Experience artistic inspiration amongst the rugged canyons and gorges of picture-perfect Provence, one of France's most scenic regions

Your walk and tour holiday begins at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and travelling group ahead of a Eurostar journey to Paris. Travelling in spacious Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats before we arrive in the French capital.

From here, we switch stations and board the First Class carriages of the high-speed TGV bound for Aix-en-Provence. On arrival, we transfer by coach to the spa town of Gréoux-les-Bains. Overlooked by the 12th-century Templars Castle, this attractive Provencal town exudes charm from its narrow streets and became a popular destination in the 19th century as visitors flocked for its thermal waters.

Our hotel is opposite the thermal baths on the edge of the ancient Old Town. After checking in, we gather for our first dinner together.

After breakfast, we set off on our first walk - with a picnic lunch to enjoy enroute. On each of our walking days, there's a choice of two routes, each led by expert guides.

The Verdon River is named for its vivid turquoise colour and winds dramatically through deep gorges, past limestone cliffs rising to a lush plateau of oak, pine and aromatic plants. In autumn, the landscapes of Provence shimmer with burnished golds and oranges.

Today's walks explore the Lower Gorge from Quinson after a short drive through wooded Provençal woodland. Here, the river enters a twisting canyon, with footpaths constructed along the course of the river allowing us to venture deep into this scenic gorge. Meeting back in Quinson, we return to our hotel for dinner this evening.

View this tour's walking maps and elevation profiles here.

Heading out on an excursion after breakfast, a coach journey takes us across the Valensole Plateau, pausing enroute to admire the vista across the huge Lac de Sainte Croix.

We continue to Moustiers Ste Marie, a charming village clinging dramatically to the side of a limestone cliff and listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. A cascade of stone houses and narrow lanes lead visitors up toward the Chapel of Notre Dame de Beauvoir, hidden amidst the cliffs, and to the iconic golden star suspended high above the village - a mysterious symbol that has inspired legends for centuries. Moustiers has been a centre of ceramic craftsmanship since the 17th century, making the village a paradise for lovers of artisanal heritage.

After free time for lunch, we drive along winding road that skirts the Upper Verdon Gorge, pausing for breathtaking views of the 'Grand Canyon of Verdon' that cuts up to 2,300 feet deep and runs for 15.5 miles through the limestone plateau. Back in Gréoux, you are free to dine independently in the town this evening.

The Luberon is an undulating landscape of sun-drenched vineyards, olive groves and forests nestled beneath the limestone cliffs of the Luberon Massif.

On today's walks, we explore 'Provençal Colorado', a striking area of rich ochre deposits that have resulted in dazzling colours of yellow, orange, red and mauve - exposed through quarrying and sculpted into winding canyons by natural erosion.

Afterwards, we discover historic local villages, dramatically perched on hilltops and cascading down the slopes for which the Luberon is renowned. Returning to our hotel this evening, we gather for dinner in the restaurant.

View this tour's walking maps and elevation profiles here.

Founded as a Roman spa town in 123BC, Aix-en-Provence is our first destination today.

A guided tour of this historic city showcases its timeless appeal, from its narrow streets that reveal small squares and flowing fountains around almost every corner to its plane tree-lined Cours Mirabeau. Afterwards, there's time at leisure to explore independently and you learn more about the lives of Aix's famous residents including artist Paul Cézanne and author Émile Zola.

This afternoon, we visit an olive oil producer for a tour of the olive groves. As we conclude our tour, we enjoy a tasting of olive oil and tapenade - a traditional Provençal spread that blends olives with capers to create an appetising and savoury condiment reflecting the region it is produced in. Returning to Gréoux, the evening is at leisure and you can dine independently in one of the town's many restaurants or bistros.

The great French post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne was a son of Aix-en-Provence, and we set out to find some of the landscapes that inspired him most on today's walks.

Much of his work in the final decade of his life depicted the dramatic and singular ridge of Mont Sainte-Victoire, which dominates the wild countryside just to the east of Aix. Our walks today lead us through this rich, forested landscape of limestone escarpments, deep gorges and sparkling reservoirs, the towering presence of Mont Sainte-Victoire in near constant view.

Returning to Gréoux-les-Bains this evening, we can look back on the week's walks and excursions during a farewell dinner at our hotel.

View this tour's walking maps and elevation profiles here.

Provence's plunging gorges and otherworldly landscapes have provided a scenic base for our escorted walks and excursions. From the spa town of Gréoux, we have walked along the Verdon Gorge, followed in Cézanne's footsteps while admiring Mont St-Victoire, soaked up the ochre hues of le Colorado Provençal in the Luberon and explored Aix-en-Provence on a guided tour.

After breakfast this morning, we transfer to Aix-en-Provence station and board First Class carriages of the TGV direct to Paris. In the French capital, we switch to the Eurostar and continue in Plus class back to London St Pancras, where your walk and tour holiday draws to a close.

Walking with Great Rail Journeys is about blending scenic walks and enjoyable excursions into one memorable holiday.

Choosing the right holiday and grade for your ability is essential for your enjoyment and safety. All our walking holidays are designed for our Level 4 Active Adventurers. You will be an active person more than capable of walking the distances and ascents, descents and types of terrain described for the walk options.

The walks will cover distances of between 3mi/5km and 8mi/13km, and each walking day has a choice of two walks that cater for different levels of ability and fitness.

You should consider your fitness levels and be confident that you'll be able to manage the distances, ascents, descents and types of terrain described for the walk options that you're likely to choose. Remember - each walking holiday will include walks of varying grades.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

If your tour is marked as Small Group, enjoy a more immersive holiday experience, exploring with a like-minded group of 16-25 travellers, with an average of 22.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Built around the former hunting lodge of the Marquis de Castellane, this 4-Star hotel is set in elegant grounds opposite Gréoux's thermal spa complex. With a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, sun terrace, fitness centre and spa facilities, it's a great place to unwind after exploring. The restaurants and bars offer traditional French cuisine, fine wines and classic cocktails. Air-conditioned guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safety deposit box, minibar, tea & coffee-making facilities, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.