The Crête du Grand Luberon ridge from Vaugines

This is one of my favourite hikes in the Grand Luberon, and you can easily vary the route along the summit. This hike takes you to the summit through several valleys, offering superb views in places. The descent on the oldGR®®9trail is just as interesting for its many views. (TheGR®®9route has now changed slightly.)

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 585 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 585 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 900 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 365 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the charming church in Vaugines.

(S/E) Walk along the road towards the church, which climbs straight up to the north, and pass it on your right. At the next junction with a wayside cross, turn right and continue to a three-way junction.

(1) Take the road on the left and continue along a track until you reach a roundabout in a clearing. Keep to the right.

(2) Almost at the top of the "roundabout", take the forest road on the right. Ignore a turn-off on the right and continue to the next fork on a small plateau.

(3) Turn left onto the forest track heading west (not shown on the map), which runs almost horizontally to the Grande Fontaine and joins the forest track climbing up from the Vallon de Vaunière.

(4) Turn right and quickly veer left. Take a wide right turn and enter the Vallon de la Figuière. Follow this track to the fork at the top of Lubero.

(5) TheGR®®9is marked here along the ridge trail. Continue left on the red and white markedGR®® to reach the clearly visible summit of Pelat de Buoux about 500 m away.

(6) Keep to theGR®® opposite to rejoin the ridge track at the water tank.

(7) Stay on the track and, at the hairpin bend that follows, follow the path opposite which joins the Grand Vallon de Roumagoua. Continue for about 200 m until you reach a fork.

(8) Take the oldGR®®9 trailon the right, stay on the main trail and go around the Sommet de Gibas on the left until you reach another crossroads.

(9) Keep to the path ahead to reach the entrance to the village of Vaugines.

(10) Take the road on the right (Chemin de Vaunières), then turn left at No. 334 onto the one-way street (Route des Grottes). At the town hall, turn right onto Rue de la Mairie, then quickly left onto Rue des Amazonnes, then Rue Basse, and return to the car park at the church in Vaugines (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 365 m - Car park near the church in Vaugines
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 390 m - Road on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.98 - alt. 427 m - Forest road
  4. 3 : km 1.59 - alt. 509 m - Small plateau
  5. 4 : km 2.57 - alt. 494 m - Vallon de Vaunière
  6. 5 : km 6.44 - alt. 883 m - Route des crêtes
  7. 6 : km 7.22 - alt. 900 m - Pelat post in Buoux
  8. 7 : km 8.36 - alt. 810 m - Carrefour citerne
  9. 8 : km 8.9 - alt. 761 m - Grand Vallon de Roumagoua
  10. 9 : km 11.85 - alt. 399 m - Crossroads below the Sommet de Gibas
  11. 10 : km 12.91 - alt. 397 m - Entrance to Vaugines
  12. S/E : km 13.82 - alt. 365 m - Car park near the church in Vaugines

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Zayu
Zayu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike. Steep climb to the highest point. I lost the GPS twice, but the path was easy to follow. Superb 360° view at the top. Beautiful descent along a narrow path.

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Zayu
Zayu

Magnificent hike. Lost GPS. Completed in 3 hours. Steep climb at the start. You need to be physically fit

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patricktrannoy72
patricktrannoy72

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The paper route description is very unreliable. There is a high risk of making mistakes when choosing which direction to take at certain junctions, especially as there are no markings. Saved by the digital app, otherwise we'd still be there!!!!!

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User 4656098
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with a climb in the shade and a partially shaded descent. The view from the ridge is magnificent: the Calavon valley and Mont Ventoux to the north, the Durance valley, St-Victoire and the Chaine de l'Etoile to the south.

Allow 3 hours without breaks for a reasonably fit walker

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leoS
leoS

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, I was never able to find the forest road connecting points 3 and 4... I tried several "paths" following the directions, but I eventually gave up after repeatedly ending up in impassable areas. It's a shame because everything else seems easy to follow with GPS, but this section is the only one that can't be found on the map! The area is very nice, though.

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ValoéRando
ValoéRando

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but a bit tough going up (trail with lots of stones).
Lack of signposting on the trail (red and white); we saw maybe four signs in total on the forest sections. We took the wrong route on the way down and had to retrace our steps; the fork in the path was only marked by a pile of stones.

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allanlebras
allanlebras
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We were never able to leave Vaugines.
In my opinion, the description of the stages is very vague, if not completely unclear. Points 2 and 3 are particularly unclear.
We decided to take another walk from Vaugines.
It's a shame. It was a bit frustrating.

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godillot1
godillot1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is best enjoyed in good weather and on a day when there is no mistral wind. Picnicking at the summit in the sunshine is a real treat.

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francis henaut
francis henaut

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

To start the hike, you can cross the village and, at the exit, leave the GR trail and take the track that climbs up to the right.

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JL de Vaugines
JL de Vaugines

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did this route on an electric mountain bike. The route is easy to find. The path is very uncomfortable to cycle on, with lots and lots of stones of all sizes. It's almost impossible to leave the path. Very pretty views nonetheless.

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Gérard VIGNOUD
Gérard VIGNOUD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Too much walking on forest trails.

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Dominique Di fusco
Dominique Di fusco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike
The climb is a bit long but you're rewarded with a magnificent view
The descent is very pleasant
A visit to the village rounds off this hike nicely
Note that the church in Vaugines, where "Manon des Sources" was filmed, is open every last Sunday of the month for mass

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Fontenotte
Fontenotte

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Just before point 5, there is a pleasant path lined with boxwood trees that shortens the route and avoids staying too long on a wide path. The ridge offers a very wide view, but avoid it on days when the mistral wind is strong!

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, truly breathtaking views of the "pelats". In summer, it must be very hot on some of the bare sections. The village of Vaugines is very beautiful and not to be missed. Otherwise, yes, the climb after point 4 is a bit tiring because it's quite long, but the slope isn't too steep.

As for the guidebook, as already noted
- the "new forest road" is a small track with abundant vegetation in the middle
- just before point 5, you can cut across by going straight ahead at the hairpin bend, but it's a steep climb
- especially a little after point 7, you have to leave the track and take a path to the left of the track, marked by a cairn; it's not "straight ahead".

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evboucher55
evboucher55

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very pretty hike

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