PTS Walking Holidays 2017

8 days from £899 May, September & October
France – Camargue, Alpilles & Crau
La Camargue, les Alpilles and la Crau – the French ‘golden triangle’ of biodiversity. The Camargue, with its white horses, black
bulls and pink flamingos, needs little introduction. Just to the north, the jagged, limestone peaks of the Alpilles mountains are
a striking contrast to the vast wetlands of the Camargue. Sandwiched between the two is la Crau, a unique, ancient steppe
landscape where shepherds have tended their flocks for 6,000 years. You’ll discover the amazing flora and fauna of all three
environments on guided walks with an expert naturalist. You’ll also enjoy the manmade wonders of the city of Arles, your
holiday base, renowned for its Roman monuments, van Gogh scenes, and, of course, Provençal cafés and restaurants!!
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Marseille or Nîmes, transfer to your hotel in Arles
(one hour from Marseille, 40 minutes from Nîmes) for seven nights hotel
accommodation. Two dinners in the hotel are included during your stay,
leaving five nights to sample the delights of the local restaurants. Your
Tour Director will be on hand to assist. A walking tour of the city will show
you the major sights and attractions of this splendid city - the remarkably
intact 1st century AD amphitheatre could entertain 30,000 spectators and
is still used today; the Musée Réattu, a 15th century priory of the Knights
of Malta on the bank of the river Rhône; the Place de la République with
its obelisk and impressive town hall. Devotees of van Gogh will recognize
many parts of the city from his paintings, including the courtyard of the old
hospital where he was treated after cutting off his ear, the amphitheatre,
his café terrace, and the Rhône - especially on a starry night!
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: There are three included walks during your stay
in Arles.
Walk 1: La digue à la mer. Transfer to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (23
miles). On the way you’ll hear the story of the Three Marys (Jacob,
Salome and Magdalene) and their servant Sarah, patron saint of Gypsies,
thousands of whom have been making the annual pilgrimage to Stes-
Maries for centuries. ‘La digue’ is the dyke built in 1859 to keep the sea
at bay. This is a long but easy walk which takes you into the heart of the
Camargue National Nature Reserve. Landmarks along the route include
the Rousty sluice gate, the old customs house and the working Gacholle
lighthouse whose 60ft tower can be seen from miles around. Common
bird sightings will include warblers, gulls, terns, waders and avocets
but the emblematic Pink Flamingos are especially visible at the end of
the walk in the Fangassier lagoon where between 15 and 20 thousand
breeding pairs of them should be waiting for you. 11 miles – flat.
Walk 2: Les Alpilles – Saint Paul-de-Mausole, Glanum and the Vallon de
St Clerg. Transfer to the start of the walk (19 miles) in Saint Rémy de
Provence. This walk (5 miles, 250m ascent/descent) departs from the
monastery at Saint Paul-de-Mausole where van Gogh painted over one
hundred works of genius while a voluntary patient in the rest home for just
under a year. Walking through Roman quarries, past the archaeological
site of Glanum and into the wooded valley of St Clerg, you enter the heart
of the territory of a pair of Bonelli’s Eagle. You have some time at the
foot of the two-holed rock looking out for the Bonelli’s Eagle and also
the Short toed Eagle, Sub Alpine and Sardinian Warblers. The walk ends
back in St Rémy where you have time for a wander through this charming
little Provençal town or a visit to the monastery, imbued with the spirit of
Vincent van Gogh before returning to Arles. On the way back, you call in
at les Baux de Provence. Here you take a short walk on a path overlooking
a wonderful landscape in search of Blue Rock Thrush at the foot of the
imposing ruined citadel.
Walk 3: Vigueirat Marshes & la Crau. The Vigueirat Marshes Nature
Reserve, 17 miles to the south of Arles forms the natural buffer between
the Rhone delta and the unique and arid la Crau. Access to the Reserve
is only possible with a guide. On a 3 mile flat walk you can see all nine
European species of Heron, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Black winged Stilts and
numerous other waders, Marsh and Caspian Terns, Moustached, Reed,
and Great reed Warblers. Leaving the reserve you travel 12 miles to la
Crau Nature Reserve. Legend has it that the countless polished stones
covering the terrain were rained down by Jupiter and used as missiles
by Hercules in battle after he had used all his arrows. On a 2 ½ mile flat
walk you would hope to see Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Lesser Kestrel, Larks
and Tawny Pipit.
As well as the three included trips there will be an unusual, optional
evening/night excursion to a Little Bustard site in beautiful scenery
followed by a picnic in the company of Eagle Owls to the sound of
Nightingales and whirring Nightjars. Return to the hotel will be after 11pm.
DAY EIGHT: Free time until departure for the airport and your flight home.
YOUR HOTEL
BEST WESTERN ATRIUM HHH, Arles (seven nights)
This is a modern hotel built around an old town house. The hotel is centrally
located opposite the Tourist Office. Its 90 rooms are on 4 floors and have
air-conditioning, bath or shower and wc, satellite tv, hairdryer. Rooms
have internal atrium view or a view of the town. Wifi is complimentary
throughout the hotel. There is an airy restaurant with a glass roof and a bar.
(www.hotelatrium.com)
If you have friends who are not walkers interested in this itinerary, it is
featured in our Escorted Holidays brochure with a touring programme.
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates, Prices and Flight Information’ for
details of departure dates, prices and flights
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
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