Run Provence: A Guided Culinary & Trail Running Vacation

Arrive in Buis-les-Baronnies, in the “Baronnies Provençales Natural Park” and settle into our hotel in the old town. A transfer is provided from Avignon, which is accessible via France’s ultra-fast TGV train from either Paris or direct from the Paris airport. We’ll then meet before dinner to get to know each other and chat through the week ahead.

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. 

Smooth single track takes us to Col Milmandre, then we’ll wind our way back down to the valley on ancient gravel roads, finally passing through the Gorges d’Ubrieux, through which the Carthaginian warrior Hannibal was said to have passed. We’ll finish the day by wading across the wide river gorge, before coasting back into town. There’ll be time to relax in the hotel pool and spa or wander around the old town of Buis-les-Baronnies.

We’ll run right from the hotel again today, venturing up to the towering limestone fin of Rocher Saint-Julien. This famous landmark is popular with climbers, but our ascent will take a trail up through forest to reach the rocky ridgeline. We’ll enjoy great views of the surrounding mountains before descending to the Menon valley. Here, gentle country roads and trails take us alongside the river, through pastures and vineyards to a lunch stop at the outstanding family-run restaurant La Grangette de Biquette, featuring local and sustainable produce. Today’s tour closes with a short climb to give us great views of Buis-les-Baronnies, before we head down to our hotel. This evening, we’ll enjoy a tasting of local products before heading out to dinner in the village.

We say goodbye to Buis-les-Baronnies and take a private transfer to the ancient village of Montbrun-les-Bains. We’ll pass the 12th Century Château d’Aulan, followed by some short climbs over the Le Col des Arles et Col du Puits, then gravel trails and dirt tracks over mostly rolling terrain, with some twisty single track and great views of Mont Ventoux just across the valley. 

In the afternoon, we’ll have time to wander around Montbrun-les-Bains, a medieval town that is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in France. There are cafés to stop at as you explore the cobbled streets and a medieval fortress. 

Dinner this evening is at the Restaurant Les Voyageurs, which features local dishes such as duck with herb and honey sauce, as well as Mediterranean seafood.

Today, we’ll get a private transfer to the village of Malaucène, then start our run on small roads, between the vineyards. Gravel trails, then narrow single track lead us up above treeline to a ridge, and the summit of Arfuyen mountain, where we’ll have good views of the Dentelles de Montmirail rock towers, and our running route for the next day. 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.  We’ll spend the night at the notable Hotel Ventoux, a charming small estate enclosed by ancient walls and featuring a beautiful garden, just a few minutes from the village center, and eat dinner at a wonderful local restaurant, such as Chez Laurette.

The last trail run of our tour is a varied traverse from Malaucène to our final destination, Gigondas. In the morning there’s a chance to visit the town’s weekly market, with an array of products from local producers, before we start our run. On our run, we’ll pass Arfuyen mountain and climb to Pas de Loup, or the “wolf step”, then follow the ridge to the summit of Crête de St-Amand with wonderful panoramic views. From here, rolling trails lead past local vineyards and the impressive rocky fin of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and down to our last stop, Gigondas. This pretty village was founded by the Romans and is enclosed by medieval ramparts. In the heart of the Côtes-du-Rhône wine region, Gigondas is surrounded by kilometers of rolling vineyards. This evening, we’ll enjoy a tasting of the outstanding local wines.

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.