Lavender & Limestone: Full-Day Private Tour to Valensole Plateau and Gorges du Verdon
Difficulty
easy
Duration
8 hours
Fitness Level
Light walking ability; able to walk short uneven farm tracks and climb village stairs.
Overview
Spend a day between purple seas of lavender and the vertiginous limestone cliffs of the Gorges du Verdon. This private tour from Aix-en-Provence combines farm tastings, village lunch, and scenic overlooks for a compact Provence immersion.
Lavender & Limestone: Full-Day Private Tour to Valensole Plateau and Gorges du Verdon
Select participants and date
The morning opens in a wash of purple. Rows of lavender run like painted brushstrokes across the Valensole plateau, bees working methodically through the air while the low sun sharpens stems into crisp, long shadows. You stand at the edge of a field with the scent of flowers in your nostrils and the knowledge that the next eight hours will trade pastoral quiet for raw geology: by noon the road will have climbed into the amphitheater of the Gorges du Verdon, and turquoise water will blink back from the river below.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Book for peak bloom
Lavender on Valensole reliably flowers between June 15 and July 15; plan your trip in that window for full fields and best photos.
Start early for light and crowds
Arrive at first light to get golden-side lighting on the rows and avoid tour buses that arrive later in the morning.
Hydrate and shade up
The plateau is exposed—carry 1–2 liters of water per person and wear a wide-brim hat and sunscreen.
Respect private farms
Ask before entering fields and follow your guide; many lavender farms are working operations with harvest schedules.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- European honeybee
- Bonelli's eagle (seen occasionally over the gorges)
History
Lavender farming on the plateau dates to the 19th century as a value crop for perfume and medicine; Moustiers developed a ceramics tradition that flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Conservation
The Gorges du Verdon sits inside and beside protected natural areas; visitors are encouraged to stay on roads and marked trails, avoid picking plants, and support local farms practicing sustainable agriculture.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Aix-en-Provence
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Sturdy walking shoes
Provides grip on farm tracks and cobbled village streets.
summer specific
Water bottle (1–2 L)
Heat and sun on the plateau make hydration essential.
summer specific
Wide-brim sun hat & sunscreen
Protects against prolonged sun exposure on exposed fields and viewpoints.
summer specific
Camera with telephoto & wide lenses
Wide for field patterns, telephoto for canyon framing and distant village details.