Inaugural Provence Hiking Week is a Blast!

This was the first week I've offered in the Drôme region of Provence, our winter home. As one of my group said, it's not a "brand name" part of France, little known, quiet, and wild. Hence the attraction!
It's going to take a while for me to draw the crowds, but the hiking here is truly stunning. Limestone gorges and plateaux abound, scattered with ancient perched villages, fast flowing rivers splitting one range from another.

We did 5 days walking and 1 day of visiting Roman remains and a Provençal market before an afternoon cycle ride.
Hikes took us to broad summits scattered with early wildflowers, where we enjoyed vast views of the surrounding landscape. We also spent a day walking and scrambling around the Dentelles massif, a climber's paradise.
On the last day we couldn't resist an ascent of Mont Ventoux (iconic peak, Giant of Provence, Tour de France and all that) which was still snowy, not that that seemed to stop the stream of cyclists we watched grinding up the last few switchbacks.

Approachingn the summit of the famous Mont Ventoux

 The group was most convivial mix of Italian , American and British which made for some really interesting conversations.
And we made an effort to sample all that the region has to offer in terms of food and wine!

Certainly a trip to be repeated - I'm hoping it will become an annual event for Trekking in the Alps.

Roman remains in Vaison

Spotting Mont Blanc from Mont Ventoux

Wildflowers added much interest, especially as there are so many different levels of vegetation, raning from alpine to mediterranean

 Come and join us next spring!