Mont Ventoux via Savoillan

Access: the start is in the village of Savoillan, nestled at the foot of Mont Ventoux, on the banks of the Toulourenc. Enter the village via the small narrow bridge spanning the Toulourenc. Park in the car park signposted behind the church (campervan parking available).

(S/E) Head towards the wash house at the entrance to the car park. Take the small tarmac road that branches off to the left, climbing slightly. Yellow markings. Pass behind the village. Then, after about 100m, the route turns left uphill, leaving the narrow lane. Continue along the path, following the yellow markings.

The path follows an art trail known as the “Grandeur Nature trail”. After about 300–350m, this art trail branches off to the left at the edge of the woods; continue along the wider track to the right, following the yellow markings.

(1) You’ll reach a wide track suitable for vehicles. Continue left towards “Borie de Pié Gu” (wooden marker present). Yellow markings. The track crosses a forest of mainly conifers. After about 1.4 km, the wide track gives way to a path that continues through the forest.

(2) At the wooden marker post located on a hairpin bend, continue to the right towards Vanarelle. The path then winds through the forest, with a few sections along the hillside.
Yellow markings. An old Blue Cross marking is also present intermittently; please ignore this.

(3) At the “Vanarelle” sign, continue right towards Fonfroide/Brantes. Yellow markings. Leave the forest by taking a track suitable for vehicles heading west.

(4) At the “Fonfroide” sign at the Fork in the road, take the path on the left towards Col de la Frache. Yellow markings.
After 350m, when the path joins an old forest track, take the path on the left which climbs a little more steeply through the forest. You will then emerge at Col de la Frache, where a grazing area may be in use. Sheepdogs guarding the flock may be present.

(5) At the “Col de la Frache” sign, continue to the right towards Épaulement de la Frache / Mont Serein. Yellow markings.
The path runs along the edge of the woods; the gradient is quite steep.

(6) At the “Épaulement de la Frache” sign, veer slightly left and follow the^GR®4for 2–3 metres. Take the path that branches off to the right through the undergrowth heading west (the^GR®4continues south). The path is stony at the start. There are several cairns at regular intervals.
No painted markings.

After 200m, you’ll emerge into a clearing offering a beautiful view of Mont Ventoux. There are cairns here, indicating you should walk along the edge of the woods to the right. After about 75m, you’ll reach a flat area; cross the clearing, keeping completely to the left at the edge of the small wood. There is a cairn opposite a path leading south.

(7) Take the small path heading south. You will very quickly reach a second clearing. Continue along the visible path heading south for about 60 m. The track then enters an area covered in sparse vegetation.

You will emerge into a third clearing. Cross this heading due south, following the path. You will then quickly reach a grassy track after passing through another area with more vegetation. On the grassy track, turn right towards the west, facing the summit of Mont Ventoux. After 500m, you will reach a tarmac track.

(8) At the “Pas de la Frache” sign, turn right towards Mont Ventoux on the^GR®4. White/red markings. After 350 m, you will soon reach the “Combe Brune” sign. Continue straight on towards Mont Ventoux along the^GR®4. Similarly, at the “Le Signal” sign after 200m, continue towards Mont Ventoux. After 800m, you’ll reach the Tête de la Grave.

(9) Continue along the ridges following the^GR®4. From here, the terrain becomes entirely stony and the gradient steeper. After 3 km, pass through the Col des Tempêtes.

(10) Continue the ascent, passing between the red and blue posts to reach the summit and the buildings. At the “Mont Ventoux” sign, turn left to reach the summit.

(11) Turn back and head down the road towards Malaucène until you reach the orientation table. At the orientation table, head slightly down to the left to rejoin the^GR®4. White/red markings. At the start, the ground is somewhat rutted. The first part of the descent is over uneven ground and is sometimes on a slope.

(12) At the second hairpin bend, pass the entrance to the Drovers' Road of Fontfiole (Natura 2000 area where hiking is prohibited). Continue the descent via the^GR®4, then into the forest. White/red markings. Descend for around 2.5 km whilst staying on the^GR®4. At the “Les Mélèzes” sign, continue straight on along the^GR®4towards Mont Serein. White/red markings. After 50m, you’ll reach the “Combe de la Mine” sign.

(13) Leave the^GR®4by turning right onto the^GR®9, towards Serre Gros. White/red and yellow markings. The first section of^{the GR®9}crosses the Combe de Fonfiole, below the rocky outcrops on sloping ground. You will cross several scree slopes. If you make the crossing early in the morning (and without making any noise), you may spot chamois and mouflons.

After 1.6 km, look out for a hole in the cliff on the right. This is the "Trou du Vent". A small cave where you can feel a draught of air passing through the mountain. The^GR®9alternates between crossing scree slopes and passing through woodland.

(14) At the “Serre Gros” signpost, continue straight on towards the Épaulement de la Frache. The path winds through the slopes of Mont Ventoux and crosses several cleared corridors. Cross the entire beech forest (signposted).
The east-facing path (contour line 1400–1500m) continues for nearly 4km, leading to the “Épaulement de la Frache” sign (in a small clearing).

(6) At the “Épaulement de la Frache” sign, continue straight on along the path descending towards the Col de la Frache. Yellow markings.

(5) At the “Col de la Frache” sign, turn left towards Fonfroide/Brantes. Yellow markings (shared section with the MTB route, red markings). At the bottom of the descent, where the forest track ends, continue to the right. Yellow markings.

(4) At the “Fonfroide” sign, turn left onto the track towards Chante-Loube. Yellow and orange markings. After 1 km, you will reach a large junction of tracks.

(15) Continue to the right along the descending track. Yellow markings.

(16) At the “Chante-Loube” sign, turn right onto the track towards Les Tatines. Yellow markings.

(17) After 900 m, at the Fork in the road, turn left onto the descending track. Yellow markings. The end of the descent follows a track eroded by rainwater.

(18) At the "Les Tatines" sign, take the track on the right towards Savoillan/Masselles. Yellow markings.

(19) At the “Les Masselles” sign, continue right towards Savoillan. You will come out onto a small tarmac road. Continue along this road heading east for about 1 km. At the entrance to the village of Savoillan, turn right onto “Grande Rue”. Cross the village via this street until you reach the car park directly behind the church (S/E).

Water point at the summit (shop/restaurant between May and November) and at the start in the village of Savoillan.

Bring a windbreaker for the ridge crossing.

Crossing part of the north face is tricky if there is snow or ice in winter.

The Savoillans Art and Nature Trail.

Le Toulourenc.