhabited since before Roman times. Evidence of these early settlers is still visible.

Day 4: Departing Castellane, you hike through what some guide books refer to as “the most dramatic and natural scenery in all of France.” The scenery is impressive. The limestone and rock outcroppings rise up to canyonesque pinnacles as your route traverses high above the Verdon River. This is a rocky, arid landscape scented with broom, rosemary and hints of lavender. The trail takes you through the tiny artisan’s hamlet of Chasteuil, over a high plateau, and down to the little hamlet of Rougon perched at the entrance to the Gorge du Verdon. Here will have your first real glimpse into the gorge. From Rougon, you continue down through a thin stand of oak forest to your auberge in Point Sublime. Bustling with visitors to the Gorge during the day, Point Sublime takes on an air of restful tranquility as evening approaches. This is a spot for lingering.

Day 5: Today, you hike through the Gorge du Verdon. Known as also the Grand Canyon of Verdon–at over 15 miles long and 2,300 feet deep in places–it is the second largest gorge in the world.

From Point Sublime, you descend under dramatic red and yellow striped limestone cliffs to the riverbed. Following the river, a newly constructed set of cement stairs leads you to a set of tunnels constructed before WWII. Once through the tunnels our route undulates pleasantly as it follows the river. You pass in and out of thin stands of forest oak with ever changing views of the river and canyon walls. Several hours into the hike the trail takes on a stiff climb as you approach a long set of stair like ladders with handrails and 240 steps. Descending again from the ladders, you can stop for a riverside picnic and a chance to cool your feet, before the final climb out of the gorge.

Ending your hike at La Maline, you will then have a short transfer to your hotel in La Palud.

Day 6: The hike from La Palud to Moustiers St. Marie takes you through the Forest of Gorges du Verdon and the Forest of Montdenier. Climbing up out of La Palud you will have the opportunity to look back over the terrain you have covered in the last couple of days and to see the snaking rims of the canyon.

The first part of the day, your route winds its way through the forested Plaine de Barbin. Leaving the forest, the route traverses along open hillside with expansive views of the huge dammed lake of Lac de Sainte Croix and the plains of Valensole beyond. To the northeast are views of the Crete du Montdenir and beyond to the peaks of Le Chain, the Grand Mourre, and the Mourre de Chamier. The GR 4 then climbs up to the Col de l’Anes (donkey pass) and to the high point of the day Signal de l’Ourbes. The final descent (steep and rocky) leads off this high rocky plateau to the village of Moustiers St. Marie.

Day 7: Free day in Moustiers St. Marie. This is an attractive little village wedged dramatically in the cleft of a small ravine. High above the village, spanning the ravine is a chain, and dangling from it is a star. The romantic symbol of Moustiers, legend has it that during the Crusades a knight hung the star here in gratitude after his release from prison. There will be opportunities to wander through the morning market, explore Moustiers’ narrow streets and shops, stop for lunch at a café and walk up to the high chapel of Notre Dame de Beauvoir.

Known as the village of “Faience” (pottery), Moustiers was an important center of pottery during the 17th and 18th centuries until the demand for English china and porcelain decreased so much that the “pottery fires eventually died out.” Thanks to the influence of Marcel Provence in the late 1900’s, the fires have been rekindled, and today there are numerous pottery workshops in Moustiers.

Day 8: A shorter hiking day will take you from Moustiers to Riez. This will allow time for a more leisurely morning start and for browsing around Riez. On today’s hike, the landscape changes dramatically as you leave the mountains behind and begin to hike across open plains. With the mountains serving as a backdrop, the trail leads by oak forests (where farmers encourage the growth of truffles), through lavender fields, and olive groves sprinkled with poppies. The Roman village of Riez is said to be the oldest town in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and is somewhat bypassed by tourism. Your accommodation for the night is situated in tranquil countryside just 2 miles outside of Riez.

• If you are short on time it is possible to spend your last night in Riez and depart for Aix-en-Provence the next morning.

Day 9: From your hotel you transfer by private van across plateau of Valensole and the Durance River to the small windmill topped hamlet of Montfuron. From here the walk is pleasant and markedly different from other days. Traversing a small bluff just north of the Grand Luberon the views are of farms and distant hills dotted with small villages. You may stop for lunch on the old rampart of the hilltop hamlet of Montjustin before descending to the Roman village of Cereste, where you will spend the night.

Cereste is a classic Provencal village of brightly painted buildings and narrow lanes. A broad tree lined boulevard cuts through the center of town and is lined with small shops and cafés. While it has not been gentrified in the same way as Gordes and Roussillion, it does have a wonderful feel of authenticity and provides the best jumping of point for tomorrows hike along the Grand Luberon.

Day 10: From Cereste you head into the heart of the Luberon. Though not a high Alp, the hiking along the Grand Luberon is rewarding and a bit demanding as we gain steady elevation from Cereste, traverse the long open crest of the Grand Luberon and finally reach the top of Mourre Negre at 3,712’. All along the crest line there are wide, open, 360-degree views. Descending to the quiet village perché of Saignon, you will spend two nights in this beguiling spot. Once a fortified village, Saignon sits on the north face of the Grand Luberon at an elevation of 1,560’. It is a gem of a village that invites you to meander, relax or just set in a café and enjoy the setting.

Day 11: After breakfast, you transfer to Gordes and enjoy wandering through the morning market before the hike to Roussillon. The walk will take us from Gordes across a countryside of cherry orchards, horse farms and vineyards. The views include the Luberon to the south and the Plateau de Vaucluse to the north. The ancient Provencal language, Langue d’Oc, is still spoken some in the area. We will return to Saignon for the night.

Day 12: Depart by van to the TGV train station in Aix-en-Provence.

• This itinerary is only one of many possibilities. Please contact us for other options.