Circular Garlaban starting from Peypin

Ascent towards Mont du Marseillais, then a walk along a ledge with beautiful views of Sainte Victoire, Mont Ventoux, the Southern Alps, Sainte-Baume, the Huveaune Valley, the Aubagne Plain, the cliffs of Cassis and Marseille. The route also includes a visit to the Baume Sourne Cave.

Details

17827162
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.22 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 9h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,898 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,878 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,329 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 971 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the side of the D 46a road at the roundabout.

(S/E) Take the path marked with double yellow and yellow-red markings. You will reach a hunting hide.

(1) Take the path that descends to the left. At the bottom of the descent, you will find a track junction.

(2) Take the track on the left uphill to go round La Cride heading east; this is the Chemin du Pic du Marseillais. You’ll reach a crossroads with several directions just before a water tank.

(3) Stay on the track on the right, continuing to follow the yellow and yellow-red markings. Pass in front of a DFCI water tank. Continue along this track, pass under two power lines, and carry on uphill to reach a path junction at the foot of Mont des Marseillais.

(4) Turn left onto the Balcon des Tourdes path. A gentle descent takes you out onto a ledge overlooking the Huveaune Valley. Then climb slightly to reach a junction of several paths.

(5) Ignore the path leading down to the left towards Lascours and head back up towards the cliffs, taking thesecond path on the right. Continue through the Grand Vallon to reach its summit.

(6) Turn left after thethird mountain bike post, marked in light blue. Continue climbing; at thefirst junction, leave the descending path on your left to reach, further on, the junction of the path leading to the Source de Barquieu.

(7) Turn left here, follow the path and, after a few bends, reach the Barquieu spring at the junction with the Sentier des Dansaïres.

(8) Take the path opposite, marked ‘L'Antique’, to reach the Col du Garlaban.

(9) From here, take one of the many paths leading to the summit of Garlaban.

(10) Descend back to the pass via the path of your choice.

(9) Turn left onto the wide track, passing a gate. Follow the track round a tight bend to reach a crossroads.

(11) Take the path on the left. Walk through an open area to reach the Puits du Mûrier.

(12) Continue straight ahead, passing close to the Grotte de la Baume Sourne. You will then reach a crossroads with several directions. Continue straight ahead along the wide track, reaching a path junction shortly afterwards.

(13) Turn almost 180° to the right, climb slightly to reach another junction in an open area.

(14) Take the path on the left, running alongside a small quarry. Continue through a wood until you reach a wider track.

(15) Take it to the left, keep to the right at the next junction to reach a path junction further on.

(16) Turn left, then cross theGRP® 2013 Marseille Métropole. Continue straight down the slope and, after a few bends, reach the junction with theGRP® Sentier Provence Mines d'Énergies.

::17: Follow it for a few metres, then leave it on the left to join the road and reach the hamlet of Le Régage at a place called Les Mies.

(18) Take the path on the left uphill towards the high-voltage pylons. Pass under the power lines again, staying on this path. Then follow the edge of the woods; at the junction, turn left and then immediately right to reach an old aviary.

(19) Continue straight ahead on an unmaintained and little-used path, which is nevertheless clearly visible. The path descends quite steeply until you reach the crossroads you passed on the way out, in the hamlet of La Rouvière.

(2) Turn left and retrace your steps, following the yellow-red markings to return to the car park on the Route du Régage D 46a (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 971 ft - Car park on Route du Régage D 46a
  2. 1 : mi 0.5 - alt. 1,178 ft - Hunting hide
  3. 2 : mi 0.9 - alt. 1,076 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 1.33 - alt. 1,106 ft - Crossroads before the cistern
  5. 4 : mi 3.09 - alt. 1,795 ft - Bacon des Tourdes
  6. 5 : mi 3.94 - alt. 1,604 ft - Elevation 492
  7. 6 : mi 5.05 - alt. 1,778 ft - End of Grand Vallon
  8. 7 : mi 5.31 - alt. 2,060 ft - Source de Barquieu Trail
  9. 8 : mi 6.52 - alt. 1,693 ft - Barquieu Spring
  10. 9 : mi 6.92 - alt. 2,096 ft - Col du Garlaban
  11. 10 : mi 7.11 - alt. 2,316 ft - Summit of Garlaban
  12. 11 : mi 7.72 - alt. 2,139 ft - Map of L’Aigle
  13. 12 : mi 8.37 - alt. 1,962 ft - Puits du Mûrier
  14. 13 : mi 8.96 - alt. 1,926 ft - Cheylan Plain
  15. 14 : mi 9.33 - alt. 1,936 ft - Quarry
  16. 15 : mi 9.91 - alt. 2,136 ft - Trail junction
  17. 16 : mi 10.66 - alt. 1,965 ft - Trail junction
  18. 17 : mi 11.55 - alt. 1,427 ft - GRP Provence Mines d'Énergies trail
  19. 18 : mi 12.19 - alt. 1,394 ft - Les Mies
  20. 19 : mi 12.94 - alt. 1,480 ft - Abandoned aviary
  21. S/E : mi 14.22 - alt. 971 ft - Car park on Route du Régage D 46a

Worth a visit

There are various viewpoints along the route, particularly from the summit of Garlaban.
After (12) La Grotte de Baume Sourne, a very beautiful cave located about 500 m along the path on the right, with a very small opening. Baume Sourne means ‘dark cave’ in Provençal.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
herbeapipe
herbeapipe

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello, I went on this hike on 9 May. The weather was perfect.
The GPX track is very reliable, but I wouldn’t recommend following the route on the PDF. It contains various errors (e.g. right turns replaced by left turns) and isn’t detailed enough given the length of the hike and the many paths that cross the trail you’re following. If you have the GPX track, no problem, but make sure you always stay close to the track.
As for the hike’s appeal, the landscape is quite rocky, and apart from the Garlaban itself and the view from the top, I find the hike rather uninspiring for a 9-hour walk.
Finally, there are several hundred metres between 19 and 2 that are very poorly maintained and where you have to force your way through using your poles.

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hostey
hostey
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A really good hike with varied views; quite challenging in places, it takes you right to the summit of Garlaban.
I completed the hike with my 14-year-old son in 6 hours and 52 minutes, including a few breaks.
The biggest challenge is the length of the route.
Having done it for the second time, my GPS tells me it’s 2 to 3 km longer each time.

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hostey
hostey
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A really good hike with varied views; quite challenging in places, it takes you right to the summit of Garlaban.
I completed the hike with my 14-year-old son in 6 hours and 52 minutes, including a few breaks.
The biggest challenge is the length of the route.
Having done it for the second time, my GPS tells me it’s 2 to 3 km longer each time.

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Flo_snowhike
Flo_snowhike

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A 25km walk, completed in 9 hours (including a 1-hour lunch break at the summit of Garlaban and a 30-minute break further on), by keen walkers (who weren’t in too much of a hurry either). We arrived at Garlaban at 11.45am, having set off from Peypin at 7.40am.
Very pleasant, with views across the whole of Sainte-Victoire, then the Huveaune valley, and finally over to Marseille.
The signposting is very clear. A few sections of scree, otherwise the path is well maintained.

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DD13120
DD13120

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent route – a real treat.
I was pleasantly surprised by the distance covered on the trails, with very little tarmac or paved surfaces.
I really enjoyed it.
Would definitely do it again
DD

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