Hilltop villages in the Drôme Valley

The Rhône Valley orchards: cherry, peach and apricot trees.

Dinner and night in Hotel or guest house.

11 km with total uphill 500 metres. Duration about 3hrs40.
Now you're getting well away from the tumult of the Rhône Valley, (the busiest transport axis in Europe!)
The path rises progressively. The distant rumble fades as you come to the top of the forest of Mirmande. And as you make your way down the other side you are truly entering the hinterland at the foot of the Pre-Alps of the Drôme.

Dinner and night at 2 star hotel-restaurant in the heart of the village.

14 km with total uphill of 400 metres. Duration around 4hrs00.

You start this walk from the village of Saoû, where you will be dropped off by taxi. The village, with its idyllic charm, is nestled in a quiet valley.

Take some time to sit in the café beneath the plane trees or buy your picnic lunch from the small local grocery shop before beginning your walk through the hills and meadows that lead you to Bourdeaux. Enjoy ever more breathtaking views of the Vercors along the way, and of Europe's highest perched syncline (a concave geological fold): the Saoû forest.

Dinner and overnight in a guest room in the heart of the village of Bourdeaux.

13,5 km with total uphill 450 metres. Duration about 4hrs00.

Following in the footsteps of the Huguenots, you'll start your walk in the rolling valley, not far from the banks of the Roubion river. Then the slope gradually rises, alternating between forest and grassland. Your efforts will be rewarded when you reach Le Poët-Célard, an ancient perched village dominated by its castle, where you will enjoy strolling through the narrow streets. On the way back down, admire the magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The magic of this escapade is right in front of you.

Dinner and overnight in a guest room in the heart of the village of Bourdeaux.

19 km with total uphill 630 m. Around 6hrs30.
 

Step back in time as you walk through the old village of Bourdeaux. Hollow trails and forest tracks alternate as you reach the Col de Boutière. The GR9 guides you along the slopes of the ‘Montagne des Ventes’ before switching to the Drôme Provençale region and passing through the charming village of Dieulefit. Continue on to Poët-Laval, where you follow a historical route across the Vitrouillères forest.

Dinner and overnight in a 3-star hotel in the heart of the hilltop village of Poët Laval.

8,2 km with total uphill 630 m. Duration about 3hrs00.

A path edged with Mediterranean scrubland and scented with marjoram and thyme leads up to the Poët mountain. You can then climb up to the ‘Trou du Furet’, a geological marvel offering a stunning view of the perched village of Eyzahut. In the fields where wild horses roam, let yourself be gently carried by the ridges that line the cliffs. The descent takes you through the forest to the medieval village of Poët-Laval.

Dinner and overnight in a 3-star hotel in the heart of the hilltop village of Poët Laval.

After breakfast the taxi will drive you to Mirmande to pick up you car or to the nearest train station.