Provence France Road Trip + Map: Lavender Routes & Hilltop Villages 🚗
This is my favourite kind of road trip, the one where you “just pop to one village” and somehow it’s 6pm and you’ve got suncream in your eyebrows, a bag of market peaches, and 400 photos of shutters. Provence is basically built for slow driving and little detours, so I’ve made this a proper loop that starts and ends in Avignon, with the classic routes stitched in between. You’ll get the Luberon’s hilltop villages, lavender in Sault and Valensole, and the big wow finish through Verdon Gorge, then back via Aix. Book a few nights in the same base so you’re not unpacking every day, and accept now that your “quick petrol stop” will include a pastry. 😅
I have added the FREE Google Map Itinerary lower down!
Provence France Road Trip
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
✅ Start/End: Avignon (easy, neat loop)
✅ Best trip length: 7–9 days (8 days below)
✅ Best for lavender: late June to mid-July for peak vibes, later bloom tends to hang on longer around Sault
✅ Driving style: scenic country lanes, a couple of twisty bits near Verdon
✅ Where it gets busy: Valensole + Gordes viewpoints, go early or go patient
✅ Best bases: 2–3 nights in the Luberon, 1 night near Verdon, 1–2 nights Aix/Avignon
✅ Stay hunting: Booking.com Provence
✅ Phone sorted: an Airalo eSIM helps when the signal gets moody in the hills
📍 The Loop:
Avignon → Luberon (Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lourmarin) → Sault → Valensole → Moustiers-Sainte-Marie + Lac de Sainte-Croix → Gorges du Verdon (Route des Crêtes viewpoints) → Aix-en-Provence → Avignon
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Pick 2 “must” villages per day. The rest can be bonus stops, otherwise you’ll spend Provence in a car park arguing with Google Maps.
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: Discover Cars
The Itinerary (8 days, linked-up loop) 🗺️
Day 1: Avignon (arrival + ease into it)
First day is for landing softly. I like doing one big landmark, one aimless wander, then a long sit somewhere people-watching like it’s an Olympic sport. If you’re arriving late, don’t force it, Avignon’s a great “settle in, eat well, sleep” base. Also, you’ll be driving a lot from tomorrow, so tonight is calm vibes only.
📍 Things to do:
- Palais des Papes and the old town lanes
- Pont d’Avignon for the classic photo
- Stock up at a market or deli for tomorrow’s picnic bits
Day 2: Gordes + Sénanque area + Roussillon (postcard day)
This is the day Provence shows off. Gordes viewpoints are genuinely ridiculous in the best way, and Roussillon’s ochre colours make everything look like you accidentally drove into a painting. My first time, I rolled into Gordes at midday, sweaty and optimistic, and learned the hard way that “midday” is not the hour for peaceful views or pretty photos. Go early, then slow down for lunch.
📍 Things to do:
- Gordes viewpoint stops (early morning is magic)
- Roussillon village stroll + ochre trail
- Sénanque area for scenic countryside drives (lavender in season, beautiful even when it’s not purple)
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Eat lunch in one village and commit. If you try to “graze” across three villages, you’ll end up hangry in a car park.
🚗 Recommended Tour to get you started: Guided Ferrari Tour
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Day 3: Bonnieux + Lourmarin (slow village hopping)
Today’s lighter, and honestly, it’s the day that makes the trip feel real. Less “tick box”, more wandering, browsing little shops, and sitting in a square pretending you don’t have responsibilities. You’ll pass vineyards, lavender patches, and the occasional tractor doing 18mph like it owns the road (it does). Keep the schedule loose and let the day breathe.
📍 Things to do:
- Bonnieux for views and quiet lanes
- Lourmarin for cafés and a gentle mooch
- Pop into a local market if you catch one
Day 4: Sault (lavender country, cooler air)
Sault feels like a little reset. It’s higher, the air is often a touch cooler, and the countryside opens up in a way that makes you want to pull over constantly. If you’re travelling later in summer, this area can be a safer bet for finding lavender still doing its thing. I also find Sault less “crowd-y” than Valensole, which is a blessing for your sanity.
📍 Things to do:
- Scenic drive around the Sault plateau and surrounding lanes
- Farm shops for lavender goodies and local honey
- Picnic with a view (obviously)
👉 Good to know: Don’t stomp into fields for photos. Stick to edges and paths, it keeps everyone happy and the farmers un-mad.
🗺️ Recommended Reads: All Our Guides France
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
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Day 5: Valensole (the big lavender headline)
Right, Valensole. This is the one you’ve seen on every “Provence in summer” reel ever, and yes, it really is that pretty. It’s also busy, so your best weapon is an early start and a decent attitude. I once tried to outsmart the crowds by going “just before sunset” and discovered half of Europe had the same idea. Morning wins.
📍 Things to do:
- Plateau drives with regular pull-ins for photos
- Stop at a producer shop for oils, soaps, and “my suitcase now smells fancy” gifts
- Sunset drive if you’re still alive after the day
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Save a few field stops for the drive out, not the drive in. The first field will not be the last field, I promise.
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Day 6: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie + Lac de Sainte-Croix (storybook + swim day)
This day feels like Provence giving you a little holiday inside your holiday. Moustiers is tiny and gorgeous, the lake is bright turquoise, and suddenly you’re in full “I should have booked two nights here” mode. Keep it simple: wander the village, get to the water, then do absolutely nothing productive for a while.
📍 Things to do:
- Walk around Moustiers, grab coffee and something sweet
- Swim, paddle, or just sit by the lake like a happy lizard
- Viewpoint stops around Lac de Sainte-Croix
Day 7: Gorges du Verdon + Route des Crêtes viewpoints (big scenery day)
This is the “oh wow” day. Verdon is dramatic, cliffy, and completely worth the drive. The Route des Crêtes viewpoint loop is the star, but allow loads of time because you’ll stop constantly, and every stop turns into a 10-minute stare into the abyss. If you’re nervous with narrow roads, just take it slow and let faster cars pass when you can.
📍 Things to do:
- Drive the Route des Crêtes viewpoint circuit
- Short scenic walk if it’s not too hot
- Gorge-side picnic, napkin discipline required
👉 Good to know: Some gorge roads and viewpoint routes have seasonal closures. If you’re travelling outside peak summer, check locally and have a Plan B drive ready.
🗺️ Further Guides to France: Day Trips From Paris by Car and Train + Map 🇫🇷
Day 8: Aix-en-Provence + back to Avignon (civilised finish)
Aix is a lovely way to end, it’s lively but not frantic, and it’s built for slow wandering. I like doing one last market browse, one final sit-down lunch, then cruising back to Avignon without squeezing in “one more thing”. This is also the day I usually find a random lavender sachet in my bag and wonder how it got there.
📍 Things to do:
- Old town wander, fountains, and a café stop
- Market browse (if timing works)
- Drive back to Avignon to complete the loop
🔹 Pro tip: Build a buffer for the last drive and car return. Provence time is real, and it does not care about your schedule.
🗺️ Need to know: Best Time to Visit Paris: A Seasonal Guide
Grab the Map
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
Pit Stops & Side Detours 🚗✨
These are the little side quests that make the trip feel stitched together. Pick one or two, not all, unless you’re doing a longer version.
- L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (markets, canals, cute chaos)
- Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (easy riverside stop)
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (pretty lanes and good browsing)
- Les Baux-de-Provence (views for days)
- Cassis and the Calanques (bigger detour, but spectacular if you’ve got time)
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
Provence food is simple and dangerously easy to keep ordering.
- Tapenade + good bread (unfairly addictive)
- Daube provençale (slow-cooked comfort)
- Aïoli (garlic fans, assemble)
- Goat cheese from local markets (buy too much, regret nothing)
- Calissons in Aix (sweet almond goodness)
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
For lavender lanes, gorge views, and the “why is this tractor my new boss?” moments.
- Phoenix
- Air
- Daft Punk
- Stromae
- Christine and the Queens
- A bit of French café jazz for village cruising
- A couple of guilty-pleasure bangers for the long straight stretches
👉 Good to know: Download offline. Signal can be patchy and your playlist deserves better. 📲
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
Download before you head into the hills, because signal can be temperamental.
- The Travel Diaries
- Zero To Travel
- Rick Steves Audio Europe
- The Indie Travel Podcast
- Off Menu (for the food daydreaming)
Road Trip Essentials (All Year Round) 🎒🚗
This is the boring-but-brilliant kit that saves your trip, whatever month you go.
- Offline maps saved (and a car phone mount)
- Water bottle, snacks, and napkins (Provence picnics happen)
- Light layers, it can flip from hot to breezy fast
- Sunglasses, suncream, and something for bugs in summer
- A small cooler bag if you love markets and cheese
- Your data sorted with an eSIM
👉 Must-do: If you’re hiking, doing remote viewpoints, or just want the peace of mind (recommended), grab travel insurance before you go.
Rent a Car
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
What’s the best time for lavender on this route?
Late June to mid-July is usually the safest bet for classic purple fields, with Sault often hanging on later than Valensole.
Is this route doable without a car?
Not really. The magic here is the countryside stitching between villages, and public transport won’t link the best bits smoothly.
Which is better for lavender, Valensole or Sault?
Valensole is the big headline look, Sault tends to feel calmer and can bloom later. If you can do both, do both.
How many days do I actually need?
7 days is doable but busy. 8–9 days feels relaxed, with time for swims, slow lunches, and detours.
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Author
Michelle Wright
Hi, I'm Michelle, a middle-aged adventurer rediscovering the world one trip at a time. After years of balancing career and family, I’m now embracing my love for travel with a fresh perspective. From exploring ancient ruins in Greece to savoring wine in Tuscany’s rolling hills, I seek destinations that blend culture, history, and relaxation. My blog posts share practical advice, heartfelt stories, and inspiration for fellow travelers proving it’s never too late to chase wanderlust. Join me as I navigate new horizons and find joy in life’s next chapter!
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