Van Gogh’s Provence

Day 1: Avignon
Day 2: Saint Rémy de Provence
Day 3: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence – Alpilles Mountains, 6 or 11 mi. (10 km or 18 km)
Day 4: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence – Les Baux-de-Provence, 6 mi. (10 km)
Day 5: Les Baux-de-Provence – Maussane – Les Baux-de-Provence, 7 mi. (12 km)
Day 6: Les Baux-de-Provence – Chapelle St. Gabriel – Arles, 10 mi. (16 km)
Day 7: Arles

Every effort is made to update the routes; however, changes can occur on the ground due to various factors such as fallen trees, adverse weather conditions, or human activitity. These factors can affect path signage.

Day 1: Avignon
You begin your hiking adventure through Provence in the charming city of Avignon. Arrival is possible at any time during the day. Your first night is spent within the fortified walls of Avignon’s Old Town, allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of this historic city fully. Settle in and enjoy the atmosphere of one of Provence’s great cultural centers. Our local representative will contact you by phone or messaging app to review your itinerary, an ideal opportunity to ask any questions about the tour.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Hotel Boquier***
Charming: Hotel Angleterre***

Day 2: Saint Rémy de Provence
Enjoy a free morning in Avignon, with time to explore the city’s historic landmarks or browse the bustling covered market (open daily except Mondays). After lunch, a transfer brings you to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, nestled at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains. This afternoon is yours to discover the town’s charming streets and Provençal ambiance.

You may choose to follow the optional Van Gogh walking trail, retracing the artist’s footsteps through the very landscapes that inspired his most famous works. Enamel reproductions of his paintings face the lone cypress trees, farmhouses, and rolling fields that once captured his imagination. Alternatively, wander at your own pace, browse local shops, or relax at a café. Dinner is on your own in one of the town’s excellent restaurants.

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Le Chalet Fleuri***
Charming: Hotel Gounod***

Day 3: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence – Alpilles Mountains, 6 or 11 mi. (10 km or 18 km)
Leaving Saint-Rémy, pass the Romanesque monastery of St. Paul de Mausole, where Van Gogh once lived, open for optional visits. Follow a shaded forest track that winds gradually to the crest of the Alpilles. Though rising to just 400 m, these mountains stand above the flat Rhône Valley, rewarding you with sweeping views across windswept plains, northern ranges, and, on clear days, the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

From the ridge, choose between two options: a shorter loop returning gently to town, or a longer, more challenging route along the rocky crest before descending. Both routes lead back through olive groves and along a former Roman road.

Elevation: +300 m / –300 m (longer option: ±550 m)

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Le Chalet Fleuri***
Charming: Hotel Gounod***

Day 4: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence – Les Baux-de-Provence, 6 mi. (10 km)
Climb once more to the mountain ridge and follow a scenic track through fragrant brush dotted with thyme and cistus flowers. Open views stretch north to the mountains and south to the plains. Soon, the dramatic medieval village of Les Baux appears, perched high on its rocky spur and crowned by the ruins of its thousand-year-old castle.

Elevation: +270 m / –100 m

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Mas d’Aigret***
Charming: Mas d’Aigret***

Day 5: Les Baux-de-Provence – Maussane – Les Baux-de-Provence, 7 mi. (12 km)
Descend into the plains, where prestigious olive groves blanket the landscape, their silvery leaves shimmering in the sun. In Maussane, a quintessential Provençal village, sample local olive oils and regional specialties—perfect fuel for the return climb. Follow a hidden path behind the village as you make your way back toward Les Baux, soaking in the sweeping scenery along the way.

Elevation: +250 m / –250 m

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Mas d’Aigret***
Charming: Mas d’Aigret***

Day 6: Les Baux-de-Provence – Chapelle St. Gabriel – Arles, 10 mi. (16 km)
Ascend to the rounded summit above the village and enjoy far-reaching views across the region. The trail undulates gently along the ridge, guiding you along the entire western edge of the Alpilles. Continue to the mountain’s far end, where the path descends into the plains and leads to the Romanesque Chapelle St. Gabriel. From here, transfer to the historic city of Arles, rich in Roman heritage and artistic tradition.

Elevation: +100 m / –350 m

Preferred accommodations:
Standard: Hotel Le Forum***
Charming: Le Calendal & Spa***

Day 7: Arles
After breakfast, your tour concludes in Arles. From here, you may catch a train back to Avignon or continue onward to Marseille Airport.
 

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You may choose between two accommodation categories. The Standard level features comfortable 2- and 3-star properties such as Le Chalet Fleuri. The Charming level offers more boutique-style hotels. Preferred hotels for each night are listed in the itinerary. If any adjustments are required due to availability, we will propose them to you for approval before final confirmation.