Hiking with Provençal Adventures: A Retreat for the Mind, Body, and Taste Buds
Is there any better place to hike than in Provence? And what better way to do it than on a hiking retreat with Provençal Adventures, where your every need is looked after. Delicious food, culture, care and scenery filled hikes. I can’t recommend a Provence hiking retreat with Provencal Adventures enough!
When Remi first approached me about a review of his hiking retreats I couldn’t have been more excited. Everything I love in the world… hiking, travel, good food and nature! I have visited the French Riviera a few times and was excited to explore the mountains inland and the varied terrain, flora and fauna this area has to offer.
Warm, Personal Hosting – An Unforgettable Provençal Welcome
From the moment we arrived at the airport I felt warmly welcomed by Remi, a huge smile and a big hug as I met our guide and host for the first time in person. We walked to the van, our transport for the week and Remi had bought us each the most divine fresh patisserie to enjoy on our journey to the villa and some filtered water in our own chilled water bottles. If this was the vibe for the week, I was very much in!
This retreat was more than just your average holiday, it was about time away from day to day life, in beautiful surroundings, whilst finding time to connect with nature, the others on your retreat and the beautiful surrounding villages and towns. All whilst being cared for by our host Remi and his friend Aidan, who had come to help for the week.
Remi is half French and brings his knowledge and love to this area of France to everything he does. You can tell he really cares about showing the best of Provence, sharing his beloved spots, filled with memories from his childhood.
We arrived at the beautifully renovated old farmhouse villa. Remi and his mum have painstakingly renovated every corner, adding ‘modcons’ like hot flowing showers and wifi, whilst maintaining its original rustic charm. We head through to the kitchen and living area, minding our heads on some of the lower barn ceilings.
My room is off the main living area, with a shared bathroom and my own private external door outside to the pool. I’m not sure it is quite warm enough for a dip, but let’s see! I start to unpack before heading out to the veranda for our first delicious lunch of fresh salads, meats, melon and homemade lemonade.
On our first morning I woke up with my usual grumpy groggy face and plodded into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Remi instantly took over the task, seeing my sleepy face and then had a hot cup of tea ready and waiting for me each morning for the rest of the week. That is the kind of care and attention you will get from a retreat with Remi and his team and that is just one example of what truly makes this a retreat. Forget your cares and worries and wider life happenings and just focus on the here and now. These retreats are for you.
Why Provence is a Hiker’s Paradise – The provençal Adventures Experience
I do a lot of hiking in the UK, but there is something a bit more special and mysterious about hiking abroad. It can also be a bit scarier, with unknown terrain and wildlife, so traveling with a passionate guide really ensures you feel safe and comfortable in new places.
Remi has been trialing different hiking routes for years, picking the best varied routes to explore with his guests. He has a call with guests before their arrival to understand skills, fitness and likes to ensure the hikes suit the needs of the group. He had chosen a variety of different hikes for us to try over the week, each with diverse terrains, from rolling vineyards to serene forest paths to rugged hills and medieval villages.
My favourite was on our final day of hiking, where we explored Gorges du Blavet. Walking alongside the Blavet river, balancing across rocks and enjoying the gentle ups and downs of walking alongside a river filled with cold water pools, small waterfalls and flora in abundance. The red volcanic rock peeped out between the trees until we were faced with a wall of what looked like like a mini grand canyon. The orangey red cliff shining bright in the mid morning sun.
It was a perfect circular route, that can be made longer or shorter depending on ability and energy levels. We were getting hot so cut it short and headed back to the carpark for our daily homemade lunch. Today was freshly made pasta salads with the usual yoghurt, biscuits, juice and other treats. Remi knows how to spoil us.
Remi’s expert knowledge and experience ensure you will go on the absolute best hikes in Provence and I promise you won’t be disappointed. You may be lucky enough to spot some interesting wildlife too. Vultures swirling overhead, lizards creeping out from under the rocks and the processionary caterpillars who we quickly realised were everywhere. An intriguing but invasive species I’m told.
You can see the routes and descriptions of some of the hikes you get get explore with Remi on his website.
Fresh, Local, and Delicious: The Provençal Adventures Culinary Experience
From picnics with fresh market produce to multi course dinners and nightly ‘apero’ the Provençal Adventures team spoiled us from the moment we arrived. I had told Remi of my awkward ‘no cheese’ preferences and he had kindly double checked that cheese being near me was ok (it is – I wouldn’t want to deprive the other guests of their nightly cheese board!.)
He had however ensured everyone’s dietary requirements were catered for in every meal. The food was cooked by Remi and his on site chef and friend Aidan. They are both passionate about the importance of local, organic produce, ensuring everything is made using sustainable agriculture and is the very best quality.
The bouillabaisse with fresh monkfish, prawns and muscles was exquisite. My aim is now to recreate the dish for my mum as I know it is a firm favourite of hers. All meals were served around a shared table. Time to discuss the highs and lows of the days adventures and watch the chefs in action.
They say food is the language of love and Remi and Aiden showed their love for Provençal flavours and care for their guests in everything they made. The time, effort and passion showed in every dish.
Sustainability, Slow Travel, the Provençal Adventures Way of Life
The Provençal Adventures hiking retreats are so much more than just a hiking holiday. Firstly this is a luxurious hiking holiday, staying in a gorgeous villa with home-cooked restaurant standard food and being cared for at every step. It is far from your typical hiking, hostel and a burger type trip.
But alongside the thread of being cared for Remi and his team also care for the environment. They ensure the Provençe history and cuisines are understood, they bring a strong understanding of sustainability and regenerative living and this is shown in everything they do. From the distinct lack of plastic in their purchases, to home filtered water and nature connection along the hikes.
Remi has planted various fruit and olive trees in the villa’s garden, already harvesting the olives to make his very own olive oil to share with the guests. I enjoyed my conversations over dinner with Aiden, who has his own smallholding in northern France, learning from what he has done and hoping to take some of his ideas to my own land one day.
A hiking retreat that’s far more than hiking
The core of the trip is around hiking and food, but culture and adventures in the local mountain towns and villages are a big part of the experience.
We visited the local market in Feyence, the medieval mountain village of Mons and the most local town of Seillans. As well as enjoying an afternoon on the beach in Frejus and a wine tour at local vineyard Val d’Iris.
The mountain village of Mons is filled with wrought-iron signs hanging from different buildings, each sharing stories of the old trades from the village. Now most have gone, but you can still find craft shops, honey makers and lavender sellers, alongside cafes and restaurants with views to the ocean.
I have done a few wine tours on my travels, but the friendly relaxed atmosphere of Val d’Iris felt special. The owner Anne and chief wine maker Ludovic don’t do many tours so it is something unique to the Provençal Adventures trips. The wine was delicious, but it was the resident dogs that made the afternoon for me, including Joey the puppy with a broken leg, who hobbled along beside is for our vinyard tour.
The Provençal Adventures hiking tours are a chance to escape your busy digital fuelled life and relax deep in the heart of nature. Enjoying flavourful local cuisine, luxurious surroundings and true Provencal culture.
Book your stay with Provençal Adventures
I was invited to try one of Remi’s Provencal Adventures hiking retreats in exchange for a review, but as always my opinions are truly honest and reflect the reality of this trip. I thought this retreat was something really special and more than I could have imagined.
If you’re looking for a personalised travel experience and eco-friendly travel in France, then you can find out more on the Provençal Adventures website.
