Provence hiking : from the famous Luberon in Provence to the spectacular calanques of Cassis

Short morning transfer to the village of Bonnieux, another gem of the Luberon. You visit its beautiful town squares and the old cobbled steps leading to its 12th century church. On the crest of the Luberon we stroll under the magnificent canopy of the cedar forest, and find a secluded spot to enjoy our provençal picnic. Beyond Bonnieux, we enter the "Grand Luberon", following a lavender field before reaching Buoux castle and the village of Buoux itself. Spectacular arrival at the Auberge des Seguins in depths of the Aiguebrun gorge : a restored 17th century goat farm, an unknown gem in an idyllic setting. The Auberge des Seguins – as far off the beaten-track as you can get - is a rustic & simple B&B, hidden in the heart of the Luberon mountains, literally at the end of the road, and at the crossroads of the most beautiful walking paths in the Luberon. Les Seguins will be our home for the next two nights.

Walk : Bonnieux > Buoux  | 4h30 |  12 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +250m/-150m
Meals included : breakfast & picnic & dinner
Night : Buoux

The B&B 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, the B&B Les Seguins is both storybook scenic and peaceful. And with no television, Wifi, or cell phone reception, we’re taken blissfully back in time. It is a very simple-rustic accommodation, where you appreciate the authenticity and the friendly welcome.
A truly unique place, 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. Dinner is family-style, with home-cooked Provençal specialties near the huge roaring fireplace or on the terrace. Breakfast is also “communal” eaten on large farm tables, with no bells and whistles but with the fresh breads and tasty homemade jams.

We leave the Auberge des Seguins on foot and reach the 3000 year-old Buoux Fort. With sheer cliffs on all sides and outstanding views, we explore the ruins of many different civilizations that sought refuge atop this rocky crag. From medieval ramparts and churches to Roman silos and watchtowers, and even Celto-Ligurian ruins, the site is fascinating. For those with enough energy left, we can climb up to the rounded crest of the Luberon moutains, carpeted in thyme and wildflowers, from where on a clear day the views extend to the chain of the Alps to the north and even to the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

Walk : Buoux > Crest > Buoux  | 4h30 |  12 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +500m/-500m
Meals included : breakfast  & picnic & dinner
Night : Buoux 

You walk along the base of the Aiguebrun canyon to the hidden hamlet of Sivergues. Its stone wall terraces the only remains of the cultivated fields that once sprawled around the tightly-packed handful of homes. Continue through the vast lavender fields and truffle oak plantations to Saignon where you visit this small, charming village and continue onwards to Apt. 

Walk : Buoux > Apt | 4h |  11 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +400m/-300m
Meals included : breakfast & picnic & dinner
Night : Apt

Transfer (10mn) to the foot of Caseneuve, on the heights of Apt. The trail climbs a ridge where cherry trees, crops and dry-stone huts alternate up to the crests. Descend to the Provencal Colorado: you can see the red and orange ochre peaks in the distance. Arrive in Rustrel, in the heart of these ancient ochre quarries, which form a colorful maze of combes where flamboyant yellow, orange and red ochres are sculpted by erosion. You can choose to walk along the ochre trail. Transfer from Rustrel to Apt. 

Walk : Caseneuve > Rustrel | 2h10 |  9 km - 5.5 miles | Elevation: +330m/-180m + Colorado visit 
Meals included : breakfast & picnic 
Night : Apt

Today, you have a free morning to enjoy the saturday morning market of Apt, one of the most famous & colourful in Provence ! Lunch is on your own.  Then,  we transfer south towards the Mediterranean Sea and the riviera town of Cassis situated on the eastern edge of the Calanques.  The Calanques are a set of dramatic limestone inlets spanning 20km from Marseille to Cassis: a playground of cliffs and hiking trails, remote and unspoiled. Each of the isolated coves unveils its secrets, the pure white limestone casting turquoise reflections in the still waters. The site has become France’s newest National Park. 
. Option : you can enjoy an optional boat excursion to the famous Calanques (1h tour apxm 25/30€) or just relax by the beach.

Meals included : breakfast & dinner
Night : Apt

A 20-min private taxi transfer takes you to the Col de la Gardiole pass, high above the Calanques of Cassis. You're among a vegetation of shrubs and aromatic herbs, their perfume concentrated by the penetrating Mediterranean sun. Soon you find a shaded and deeply encased valley that descends in tight zigzags towards the sea and here you reach the Calanque of En Vau. This is followed by a short but steep climb through the jagged limestone to reach the Calanque of Port Pin, a narrow inlet complete with a sandy beach, the perfect stop for your secluded picnic. The third Calanque is Port Miou, over a kilometre long but ultra-thin, lined on both sides by picturesque sailboats sheltered in this quiet cove. You walk straight into the centre of Cassis.

Walk : Gardiole pass > Calanque En Vau - Calanque Port Pin > Cassis  | 4h |  12 km - 8 miles | Elevation: +200m/-460m
. Please note : There is no more car access to the Gardiole pass.  You will  then walk an extra 2km along the road to reach the Col de la Gardiole.
Meals included : breakfast & picnic
Night : Cassis

You can spend time enjoying the beach and the town of Cassis. Transfer to Aix en provence : city of art & culture. Aix is a lively university city and unapologetically bourgeois: regal stone fountains line the Cours Mirabeau, behind which 17th and 18th century mansions now house chic shops and banks. A labyrinth of winding streets in the centre of town unveil a wealth of historic buildings, squares, and shops of all kinds. End of the trip.

Many great options : 
. Cassis : Enjoy a boat excursion to discover the Calanques: a must ! 
. Aix en Provence : Market every morning on the "town hall" square, and big market on Saturday morning 
. Add an extra hike to the Sainte Victoire mountain made famous but the impressionist painter Cézanne who immortalized the landscape on canvas (see further details below) 

You can continue your holiday and add 1 extra walk to the famous  Sainte Victoire mountain.
A short morning transfer takes you to the start of the walk at the imposing foot of the Sainte Victoire mountain. A jagged spine soaring to the 1000m summit is your day's goal. And though it may look imposing and the climb steep, there is no scrambling involved. On a clear day from the summit, the snow-peaked Alps are visible to the north and the Mediterranean to the south. Once at the the top you can choose to continue walking along the spine, or descend due south to the village of Vauvenargues, where Pablo Picasso found his eternal rest. 
A local bus will take you back to Aix en Provence. 

Walk : Bimont dam > Vauvenargues > Aix en Provence  | 4h30 |  10 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +65m/-620m