Run Provence: A Guided Culinary & Trail Running Vacation
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| Apr 10 - 16, 2026 | 7 days - 6 nights |
Join us for a springtime trip to Provence, France! We’ll run through olive groves, pine forests and along herb-lined trails, spending our nights in historic villages as we take in the local culture and cuisine, amid cool temps and without the summer crowds and heat.
Provence, France, is famous for its picturesque landscape, scent-filled lavender fields, vineyards and ancient hilltop villages. It’s also packed with stunning trails and some of Europe’s tastiest cuisine! Trail running in the south of France in the Spring gives us the best conditions, as we avoid the heat and crowds of the busy summer season.
Provence is coming into the trail running scene and there are a growing number of races in the region, including a new UTMB® World Series race. At the same time, the region continues to be known around the world for its excellent food and drink. Olives, honey, apricots, truffles, goat cheese and wine are just some of the world-famous produce found here. Our daily run distances and climbs are designed to allow plenty of time to discover and enjoy Provence’s wonderful cuisine throughout the tour.
This Spring – Trail Run with us in Provence, France
Our tour takes place in the Parc Naturel de Baronnies Provençal, a preserve known for its rolling hills filled with aromatic and medicinal plants like wild thyme, rosemary and the ever-present lavender. We start in the north of Provence, in the quaint town of Buis-les-Baronnies, known for its stone-built old town with winding cobbled streets and stores selling local produce. The village is loved by sports enthusiasts drawn by the beautiful hills, dramatic river gorge and rocky crags. After a few days here, we’ll travel to the hilltop village and medieval fortress of Montbrun-les-Bains, and then onto Malaucène, at the base of famous Mont Ventoux. From here, we’ll run to our final destination of Gigondas, a compact, ancient village deep in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône wine region.
This level 2 tour includes approximately 15 – 20 km of trail running each day, with around 1000m vertical, sometimes on technical rocky terrain. It is possible to shorten the route on some days, or take a rest day.
Your tour will include a special supplement that gives an overview of the food and wine of the region, along with a summary of some of the places we may dine for both lunches and dinners.
Top photos: Sam Hill, Doug Mayer, Sam Lhermillier
Book this tour
$4890 per person
$800 single supplement
Make it privately guided
Prefer to go guided with your own group? Inquire here.
Go self-guided
Run on your own schedule, without a guide, and let us take care of the logistics! See details here.
Itinerary
The quaint old town of Buis-les-Baronnies. (Photo: Doug Mayer)
Day 1 - Arrive in Buis-Les-Baronnies
Arrive in Buis-les-Baronnies, in the “Baronnies Provençales Natural Park”. We’ll meet before dinner to get to know each other and chat through the week ahead.
Buis-les-Baronnies. (Photo: Cam Bevan)
Day 2 - Buis-les-Baronnies
Today, we’ll enjoy a loop to the north of Buis-les-Baronnies over the Montagnes des Plates. A mix of dirt roads and single track take us on the climb out of town, past vineyards and olive orchards. We’ll reach the Col de Malpertuis and take in the view of Mont Ventoux, popular with cyclists around the world as one of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France.
Centuries old villages dot the Provence landscape. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 3 - Buis-les-Baronnies
The famous landmark of Rocher Saint-Julien is popular with climbers, but our ascent will take a trail up through forest to reach the rocky ridgeline. We’ll enjoy great views before descending to the Menon valley. Here, gentle country roads and trails take us alongside the river, to a lunch stop at the outstanding family-run restaurant La Grangette de Biquette, featuring local and sustainable produce. This evening, we’ll enjoy a tasting of local products, then dinner in the village.
Dinner in Provence. (Photo: Doug Mayer)
Day 4 - Montbrun-les-Bains
We’ll take a private transfer to the ancient village of Montbrun-les-Bains for our run past the 12th Century Château d’Aulan, followed by some short climbs over the le Col des Arles et Col du Puits.
Fragrant spring flowers lining single track. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 5 - Malaucène
Today, we’ll get a private transfer to the village of Malaucène, where gravel trails, then narrow single track lead us up above treeline to a ridge and the summit of Arfuyen mountain, A section of more technical downhill leads to Col de la Chaine, and then the last few miles of rolling smooth single track bring us back to Malaucène.
Rustic signage on the way up to the Montagnes des Plates. (Photo: Doug Mayer)
Day 6 - Gigondas
The last trail run of our tour is a varied traverse from Malaucène to our final destination, Gigondas. We’ll climb to the summit of Crête de St-Amand with wonderful panoramic views. From here, rolling trails lead past the impressive rocky fin of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and down to our last stop, Gigondas. This evening, we’ll enjoy a tasting of the outstanding local wines.
Adieu Provence! (Photo: Cam Bevan)
Day 7 - Depart from Gigondas
After a delicious breakfast in our hotel, today it’s time to bid adieu to the Provence region and head home, or off to our next destination.
Regional map
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader
- Six nights of accommodation – all in 3* star hotels
- All breakfasts, packed/light lunches and trail nutrition, plus six multi-course dinners
- Avignon TGV Train Station to Buis-les-Baronnies group taxi on arrival
- Gigondas to Avignon TGV Train Station group taxi on departure
- Transfers to and from trailheads as per the itinerary
- Luggage transfers (luggage available every night)
- Run the Alps’ Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages of information about where you’ll be running, what to pack, how to train, and plenty of other insider information from Run the Alps staff and guides
- An in-country welcome pack – includes trail nutrition and a Run the Alps T-shirt (Note: You can choose to opt out of the T-shirt during registration; if you do, we’ll automatically donate the equivalent to one of our 1% for the Planet partners instead.)
- A day of professional photography on the trails
- Personalized support before and during your tour
- 20% discount in the Run the Alps store
- 20% discount code at The Hub Chamonix for pre- or post- tour accommodation
- Contribution to our Net Positive initiatives
- Flights
- Travel to/from your arrival/departure airport to Avignon TGV Train Station
- Transport to and from trailheads if you shorten a run
- Drinks at dinners
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Tips for guides
- Trip Insurance
A transfer is provided from Avignon TGV Train Station, France, which is accessible via France’s fast TGV train from both Paris and Paris airport. Run the Alps will provide information that explains how to travel from Paris to Avignon in your tour package. We’ll meet before dinner on the first night to get to know each other and chat through the week ahead.
A 50-minute taxi transfer is provided to Avignon TGV Train Station. From there it’s possible to take France’s fast TGV train to Paris or Paris Airport. This train takes about 3hr, so it’s likely that you’ll need to stay overnight in Paris and catch a flight the next day, if you want to avoid a very early start.
- Want to extend your trip with more running? We can help provide self-guided run descriptions for nearby regions of the Alps, and/or trail race options.
- Concerned about being ready? We’re here to help. Check out our Alps Training Resources or get in touch if you’d like to be put in touch with a coach.
- Can a non-running partner join me on this tour? Yes – read how hiking and sightseeing companions can come too.
- Celebrating a special occasion? Each year we get a number of guests who are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or retirement with a Run the Alps trip. If this is you, let us know!
- Alumni Discount: We love welcoming our alumni back to the Alps and offer a 10% discount on all standard Run the Alps trips. Simply check the Alumni box on the registration form and we’ll apply the discount when we invoice you.
- Tour Balance: Your tour balance is due 90 days before your tour starts. We will send you an invoice about a month before that due date. However, you can pay your balance at any time. If you’d like the simplicity of paying in full sooner, or would like to pay in installments, please contact us.
- Tour Grants Program: Run the Alps is committed to making our trips more inclusive. If you’d like to join this trip, but don’t think you can afford it, please check out our Tour Grants Program.
- Trip Insurance: Life can sometimes throw us a curveball and wreak havoc upon the best laid plans, which is why Run the Alps requires trip insurance. Learn more here.
- Terms and Conditions: You can read up on them here.
Guides for this Tour
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