| On Sunday the famous flower
festival fills the town with colour and fragrance. Parades, music,
local specialities, and local characters all provide a true holiday
atmosphere.
The walks follow the coast and usually take 4 to 5 hours with visits
to one of the offshore islands, the lavender market, and the local
wine caves.
Programme
Saturday .. Transfer from Marseille Airport at 3pm or earlier
if early flights available. Transfer time to the hotel Rabelais
in Le Lavandou is 2hrs 30 on mainly autoroutes. Settle into hotel
, stroll around the town followed by an aperitif and briefing before
dinner in a local restaurant .Note that a fast coach service from
Nice Airport to Hyeres is available and we will collect from Hyeres
late pm . |  |  |  | | The view from terrace | Hotel sun terrace | Typical bedroom. |
Sunday. The Flower Festival. The programme starts at 9am
with an open air Mass in Provencal..very colourful with locals dressed
in traditional provencal clothing. There will be a variety of events
in the streets , music , exhibitions , local food and wine throughout
the morning . Lunch will be, hopefully , a picnic on the beach .
At 2pm the Carnival starts with a parade of the flower bedecked
floats , bands etc .There is a reception later on at the Town Hall
.If clients wish we will include a walk in the morning to replace
the am programme . The walk will be out to the headland of Cap Benat
along part of the coastal path . Dinner will be in a local restaurant
in the town.
Monday ..The Isle of Porquerolles . A 30 min transfer via
Hyeres and a 20 minute ferry crossing lead to this beautiful island
only 7 kms by 4kms large . The walk follows first the easy low level
path along the soft northern part of the island with its beaches
and coves . It then climbs up to the high point of the island at
207m!! The dramatic rugged southern coastline is totally different
and our path remains high above the sea . The views across to the
mainland are superb. The return is via the island's lighthouse.
Many points of interest and much history makes this a very interesting
day out . Walk time 5 to 6 hrs . Distance 12 kms. Time for a drink
at the harbour before returning to the mainland and the drive back
to Le Lavandou . Dinner tonight in a restaurant which specialises
in sea food .
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Tuesday ..Cap Lardier.. A 30 min drive via Cavalaire
leads to the start point at the Plage of Gigaro . It was here
that the Allies landed in late 1944 . The coastal path is followed
right down by the sea initially in a setting of umbrella pines
, azur sea and blue skies ..very photogenic . A stiff climb
leads up onto the forest covered Cape itself which is usually
'home' to many migratory birds. An old Napoleonic gun battery
site is found here plus a semaphore Station .The walk drops
down again and follows this totally unspoilt coastline to the
Silver Beach where we will have lunch . After lunch ,
after a tour of the next cape with its tiny rocky paths, we
continue tothe Escalets beach where a taxi will be waiting to return the group
to Gigaro Some time will be spent in Cavalaire for an afternoon
drink and cakes we hope . Return to Le Lavandou . Walk time
5 hrs . Distance 10 kms .Clients select their own restaurant
and pay them selves tonight. |
Wednesday ..Bormes les Mimosas.. This beautiful hilltop
village really does require a thorough exploration . But , this
must wait until we have completed a very attractive walk which leads
from the village through the ruined chateau up to the old chapel
and then eventually onto the fine ridge which overlooks the whole
bay of Le Lavandou. There are views to the Alps and the red Esterel
rocks in the distance plus all the golden isles . A steep then forested
track leads back to the village . Walk time 5 to 6 hrs
at a leisuredly pace !!. Distance
10 kms .2 ascents of 200 m during the walk . Plenty of time left
however to explore the village and its delightful old world charms
.. Time to return to the hotel in time for another restaurant meal
/
Thursday …Le
Lavandou market .This market sells an excellent variety of local
foods , clothing , material , handicrafts etc etc . Clients buy
their own picnic lunch today from the market . Its good for using
that rusty French !! . Leaving the market at 11am there is a short
transfer to Cabasson , a small village around the headland from
Le Lavandou . From there a pretty low level coastal path leads through
what was very private hunting land to the beach of Pellegrin and
the little harbour beyond it .This is a very quiet corner of the
Coastal region and the little coves and beaches with off shore islands
provide a very pretty afternoon out ..Walk time 3 hrs . Distance
10 kms . Dinner in Bormes tonight.
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Friday…The Presqu'ile de Giens ..The 'nearly'
island walk . In fact Giens is attached to the mainland by two
sand bars so the ' nearly ' title . This walk follows the whole
coast line around the island providing views along the coast
to the west to Toulon and then , as we continue , views of the
islands and then the Lavandou Bay . |
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It is a fascinating walk following the coastline closely
with many short ups and downs , rocky steps , close encounters
with the water and remarkably unspoilt .The walk can be reduced
at several points if time and tiredness dictate .One of the
most attractive walks along the coast . 5 hrs and 14 kms in
length . If there is time we will return via the salt lakes
that were part of Hyeres' past .
Return to Le Lavandou . This evening clients choose their
favourite restaurant for the final meal , paid for by Francetrek.
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Saturday . Depart for Marseille or Nice at 9am . Arrival
by 12 noon at the Airport .
Price … E850..Inclusive of B and B accommodation in 2 Star
hotel in twin /double rooms . 6 dinners in local restaurants , 5
picnics,entry to Corso Fleuri , island ferry ,local transport and
transfers to and from Marseille Airport .
Dates 2009............7 to 14 March.
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