The Combes de Curnier and Malaval

This is a multifaceted hike: the mysterious Combe Curnier with its narrow, winding canyon; the Combe Malaval with its spectacular caves; and between these two valleys, a mountain trail offering magnificent views over the Comtat Venaissin plain and the Dentelles de Montmirail massif.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.29 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 899 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 905 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,066 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 426 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Cross Bédoin, heading towards Mont Ventoux via the Reynard chalet. At the exit, at an old petrol station converted into a laundrette, take Chemin de la Montagne (which passes by the Cèdres forest house), then Chemin les Colombets: at this intersection, a sign indicates "Chambres d'hôtes de Curnier". The car park is located shortly after the guest rooms.
(S) For another car park, see practical information

(S/E) From the car park, walk up the Combe de Curnier via the PR® trail. You will soon reach the narrow and enjoyable part of the Combe. At the exit, the slope becomes steeper. Continue until you reach a wide path

(1) Do not try to continue in the combe, but turn right onto the main path for about a hundred metres, then turn left onto a trail to continue the long and steep climb, almost in a straight line, to Jas des Landérots.

(2) At Jas, the view opens up over the valley towards Bédoin. At this crossroads, turn left and follow the GR®91B, which you will stay on until the descent. Head towards Jas du Pié Gros. The path stays on the mountainside before descending shortly before Jas du Pié Gros.

(3) Once at Jas du Pié Gros, continue straight on towards Mazanet. The path is once again on the mountainside, offering beautiful views of the plain as well as the Dentelles de Montmirail and the Drôme. You will come to the crossroads with the large DFCI track.

(4) Turn right and climb up the track (this is the least pleasant part).

(5) At the first hairpin bend (at Small Pass Rouge), leave the track and continue straight ahead on theGR®.

(6) Continue straight ahead on theGR® trail, ignoring the path coming in from the right. The descent becomes steeper; continue along the ridge. Be sure to stay onthe GR® trail: at a tree (elevation 965), theGR® trail branches off to the right onto a steep descent.
Note that in this section, the path recorded by the GPS does not coincide with the route on the IGN map.

(7) You will find yourself in the valley, where the descent is less steep and the rest of the route is mostly in the shade.

(8) Return to theGR® 91B and veer slightly left onto the DFCI track. Before thefirst bend, climb up, cutting across the next two hairpin bends, then continue along the track.

(9) Leave the track by descending to the right until you reach the Clops car park. Continue straight on theGR®91B, taking another wide track that leads to the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 442 m - Curnier car park
  2. 1 : km 1.9 - alt. 693 m - Intersection with a main road
  3. 2 : km 3.9 - alt. 1,018 m - Jas des Landerots
  4. 3 : km 5.73 - alt. 943 m - Jas du Pié Gros
  5. 4 : km 6.63 - alt. 970 m - Mazanet
  6. 5 : km 7.63 - alt. 1,060 m - small pass Rouge Haut
  7. 6 : km 7.78 - alt. 1,046 m - Collet Rouge
  8. 7 : km 9.37 - alt. 758 m - Rocher du Midi
  9. 8 : km 11.93 - alt. 427 m - Follow the main track.
  10. 9 : km 12.6 - alt. 459 m - Les Combarets
  11. S/E : km 14.29 - alt. 442 m - Curnier car park

Notes

The Curnier car park has limited space, but you can park at the Clops car park (shortly after point (9)), which will change the starting point of the hike.

There is no water along the route.

As is usually the case in Ventoux, the route is quite rocky, so you will need suitable footwear.

Worth a visit

Very close to the car park (~1 km), Les Demoiselles Coiffées (only accessible on foot on private property: please show respect).

From the car park, walk down the "Chemin des Colombets" to the junction with the Chemin des Demoiselles Coiffées and the end of the mountain path. Turn left towards a group of houses called "Les Couguious". Just after this hamlet, take the path on the right (there is a sign).

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
idecold
idecold

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful, varied walk with no major difficulties.

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SHERMAN69
SHERMAN69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Accomplished sportsman.
Hike completed in mid-August. Equipped with a camel bag, I used up my entire water pouch (1.5 litres).

The two valleys (Curnier at the start and Malaval three-quarters of the way around the route) are well worth the trip. The climb after Curnier to Jas des Landerots is excellent for cardio. (Not recommended, however, for people who are not used to physical exertion).

The mountain side passage is pleasant, as is the view over the plain.
The descent to the Malaval valley is long and rocky. (Not recommended for people whose joints are not used to it).

After the combe and up to the Curnier car park, I finished the route running because this part is tedious.

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Fabjack
Fabjack

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lots of stones on the ground in Les Combes (hard on the ankles) during the first part. Very pleasant hike in superb weather, sheltered from the wind and partially from the heat.

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Ka&Jé
Ka&Jé
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This route is quite challenging due to its seemingly endless climb. The descent over rocky terrain is not particularly interesting. Sturdy footwear is essential, and it is best avoided in hot weather. The section at the start of the hike through the valleys is superb, as are the caves a little further on.

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Jocelyne P.
Jocelyne P.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A magnificent hike with its gorges and caves. Worth doing again. Thank you for this route.

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Sèv84
Sèv84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful circular with no technical difficulties.
Completed in 5 hours (including a 50-minute snack break), without rushing.
Be sure to wear good shoes.
No complaints about the description or the route. Very well marked.

Thank you for this circular.

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mailin84
mailin84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Curnier, Malaval is still very nice, but the section between the exit of the Curnier valley and Le Jas is quite steep, physically demanding and generally not very interesting... This is the only negative point of this hike, which gives us the opportunity to discover magnificent landscapes, ancient cave dwellings and sublime caves.
Thank you for the route.

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alains2007@hotmail.fr
alains2007@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting hike, it is described as difficult. And it is. The Curnier and Malaval valleys are well worth the effort.

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pepone
pepone
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Quite a challenging route, well marked, long climb but pleasant and beautiful in the gorges, breathtaking views of the Contat Venaissin and the Rhône Valley, fairly steep return to Malaval, very picturesque, a beautiful day in less than 5 hours.

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marcmoine
marcmoine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Following the advice of a fellow hiker, I started my hike at a place called "Les Clops" (larger car park). It was a good decision because when I arrived at "Les Colombets", there was no more room for other vehicles.
When I reached the point called "Mazanet", I took the track on the left for about 800 metres and, at a hairpin bend on the left, I took a path on the right that led me to "Beaume du Chat".It's worth the detour. Then I ignored the downhill path and took the path on the right, which I stayed on, ignoring two turnoffs on the right. So I skipped points 5 and 6 (which were of no interest) and joined the very steep descent on my left to reach the Malaval valley.
A magnificent hike that took six hours (not including stops).
Anyone who says they did it in 3 hours 20 minutes is misleading all hikers. They must have run the whole way without a rucksack!

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chvassas
chvassas

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Without being in great shape, I completed the route in 3 hours and 20 minutes, even though it is supposed to take 6 hours and 20 minutes.
For an average hiker, I think it would take around 4 to 5 hours without stops.
Thank you.

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