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Lyudmila
"Every sip of fresh Provençal air adds ten euros to your health bank account" - Peter Mayle
Discover a land full of sunshine and colors, famous for its lush landscapes, where the scent of lavender mixed with hay floats in the air. Do you want a fairy tale? Then come with us to France to the Provence region. There you will find those cozy villages, beautiful Verdon gorge and fields with lavender.
Small cozy towns with colorful houses and be sure to castle - the hallmark of Provence. The scent of pine, a lot of olive trees, amazing landscapes of mountains with beautiful panoramas and ringing silence will surround us in the first part of the route.
Real Middle Ages, jumbled streets, old fountains and endless fields of lavender, poppies and sunflowers. We will meander through narrow streets, peek into arches, and eat freshly baked croissants in towns where life moves very slowly. This is the second part of our journey.
Also, "Provence is rubbed with garlic," you can't get rid of garlic. It's in soups, sauces, salads, fish, meat, pasta, bread... Just in case you think it's not enough garlic, pick up an old Provencal habit: carry a head of garlic in your pocket. Local Provencal cuisine is one of the healthiest and healthiest in the world. The basis is fish, the freshest seafood, lots of vegetables and olive oil. Breakfasts from organic products.
The French live the present, use life to the fullest and are not afraid to try new things at any age. This itinerary cannot leave you indifferent. Atmosphere is the main attraction of Provence.
This hike is not recommended for people with vertigo or fear of heights.
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
All overnight stays will be in pre-booked guest houses and shelters, where you can take a shower, charge your smartphones and cameras, and taste the local cuisine.
The program of hike in France is specially designed for those who want to pass the route without heavy backpacks, while visiting the most interesting places in the region.
Experienced Kuluar teamleaders will accompany the group on all route, will make the trip as safe and unforgettable as possible!
A manager will help you prepare for the trip and answer all your questions
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied.
We meet in the Castellane town , which is located in the south of France, in Provence, 100 km from Nice. You need to take a bus from Nice to Castellan. Your teamleader will meet you at the hotel. The plan is to check into the hotel.
Castellane is a small Provencal town, considered the gateway to the Verdon Gorge, the most beautiful and spectacular gorge in France. The center of the town of Castellane is centered around the square of Marcel Sovera. Here grow sycamores, the symbol of Provence. These powerful trees with sprawling volumetric crowns shelter tourists from the summer sun during the day. We will rest under them in between enjoying the beauty of the narrow streets of the city, because Castellane is part of the association of the most characteristic towns and villages of France (Villages et cités de caractère). We will visit the chapel of Notre Dame du Roque, which offers beautiful views. And in the evening we will have dinner in one of the nice restaurants, where there is good food and a friendly welcome.
We leave Castellan and go to the "Green Prince", also known as the Verdon Gorge. Since Kastelan is at an altitude of 700 m, we do not have to gain much altitude - only 270 m. There are flowers and a lot of flowers around, it will be constant during the whole route. The highlight of the day is a chapel in the middle of the trail where we will have lunch. It really is very old, in 2001, by local residents restored the roof and interior decoration. In the evening, we take a narrow, winding road past past the pastures to Rugon. It is a typical small Provencal village with narrow streets and houses built with traditional materials.
Distance - 18 km, 7 hours of hiking, climb - 270 m
The most guarded secret of Provence is the Verdon Gorge. Edouart Martel, the French founder of modern speleology said: "It is a miracle, incomparable in Europe. A huge cut in the thickness of the plateau, reaching in some places up to 700 m. The Verdon Gorge most of all resembles an American canyon of all the canyons of the old world.
Early rise, breakfast, and we leave Rugon. Point Sublime (790 m) is the starting point of the famous Blanc-Martel route. Today there are tunnels, the Branche Imber staircase with its incredible number of steps and steep angle, and a lot of other interesting things.
After 40 minutes we will go down the steps to the Verdon River. It is an incredible sight: huge stone walls stand in front of us, and emerald water flows between them. In the curved tunnel du Bau, 670 m long, we need to turn on the lanterns. The tunnel was originally built in 1890 as part of a hydroelectric project, but it was abandoned because of the war. About 400 m after the entrance we will see a window cut in the rock, the Baume aux Pigeons, and admire the Verdon River that flows below us. Do you know why the Verdon is turquoise? The beautiful color of the water is due to the fluoride and the microalgae it contains. This is probably where the river's name, derived from the Latin viridum, "green place," came from.
In the evening you check in to your apartment and have dinner. If you have enough energy left, you can have a walk in the evening in La Palais-sur-Verdon.
Distance: 20 km, 11 hours; climbing 600m; drop 450m.
Today we continue to admire the Verdon River, but now from above. We say goodbye to our gracious hosts who sheltered us for the night and head into the mountains. The climb will be 450 m, we will climb to a height of 1350 m and begin a smooth descent to the very beautiful and ancient village of Moustier-San Marie. It is located at the end of the gorge in a wonderful place under two cliffs separated by the river Reu. The earthenware industry was born here in the 17th century, then died out and was reborn in the 1930s. Nowadays there is one factory and 15 workshops. We learn all the secrets of earthenware. For example, the fact that quality faience (which is produced in Mustier) differs from the rest by the fact that here they work with small strokes, as well as a very high quality final finish. Such a souvenir can be a beautiful decoration of your home.
Distance: 17 km, 7-8 hours in hiking, climb- 450 m, drop - 350 m.
Moustier-Saint-Marie is one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. We can't leave without walking around it. So early in the morning we go to the chapel of Notre Dame. It's only 262 steps up the hill. The little chapel was built in the late 12th century on the remains of a former 5th century shrine to the Virgin Mary. Like other Alpine chapels, it was intended as an "inspiration" chapel. In the 17th century, stillborn children were baptized here, thereby opening the way to heaven. Also in the village is the parish church of Moustier, listed as a historic monument in France in 1913. The church stands out for its Lombard-style bell tower, with a very unusual shape, one of the most beautiful in Provence. Dating back to the 12th century, it is one of only three swinging bell towers in Europe.
Continuing the route of the Provence walking tour, today we will see the first lavender fields. There aren't as many as around Valencole yet, but it's still very beautiful. We stop for a photo session and continue along Lake St. Croix. At the end of the canyon, the Verdon River flows into the artificial Lake St. Croix du Verdon. Lake St. Croix came into being in the early '70s when a dam was built on the Verdon River. It was not without its victims: the local village of Saint-Croix-du-Verdon was flooded during the creation. Now this place is called "Verdon beach", where not only locals but also tourists love to swim.
After a hike in the Provencal sun, we check in to the hotel, have dinner and digest all that we have seen today.
Distance: 17 km, 8 hours of hiking.
Huge fields of lavender. Whoever brought a straw hat, your day is here. We can, without rushing each other, take pictures all over the field on the way to Riez.
Riez, founded in the first century, is the oldest place in the Alpes de Haute-Provence, which was called Riez-la-Romaine ("Roman"). The rich past of this village can be appreciated by visiting its ruins, which belong to different eras, from the Gallo-Roman, medieval and to the Renaissance. The four columns of the temple of the first century, probably dedicated to Apollo, are witnesses to a great past. They cannot be overlooked and are the pride of Riez. Walking through the center, we will be immersed in a medieval atmosphere. Looking at the tiny streets and stores, it is easy to imagine what they were like in those times.
Distance: 20 km
Valensole is the heart of the largest lavender field in France. The aromas of thyme, rosemary and heated stone will cheer us up from the morning as we head to Valensol. On the way we will be surrounded by endless lavender fields. Here lavender is firmly incorporated into various varieties of soaps, detergents, perfume gels, creams, and deodorants. It scents the air, the laundry, the skin with its characteristic astringent scent.
This smell is wonderful, but nothing can compare to a bundle of lavender picked in the field by one's hand. Let's take some lavender as a memento. The flowers have long since faded, but the lavender retains its fragrance. Its bundles, hanging and lying in cabinets, will remind us of our summer adventure. And if you rub the flowers in your palms and breathe deeply, you can clear your head and refresh your mind with the penetrating aroma.
Distance: 19 km
Today we have a long drive to the airport. And for those who do not agree to end their vacation so quickly, they can continue to get to know France.
The manager will advise you on equipment, help you choose the best flight, share information on hotels and excursions. You make payments and purchases yourself. If you want the manager to buy a ticket for you, then this is possible, but for extra money, because this is a big responsibility. More in the article: additional services and service fee
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the route.
For citizens of Ukraine to visit France it is enough to have a biometric passport, insurance and return ticket (you may be asked these documents at the airport). Citizens of other countries need to have a Schengen multivisa or make a visa to France specifically for the tour. More information about the necessary documents for the citizens of your country you can find out from our managers.
You must have no illnesses from this list in order to participate in the hike.
After hiking in Provence, we recommend the following routes:
To get to Castellane you can take buses from such cities as Nice, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Gap, Sisteron, Grenoble. From Ukraine, the best way to get to Nice, which is located less than 100 km from Castellane. Meeting with the teamleader takes place at the hotel, the exact coordinates of which will be sent to the participants about a week before the start of the hike.
Our recommendations for airline ticketing services can be found in this article.
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this item. For some participants, it saved thousands of dollars. You can find our recommendations for taking out insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar hikers"
Accommodation on the route - in hotels and apartments. Overnight stays and breakfasts are included in the price of the tour.
Breakfast at the hotels, for lunch the teamleader purchases food for snacks for the whole group. Dinner participants choose according to their wishes and preferences - this is a great opportunity to taste local delicacies. Dinner is not included in the price of the program.
The dates of the program are planned so as to catch the lavender blossom, which lasts only a few weeks from late June to late July (then it is cut off). Therefore, the weather on the hike will be hot. If you don't tolerate the heat and are not ready for long hikes in high temperatures - you'd better choose another hike.
Prices in France are high. One dinner at a restaurant will cost about 25 euros per person. The total cost of transfers, not included in the price, will be about 100 euros for each participant.
At the airport, as well as at gas stations, supermarkets and tobacconists you can buy SIM cards from operators such as Bouygues Telecom, Travelwifi, Orange, which include 10-20 GB of Internet, as well as a certain number of minutes for calls within Europe. Their cost is usually not more than 40 €.
You can also pre-order a World Pass SIM card for 29.99€ on the Lyca Mobile website.
*Please note: It is not the manager's task to choose a separate flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations from his experience and shares flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want the manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
The total amount of additional expenses not included in the price is about 400 €. Of these, 250 € for dinners in cafes and restaurants, 100 € for transfers, and another 50 € for souvenirs.
To book a place in the group you need to pay a prepayment of 350 euros. We recommend to do it as early as possible. Methods of payment and conditions of return in case of refusal or descent from the route here. The rest of the sum you mast give to the teamleader at the first day of the program.