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St Tropez Coastal Walk For E950 this moderate walking holiday presents the gems that only St Tropez and surrounds offers – exploring secluded coves, unspoilt coastline, delightful old nearby villages, an impressive Monastery and enjoy the brilliant azure diamond encrusted sea, scented umbrella pines, and experience St Tropez from both sea and land. This holiday is based in a 3-star beach hotel near Le Lavandou,
with private air-conditioned rooms, breakfast, some picnic lunches
and 2 evening meals. Suitable for recreational walkers, graded moderate, with times varying between 2 to 5 hours daily. 2012 DATES (Saturday PM to Saturday AM - 7 nights accommodation and 6 days of activities)
2 to 9 June ;22 to 29 Sept. Extra dates..19 to 26 May Other dates available on request (minimum of
4). 
NOTE: The famous regatta of St Tropez, with ocean going yachts and tall ships, takes place during the last week of September. A dramatic and unforgettable sight both from land and sea and made even more interesting from our boat, or on the walks. INCLUSIONS: Transfers from Marseille Airport, accommodation in a 3-star beachside hotel, 7 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches with wine,
2 evening meals, schooner cruise in St Tropez, guiding and transport throughout the week, ferry charges and entry to the Chartreuse de la Verne. Other drinks not included. TRANSFERS from Marseille or Hyeres/Toulon airport are included provided your flight arrives before 3pm. However if you fly to Nice, a coach transfer is available to Le Lavandou where we will meet you by prior arrangement. This holiday is a moderate walking holiday designed specifically for the occasional weekend walkers. It explores this picturesque region, discovering the unspoilt corners, from the Island of Porquerolles to the St Tropez coast, the nearby ancient villages of Bormes and Collobriere, swimming in secluded coves, and delightful scenic walks. Also visit the impressive Monastery of the Chartreuse de la Verne, set in the Foret des Maures. Enjoy the seasonal freshness and brilliant wildflowers of the early spring holiday. Or during May the sea is warming, for the intrepid bathers. By Autumn the region is softer and quieter, with the sea at its warmest, ideal for more swimming, and the viewing the Regatta festivities.
| ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS: The 3-star hotel in Aguebelle is 10 minutes from Le Lavandou. Facing the sea, your rooms are just
50m from the beach.
PLEASE NOTE that we have changed hotels. In
the same area with sea views. Photos to follow.. The rooms all have balconies, with private bathrooms. |
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| Breakfasts are taken in the Hotel. Lunches are picnic salads with wine.
2 dinners are provided in local
restaurants with a choice of menus available.
There are 4 or 5 restaurants within 5 minutes walk of the hotel, |
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| ITINERARY OVERVIEW We can also help with accommodation if you wish to extend your stay. |
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Day 1 Saturday. Arrival prior to 3pm for transfers from Marseille airport, and by prior arrangement for arrival into Hyeres/Toulon airport, or if you fly to Nice, and arrive by coach to Le Lavandou. Settle in on arrival at the hotel, before ‘Welcome’ drinks and a briefing at 7pm. The 3-course dinner begins at 7.30pm, with a variety of choices. |
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Day 2 Sunday. We begin our adventure from La Tour Ronde near Hyeres with a 20 minute ferry journey to the historical Isle of Porquerolles, a haunt of pirates and later invaded by the British, its recent history is linked to the French colonies and some rich families. More will be explained by your guide during the walk. After arrival discover this quaint island village before following the easy shaded winding path, passing picturesque coves, white sandy beaches, colourful yachts, and the Napoleonic Forts – a true photographic delight. Our picnic salad lunch is relaxed, under shady trees and close to quiet swimming beach. After lunch the walk continues to the highest point of the island at 110metres, with expansive views over the entire island. The walk continues along the ruggedly attractive northern coast with its sea cliffs similar to Cornwall, before returning back to the village along a track lined with olive groves and fruit orchards, arriving back t the village in time for a refreshing cold drink in our favourite bar, before taking the ferry to the mainland. Once back at the hotel there is still time for another relaxing swim on the beach before dinner. Isle of Porquerolles coastline, with the mainland in the background. 
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| Day 3 Monday. From Collobriere today’s walk leads us up onto the plateau of the Massif des Maures. The transfer to Collobriere is via an extremely interesting, scenic road where you will experience the vastness, and emptiness of this forested region, and see the difference between the coastal towns and villages. Once famous for cork production and mining, Collobriere now relies on the chestnut industry, producing excellent marron glacee. Our walk takes us through the village and up into the dense, hardwood forest, one of the oldest in France, before entering a valley teeming with wild flowers in the spring, a real botanists' delight. We counted 120 different flowers in 2004! On reaching the plateau area we relax for our picnic lunch, were we also find some standing stones and a 1000-year old chestnut with a girth of 8 metres. During spring, sometimes we’ve also enjoyed the company of a semi tame Vixen. After lunch, a leisurely stroll leads to our rendezvous with the minibus on the road to the Chartreuse de la Verne, with wild boar often seen along the road. Chartreuse de la Verne is a 12th Century monastery, hidden away deep in the forest, and is closely linked to the regions’ history. Back in Collobriere, we have time for a drink and stroll in the village before returning to our hotel. Distance 10kms/4hrs with stops. |
Day 4 Tuesday. This morning a short drive takes us up to the very attractive historic 10th Century hilltop village of Bormes les Mimosas. After exploring the narrow streets we set off on our walk up to the Chapel overlooking the village. The panoramic view from stretches as far as the famous Golden Isles, visited on our first day. Here, we relax and enjoy our picnic lunch before taking a track that meanders down through a forest of cork oaks, amass of wild flower bushes and butterflies to the village. Returning to the hotel by early afternoon allowing you time to enjoy the beach, swim and relax before dinner. Distance 4kms/2hrs with stops.
 Day 5 Wednesday. Today our walk leads us around the Cap Lardier and on to Plage d'Escalet .The stony worn path meanders and ascending gradually along the coast close to the sea edge and sandy coved with beaches, often shaded by the umbrella pines till we reach the main headland. Again in the spring this is an extremely colourful walk with masses of wild flowers, including poppies, roses, hottentot figs, and many others. After rounding the Cape, our walk descends to the sea, where we relax on the beach with our picnic lunch under the shade of an old pine, with driftwood as our seating. After lunch we continue along this lengthy white sand beach, popular with nudists. We stop for a swim, usually not nude. Then we continue to our destination of Les Escalets, arriving around 3pm, for a welcome cold drink, or ice cream, if you wish. After a short rest we drive to Ramatuelle, an old Moorish settlement, before heading back to our hotel, stopping at the local wine cooperative in the village for a quick tasting. Distance 10kms/5hrs with stops. 
Day 6 Thursday. This is a varied day, beginning with a chance to wander around the extensive Le Lavandou Provencal market. Today you have the opportunity to buy your own lunch from the local variety of food on offer at the market. Taking your lunch with us, we enjoy a short drive to Pellegrine beach, to begin the prettiest walk of the week along the Bregancon coast. The path follows the picturesque coast, in and out of divine coves with white sand beaches. The contrast of the azure sea, white sand and emerald wind blown trees is a photographic delight. Many postcard views have been taken along this short stretch of the coast. We stop for our lunch at one of the best beaches, with a convenient bar/restaurant hidden in the forest. You’ll also have time for a swim. The walk culminates with views to the Fort of Bregancon, the official residence of the current French President. Walk distance 8kms/4hrs with stops.
 Day 7 Friday. Today we begin our walk from the famous Pamplonne Beach to the headland of St Tropez, enjoying superb views of the snow-covered Southern Alps behind Nice. We then backtrack to a beachside restaurant for lunch.
our beach restaurant At 2pm a short drive takes us in to the central square, the Place des Lices of St Tropez. From here you can explore this exciting town with its narrow streets, chic shops, cafes, artists displays, and of course, the harbour with its multitude of massive millionaires motor yachts. Here we also enjoy a delightful 1hr cruise, with a full English commentary, in the wooden schooner, Brigantin, cruising from the harbour past the town and around to Millionaires' Bay. After returning to our hotel, later that evening we enjoy farewell drinks before having a final meal together. Walk distance 4kms/3hrs with stops.
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Day 8 Saturday. This morning we bid farewell by 9am. If applicable transfers to Marseille and Hyeres/Toulon airports, are arranged, Please allow at least 3 hours minimum for all transfers. Nice transfer is via coach service, not included in the package.
For bookings or enquiries phone us on 0033 475 276 829 or mobile 0033 678 554 023 Email: Francetrek@aol.com www.Francetrek.com
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