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Itinerary of Upper Provence walks:

Day One: Pick up at Avignon Rail Station at 4.30 pm. Transfer by private bus to the town of Vaison-la-Romaine.:

Day Two: Vaison-la-Romaine - Sunday morning we stroll through the town. Some of the sights along the way are the 11th century castle with its tales of intrigue and chivalry, the restored medieval quarter with narrow cobblestoned streets, the vast Roman archeological site with its villas, baths and a magnificent tiered theatre and the cathedral which was constructed in the 1100’s on top of what was once a Roman temple. But our walks are not just historical. There is a lively Sunday antique market on the main square and an interesting wine co-op. Vaison is a pretty town filled with shops selling wine, agricultural products like lavender honey and local crafts. One marvels at displays of mouthwatering pastries in the patisseries. There is time for a cafe-au-lait in one of the open-air restaurants at the end of the walk.

Vaison-la-Romaine to Séguret - afternoon walk from Vaison-la-Romaine along quiet "Petite Randonnée" trails. Gradual ascents give panoramic views over the Côtes du Rhône vineyards. Paths are lined with wild thyme, fragrant broom flowers and pine forest. Your reward for the effort is reaching the charming medieval village of Séguret (said to be the most beautiful in France) with its narrow cobblestoned streets. Treat yourself to a glass of wine at a café. There is a transfer back to Vaison-la-Romaine or for those who want to go the extra mile there is a walking route to return on foot..
7 kilometres of easy to moderate walking (about 2.5 hours).

Day Three: Buis-les-Baronnies - full day with option of two levels of walking. Depart by private coach from Vaison-la-Romaine - about half an hour to Buis-les-Baronnies in the spectacular Drôme region of Provence. Aside from many ruined castles this area is of interest because of its olives country and if time permits we will stop at an olive-oil mill to sample oil which tastes like liquid sunshine. From the town of Buis we wander along the quiet valley amid olive groves, apricot orchards and tiny hamlets. We relax over a picnic lunch on the banks of a cascading stream and then continue a gradual ascent for spectacular views over silvery olive groves. The walk ends with a cold drink back at the town of Buis before returning to Vaison. Amble: 4.5 hours or 10 kilometres / Ramble: 5.5 hours or 16 kilometres.

Day Four: Free day. This is market day in Vaison-la-Romaine and it is like a street festival. The day is free for shopping and for immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and tastes of this colourful country fête. You may want to spend a little time taking a tour of the Roman archaeological site and the museum.

Day Five: Dentelles de Montmirail - full day with option of amble or ramble. Depart by coach from Vaison-la-Romaine to the famous Côtes du Rhône wine village of Gigondas (about 20 minutes). The village is filled with small "caves" offering "dégustation" (wine-tasting) of sun-kissed vintages which are seldom exported.
From the village we ascend into the spectacular Dentelles de Montmirail range amid vineyards and breathtaking serrated rocky landscape. Picnic lunch by the deserted Chapelle de St Christophe and then walk to admire the lacy rock formations which the Mistral winds have hewn in the limestone.
Amble: 10 kilometres or 4.5 hours / Ramble: 16 kilometres or 5.5 hours with some steep ascents.

Day Six: Nyons - Situated within a protective ring of mountains, Nyons basks in a pleasant climate and thus dominates the Provencal olive country. Legend claims that St Caesarius captured a puff of sea air in his glove and carried it back to Nyons where he released it and made the climate perfect. Our two itineraries both skirt working farms with 1,000 year old olive trees and have a particularly authentic feel - scarcely a tourist in sight. From the upper groves the views embrace the Eygues River and old Nyons with its 13th century humpbacked bridge, ruins of a feudal castle and medieval quarter. There is a stop at the Olive Museum which features a wide variety of utensils, presses and tools used in the production of extra virgin olive oil. The visit to the museum is led by a local volunteer whose Provencal accent is as thick as the olive oil he proudly displays. We have a chance to explore the old town.

Day Seven: Beaume-de-Venise and Châteauneuf du Pape - our final walk begins at Beaume-de-Venise, a terraced village on the southernmost foothills of the Dentelles and famous for its white dessert wine made from Muscat grapes. We ascend the Coteaux d'Ambrosis, stopping at the 11th century chapel of Notre Dame d'Aubune. Our picnic spot on the broom-covered ridge offers an excellent view of the rich plain of the Comtat. Descending the northern slope, we pass the 19th century Montmirail thermal spa which, in its heyday, welcomed over a thousand "curists" annually. This walk ends at the circular walled village of Vacqueyras where we board the bus to Avignon. En route we stop at Chateauneuf du Papes, the famous wine village filled with "caves" for tasting famous wines with irresistible names like "Vinsobres". From vintage to vantage - we walk up to the ruined castle which was once the summer residence of medieval Popes and has a splendid panorama of vineyards. We then return to Avignon and, after checking into our hotel, we stroll through the old city to see the medieval Papal Palace as well as the famous bridge. A bon voyage dinner is held at a quaint restaurant in Avignon.

Day Eight: Tour ends after breakfast.