Mount Ventoux starting from the Mont Serein cam site

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

Technical sheet

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

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 643 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 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

Practical information

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

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during 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 131 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
hauteluce
hauteluce

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Apr 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Oct 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

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

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ervégr
ervégr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Sep 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Great hike 👍

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GUNZBURGER
GUNZBURGER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Super hike to the summit of Ventoux

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philippe coutier
philippe coutier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

super rando à faire

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AqualiJu
AqualiJu
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

I did the route in the opposite direction, which I also found very enjoyable (and easier, in my opinion, to overcome the few difficulties). The world met at the summit and on the (S) and (1) sections.
It's cold up there, with thick fog.
Done in 3h30 without a break.

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Psilids
Psilids

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The first part, the climb up to the Ventoux, is quite strenuous (5km, 500m ascent) but very pleasant with a great path and lots of people. If you have young children or are afraid of heights, I'd advise you to go back down the same way rather than do the rest of the hike, as some parts are complicated: very narrow path, in scree overhanging cliffs... 3 or 4 passages a few metres long that are a bit hot when crossing "avalanche paths". Possibly complicated in bad weather too, but today the weather was great and the view of the Alps was magnificent! And there wasn't even any wind... Strange.
Otherwise, the ridge has a very beautiful landscape, but it's a long, rocky path that's of no interest (a ski slope in winter?).
The rest of the hike is really good, with few people, but not recommended for young children, people with vertigo or bad shoes...

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GPD
GPD

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely hike with beautiful scenery, but difficult and technical descents on the rocky sections. Not recommended for people with knee problems or vertigo.
This route should be classed as "difficult" rather than "medium".

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