Follow the Éoures road (D44) towards Aubagne. Pass the large Font de Mai car park and the No. 10 bus stop "La Gastaude". After the small central reservation, turn left and continue to the end of Chemin de Ruissatel. Park in the large car park next to the Puits de Raimu.
(S/E) Continue along the tarmac road until you reach the junction with Chemin de la Font de Mai. Turn left towards Col d'Aubignane. Pass Mas de Massacan (Ugolin's house in the film "Manon des Sources") and continue along the road, which splits into two dirt tracks closed off by barriers.
(1) Turn right onto the track that leads to Font de Mai. Pass by a ruin, then arrive at a clear, shaded area where you will find the Puits de la Femme sans Tête (Headless Woman's Well).
Turn left at the signpost, heading towards Le Garlaban via the Scolopendres trail. Note the ruins on the right.
(2) After the ruins, turn left. Be careful, as the start of the path is difficult to spot due to the dense vegetation. The path is marked in yellow.
When you reach a crossroads, turn left. Pass over the previous ruins. The path turns right and then winds upwards. Be careful, there are many parallel paths, some of which disappear into the heath. Follow the yellow markings carefully.
(3) Be careful here: I lost my way and veered to the right, then had to turn left to find the right path and the yellow markings. This may happen to you too. Use the top of the electricity pylons as a landmark. That is the direction to follow.
Pass the electricity pylons and follow the track that joins the Draioulet track. Turn right towards Garlaban. Cut straight across the track that winds upwards.
(4) Point of interest: turn right to visit the rock carvings by Louis Douard at the end of the bend. Otherwise, cut across the track. There are other carvings further up on the right.
(5) When you reach the Col du Garlaban, keep to the right to pass by the Oratory of the Curé d'Ars. Climb to the summit of Garlaban. Take the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved break. Admire the 360° view.
(6) Set off again to the left of the cross, following the ridges.
You will arrive at a large, flat, open area. Turn left at the signpost.
Turn right at the signpost towards Sentier des Dansaires and Source de Barquieu. The trail is marked in yellow.
Be careful, there is a difficult passage where you will need to use a cable fixed into the rock to descend.
Admire the Ravin de Garlaban on your right. Arrive at the Source de Barquieu.
(7) Turn left, walk over large limestone slabs towards the Puits de l'Aroumi, marked with yellow signs and directions indicated on a rock.
(8) Continue on the left, the path climbs along the hillside. You will come to a crossroads marked by a sign.
(9) Keep left, heading towards Puits de l'Aroumi. The markings turn blue, and you will reach a new crossroads.
(10) Turn right towards Puits de l'Aroumi, indicated on a rock on the ground. The markings remain blue.
After a difficult descent due to numerous rocks, the trail levels out and passes through the undergrowth. Follow the signs for Puits de l'Aroumi. The markings turn yellow again. Arrive at Puits de l'Aroumi.
(11) Continue and at the next crossroads, go straight ahead and follow the yellow markings. The path is difficult because there are many rocks; in fact, it is the bed of a stream.
When you reach the wide DFCI track, take it on the left to reach the Col du Tubé.
(12) Descend opposite the pass; the blue-marked trail leads to a clearing. At the end of the clearing, you will find the Puits du Murier on your right.
Immediately take thefirst path that climbs to the right. The markings become yellow. Pass in front of the Baume Sourne, visit it, then resume the route to reach the Col de Baume Sourne.
(13) Do not head towards La Treille, but take the next path on the left with yellow markings on the trees. After a few rocks to climb over, the trail becomes easier. Keep the Pic du Taoumé in your sights.
Follow the yellow markings to climb a few rocks and reach the summit of Taoumé.
(14) Continue downhill, quickly reaching the Grosibou Cave. Then head to the Pas du Loup. Turn left and then quickly right at a hairpin bend marked by a cairn. Leave the markings here and descend almost due south. You will see a clearing below with a grove of trees in the middle, which you will need to reach. There are no more markings. Cross the clearing on the left. Follow the path.
Cross the stream bed. Head for the Jas de la Badoque crossroads at the bottom of the descent.
(15) Be careful not to miss this fork. The path climbs and then descends for a long way to another clearing. Keep to the left. You will arrive at large rock slabs in the Vallon de Passe Temps.
(16) Turn left, then further on to the right, and rejoin the Chemin du Vallon des Piches to reach the Col d'Aubignane crossroads.
(17) Continue straight ahead, then further on, leave the DFCI and turn right to make a detour to the Ferme d'Angèle. Then rejoin the DFCI track that leads to the initial crossroads passed on the way out.
(1) Follow the same route as on the way out to return to the Puits de Raimu car park (S/E).