Guided Walking at Greoux-les-Bains

• Our experienced leaders offer the choice of two different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness
• We provide flexible holidays. Choose easier walking one day and harder the next or just explore independently or relax around the resort
• Our leaders are friendly and welcoming making your holiday fun and sociable

Easier Walks       Harder Walks

Walks are on good paths which are sometimes rocky underfoot harder walks can be steeper.

Day 1: Arrival day

For those arriving on the HF Holidays’ flight to Nice, the onward journey to the hotel will be by hired coach. Depending on your arrival time you may have the opportunity to settle into your room and perhaps see a little of the resort before the evening meal. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walks.

Day 2: Greoux and St Martin de Bromes

Today both groups will walk from the hotel and initially follow the banks of Verdon river. One option will then be to ascend onto a hill and follow the ridge with spectacular views over the lake of Esparron and dam, the other choice will follow a wooded valley that winds beside a stream. Both walks will then arrive at the pleasant village of Saint Martin de Bromes where lunch may be taken. Leaving the village both groups climb up to the plateau of Pauron on a good track, before returning to Greoux; one group using the Grande Randonnee (long distance trail) the other following the leafy Pauron valley path.

Easier Walk: 8 miles with up to 1,445 feet of ascent and 1,425 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 9½ miles with up to 1,750 feet of ascent and 1,025 feet of descent

Day 3: Forcalquier and the Abbey of Salagon at Mane

Today we take hired transport to the bustling hill town of Forcalquier with its weekly atmospheric street market. One option will be to spend sometime exploring this historic town before descending on good tracks across a wooded limestone plateau to visit the Abbey of Salagon with its ethno-botanical gardens. Another option involves climbing higher on the plateau to see the weird wind shaped rocks of Les Mourres before descending the ridge of la Colle to arrive at the Abbey. Both groups have the option to walk onto the small town of Mane for refreshments.

Easier Walk: 4 miles with up to 575 feet of ascent and 726 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 8 miles with up to 1,290 feet of ascent and 1,290 feet of descent

Day 4: Quinson and the gorge of the Verdon

A short coach ride brings both groups to the lower gorge of the Verdon river. The groups take different routes to arrive at the delightful hilltop chapel of St Maxime, one walking right down in the gorge on steps with cable handrails and timber platforms suspended over the river in places, and the other taking the broader tracks that follow the higher ground. Leaving the chapel one group will descend on a stony road to return to Quinson while the other ventures further into the Male Sauque plateau walking on high level wooded paths. Quinson village has an interesting museum dedicated Prehistoric man’s settlement in this region.

Easier Walk: 7½ miles with up to 1,383 feet of ascent and 1,383 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 11 miles with up to 1,930 feet of ascent and 1,930 feet of descent

Day 4: Free Day

Today no walks are organised allowing you to explore on your own or just relax around the hotel. Some options for your free day include:   

•  Explore the town of Greoux les Bains and learn about the therapeutic qualities of its natural spring that was discovered by the Romans. Walk up to the Castle of the Templiers or visit one of the town’s beautiful parks.
• Enjoy the facilities of the Hotel Villa Borghese; a swim in its heated pool, a relaxing lunch on the terrace or a game of table tennis or boules.
• If there is sufficient interest your Leaders may be able to arrange transport for a visit to the nearby centres of Manosque or Aix-en-Provence.

Day 6: The plateau around Valansole

We will use hired transport to visit the area around Valansole, one party will start in the town and walk out onto the plateau on fairly level tracks, while the other party will start outside walking along wooded ridges and valleys and passing remote farms on approach to Valansole from a different side. This is an area rich in lavender and wine production with big open skies and views of the pre-alps on the horizon. Both groups will finish the day in Valansole where there will be time to explore this typical Provencal hill town.

Easier Walk: 6½ miles with up to 480 feet of ascent and 510 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 10½ miles with up to 1,780 feet of ascent and 1,375 feet of descent

Day 7: The ridges above Moustiers St Marie

 Today’s walks again start from different locations, the hired transport with drop one group in the village of Roumoules and the other just outside Moustiers St Marie. The first group will walk along good level tracks through pleasant open country before steeply descending the ridge on a horse track with good views towards Moustiers. The other group after an initial level section will climb steeply up to the craggy ridge of l’Ourbes with great views over the lake of St Croix. After crossing the summit and descending to a dry riverbed the terrain becomes more open before the final descent to Moustiers on an old roman road.

Easier Walk: 7½ miles with up to 1,075 feet of ascent and 925 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 7½ miles with up to 2,445 feet of ascent and 2,440 feet of descent

Day 8: Departure Day

Please note that the itinerary outlined  is provisional and could be subject to change. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will brief you every evening about the next day’s walks.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at the hotel. On other days we’ll use the hired transport to explore the surrounding area. The cost of transport to and from the walk is payable locally please allow €70.