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We are sure you have questions; here we address the ones we hear most often.
Please contact us if you need to know more.

• General questions

  • What is custom designed, private, self-guided, independent, walking?

    It is walking privately, on your own time, at your own pace on an itinerary custom designed exclusively for you and tailored to your preferences and abilities . You may start your trip on absolutely any day, travel for exactly as long as you like, and travel in total privacy, accompanied only by companions of your choice.
    
    This is the kind of walking many of us do in familiar surroundings and would love to do on trips further afield, but don’t have the time and local knowledge to organize. That’s where we come in. We provide our local knowledge and support and organize your trip to your exact specifications. All you have to do is enjoy the trip.

  • Why should I choose walkprovence.com?

    We are the only company specializing exclusively in independent, self-guided walking in Provence. We live in the heart of Provencal walking country and this is all we do. With us you sign up for a private, custom trip tailored to your exact requirements. We have developed and are constantly updating a comprehensive portfolio of walks in six major regions in Provence which enables us to offer a level of flexibility and a choice of itineraries second to none. We are consummate independent travelers. We’ve been arranging walks and walking worldwide for over 30 years. We also bring to our Provencal walking venture the benefit of  organizational and management skills developed during long, successful professional careers.

  • What are Walk and Drive and Inn to Inn Without a Car Itineraries?

    To provide the widest range of possibilities for engaging with Provence we offer two options for getting around, Walk and Drive and Inn to Inn Without a Car trips.
    
    On our Walk and Drive trips you have a car, drive to great trailheads for circular walks, and in between your walks explore Provence far and wide in your car. This is the ideal choice to maximize your access to the best walks and give you the most opportunities for post-walk activities and dining options. We arrange your itineraries to minimize the time you spend driving. The furthest trailheads are no more than 15 minutes away, and transfers from one region to another are about an hour at most. We provide detailed driving instructions and marked up driving maps. As a deluxe alternative, a chauffeur driven car may also be arranged.

    On our Inn to Inn Without a Car trips you walk from inn to inn, village to village in the traditional manner and engage more deeply with your immediate environment - slow travel at its best. This alternative lets you take all the time you like in your immediate surroundings and gives you a real sense of traveling cross country on foot, following trails that have linked Provence's villages since medieval times and before. And you need only a light day pack on the trails. We transfer your baggage while you walk.
    
    Within this framework, our walkers tend to request certain themes and seem to particularly enjoy certain walking experiences in Provence. The itineraries we present are a selection of trips we have custom designed for specific walkers who have chosen walkprovence.com. They are selected to inspire you, and provide guidance on  some of the best possibilities for independent walking in Provence. You may use them as inspiration for your own custom designed itinerary, you may find them appealing with some modifications, or you may find one perfect for your own needs.

  • How much choice do you offer in itineraries?

    As all of our trips are custom designed no two itineraries are entirely alike. Yours will be one that best suits your own preferences. Our portfolio of walks contains scores of distinct, independent walks developed from the French national, regional, and local walking trail systems in six major regions of Provence. The itineraries presented on our website are just a fraction of the custom itineraries we can compile from our portfolio.

  • How many of us can go on a trip?

    We think that one of the most enjoyable forms of private travel is traveling with family or friends. Since your trip is arranged exclusively for you, the number in your party is entirely up to you, a key benefit of independent travel. You will never travel with a group of people you have not signed up with, so whether it’s you and your spouse or you and your 10 member family, you will always be traveling with the people you choose.

  • Walk and Drive, or Inn to Inn Without a Car?

    This is a personal choice based on your preference for the style in which you like to walk. Walk and Drive casts the widest net in Provence. Inn to Inn Without a Car provides a more concentrated experience in your immediate surroundings.

  • Should I be concerned about driving in Provence?

    If you feel comfortable renting a car in the United States you’ll have no problem driving in Provence. Driving has become quite safe in France thanks to the government’s draconian enforcement of speed limits and anti-drunk driving laws in recent years. Fatalities are lower per capita than in the U.S.

  • What time of year is best for walking in Provence?

    Spring, from late March through June, and Fall, from September to mid-November, are best for walking in Provence. Spring brings fields of wildflowers, fruit orchards in full bloom, flowering herbs and burgeoning vineyards, with cool mornings and warm, sometimes hot days. Fall has fresh, sunny days, and vineyards groaning under bunches of ripe grapes (if you’re lucky, you’ll hit the grape harvest). By mid-October the vineyards turn shades of brilliant red, copper and gold, a very special time in a good foliage year. Late June to mid-July is lavender season, another special walking experience. In these months the heat can be intense and some trails are closed as a precaution against forest fires, so morning and evening walks are the way to go, with wine tasting, market browsing, canoeing, other activities, or just plain pool time in between.

  • How far in advance should we book?

    Provence is an extremely popular destination during the spring, summer and autumn months with some choice hotels and B&Bs getting booked many months in advance. So we advise you to book as far ahead as you can.

• About the walks

  • How long and challenging are the walks, what are our options?

    As all of our trips are custom designed and private, your walks will be exactly as long and as challenging as you require for your level of experience. We will discuss with you how much walking you have in mind and will assemble your walks accordingly.  Most of our daily walks average 7 to 10 miles and can be shortened or lengthened to taste.
    
    Concerning the level of challenge, we differentiate our walks among three categories of difficulty:
    
    

    Easy	walking primarily on flat, wide trails and country lanes, with occasional very gentle ascents and descents
    Moderate	walking on steadily ascending and descending trails along a moderate incline, interspersed with generous flat stretches
    Challenging	considerable amount of ascending and descending terrain, some of it quite steep, best handled with the use of walking poles, interspersed with flat stretches

    
    Here, again, we will assemble walks to suit your abilities and preferences. Generally, preferred walks tend to fall in the easy to moderate categories.<
    

  • How fit do I need to be?

    You need to be fit enough to be able to handle the distances and challenges of your choice. It is important for you to know your limits and request an itinerary accordingly.
    
    If you are regular walkers and want to walk the same distances you usually do, you should be all set, bearing in mind that on your trip you will be walking every day, which may be a slightly greater challenge than walking similar distances less often. If you would like to walk longer itineraries than you normally do, we suggest you experiment with longer walks to explore your tolerance, and start regularly walking your preferred distances about two months before departure.
    
    For moderate and challenging itineraries, if you don’t have the opportunity to do much walking involving ascents, you should prepare with some regular endurance training at your local gym during the two months before departure.

  • How much independent walking experience do I need?

    You should be a confident independent walker, used to following walking trails with the aid of walker’s maps and the interpretation of trail markers (we will provide an explanation of the French trail marking system). You should be familiar with handling changing weather on the trail and basic first aid, just in case. You should also know how to use a compass for the rare occasions when it may help you regain your orientation in case you stray off a trail. If you have a GPS you should know how to use it.

  • How will I find my way on the walks?

    Our Trip Kit provides a comprehensive package of guidance material. For each separate walk you receive a custom Trail Guide with highly detailed instructions for finding your way along the trail. You will also receive all the relevant 1:25,000 scale GPS compatible official French IGN walkers’ maps marked up with your walks. You will use the Trail Guide in conjunction with your primary source of navigation, the official map. Many segments of our walks are along marked trails – we provide an explanation of using the French trail marking system. And although using one on our walks is rarely necessary, we will also provide a compass. We can also advise on the use of your GPS in Provence, and in selected instances we can provide a loaner GPS unit.

  • Can we have a guide for the walks?

    As an important objective of our walks is total privacy, at the moment we do not offer the services of guides.

  • How much stuff will I have to carry?

    You will need to carry plenty of water (in water bottles or a camel), a picnic if that’s what you are planning for the day, and personal effects, such as camera, layered clothing items, cork screw/bottle opener, trail mix, fruit, or other snacks, guide books, perhaps a GPS, etc,. To carry these items, a medium daypack should be sufficient - we provide them for you, or you can choose to use your own. On an inn to inn walk, we will arrange for the transfer of your luggage while you are out walking.

  • What equipment do I need?

    The essential gear you need is fairly standard fare, familiar to any regular walker. Most important is a sturdy pair of comfortable walking boots, well broken in. While some walks are on wide, even farm roads, there are also many narrow, stony paths which require the thick soles of a good pair of boots. Don’t forget several pairs of good walking socks and nylon liner socks to control blisters and perspiration. A hat is indispensable in all seasons in sunny Provence. Walking poles are useful on the more difficult trails, particularly on steep, stony inclines. Light walking trousers, shorts, and layered shirts are usually enough, but have a sweater and some form of windbreaker, too. A small-medium backpack is sufficient to lug water, picnics, and other personal stuff for the day. We have come to particularly like the backpack-camel combo with instant access to the camel’s water through its drinking tube. You will receive a detailed “suggested equipment list” before departure.

  • What if a walk turns out to be too much for me?

    In the rare instance that you may need to cut a walk short, we provide optional shorter alternate routes to return to your point of departure or to a suitable location to get assistance with transportation and other needs.

• Accommodations, food, and off-trail activities and experiences

  • What are my accommodations choices?

    The accommodations we offer have to meet not only our high standards of comfort but an exceptional standard of aesthetics that encompasses the Provencal experience. Our accommodations can be loosely grouped into three categories: Classic, which are cosy, charming B&Bs and small, family run hotels; Superior which are deluxe B&Bs and higher end boutique hotels; and Deluxe, which are luxurious chateaux and country house hotels.

    We also offer the option of staying in your own, private, restored farmhouse with a pool for the duration of your trip, to be used as a supremely relaxing  base for all your walks and activities.

    From these possibilities we will assess with you what mix of accommodation types best suits your personal needs and plans - you may freely mix the different categories.

  • What are my culinary options?

    Provence is a Francophile foodie’s larder. The land not covered in vines or wild herbs is one giant vegetable and fruit farm. Dining options are limitless, from open air stands serving just-harvested Mediterranean oysters at the local market to delectable bistros and  Michelin starred restaurants offering the latest culinary trends with a seasonal Provencal twist. France may be changing but they forgot to tell our local village baker who still bakes 16 different types of bread every day, the artisanal chocolatier who does it all by hand, and the patisseries that seem to be on every other street corner. The choices are yours with our guidance to make sense of the maze of options.

  • Is food included?

    All breakfasts are included and other meals may be included to the extent you desire. We strongly recommend you keep your options open to make the most of your many temptations, depending on your mood of the moment. You may prefer a picnic one day, lunch at a village bistro the next - or a long, languid gourmet dinner on a chateau’s terrace one evening, and a quick wood-fired pizza and a salad around the corner the next. You may choose to make last minute decisions or we can lay it all out for you in advance. In all cases we provide an extensive set of dining options for every day of your trip, including advice on arranging gourmet picnics, and are happy to make reservations for you at any of the places you know you’ll want to try. We will also make (and if necessary, change) reservations for you while you are on your trip.

  • What are my off-trail cultural and active opportunities?

    All of our trips are designed to provide a total local cultural and active experience. We offer a wide range of post-walk possibilities including dining experiences and cooking classes, wine tastings and wine courses, visits to cheese makers, lavender farms, olive mills, villages known for their artists and ceramics makers, historic sites of all epochs, and many cultural events such as a wide variety of classical music concerts, opera performances, and jazz recitals. Active options for canoeing, kayaking, ballooning, horseback riding, and underground cave walking also abound.

• Costs, travel insurance, booking, and other logistics

  • What will my trip cost?

    As our trips are private and custom designed, prices vary depending on your choice of accommodations and, of course, the duration of your trip. Once we know what you are looking for we will send you a proposal with a firm price quote.  Our itineraries presented here on the website are priced to give you an idea of price ranges.

  • What is included in your price?

    As our itineraries are custom designed, we can include any mutually agreed upon items in the price of your trip except airfare, train fare, and car rental, which are handled separately. Generally our prices include:
    
    

    • Our comprehensive Trip Kit of Trail Guides, and related official IGN walkers' maps, our proprietary general and area guides,  and other supporting material.
    • Local transfers on Inn to Inn Without a Car trips
    • Accommodations as indicated on your itinerary
    • All breakfasts
    • Some dinners if required
    • All optional activities paid for in advance

  • What is not included in your price?

    Our prices do not include:
    
    

    • International and domestic airfare, train fare, car rental
    • any optional activities not booked and paid for prior to departure
    • meals not specifically indicated on your itinerary, gratuities, drinks, baggage charges, airport taxes
    • any items of a personal nature.

  • How do I make a booking?

    This could not be easier. When you are happy with the custom itinerary which we send you after consulting with you, and would like to book the trip, go to our book with us page here on the web site. Follow the instructions to fill out our booking form, and click “Send”. Simultaneously please send us a $300 non-refundable deposit per person. Upon receipt of your deposit we will confirm your booking by return e-mail.

  • Can the price change after I make a booking?

    Our trips are priced in US dollars but our costs are in Euros. Therefore if the value of the Euro strengthens significantly against the dollar after you make your booking we may have to apply a slight price increase to cover the currency fluctuation. If there is such an adjustment, you will be notified at least two months in advance.

  • What form of payment do you accept?

    We accept major credit cards via PayPal, electronic fund transfers (ACH payments), and personal checks drawn on US banks.

  • What is your payment schedule for a trip?

    • When you make a booking we require a $300 non-refundable deposit per person

    • 60 days prior to departure we require full payment for the trip

  • What is your trip cancellation and refund policy?

    If you need to cancel your trip the following refund policy will apply. Regrettably we must strictly adhere to this policy without exception:
    
    

    • If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure - we will refund all but your $300 non-refundable deposit per person
    • If you cancel 59-31 days prior to departure - we will refund 50% of total trip cost
    • If you cancel 30 days or less prior to departure - we are unable to provide a refund
      
      

    In addition please note that we are unable to give partial refunds for hotel rooms, meals, or any activities, excursions or other optional arrangements prepaid in advance and unused while on your trip for any reason whatsoever.

  • Do I need trip insurance?

    We highly recommend trip insurance both for trip cancellation or interruption and medical coverage and repatriation. With the flood of restrictive travel industry rules and health coverage rules of our times, in our view trip insurance is indispensable for peace of mind.

  • What is the best way to bring money with me?

    For most payments we recommend using your credit card. For cash needs French ATMs work with US debit and most credit cards and seem to give the best exchange rate. Be sure to have a four digit pin code on the cards you intend to use in ATMs as European machines don’t accept letters and usually not more than four digits. Reset your pin code before departure if necessary, make sure your cards work at home, and bring two different cards just in case.

  • What are passport and visa requirements?

    U.S. citizens need a current, valid passport to travel to France. For full information see http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
    
    No visa is required for U.S. citizens traveling to France.
    
    Other nationals should consult appropriate agencies in their countries for specific requirements on travel to France.