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Trip
Itinerary
Sunday 05/11/08—Depart
USA For Nice
 DAY 1, Monday 05/12/08:
Group transfer
from the Nice Airport to Castellane about 2 hours away.
Overnight in Castellane. Dinner included.
DAY 2, Tuesday 05/13/08:
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 in
pinnacles while the Verdon River flows below. The trail goes by
picturesque gardens, abandoned farms and high plateaus. The day ends
with a descent to the town of Rougon, and then to the hotel in Pointe
Sublime. Rougon, with its red-roofed houses perched along the
hillsides, is situated right on the edge of the Gorges of Verdon.
Elevation gain: 1,752 ’; Elevation loss: 1,527’; Distance: 11.5 miles;
Time: 5 _ - 6 hours. Dinner and breakfast included.
DAY, Wednesday 05/14/08:
Today’s hike leads down into the Gorges du Verdon, through tunnels, up
ladders, and along the river. This hike is more strenuous than the
other days as it involves steep ascents and descents, hiking though
tunnels (some of which are dark, so bring your flashlights) and a long
set of ladders with 240 steps to ascend. These ladders have handrails
on either side and are more like steep stairs. As you emerge from the
river you will arrive at La Maline. From La Maline you will transfer by
taxi to the hotel in La Palud. This is a dramatic and stunning hike.
Elevation gain: 2,290’; Elevation loss: 1,950’; Distance: 12 miles;
Hiking time: 6 _ - 7 hours. Dinner and breakfast included.
*If you are
unsure about this hike, it is possible to take a taxi all the way from
Pointe Sublime to La Palud, not included.
DAY 4, Thursday 05/15/08:
The hike from
La Palud to Moustiers St. Marie takes you through the
Forest of Gorges du Verdon and the Forest of Montdenier with the trail
frequently opening up to afford great views of the huge dammed lake of
Lac de Sainte Croix. The GR 4 leads 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 the high rocky plateau of the
Gorges du Verdon and to the village of Moustiers St. Marie. Elevation
gain: 1,830’; Elevation loss: 2,820’; Distance: 10 miles; Hiking time:
6 hours. Today’s hike includes some steep rocky descents. Dinner and
breakfast included. There is a pool at this hotel.
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.
Be sure to save some room in your pack for a few items!
DAY 5, Friday 05/16/08:
Rest day in
Moustiers St. Marie. Should also be a town market day.
Dinner and breakfast included.
DAY 6, Saturday 05/17/08:
A shorter
hiking day will take you from Moustiers to Riez. This will
allow time for browsing around both these interesting villages. On
today’s hike the landscape changes dramatically as you descend from the
mountains 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 and poppy fields.
The Roman village of Riez is said to be the oldest town in the
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and is somewhat bypassed by tourism. You will
spend the night in a charming chateau about 2 miles from Riez.
Elevation gain: 1,000’; Elevation loss: 1,330’; Distance: 11 miles;
Hiking time: 4 _ - 5 hours. Dinner and breakfast included.
 DAY 7, Sunday 05/18/08:
From Pontfrac you will take a taxi (included in the cost of the trip)
across the Durance River to the small town of Montfuron. You continue
on foot into the Luberon Park and to the Roman village of Cereste,
where you will spend the night. This is a small, simple hotel with
basic room. The route today leads through vineyards, hill towns and
hardwood forests. Elevation gain: not much; Elevation loss: 820’;
Distance: 6 miles; Hiking time: 3 hours. Transfer time 1hour.
Dinner and breakfast included.
DAY 8, Monday 05/19/08:
From Cereste, you will head into the heart of the Luberon. Though not a
high Alp, the hiking is rewarding and a bit demanding as you gain
steady elevation from Cereste, cross the Grand Luberon ridgeline and
finally reach the top of Mourre Negre at 3,712’. All along the
ridgeline there are wide, open, 360-degree views. You then descend to
the quiet village perche of Saignon, where you will spend two nights.
Once a fortified village, Saignon sits on the west face of the Luberon
Mountain at an elevation of 1,560’. Saignon is a wonderful village to
browse around, relax and enjoy the view. Elevation gain: 1,850’;
Elevation loss: 2,300’; Distance: 13 miles; Hiking time: 6 _ hours.
Dinner and breakfast included.
DAY 9, Tuesday 05/20/08:
Morning taxi
to the hill town of Gordes. After some time to look
around, you will walk to Roussillon. This short walk will take you
across the countryside, by 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. Afternoon taxi transfer back to Saignon.
Dinner and breakfast included.
Important
in medieval times, Gordes survived invasion and neglect only
to be “discovered” early in the 20th century by various artists. Its
stunning position lords over the farmhouses (mas), vineyards and cherry
groves below. The narrow alleys, vaulted arcades and town squares have
been restored beautifully.
Roussillon
is a perfectly picturesque village, with its buildings and
houses painted in nearly all the different hues of the ochre that was
once mined in the area, pale yellows, oranges to deep reds and
everything in between. The inhabitants of the area began mining ochre
in prehistoric times and by the 19th century export of the ochre dust
was considerable. The onset of synthetic dyes put the ochre mines out
of business. The effects of this mining have made for some very
interesting rock formations.
Day 10, Wednesday 05/21/08:
Private taxi
transfer to Marseilles Provence Airport also called
Marignane. There are frequent shuttle buses from the airport to
the Marseilles St. Charles train station (30 minutes) from where you
can travel by train to other parts of France.
For more information and to register, contact Jack Finnegan, P.O. Box
573, Lehighton, Pa 18235, telephone 570-386-2128, E-mail jackfinn@ptd.net
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