Hiking in the Luberon National Park

Immerse yourself in the alluring Luberon National Park in Provence as you hike through picturesque villages, valleys, vineyards, & fields. There are countless treasures to unveil in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve!

The Luberon is a beloved region in the heart of Provence, world-famous for its natural beauty, charming towns, rolling vineyards, and expansive lavender fields.

Beginning in the town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, with its antiques and Venice-like canals, your journey will take you through the mysterious springs of Fontaine de Vaucluse, famed villages such as Gordes and Bonnieux, the spectacular Aiguebrun river, and some of France's most beautiful walking paths to link it all together.

A combination of linear and circular walks helps you 'slow travel' through the Luberon, staying at most accommodations two nights in a row.

• Take scenic hikes showcasing the ancient perched villages of Gordes and Bonnieux
• Follow paths nestled in the heart of Luberon through fields dotted with old stone huts
• Lose yourself amidst the captivating labyrinth of narrow streets in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
• Roam the vibrant Senanque Abbey Lavender Market, surrounded by lavender fields
• Traverse mountains and valleys, taking in scenic views of the Alps & the Mediterranean Sea
• Uncover the architectural splendor of Romanesque and Renassaince buildings
• A two-night stay at the unique and special Auberge des Seguins

With each turn in your path, the Luberon Mountains offer a new discovery. You'll visit 1000-year-old perched villages, rising spectacularly from the valleys below, many of which are considered the most beautiful in France. (The "Most Beautiful Villages of France" is an official accolade.)

You'll cross open fields laden with poppies and wildflowers, spot centuries-old stone huts that offer the most intimate of picnic spots, and wander beautiful trails far off the beaten track.

We recommend starting your walking tour on a Saturday so you enjoy the 'Venice of Provence', Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, on Sunday. Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is renowned for its quintessential Sunday morning market, the Senanque Abbey surrounded by lavender fields, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and the source of the Sorgue River, and the outstanding perched villages of Gordes and Bonnieux. Strolling through Isle-sur-la-Sorgue's vibrant farmers' market on Sunday will be the ideal place to buy fresh, local picnic supplies before heading out on your hike.

You can book this trip from March to mid-November.

• The low season is from March 1st to 31st & from October 1st to November 15th.
• The high season is from April 1st to June 26th & from August 27th to September 30th.

The weather in the Luberon area is Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm to hot summers. The Luberon receives little precipitation and has moderate humidity, allowing pleasant conditions for outdoor activities.

• March to May: Spring brings mild temperatures between 60°F and 70°F and vibrant landscapes adorned with blooming wildflowers. The trails are less crowded, providing a serene hiking experience. Note: Spring is usually too early for the lavender blooms!
• June to August: Summers will be hot and dry, potentially closing trails due to fire risk. This season is also crowded with tourists. We don't recommend this tour for most of these months.
• September to November: Fall brings reprieve with more comfortable temperatures, and paints the landscapes with stunning fall colors.

To ensure both comfort and sustainability, we strongly recommend planning your trip for the spring or fall. This helps with tourism dispersal and the alleviation of congestion at peak times. You'll have a more pleasant experience, explore the natural beauty of the region at a more relaxed pace, and have a positive impact on the local communities and environment.

Our tours offer a unique and eco-friendly way to explore a country on foot or by bike. We believe that tourism can positively impact society in several ways. Firstly, walking and cycling are pollution-free modes of transportation, allowing you to travel in an eco-responsible manner. Additionally, these activities promote physical fitness and provide a rejuvenating break from everyday routines and stress.

By traveling at a slower pace, you have the opportunity to fully enjoy the tours, meet people, and immerse yourself in local culture. We prioritize authentic experiences, introducing you to local accommodations, restaurants, artisans, and farmers. We strive to support sustainable development and responsible tourism by working with small, local, and family-run establishments.

Acknowledging that travel does generate CO2 emissions, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint and have partnered with Reforest'Action, a B Corp company. We calculate the average emissions produced by transportation on our trips and plant trees to offset these emissions. Each traveler's participation results in the planting of one tree, contributing to forest preservation and the development of carbon sinks. Additionally, your actions support the purchase of carbon credits associated with certified forest conservation projects. You can also extend your impact by purchasing and planting additional trees to reduce your carbon footprint in other areas.

Overall, our tours offer a fulfilling and sustainable travel experience, combining the exploration of beautiful landscapes, the appreciation of diverse cultures, and a commitment to environmental responsibility.

Environmental Initiatives

This trip was designed to discover must-sees but also off-the-beaten places such as the hidden Aiguebrun Valley and the converted goat's farm Auberge des Seguins. In this way, we promote tourism dispersal, which helps alleviate the negative impacts of mass tourism. We also try to minimize our impacts on the environment by choosing small hotels and guesthouses and using as less transfers as possible.

Economic Initiatives

We use small hotels & guesthouses, supporting local businesses and contributing to the local economy. The places you will visit take you off the beaten path. In this way, we distribute tourism income more evenly and support lesser-known communities. This diversification of tourism also stimulates economic growth, creates job opportunities, and encourages the development of sustainable tourism initiatives in previously overlooked areas.

Sociocultural Initiatives

A highlight of this tour is the two-night stay at the Auberge des Seguins: Hidden at the base of the Aiguebrun gorge, beside the only river in the mountain, and at the very end of the road, Les Seguins is both storybook scenic and peaceful. And with no television, Wi-Fi, or cell phone reception, we’re taken back in time, blissfully. All that’s left is watching the swifts dance atop the soaring limestone cliffs, or relaxing in a lounge chair in the open field, facing the centuries-old golden stone buildings. We’re taken back in time, too, by the restaurant and hotel signs, written not only in French but also in Provençal: a language that your three young hosts speak fluently. Dinner is family-style, with home-cooked Provençal specialties – like lamb shoulder braised with olive purée – served in a large casserole for the whole table, near the huge roaring fireplace. Breakfast is also “communal”: eaten on large farm tables, with no bells and whistles but with the freshest pieces of bread and tasty homemade jams.

We’re in an age where the hotel and restaurant business moves farther toward all that is modern and sophistic-chic, towards sterile monotony, towards overly fancy restaurant concoctions unrecognizable by name and taste, and towards pamper-me-and-embrace-my-posterior service. The Auberge des Seguins is none of that, for better or worse. We think (we’re convinced) for the better. Some history: The name Seguins derives from the Waldensian (a reformed religious group) family of the same name that lived here centuries ago. The Waldensians were massacred in the 16th century throughout the Luberon mountains. The oldest buildings standing today were built in the 17th century, long after the Seguins had left. In 1850 the hamlet was shared by three farming families, and by 1960, when it was purchased by the Pessemesse family to build a hotel, the hamlet was run as a goat farm. The Pessemesse family still runs the Auberge today, by sisters Amélie and Estelle, and brother Simon.

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
It's recommended to be in good physical condition to do this trip.