France: Provenza - La provenza in viola

Day 1: Buoux

MARSEILLE or AIX EN PROVENCE /MAS DE RECAUTE/ BUOUX (-/L/D)
Pick-up from Marseille airport at 10:30 AM, from Aix En Provence TGV station at 11:00 AM, or from Aix en Provence city center at 11:15 AM. (Pick-up at different times available upon request).
For those arriving by car, the meeting point will be directly at Mas de Recaute (Lauris) at 12:00 PM. Welcome aperitif, lunch, and presentation of the trip program. The itinerary begins in this area south of Luberon: we will ascend the ridges of the "small Luberon" and then descend towards the village of Bonnieux. We will reach the Claparèdes plateau, famous for lavender cultivation, and then head towards the gorges that separate the large and small Luberon. Finally, we will reach the Aiguebrun river and the accommodations near the cliffs of Buoux. Dinner and overnight stay in a Guest House.

Day 2: Buoux

BUOUX / RUSTREL (B/L/D)
Riding through endless lavender fields and then descending through the famous Provençal canyon, a rock formation with ochre colors, very picturesque and a filming location for various movies. Dinner and overnight stay in a Guest House in Rustrel.

Day 3: Sault

RUSTREL / REVEST-DU-BION (B/L/D)
We leave the Luberon Park and enter the Ventoux Park, where we will reach the heart of lavender cultivation. We will ascend a valley shaded by holm oaks, reaching the Plateau for a picnic near a chapel and exploration of the surroundings, an ex-site of the French nuclear deterrent missile launch base from 1971 to 1996. Arrival at the gîte where you can relax by the pool or visit the village of Sault, the lavender capital, for shopping or a visit to its lavender distillery.

Day 4: Montbrun-les-Bains

REVEST-DU-BION /MONTBRUN-LES-BAINS (B/L/D)
Riding to the Sault area, where we will stop for a picnic. We then continue towards Aurel, a charming medieval village at the foot of Mount Ventoux. In the afternoon, we will arrive in Montbrun-les-Bains, surrounded by green hills, considered one of the ten most beautiful villages in France.

Day 5: Montbrun-les-Bains

MONTBRUN-LES-BAINS /MEVOUILLON /MAS DE RECAUTE (B/L/D)
Last day on horseback; we will ride along the base of the "Giant of Provence" and then enter a forest until we reach the Arles pass, marking the beginning of the department. We will descend into the wonderful Mevouillon valley for a lunch stop. In the afternoon, we will reach a viewpoint where you will have a 360-degree view. Final gallops until meeting the vans and transport that will take you back to Lauris for the last dinner.

Day 6:

MAS DE RECAUTE / MARSEILLE or AIX EN PROVENCE/ITALY (B/-/-)
After breakfast, transfers. Arrival at Aix central station at 9:30 AM, Aix TGV station at 10:30 AM, and Marseille airport at 11:00 AM.
Note: The above itinerary is indicative and may be subject to changes due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.

Notes:
(B/L/D): B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Difficulty Level: From ° to °°°°°
DURATION: 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
DIFFICULTY: °°° (INTERMEDIATE)
ACCOMMODATION: Guest Houses, typical gîtes
EQUIPMENT: TREKKING SADDLES
HORSES: ARABIAN, SPANISH
PACE: Approximately 5 hours per day in the saddle – Familiarity with all three gaits is required, depending on the terrain, and assistance in caring for your horse is appreciated.
WHAT TO BRING: Riding clothes, helmet, water bottle, repellent, sunscreen.
MAX WEIGHT: 90 kg
TYPE: Itinerant trekking with overnight stays in shared dormitory-style rooms.
ACCOMMODATION:
Overnight stays in shared dormitory rooms, simple but clean and comfortable. All meals, including picnic lunches, will feature excellent typical French cuisine and wonderful local wines, especially rosé.

Possibility of accommodation in double/triple rooms (with supplement).
An upgrade can be requested (for the first and last night) in a property near the riding center with a pool.
Night 1: Les Seguins (or similar)
Night 2: Le Rustreou (or similar)
Night 3: Le Petit Labouret
Night 4: Le Mas de Reilhannette or Hotel des Voyageurs
Night 5: Les Gargoulettes or Le Mas de Recaute

Guaranteed Departure Dates:
With a minimum of 1 person departing from Italy:
From 30/06 to 05/07
From 07/07 to 12/07
From 14/07 to 19/07
From 21/07 to 26/07
From 28/07 to 02/08
Additional departure dates available upon request from March to November (however, note that lavender blooming can only be appreciated between June and July).

PARTICIPANTS: MIN 5 MAX 10

Additional Information:
Single supplement (from the price in a 2/3 person room) > price per person €350