Day 1: ARRIVAL; Join Apt at any time
Join Apt and the 2 star "hotel Aptois”. This family run hotel is very nice and very well located at walking distance of many restaurants and cafés.
In the Luberon, Apt is a great market town offering delicious food every Tuesdays and Saturdays mornings. The beauty of Apt is the old town "vieille ville", hidden behind the walled buildings. You will love its long, narrow streets winding between houses with interesting little alcoves here and there waiting for discovery.

Day 2: SELF GUIDED WALK; Apt to Buoux
Very few walks offer as much variety as today's walk. First you will cross the Claparèdes plateau, with its limestone used to build sheds, walls and the spectaculars "bories". Then you will enter the Aiguebrun gorges, always nice and fresh and you will be surprised to see such a variety of rich flora. Then you will spend the night in the "Auberge des Seguins", really nice example of stone architecture, which is a little haven of peace surrounded by high cliffs.
Dinner at the Auberge.
Walk: 10km; 350 m ascent; 5 to 6 hours including breaks.

Day 3: SELF GUIDED WALK; Buoux to Apt
In the morning, you will visit the magnificent ruins of the Buoux Fort overlooking at the deep ravines of the Aiguebrun river. The view from this 13th century fort is breathtaking and the narrowness of he fortress accentuates this sensation.
You will also explore one of the largest "baume" (natural cave located under the cliffs) in the Luberon. It was used as a shelter during prehistoric times. After a charming walk, you will stop at a local vineyard and why not enjoy a glass of "Cote du Ventoux"!
Back to the hotel "Aptois" in the evening, dinner in Apt.
Walk: 10km; 150m ascent; 5 to 6 hours including breaks.

Day 4: TRANSFER TO CASTELLANE; Digne-Les-Bains visit
In the morning, enjoy a nice bus trip to Digne-les-Bains (2 hours) through a lovely road. This town of 16 000 inhabitants is the capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This medieval town was a popular stop town for Napoléon during the 19th century. it has a compact centre, beautiful setting and a lot of nice shops and cafés to discover. Digne is also in the heart of the main provençal lavender production area.
In the evening, take a bus to Castellane, charming town at the entrance of the Verdon gorges. There, join the 2 star "Hotel du Levant".
Dinner in Castellane.

Day 5: SELF GUIDED WALK; Castellane - Chasteuil - Rougon
Today, you will reach the heart of the Verdon gorges. This is a spectacular canyon that forms a border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var. It spreads from Castellane to the Sainte-Croix lake on a distance of 21km. The village of Rougon is perched on a spur where the ruined medieval castle is still watching the valley and the vultures flights. You will stay in the local Gite "Le Mur d'Abeille" in Rougon, an authentic experience in the gorges!
Walk: 16km; 700m ascent; 6 hours 30 minutes including breaks.
On option stay in the "Auberge du Point Sublime", higher standard.

Day 6: SELF GUIDED WALK; Rougon, Point Sublime, Trigance
Today you will explore the most majestic part of the Verdon gorges.
First you will walk down to the "Point Sublime" which offers a fantastic view over the gorges, overlooking the turquoise river that plunges into the narrow rock walls. Then, you will cross the Verdon at the Tusset bridge and enjoy a series of breathtaking views from the left bank of the river. Joining Trigance by a gentle and nice descent walk, you can only be charmed by this medieval village.
In the evening, you will stay in the gite "Fontaine Basse", old Provençal type house curled at the foot of the village. Dinner in the gite.
Walk:10km; 600m ascent; 6 hours including breaks.
On option stay in the "Hotel le Vieil Amandier", higher standard.

Day 8: FAREWELL!
Spend the morning at your own pace; possibility to enjoy the local market.
Two transfers available to Nice:

• in the morning: bus to Digne-les-Bains then train to Nice (change over in Digne, very nice journey) - 4 hours 30 min.
• in the evening: direct bus to Nice - 2 hours

Transfer to Marseille by direct bus and to Avignon by bus through Digne.