Mount Ventoux starting from the Mont Serein cam site

A beautiful round trip leading to the summit and back along the crests.

Details

61142
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 643 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 642 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,897 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,392 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From 'Malaucène' drive to the car park located at the Mont Serein camp site. The starting point, a quite wide track, is located at the right-hand side of the camp site.

Follow the signs indicating Mont Ventoux. (following long hiking trails GR4 and GR9).
There will be a crossing, you'll need to follow the GR4, leading to Mont Ventoux to the right leaving the GR9, to your left.
The climb starts off in woodland before arriving in a rocky landscape. The climb remains steady to the Mont Ventoux summit (1).Snow still present early May. Head back down along the 'Col des Tempêtes', (GR4).(2) You need to follow and walk between the large red and blue poles before reaching a sign indicating 'la Tête de la Grave' (3).. Once you've reached this sign, leave track GR4 and turn left (yellow waymarks). Walk downwards through the woodlands, some stony parts on the way can be a little bit tricky (be careful not to slip).
The GR9 will be at a crossing a bit further below (4), take a left and keep going straight ahead.
You'll come across the GR4 trail a bit further, take it, you'll be back on the starting trail.
Take Mont Serein's direction.
Be careful not to follow the sign 'Le Contrat' on the right (we unfortunately did!), Instead, head to the left (there's a pole with a drawing of a cross country skier, take this direction)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,414 m - Car park at the Mont Serein campsite
  2. 1 : km 0.43 - alt. 1,408 m - Bifurcation
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 1,432 m - Bifurcation
  4. 3 : km 4.4 - alt. 1,897 m - Mont Ventoux
  5. 4 : km 4.95 - alt. 1,829 m - Col des Tempêtes (1829m)
  6. 5 : km 7.94 - alt. 1,638 m - Tête de la Grave (1627m)
  7. 6 : km 9.38 - alt. 1,403 m - GR9
  8. S/E : km 13.49 - alt. 1,414 m - Car park at the Mont Serein campsite

Notes

At the Summit, you can cheer and congratulate cyclists having successfully climbed this mythical stage of the Tour de France!

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 136 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Maclecach
Maclecach

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The ascent was made difficult by a layer of snow that obscured the winding path, forcing us to cross the scree slope in a straight line.
The descent included sections requiring caution but offered magnificent views.

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User 2884893

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is clear
Not many people on the route taken in October
Very beautiful scenery, we saw chamois, and yes, there are chamois on Ventoux.
We took the opportunity to sleep at the campsite located at the start of the hike

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User 27144590

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, GPS route relatively easy to follow, impressive views.
A few more difficult and even dangerous sections on the descent (slippery, narrow, unstable and along a ravine).

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User 13796004

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a magnificent walk with breathtaking scenery, but some sections are tricky, especially on the way down. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who suffers from vertigo! It took me over 5 hours and 20 minutes, but that's because I couldn't resist stopping to admire the view

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Ouichaoui
Ouichaoui

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but you do need to be fit as it's quite steep. The scenery is breathtaking, but be careful when passing other hikers as the path is narrow in places

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hauteluce
hauteluce

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. Be careful of the wind, which was very cold and strong: we had to buy a windbreaker at the top... something to keep in mind. We highly recommend it! Thank you, Visorando!

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Gael09
Gael09

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, great views over the valley, first part pleasant but still a bit snowy in April. Beware: the whole way back to the Mont Sere campsite alternates between forest and scree, and the scree is sometimes really dangerous. If you're afraid of heights, don't do it, and don't do it with children or beginners....

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Ousonmestongs
Ousonmestongs

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, but you'll need poles and good shoes
The scenery, the views, the animals... it's all a pleasure.

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Fabjack
Fabjack

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route. Beware of slippery roots in wet weather on the last third of the route.

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Sir Hillary
Sir Hillary

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Mont Ventoux hike is best done on this side of the mountain, as the route is much greener. The description is reliable: it's easy to find the route and it's a steady climb, most of it in undergrowth, with the last part in scree. The view of the Alps in the distance becomes clearer as you climb, rewarding your efforts. The descent between the poles is more than difficult. Then the way back presents no particular difficulty. Without mentioning the crowds, there's no loneliness on this route, which means that the track is easy to find.

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cblue
cblue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Steady ascent, no difficulty. If it snows, bring sticks.
Magnificent panorama.

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ervégr
ervégr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike. A classic of the Ventoux.

Beware of those prone to vertigo. The scree crossing in the last part of the route is impressive.

The yellow markings on the descent from the tête de la Grave signpost are almost non-existent. You can make a mistake in the first kilometre.

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lesignal
lesignal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

lovely hike excellent weather not too hot just right
the pleasant climb was not a problem, we took 1h45 to get there
big traffic jam on arrival (bikes, walkers, pedestrians etc)
we quickly set off again towards the col des tempêtes, which was quieter
the descent into the scree requires attention but it's very well done and well worth a look

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Alex55
Alex55

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike (pine forest and scree) with no particular difficulties, done with two children aged 6 and 9, leading to the summit of the Ventoux.
A truly lunar landscape, simply breathtaking!

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Gilles.83
Gilles.83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike 👍

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