To the Pont du Gard

An interesting and relatively easy walk. Late October turned out to be a good time to go as the weather had just cooled down a bit and was ideal for walking (though it's a less good time for wildlife.) The Saturday market at Uzes was great. Other highlights the impressive quarries at Vers and the long stretch of aqueduct on the longer circuit to the Pont du Gard.

As always, we thoroughly enjoyed our Inntravel holiday. The scenery on this walk was not as spectacular as others we have taken, but the hotels were the best we have encountered on any of our walks - and the food was excellent in every location. The highlights for us were the village of Collias and the visit to the Pont du Guard. Be sure to take in the excellent museum there.  The market day in Uzès was hectic, but fun, and the tour notes for walking through the town were helpful. Although the trails are not difficult, good hiking boots are recommended for the loose, jagged stones on many of the paths. We had a great time and look forward to our next Inntravel adventure.

A most enjoyable walk for the two of us, even though we are both well into our 80s.

Pont du Gard was the highlight of an interesting walking holiday. Nice hotels and generally good food.

It was a really good, southern french experience.

Three of us thoroughly enjoyed the "To The Pond du Gard" itinerary in mid-May, 2023! The Nimes "add-on" was also well worth the extra days. The routes were well-planned, giving us plenty of time to walk between the medieval villages, as well as take advantage of the "loop walks." Each inn was pleasant, and at the end of the day's walk it was fun to discover the "character" of each inn.  Breakfasts were especially well done. The walk atop the garrigue with Gardon Gorge views stands out, as does the circular route from Collias to the Hermitage, and the longer route to the Pont du Gard.  Varied terrain, interesting geology, photographic villages, fields/orchards/vineyards/wildflowers, and cultural antiquities were experienced each day along the walking routes.

Another great Inntravel holiday! The hotels were fine, the food was good - it was fun to compare the different restaurants. At Collias we had both dinners in Hostellerie Le Castellas - although the menu choices were quite limited (but perfectly good) on the first evening, they offered us additional choices on the second evening - we were pleased that we chose that option. Generous picnics!

It's always good to arrive at the next hotel and to be told that our cases are in our room - a good sign of a warm welcome.

The walks were highly enjoyable with great variation in the countryside. The longer walk on Day 5 brought us close to remains of the Roman aquaduct at several places, then long-distance views of the Pont du Gard long before we arrived at the bridge itself. A holiday that lived up to its name!

Early May was a superb time to embark on this lovely holiday. The weather was perfect, flowers were blooming, birds migrating, and asparagus and rhubarb featured on the menus. Each hike was a highlight of it's own, through vineyards, barley fields, garrigue, and along the river gorge. Being in Usez for market day is well worth organizing your schedule to accomadate. Kayaking in Collias is wonderful and worth an extra day there, the walk from Collias to La Begude Saint Pierre was varried and fascinating with the rock quarry and ancient tracks. 

The weather was perfect for walking 20 to 24c. As the week advanced it got warmer and by then we much appreciated the heated pool at Hostellerie Le Castellas and the pool at La Begude (unheated but lovely). A wonderful introduction to a  previously unexplored part of France. A highly enjoyable combination of pretty walks, cultural treasures and delicious food.

This was our fifth Inntravel holiday and well up to the usual standard. The supplementary notes which accompanied the walking directions were very comprehensive and added to our pleasure.

An excellent and relaxing break in an area we had not previously visited. The bookings, excellent route guides and general organisation ensured a stress- free holiday.

This was a fabulous holiday where we felt well taken care of. The area is fascinating and all walks clearly described. Highly recommended. One evening in Castellias we enjoyed a meal in an excellent creperie- a welcome change from hotel food, which was a little rich for our tastes at times. We didn't do it but felt that an extra night in Nimes would have completed the experience well, giving more evidence on the Romans in the area and the being destination of the water for which the Pont was built!

Excellent walking holiday in the Pont du Gard region. From medieval villages to roman ruins, quiet village washrooms to bustling market squares, the top of Gorges to the low lying olive groves, this holiday had plenty of contrasts. The walking notes were excellent and the distances were very manageable.

Our highlights were the medieval garden in Uzes which were very worth making a detour for with the King's Tower having a great view over the surrounding countryside so you could see where you would be walking to over the week, the atmospheric Hidden Hermitage outside Collias and the walk through the olive groves on the way to the Pont du Gard, framed by the remains of the rest of the aquaduct. The sheer size of the Pont du Gard is breathtaking and is worth getting to early, before it gets too busy. 

As the weather during our trip was absolutely scorching we were not able to do as many of the longer walks as we normally would, but spending more time by the pools at each of the wonderful hotels was a very pleasurable compensation.

Thank you - a wonderful holiday with just the right mix of walking, exploration/explanation, friendly accommodation and overall support

We really enjoyed this holiday and I continue to marvel at how Inntravel bring together such great combinations in their holidays – covering history, biodiversity, geology, landscape and other interests in their walks. The walk notes convey information in such an easy to read and accessible way they are a complete pleasure.

We loved so many things about this holiday. Our favourite hotel was the Hostellerie Le Castiellas in Collias which is quirky and fun, with a beautiful pool, set in this lovely historic village. For a simple meal, we found the creperie there ‘Bulle de Crepes’ was handy for our unallocated evening meal, and the small supermarket and boulangerie are great for drinks and food. We enjoyed an extra night in Collias to canoe down to the Pont du Gard which was well worth doing.

Uzes is stunning, made more so by the excellent town trail notes. The walk from Uzes to Collias is wonderfully varied and the ‘Saladerie’ café/boulangerie at Sanilhac was an absolute god send on a hot day (it was 35C when we did this walk). We found it essential to leave as early as possible in the morning on very hot days.

The walk from Collias to Vers-Pont-du-Gard was equally stunning, and the stretch through the limestone quarries is awesome. Another highlight for us was following the remains of the aqueduct from the Pont du Gard back to Vers – we combined Option A route down to the bridge with option B on the return, as far as Vers, with a rewarding lunch at ‘La Grange’ in Place de la Fontaine.

At the start of the holiday we made use of bus 115 from Avignon to Uzes, and then a taxi organised by Uzes tourist office to Arpaillargues. For the return to Avignon the 115 can be caught from the edge of Vers-Pont-du-Gard, a 10/15min walk from Hotel Begude Saint Pierre.

A gentle walk through vineyards, olive groves and delightful villages. The Pont du Gard was an absolute highlight. As the hotel is only a short walk away, we went straight to Pont du Gard first thing in the morning and beat the crowds. We then did the suggested walk, had lunch in the hill top village of Castillon-du-Gard and finished the day back at Pont du Gard when the sun was shining on the other side of the bridge.,Avignon was an excellent add on trip. We had very good meals at La Petite Peche and Le Gout du Jour - both very close to Hotel de L'Horloge.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk To the Pont du Gard with our Avignon City add-on

We thoroughly enjoyed this walk.  It was all very well arranged, the accommodation and meals the best standard we have had with Inntravel. The walks were all interesting and the countryside beautiful. It was particularly great to be back in France after the years of Lockdown. Thank you for your efficient organisation. 

We very much enjoyed our holiday and were delighted with the accommodation. The Pont du Gard is undoubtedly impressive. We opted, partly due to the unseasonably hot weather, to do the shorter walk on the last day, and would recommend this option. There is a considerable amount to see around the site with the museum being well worth a visit.

Additionally Uzes was a delightful revelation. A beautiful unspoilt town.

Some of the paths along each route are made of uneven loose stones so I would recommend footwear with sturdy soles.

We suggest that rather than have 2 walks (short and long) to the Hidden Hermitage one of these is changed to the walk upsteam beside the River Gardon starting at the bridge in Collias. We suggested this to our fellow trippers and they very much appreciated the tip. This walk can be any length people wish, just stopping and turning round when they get to what they think should be the halfway point.

This was our fourth Inntravel holiday and it didn't disappoint. In fact, this one was one of the best we've done so far. As usual the folder with background information and route notes was fantastic but what made it so good was the variety on offer. From the charming old town of Uzes and its fabulous market to the varied walks, the wonderful Gardon river, delicious meals, quaint villages, quirky hotels and of course the magnificent Pont du Gard.
We were blessed with wall to wall sunshine everyday and a scorching 30 degrees (an unseasonable heatwave apparently) which, to be honest, made walking on some days rather challenging, but luckily just when we needed one a bar would appear for a cool refreshing drink. La Saladerie on the walk from Uzes to Collias was a practically a life saver! However, having two or more nights at each hotel gave us time to recover, and we enjoyed exploring the local area without the pressure of moving on.

We would definitely encourage anyone thinking about this holiday to try and be in Uzes on market day, (and keep some room in your suitcase for all the tempting things on offer). Another highlight was kayaking on the Gardon from Collias. We had actually booked three nights here so we could do just that and it was well worth it. We had spent the Sunday relaxing by the river watching lots of others do the same and when it came to our turn the next day, unbelievably, we had the river to ourselves. It was so relaxing and a great way to deal with the heat. Of course, the view of the Pont du Gard from the river was utterly breathtaking, a very special and memorable moment. There are a number of kayak rental companies along the river near Collias bridge, we opted for Canoe Collias and they were excellent, very friendly, helpful and allowed us plenty of time to enjoy the river, including stopping along the way for a picnic, before picking us up at the other end to bring us back to the village. Lifejackets are given, as well as a waterproof barrel for your stuff.
Dining options in Collias while we were there were limited. La Bajana was closed and we were told by a member of staff at the hotel that their opening hours are currently inconsistent and unpredictable. Luckily you can eat at the hotel on the night a meal isn't included (if their restaurant is open) or do what we did and have a picnic. As we were blessed with great weather we bought a fabulous selection of picnic items from the well stocked village shops and had a wonderful Al fresco supper of freshly roasted chicken, potatoes, salad, fresh bread and of course, local wine and delicious patisserie items for dessert. This negative actually turned into a positive and became one of the highlights! 
So, to sum up, a wonderful holiday and many new and happy memories to look back on. 

The holiday was everything that we hoped it would be. The expectation and anticipation of arriving at each hotel was very exciting and rewarding. In each the breakfasts and dinners were consistently delicious and the picnics provided were more than ample. The lack of an alternative regular restaurant in Collias could be an issue but fortunately we were able to plan ahead and make provision for this with an evening "picnic". Without a doubt the main highlight was the kayak trip down the Gardon river in Collias to the Pont du Gard; paddling round the curve in the river to see the Pont revealed in front of you was a moment that will live in the memory forever. Another couple of delightful days were spent in the intriguing town of Uzes; we were so pleased to be able to visit it initially on a "quiet" day to take in and appreciate its scenic beauty and wonderful buildings, and then the following day to experience the hubbub of market day with the noise, the colour and the unbelievable range of items for sale.

We are pleased that we spent some time in Avignon too; the town has much to offer ranging from the fascinating covered market of Les Halles where a couple of hours passed in a moment, to the interesting walk around the more historic parts of Avignon. We found the notes provided when used with a map available from the tourist office enabled us to explore all aspects of the town. The number of restaurants on hand meant that the only problem was choosing which menu tempted us the most.

This was a terrific holiday.  The hotels were outstanding for their food, design, ambience and staff.  The Chateau and La Begude in particular were an absolute treat. Walking was delightful, easy going and with lovely views.  Maybe not challenging enough for some but it suited us as there were no vertigo worries and we were back at the hotel each day by four to swim and just enjoy being there.  

Thoroughly enjoyable holiday but a few tips:

We arrived into Marseille airport. Contrary to your notes, you can book the shuttle bus on-line. A return ticket costs €6.40 and can be downloaded to your phone.

We spent 3 nights in Collias, one of those evenings was a Tuesday. At the moment, there NO restaurants or take-aways open in Collias on a Tuesday. As a result we were obliged to take a taxi in Uzes for dinner, at a round trip cost of €64.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: Restaurant timetables in Collias have changed since these customers visited, with at least one now open on a Tuesday.

We highly recommend the Walk of the Ancient Aqueduct to the Pont du Gard. It was not only a beautiful walk, but seeing the fuller extension of the aqueduct added to our appreciation of its magnificence. There is also a point where you suddenly spot the Bridge far away in the distance, looking even grander, at that perspective, than up close.

Another wonderful walking tour designed by Inntravel. Our fourth in France. The hotels were all very good. La Bugude Saint Pierre was particularly nice. The dinners at Chateau d'Arpaillargues and Hostellerie Le Castellas were fantastic. The walking was about the right challenge for us - senior aged. The two nights at each hotel allowed us to rest on two days and skip the loop walk. The weather was perfect in April. Not too hot. 

As ever the walking directions were very good. We took just one short cut near the foot of Page 56 just before the inset '3.5km/1Hr'. The road towards the roundabout turns sharp right about 80 metres before the end and runs alongside the D981 to the roundabout. At that sharp right turn it is possible, as we did, to cross a small patch of land on the left, go left along the verge for a few metres and cross the road opposite the entrance to the picnic/parking area, walking along it to turn right on the grassy track. Care needs to be taken to cross what is a fast and busy road.

For us the major highlights were probably at the beginning and the end. Uzes was stunning and we would recommend spending as long there as you are able. We were lucky enough to visit on the Saturday, a really big market day, an added attraction, but the buildings are extraordinary. The Pont du Gard we had visited before but only very briefly and many years ago when there were few visitors. The setting and views were magnificent and we had a very enjoyable day, especially enjoyable for a Yorkshireman when we realised that we would bypass the ticket booths. October meant that everywhere was relatively quiet despite the glorious weather which stayed with us all week.

The Tourist information office in Uzes has extended its opening hours and we will forward a photo of the times.

The walking was extremely enjoyable and very easy - well categorised. 

The quality of accomodation was excellent in all hotels, food was great, staff brilliant and I can honestly say that we had no issues whatsoever. A super 2-week holiday enhanced by the stunning hospitality of all hotels, both on Pont du Gard and Secret Provence (we had two consecutive holidays). The walks for the Pont du Gard holiday were better than Secret Provence, I would say. A special mention for the Villa Augusta which ranked at least a 10/10! Wonderful service & Professional Masterchef food. As an example, I asked if they could have some laundry done - no problem, and a full bag of washing was completed same day, folded etc. and the hotel charged only 5EUR, and with a smile as I looked over the bill as we were leaving. The picnics provided for both holidays were the best I have encountered with Inntravel's hotels. At Hostellerie Le Castellas at Collias, this was a veritable festin (feast)! They also arranged a reservation for dinner at a nearby village, plus taxi and could not have been more helpful. At La Bégude Saint Pierre, on the second night when we had dinner the waitress said that the chef had duck for us if we wanted, rather than have the same menu. Tasty! 

Actually all dinners were first class, the best I can recall from all the 7 holidays with Inntravel we've experienced. 

I would also say that September is a good time to visit, we had only one day of sustained rain (the first week with Secret Provence), where I got lost high up in the woods in heavy rain (directions not 100% and confusing), my phone conked out but I guessed correctly thankfully. This in fact was the only day my daughter did not join me due to blisters, a good call...! Mostly secluded walks apart from weekends when more parties were present, but not intrusive. The walks in the morning (usually mid-70's), pools in the afternoon when it got hotter (82F) worked well (all hotels had pools, thank goodness!). I would say though that the walks were a bit short. 10k is too easy. 14k - 18k would be a better range, but of course this is a personal preference. We enjoyed the 14k walks better but these were the furthest available.

Highly recommended holidays, but Pont du Gard definitely had the edge for scenery, but all accommodation & food was great for both holidays.