{"id":7361,"date":"2020-11-21T15:36:57","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T14:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/hiking-france\/?page_id=7361\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T21:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T20:35:59","slug":"short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\/specialtours\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille","title":{"rendered":"Short guided hikes on the doorstep of Avignon, Nice, Aix and Marseille"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"builder-section-1605969251629\" class=\"builder-section-first builder-section builder-section-banner builder-section-next-text\" style=\"background-repeat: repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-slide content-position-none\" style=\"background-color:#008091;background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Riou_contre-jour_2.jpg&#039;);\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-inner-content\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #f98939;\"><span style=\"color: #ffff00;\"><strong>Short guided hikes in the doorstep of Avignon, Nice, Aix and Marseille<\/strong><\/span><big><br \/><\/big><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1606068886357\" class=\"builder-section-prev-banner builder-section builder-section-text builder-section-next-text has-background builder-section-full-width builder-text-columns-2\" style=\"background-color:#f98939;background-repeat: repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-1606068886357-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-14744\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=960%2C764&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=1024%2C815&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=300%2C239&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=768%2C611&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=24%2C19&amp;ssl=1 24w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=36%2C29&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?resize=48%2C38&amp;ssl=1 48w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2.jpg?w=1362&amp;ssl=1 1362w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-2\" id=\"builder-section-1606068886357-column-2\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Strolling along the Rh\u00f4ne River in Avignon<br \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This gentle hike leads you uphill above the town of <em>Villeneuve les Avignon<\/em>, facing the <em>Palais des Papes <\/em>in<em> Avignon<\/em>, on the other bank of the <em>Rh\u00f4ne<\/em>, second longest river flowing through France. During this nature walk, you will stroll through pine groves, garrigue scrubland and pass by one or two dairy goat farms. On a bend, the landscape opens and you see <em>Mont Ventoux<\/em> and the <em>Dentelles de Montmirail<\/em> in the distance. But the best views are over the river, especially the ones from the <em>Ch\u00e2teau Pointu<\/em> built on a cliff towering the <em>Rh\u00f4ne<\/em> valley : you can\u00a0admire the river and the <em>Ile des Papes<\/em> at your feet, the <em>Fort St Andr\u00e9<\/em>\u00a0in <em>Villeneuve les Avignon<\/em>, and can make out a little farther the towers of the <em>Palais des Papes<\/em>. An easy and pleasant hike to get some fresh air just outside <em>Avignon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walking time<\/strong>\u00a0: 2.5 hours<br \/><strong>Rating<\/strong>\u00a0: easy<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1606118742269\" class=\"builder-section-prev-text builder-section builder-section-text builder-section-next-text builder-section-full-width builder-text-columns-2\" style=\"background-repeat: repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-1606118742269-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-14671\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=960%2C780&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=1024%2C832&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=300%2C244&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=768%2C624&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=24%2C19&amp;ssl=1 24w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=36%2C29&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?resize=48%2C39&amp;ssl=1 48w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/littoral2_flick.jpg?w=1325&amp;ssl=1 1325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-2\" id=\"builder-section-1606118742269-column-2\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The lovely horn of St Jean Cap Ferrat in Nice<br \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once fishing port<em>, St Jean Cap Ferrat<\/em>\u00a0is today a quiet seaside resort very quickly accessible from the city of <em>Nice. <\/em>This coastal walking path around its peninsula is a short and pleasant getaway from the bustle of the French Riviera towns and cities. Walking all the way as closely as possible to the sea, under the leading of your local guide, you will marvel at the beauties that Mother Nature has created for us: the sublime contrasts between the blues of the sea and sky, the whites of the rocks and the greens of the Aleppo pines and garrigue shrubs. And if you are lucky enough to come between March and June, you will see, during this nature walk, thousands of beautiful flowers of varied colors : pink, blue, purple, white, red and yellow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walking time<\/strong> : 2.5 hours<br \/><strong>Rating<\/strong> : leisurely<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1605969724884\" class=\"builder-section-prev-text builder-section builder-section-text builder-section-next-text has-background builder-section-full-width builder-text-columns-2\" style=\"background-color:#f98939;background-repeat: repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-1605969724884-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14823 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=579%2C435&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"579\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=24%2C18&amp;ssl=1 24w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=36%2C27&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?resize=48%2C36&amp;ssl=1 48w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Marseille.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-2\" id=\"builder-section-1605969724884-column-2\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A scenic trail over the southern districts of Marseille<br \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every city should be so lucky to have a national park in its own backyard. With your local guide, you start this hike from the <em>Pointe Rouge<\/em> district, which is located to the south of the sea-front, within a 20-minute drive from the city center. He then leads you within a good hour&#8217;s walk up to the top of a rocky escarpment, where you are surrounded by a pine grove and white cliffs. Rising to 263 meters (863 feet), this rock offers from this height a great panorama over southern districts and over <em>Marseille Bay<\/em>, with the <em>Frioul islands<\/em> in the middle. You will be standing up there in the foothills of\u00a0<em>Marseilleveyre, <\/em>part of the<em> Calanques<\/em> mountains, and enjoy on your left the view of their white limestone cliffs and peaks above your head. A beautiful scenery offered by a short trip, not difficult and of good access from downtown.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walking time<\/strong> : 2.5 hours\u00a0<br \/><strong>Rating<\/strong> : leisurely<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1606036180506\" class=\"builder-section-prev-text builder-section builder-section-text builder-section-next-text has-background builder-section-full-width builder-text-columns-2\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff;background-repeat: repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-1606036180506-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-14739\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=960%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=768%2C767&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=24%2C24&amp;ssl=1 24w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=36%2C36&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?resize=48%2C48&amp;ssl=1 48w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/val_de_lArc_flick2.jpg?w=1247&amp;ssl=1 1247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-2\" id=\"builder-section-1606036180506-column-2\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Just outside Aix en Provence :<br \/>the val de l&#8217;Arc and Montaiguet hills<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Starting at the gates of the town, this half-day hike allows you to explore two contrasted landscapes : the green and shady banks ot the <em>Arc<\/em> river that passes through the southern districts, and the dry and open <em>Montaiguet<\/em> hills rising above. During your short walk along the river, where nature is still present, a stone&#8217;s throw from <em>Aix-en-Provence<\/em>, you can immerse yourself into a countryside atmosphere. You pass between two of the forty monumental piers of the famous railway viaduct, the <em>Arc de Meyran<\/em> ; this semi-circular arch bridge was painted seventeen times by <em>C\u00e9zanne<\/em>. Leaving the river banks, you then head towards the foot of the <em>Montaiguet<\/em> hills.\u00a0 The gentle climb up there will give you access to some great views of the <em>Aix<\/em> countryside and <em>Mont Sainte Victoire<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walking time<\/strong>\u00a0: 3 hours<br \/><strong>Rating<\/strong>\u00a0: leisurely\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-text_136\" class=\"builder-section-prev-text builder-section builder-section-text builder-section-next-text has-background builder-section-full-width builder-text-columns-2\" style=\"background-color:#f98939;background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-text_136-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14828\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?resize=770%2C665&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"770\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?w=770&amp;ssl=1 770w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?resize=300%2C259&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?resize=768%2C663&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?resize=24%2C21&amp;ssl=1 24w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?resize=36%2C31&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Frioul_flick1.jpg?resize=48%2C41&amp;ssl=1 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-2\" id=\"builder-section-text_136-column-2\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Frioul islands :<br \/><\/strong><strong style=\"font-size: 2.5rem;\">peaceful beauty in front of bustling Marseille<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After jumping on a boat, you can travel from downtown <em>Marseille<\/em> to the <em>Frioul archipelago<\/em> within 20 minutes. Once landed, you explore the two largest of the 4 islands that the archipelago has ; they offer an outstanding heritage, both natural and cultural. Part of the <em>Calanques National Park<\/em>, they are genuine and wild. And their microclimate makes the local flora very specific: many plants that live there exist nowhere else in the world, except on the stretch of coastline to the east of the <em>Marseille Bay<\/em>. Moreover, the islands are considered as a major European site regarding the reproduction of seabirds. 5 species are remarkable, among which the <em>European shag<\/em> and the <em>yelkouan shearwater<\/em>. During this hike, your guide also interprets the <em>Frioul Islands<\/em>&#8216; human legacy. And this cultural heritage is dual : military (two ruined forts and numerous batteries of cannons) and sanitary (a two-century-old hospital, partly restored) ; indeed, they were the quarantine islands for France in the Mediterranean a few centuries ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walking time<\/strong> : 3 hours (the total duration, boat trips and breaks included, is at least 4.5 hours)<br \/><strong>Rating<\/strong>\u00a0: leisurely<br \/>Boat trip tickets are not included.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-3\" id=\"builder-section-text_136-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-text_164\" class=\"builder-section-prev-text builder-section builder-section-text builder-section-next-banner builder-section-full-width builder-text-columns-2\" style=\"background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-text_164-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18000\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?resize=869%2C798&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"869\" height=\"798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?w=869&amp;ssl=1 869w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?resize=300%2C275&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?resize=768%2C705&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?resize=24%2C22&amp;ssl=1 24w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?resize=36%2C33&amp;ssl=1 36w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ste-Victoire_lac_bimont_4.jpg?resize=48%2C44&amp;ssl=1 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 869px) 100vw, 869px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-2\" id=\"builder-section-text_164-column-2\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Walking from one lake to the other, outside Aix<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This 3-hour guided hike takes place in the outdoors halfway between the city of <em>Aix-en-Provence<\/em> and <em>Mont Sainte Victoire<\/em>. And it allows you to enjoy views of two beautiful lakes: <em>Lac Zola<\/em> and <em>Lac<\/em> <em>Bimont<\/em>. From the last one, the walking route follows the bottom of the beautiful gorge downstream through a mixed vegetation of pine wood and <em>garrigue<\/em>\u00b9, this low scrubland so typical of Provence. On your way back, you will be hiking in the <em>Mont Sainte Victoire<\/em> foothills, with the imposing mountain about 2 miles away. The lack of shade along the trails makes the hike a perfect one on cool, sunny days of spring, autumn or winter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walking time<\/strong> : 3 hours<br \/><strong>Rating<\/strong> : moderate (rugged terrain \/ steep slopes)<br \/><strong>Season calendar<\/strong>\u00a0: year-round (summer :\u00a08am \u2013 11am only, not allowed on fire risk days)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-text-row\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-3\" id=\"builder-section-text_164-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1606141803137\" class=\"builder-section-prev-text builder-section builder-section-banner builder-section-last\" style=\"background-repeat: repeat;background-position: center center;\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-slide content-position-none\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-inner-content\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/hiking-france\/contact-us\/\">CONTACT<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short guided hikes in the doorstep of Avignon, Nice, Aix and Marseille \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Strolling along the Rh\u00f4ne River in Avignon \u00a0 This gentle hike leads you uphill above the town of Villeneuve les Avignon, facing the Palais des Papes in Avignon, on the other bank of the &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":165,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-builder.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7361","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Short guided hikes on the doorstep of Avignon, Nice, Aix and Marseille | En route Provence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Come and discover Provence&#039;s outdoors on foot, escorted by a local walking guide, and get the most of its multiple faces : the pretty Provence towns and villages, from Gordes, Roussillon, St-Tropez, Vence or Bormes les Mimosas to St Remy or Les Baux de Provence, lush vineyards, colorful countryside and bright rugged landscapes like those of the Calanques National Park. Whatever your plan: the best of day trips from Nice or Marseille, a daily walk over one week in the Luberon or just the ascent of Mont Ventoux or Sainte-Victoire, we can provide you our experience and knowledge.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\/specialtours\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Short guided hikes on the doorstep of Avignon, Nice, Aix and Marseille | En route Provence\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Come and discover Provence&#039;s outdoors on foot, escorted by a local walking guide, and get the most of its multiple faces : the pretty Provence towns and villages, from Gordes, Roussillon, St-Tropez, Vence or Bormes les Mimosas to St Remy or Les Baux de Provence, lush vineyards, colorful countryside and bright rugged landscapes like those of the Calanques National Park. Whatever your plan: the best of day trips from Nice or Marseille, a daily walk over one week in the Luberon or just the ascent of Mont Ventoux or Sainte-Victoire, we can provide you our experience and knowledge.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\/specialtours\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"En route Provence\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-12T20:35:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2-1024x815.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\\\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\\\/specialtours\\\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\\\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\\\/specialtours\\\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille\",\"name\":\"Short guided hikes on the doorstep of Avignon, Nice, Aix and Marseille | En route Provence\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\\\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\\\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\\\/specialtours\\\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\\\/hiking-walking-tours-provence-france\\\/specialtours\\\/short-guided-hikes-doorstep-avignon-nice-aix-marseille#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.enrouteprovence.fr\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/Rhone-a-avignon_flick2-1024x815.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-21T14:36:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-12T20:35:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Come and discover Provence's outdoors on foot, escorted by a local walking guide, and get the most of its multiple faces : the pretty Provence towns and villages, from Gordes, Roussillon, St-Tropez, Vence or Bormes les Mimosas to St Remy or Les Baux de Provence, lush vineyards, colorful countryside and bright rugged landscapes like those of the Calanques National Park. 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