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Saturday.Transfers arranged from Marseille Airport at 3pm
or earlier if all clients have earlier flights . The transfer is
mainly by Autoroute in our comfortable minibus .On arrival at the
hotel after clients have settled in we offer an aperitif followed
by a detailed briefing . Dinner will be at a local restaurant.We
pay for the wine tonight .
Sunday . Bormes les Mimosas is a delightful village about
10 minutes drive from Le Lavandou and it is here that every year
the the Mimosa Festival is held . The ' Corso Fleuri' has a distinguished
patron ..Madame Chirac ..the President's wife of course . The day
kicks off with music and fanfares at 10am. This is followed by a
very Provencal mass . There is then plenty of time to wander around
Bormes and explore its little shops before we find a restaurant
for a good provencal lunch .which we subsidise, 10 Euros..After
a hearty meal its off to watch the parade of the floral floats built
by local people over many months . Again its very laid back and
a very French organisation adds its own charm !! At 4.30 the famous
battle of the flowers takes place when the floats are reduced to
skeletons and the streets covered in flowers ..All this is accompanied
by music , noise and much laughter .so do join in .When the festivities
are over a short transfer leads back to le Lavandou and perhaps
a stroll along the sea front. Time for a few drinks before dinner
and then off to a local restaurant that specialises in sea food
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Monday .The Golden Isles..Porquerolles . A
30 minute drive to Hyeres followed by a 20 minute catamaran
ferry crossing takes us onto the Isle of Porquerolles. Porquerolles
is part of the Port Cros National Park and is carefully proteced
. The walk leads from the little Port through the village
and then along the coast to a delightful headland . With its
16 C forts it looks the ideal pirates' lair ..and it was !!.Depending
on the weather a picnic is provided on the beach . We then
return via the hinterland , the Botanical gardens and plantations
full of blossoming orchards to the Fort St Agathe for a short
visit. Time for a coffee or wine before the return ferry crossing
to Hyeres. Porquerolles has a very interesting history which
will be explained when on the island . If the group wishes
we can extend the walk to include the highest point on the
island via a superb path which explores the rugged southern
coast .
Walk time 3 to 4 hrs or 5 with the extension . Little or no
ascent. 6 kms to 10 kms .on easy paths .
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| Tuesday .The Bormes circuit . We
follow one of the famous GRs initially (Grande Randonnee) which
leads via the old chateau up to the heights behind the village
. From there a rough track cum path leads up onto a ridge with
views both of the coast and inland . The red rocks of the Esterel
can also be seen .After a picnic an easy descent leads back
to the village ..Walk time 4 hrs ..8 kms and 200m ascent .An
interesting walk for the variety and splendour of the views
.Time for some wine tasting afterwards we hope |
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| Wednesday..Cap Lardier. A 30 min transfer
via Cavalaire leads to the beautiful beach of Gigaro .The path
follows the coast right to the tip of Cape Lardier with its
old gun battery emplacement .The forest is full of bird song
and is a favoured spot for migrating birds . The return can
be either via the same path with lunch on a little beach
or by an attractive track through the Maritime Pine forest .
Time for a stroll along the harbour at Cavalaire and
a drink before returning to Le Lavandou . |
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| Thursday ..Market day in Le Lavandou . An excellent
large market is well worth a visit in the morning . Clients
buy their own picnic lunch today at the market .At 11.30 a short
transfer is taken to La Rayol and its famous Botanical Gardens
.Before the visit a lovely little walk is taken along this wild
stretch of the coast with excellent views of the Golden Isles.,
panoramic picnic spot and then return to Rayol for a guided
visit at 3pm . The entry cost of 6.5 Euros is included
in our price . Return to Le Lavandou in time for a rest before
dinner . |
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Friday …The Giens coastal walk. A 30 min transfer to
the little harbour of La
Madrague takes us to the start of the walk. This coastal path
leads around the very tip of the Giens 'island' . It is not really
an island but a peninsula linked to the mainland by two sand bars.
The walk leads from tiny beaches over rugged little headlands around
the coast to the beach of Arboussiere..the strawberry tree beach
!!
From there a 10 minute walk across the neck of the 'island ' leads
back to the start point . Walk Time 3 hrs..7 kms .One or two exposed
spots on the walk but quite safe . Before returning to Le Lavandou
a short visit is planned to the Botanical Gardens in Hyeres plus
the old town itself . The views from the
old chateau span the whole of the Golden Isles . Return to Le Lavandou
for a provencal dinner by the sea .
Saturday. Depart for Nice after breakfast. Arrival time
at Nice 12 noon .
Price . E850 per person based on twin /double occupancy
of hotel on B and B basis , 6 Restaurant dinners ,(excluding drinks,)
5 picnic/snack lunches with wine or hot drinks , ferry costs and
transfer to and from Nice Airport.
Accommodation . The 2 Star Hotel Rabelais on the sea front..en suite
with TV, telephone and airconditioning .
Dates for 2010.
20 to 27 february
Collection and return via Marseille Airport is included (15:00
for arrivals and 12:30 for departures).Please note that clients
wishing to fly to Nice have the service of a fast coach to Hyeres
where we can arrange collection ..1hr 30 transfer from the Airport
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