Outdoor Travel Adventures

This hike in the South of France will take us from the rugged terrain of the Alpes du Sud, through the  Gorges du Verdon, to the open cultivated fields of the Plateau de Velensole. Part of our route follows Grande Randonne number 4 (GR4), a long distance trail across France, sometimes  walking in the footsteps of the ancient Roman legionnaires. There will be some rock scrambling and ladders in the Gorge so a head for heights is an asset. We will walk from 8 to 13 miles per day with an average altitude gain of 1500 ft.  Each night we'll be in a different hotel, with breakfast and most dinners provided. Lunch fixings can be bought along the way. We'll be able to hike with only daypacks: our outfitter will transport the rest of our things.

We will meet in  the airport at Nice in time to get the bus and then the train to St. Andre-les-Alpes, arriving there in the evening of May 29. For most of us this will mean leaving the US or Canada the evening of May 28. On our way to St. Andre-les-Alpes we pass through some spectacular alpine valleys. Our first walking day, May 30, will take us to Castellane via narrow hillside trails through pine forests high above the western side of Lac de Castillon. The next day we follow an old Roman route which takes us to the village of Rougon. We will then explore the gorge with its 1500-ft limestone cliffs and spectacular views. Again we walk through pine forests climbing to 4000 ft with a lake overlook as our lunch stop. After that we are out of the Alpes du Provence and will walk through vineyards, orchards and truffel forests. We hike as far as Greoux where a taxi will take us to Manosque, the official end of the walk.

From here the closest airport is Marseille. It might be nice to stop in Aix-en-Provence to visit the house of Cezanne and the old Roman baths; or perhaps Paris calls!

The price of $1400 includes accommodations in good country hotels, most with private bath; all breakfasts; all dinners except 2; and baggage transport between hotels.  Air, bus and train fares are not included.  If you are interested in joining this trip please complete the registration form and send it with a check for $400 ($100 non-refundable) made out to ADK (or complete the credit card authorization form) to June Fait, 730 West Broadway #5J, Long  Beach, NY 11561. For questions contact June at the above address, by phone at 516-897-5306, or by e-mail at june.-.herb@worldnet.att.net.