8-day trip to the Verdon Gorge in France

Our group meets at the hotel in a village resting on a 12th-century castle. I will brief you about the days to come and answer any questions.

We begin with a steady ascent through beautiful woodland, enjoying views of Lac de Castillon. Climbing the limestone plateau (1,412m) we then descend and join the Voie Impériale. This trail was used by Napoleon on his return from Elba in 1815. Then we reach the village of Castellane.

We join the famous GR4, which follows the route used by the Romans to reach Lyon. We continue along the Verdon valley, stopping for lunch at the beautiful Chasteuil, where we can buy soaps, balms and oils, all made with locally-grown lavender. A further ascent takes us to the village of Rougon. From here we have a short descent to the village of Point Sublime, and our base for the night.

Today is more challenging as we enter the gorge! We drop towards the river, along the steep walls of the gorge, and join the ‘Martel Trail’. Our trail leads us along the gorge, past stunning limestone walls and dramatic cliffs. Highlights today include a 650 metre tunnel through the rock, and an impressive stairway. A final ascent takes us out of the gorge. Further on, we may stop at the Chalet de la Maline bar, and enjoy its breathtaking panoramic view. Then we take a short transfer to our hotel in the village of La Palud.

Hiking through the pine tree forest of Col de Plein Voir gives us spectacular views over the turquoise lake of Sainte-Croix. We continue past huge limestone crags and rock towers, reaching 1,213 metres. A fairly steep descent takes us down to the pretty village of Moustiers Sainte-Marie, a gem steeped in the history of the Knights Templar. It has an authentic Provençal character, with lovely cafes, art workshops and galleries.

Leaving Moustiers, heading through low lying meadows, we continue until we reach a higher plateau. From here we have a stunning view of beautiful lavender fields with the Alps in the background. We follow our trail past a truffle farm and on through orchards of apple and oak trees. We then drop down to our hotel in the ancient Roman riverside town of Riez – also known as the ‘Lavender Capital’.

On the last day of trekking, and the longest, we start on quiet lanes, which turn into ancient mule tracks and paths linking rolling fields of wheat, lavender, poppies and coriander. We reach the village of Saint-Martin-de-Brômes, with its thirteenth-century tower built by the Knights Templar. Then we head for our final destination. Gréoux is a Roman hilltop town, with a popular hot mineral spa, narrow streets, and a “Templier” chateau. We should arrive at our hotel with enough time left over to explore or just relax and soak up the atmosphere, before enjoying our final meal together.

Our trip ends after breakfast!