The Luberon is a true jewel of nature and culture, located in Provence. This mountain range, classified as a Regional Natural Park, is full of picturesque villages like Bonnieux or Roussillon, breathtaking landscapes, and diverse activities that will delight nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and food connoisseurs. Moreover, it’s the perfect place for hiking, due to the omnipresence of nature and environments worth exploring. In this blog article, we offer you a detailed guide to the must-do hikes in the Luberon during your stay in this magnificent Provençal region!
The Best Hikes to Do in the Luberon
For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Luberon is a true haven of peace, with diverse hiking trails that only the region can offer. Whether you prefer to escape into nature to recharge or discover the unique heritage of the Luberon, here are some of the places in the Luberon where you can walk and hike, alone or with family.
The Ochre Trail in Roussillon:
From the colorful and atypical village of Roussillon, you can go to the Ochre Trail, an easy path that allows visitors to walk leisurely through an extraordinary landscape that will make you think of Western movies!
With its scenery of a thousand and one shades, this trail offers an unforgettable experience, for a fee: indeed, count €3.50 for access, and €2.50 for groups of 15 people or more.
Moreover, the site offers free access to certain categories of visitors: people with disabilities and their companions can access the site for free up to 50 meters, as well as drivers and group leaders.
Children under 10 years old also benefit from free entry. Regarding the trail, it consists of two routes (one short and one longer), allowing visitors a walk of 30 to 45 minutes. Note that the trail is well-maintained, so that everyone can enjoy exceptional views and colors!
The Cedar Forest of Bonnieux:
Above the village of Bonnieux at 727 meters altitude is the Cedar Forest of the Luberon, an ideal place for hiking in the shade of centuries-old trees typical of the region!
This forest is a true paradise for hikers who love nature: it has a fauna and flora typical of southeastern France, and the cedars occupy a space of 250 hectares, spread over the municipalities of Bonnieux, Lacoste, and Ménerbes, just waiting to be explored.
To enjoy the forest with family, different marked paths are accessible on foot and are easy to follow; you can do your hike on the Cedar Path, a quick 30-minute loop punctuated with explanations about the fauna and flora, ideal for learning in the open air! Another path that’s also worth it: the Portalas Trail, a 3.2-kilometer loop in nature that’s perfect if you want to clear your mind.
Finally, for experienced hikers, you can embark on a more technical route called route 49, a true immersion among old cedars, narrow paths, and panoramic views. You can also take the Crests Route, a marked trail accessible by bike that leads you to the Bastidon du Pradon, all for a hike of 18 kilometers.
The Provençal Colorado of Rustrel:
Formerly an open-pit ochre mining site in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Provençal Colorado is a private site where you’ll discover exceptional colors within former ochre quarries, as well as vestiges of its industrial past.
There are two main circuits that allow you to explore the Provençal Colorado thoroughly: the first, the Sahara Circuit, represents the “main attraction of the Colorado as it” offers a simple and accessible experience for all. The total distance of the route is 2.1 km, and the estimated time to complete the round trip to the parking lot is about 40 minutes.
The second route, the Belvedere Circuit, allows access to the heights of the Provencal Colorado, offering a breathtaking view of the Sahara Circuit, the Fairy Chimneys, and the White Desert. However, be cautious and wear good shoes, as the path includes challenging areas with roots, stones, steps, and stream crossings. Regarding the course, its distance is 3.9 km with an approximate duration of 1 hour 45 minutes round trip from the parking lot. The difficulty is considered moderate with an elevation gain of 70 m.
The Vineyard Trail:
In every season, the vineyard fields decorate the magnificent landscapes of Provence and particularly the Luberon, where numerous wine estates exploit the richness of this precious terroir.
To discover the wine-growing richness of the region, it is possible to go hiking on the wine growers’ trails, marked paths through the heart of the vineyards dotted with explanatory panels to better understand the surrounding nature.
Once your hike is finished, if you feel like it, you can meet winemakers passionate about their craft who will be delighted to present and let you taste their vintages! A convivial activity that combines hikes in nature with moments of authentic sharing.
Set off to discover the Luberon on its hiking trails!
Whether you choose to walk leisurely and discover the beauty of its unique landscapes, or to face a real challenge within atypical flora and fauna, the Luberon is the ideal region for hiking! Want to go hiking in the Luberon to discover all aspects of this incredible region? Visit our website, compare our offers and choose the accommodation that best suits your requirements.
