Spring in Provence
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2025 - Apr 18, 2025 | 7 days - 6 nights |
Provence, famous for its scent-filled lavender fields, vineyards and ancient hilltop villages, is also packed with stunning trails that criss-cross this picturesque landscape. Visiting in the Spring gives us the best trail running conditions, and means we avoid the heat and crowds of the busy summer season.
Provence is coming into the trail running scene. It was the venue for the 2024 French Trail Running Championships and there are a growing number of races in the region. Our daily trip distances and climbs are designed to be a great way to ease into the trail running season ahead!
Our tour takes place in the Parc Naturel de Baronnies Provençal, a preserve known for its rolling hills filled with aromatic and medicinal plants like wild thyme, rosemary and the ever-present lavender. We start in the north of Provence, in the quaint town of Buis-les-Baronnies, known for its stone-built old town with winding cobbled streets and quaint stores selling local produce. The town is also loved by sports enthusiasts drawn by the beautiful hills, river gorge and rocky crags that surround the town. After a few days here, we’ll travel to the hill-top village and medieval fortress of Montbrun-les-Bains, and then onto Malaucene, a lively village at the base of famous Mont Ventoux. From here, we’ll run to our final destination of Gigondas, in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône wine region.
This level 2 tour includes approximately 15 – 20 km of trail running each day, with around 1000m vertical, sometimes on technical rocky terrain. It is possible to shorten the route on some days, or take a rest day.
Book this tour
$800 single supplement fee
Itinerary
The quaint old town of Buis-les-Baronnies. (Photo: Doug Mayer)
Day 1
Arrive in Buis-Les-Baronnies, in the “Baronnies Provençales Natural Park”. We’ll meet before dinner to get to know each other and chat through the week ahead.
Cruising gravel roads in the cool temps of springtime. (Photo: Doug Mayer)
Day 2
Today, we’ll enjoy a loop to the north of Buis-les-Baronnies over the Montagnes des Plates. A mix of dirt roads and single track take us on the climb out of town, past vineyards and olive orchards. We’ll reach the Col de Malpertuis and take in the view of Mont Ventoux, popular with cyclists around the world as one of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France.
Centuries old villages dot the Provence landscape. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 3
We’ll venture up to the towering limestone fin of Rocher Saint-Julien. This famous landmark is popular with climbers, but we can take a trail up through forest to reach the rocky ridgeline. We’ll enjoy great views before descending to the Menon valley. Here, gentle gravel trails take us alongside the river, through pastures and vineyards. Today’s tour closes with a short climb to give us great views of Buis-les-Baronnies, before we head down to our hotel. This evening, we’ll enjoy a tasting of wine and local products then dinner in the village.
Looking out towards the Dentelles de Montmirail from the Crête de St-Amand. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 4
We say goodbye to Buis-les-Baronnies and take a transfer to the ancient village of Montbrun-Les-Bains. We’ll pass the 12th Century Château d’Aulan, followed by some short climbs over the le Col des Arles et Col du Puits. We’ll follow gravel trails and dirt tracks over mostly rolling terrain, with some twisty single track and great views on Mont Ventoux just across the valley.
Fragrant spring flowers lining single track. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 5
We head out of Malaucene on small roads, as we run between the vineyards. Gravel trails, then narrow single track lead us up above treeline to a ridge, and the summit of Arfuyen mountain, where we’ll have good views of the Dentelles de Montmirail rock towers, and our running route for the next day. A section of more technical downhill leads to Col de la Chaine, and then the last few miles of rolling smooth single track bring us back to Malaucène.
Rustic signage on the way up to the Montagnes des Plates. (Photo: Doug Mayer)
Day 6
The last trail run of our tour is a varied traverse from Malaucène to our final destination, Gigondas. We’ll pass Arfuyen mountain and climb to Pas de Loup, or the “wolf step” then follow the ridge to the summit of Crête de St-Amand with wonderful panoramic views. From here, rolling trails lead past the impressive rocky fin of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and down to our last stop, Gigondas. Founded by the Romans, the village is enclosed by medieval ramparts. In the heart of the Côtes-du-Rhône wine region, Gigondas is surrounded by kilometers of rolling vineyards.
Heading up to the Crête de St-Amand on the run from Malaucène to Gigondas. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 7
After a delicious breakfast in our hotel, today it’s time to bid adieu to the Provence region and head home, or off to our next destination.
Regional map
What's included
6 nights at 3- and 4-star village hotels, all breakfasts, on the trail food, all dinners, premium trail nutrition, guided runs daily, transfers to and from trailheads, certified International Mountain Leader, luggage transfers between stops, and Run the Alps's Guide to Trail Running in the Alps.A transfer is provided from Avignon, France, which is accessible via France’s fast TGV train from either Paris or the Paris airport. Run the Alps will provide supporting information that explains how to travel from Paris to Avignon. We’ll meet before dinner to get to know each other and chat through the week ahead.
A 50-minute taxi transfer is provided to Avignon. From there it’s possible to take France’s fast TGV train to Paris or Paris Airport. This train takes about 3hr, so it’s likely that you’ll need to stay overnight in Paris and catch a flight the next day, if you want to avoid a very early start.
More options for this tour:
Private: Make it private! Your companions, your dates, your tour– we do the rest. Contact us for details.
All Run the Alps guests receive a copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps to assist in preparing for their trip.
Alumni Discount: We love welcoming our alumni back to the Alps and offer a 10% discount on all standard Run the Alps trips. Simply check the Alumni box on the registration form and we’ll apply the discount when we invoice you.
Terms and Conditions: Read up on Run the Alps’ Terms and Conditions and travel insurance.
Tour Balance: Your tour balance is due 90 days before your tour starts. We will send you an invoice about a month before that due date. However, you can pay your balance at any time. If you’d like the simplicity of paying in full sooner, or would like to pay in installments, please contact us.
Guides for this Tour
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Book this tour
$800 single supplement fee