What to Do in the Luberon the Eco-Friendly Way?

- Published on 21/05/2026 -

What is there to do in the Luberon if you’re after something other than the classic Gordes-Roussillon list? This Provençal massif, classified as a Regional Nature Park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, lends itself particularly well to slow tourism. Between hikes through the ochre cliffs, cycling on the Véloroute du Calavon, wild swimming and farmers’ markets, the area is a natural playground to explore without a car.

Here are our ideas for visiting the Luberon differently from your eco-friendly campsite!

Key takeaways

The Luberon is a 185,000-hectare Regional Nature Park, classified a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1997.
The Véloroute du Calavon crosses the massif over nearly 50km, perfect for visiting without a car.
The Colorado Provençal in Rustrel and the Ochre Trail in Roussillon reveal red landscapes unique in France.
The markets in Apt (Saturday morning) and Coustellet (Sunday morning) bring together the area’s organic producers.
The Luberon has around twenty hilltop villages, including Saignon, Ménerbes and Oppède-le-Vieux, quieter than Gordes.

The Luberon, a Regional Nature Park classified a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

The Luberon is one of the oldest Regional Nature Parks in France, created in 1977. It spans 185,000 hectares straddling the Vaucluse and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence départements, and covers 77 municipalities. In 1997, UNESCO added this area to its network of Biosphere Reserves for the richness of its biodiversity: over a thousand recorded plant species, protected wildlife including the Egyptian vulture and Bonelli’s eagle, and rare geological landscapes such as the ochre sands of Apt.

This recognition changes the way you visit the Luberon. Part of the area is under enhanced protection, with marked trails and strict rules: no picking, no fires, respect for wildlife quiet zones.

Visiting the hilltop villages by bike or on foot

The Luberon has nearly thirty hilltop villages, and exploring them by bike or on foot lets you really get a feel for the massif’s terrain. The Véloroute du Calavon (V862) crosses the area from east to west over nearly 50km, between Robion and Céreste, along a converted former railway line. The route is flat, suitable for families, and serves several villages.

Hikers will prefer the GR®97, which loops around the Petit and Grand Luberon in 7 stages. As for the villages, some remain less crowded than Gordes or Roussillon during peak season: Saignon and its rock, Ménerbes and its 360-degree viewpoint, Oppède-le-Vieux and its medieval squares, or Lourmarin, ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Our team recommends setting off at dawn, for streets that are still deserted and soft light!

Hikes, ochre cliffs and swimming amid preserved landscapes

Beyond the villages, the Luberon reveals its most striking landscapes on foot. The Ochre Trail in Roussillon (45 minutes, marked) offers an educational route through the orange cliffs, former pigment quarries. About thirty minutes’ drive away, the Colorado Provençal in Rustrel offers longer routes (1 to 2.5 hours) across a 30-hectare wild site set up for walking.

For those who love swimming, several natural spots are worth the detour:

The Régalon gorges offer a narrow 1.5km canyon to walk through, dotted with cool pools.
Lake Bonde, near Cabrières-d’Aigues, offers supervised swimming in summer in a wooded setting.
The Sorgue river, in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, attracts those seeking crystal-clear water at 13°C all year round.

Experiencing the Luberon’s local flavour: farmers’ markets, organic vineyards and producers

The Luberon is also farming country, and its producers are best met at the markets. The Apt market, one of the largest markets in Provence, brings the town centre to life every Saturday morning with around a hundred stalls: goat’s cheese, Cavaillon melons, Provençal honey, AOP olive oil. In Coustellet, the Sunday morning farmers’ market brings together only local producers, with no resellers.

As for vineyards, the AOC Luberon covers 36 municipalities and includes several estates committed to organic farming. Cooperative wineries and family estates hold tastings, often free by reservation. Olive oil lovers will find what they’re after at the mills of Cucuron and the Aigues valley, where several producers offer tours and tastings from €5.

Our team’s favourite spot: the Coustellet farmers’ market on Sunday morning. Much less well-known than the Apt one, it brings together around thirty small local producers selling fruit, vegetables, cheese and sourdough bread direct. An authentic experience, with no souvenir stalls, best enjoyed at the start of your stay to stock up on great local produce.

You now know what to do in the Luberon while favouring nature and local encounters. All that’s left is choosing accommodation that matches this approach: want to find a campsite aligned with your eco-responsible values? Check out our selection of eco-friendly campsites in the Luberon!

FAQ — What to Do in the Luberon

What’s the best time to visit the Luberon?

The best time to visit the Luberon runs from May to mid-June, then from mid-September to October. Lavender blooms between late June and late July, but the hilltop villages and ochre cliffs remain accessible year-round, with noticeably calmer crowds in the shoulder season.

How many days should you plan to discover the Luberon?

To discover the Luberon at a comfortable pace, allow at least 4 days on site. This lets you combine a day cycling, a day hiking among the ochre cliffs, a day visiting hilltop villages and a day for markets or tastings, without overloading the schedule.

What can you do in the Luberon as a family?

To visit the Luberon as a family, favour the Ochre Trail in Roussillon (short and marked), the Véloroute du Calavon (flat and safe), Lake Bonde for supervised swimming in summer, and the Maison du Parc in Apt, which offers exhibitions suited to children on local biodiversity.

Which hilltop villages in the Luberon are the least crowded?

Among the least crowded hilltop villages in the Luberon, Saignon, Oppède-le-Vieux, Buoux, Ménerbes and Lacoste remain quieter than Gordes or Roussillon during peak season. They retain a preserved authenticity, especially enjoyable at sunrise or sunset, outside peak tourist hours.

Sources:

Luberon Regional Nature Park: https://www.parcduluberon.fr/
Luberon-Lure Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO MAB): https://www.unesco.org/fr/mab/luberon-lure
Luberon Cœur de Provence Tourist Office: https://www.luberoncoeurdeprovence.com/