Towards the Plaine de la Grive

This is a fairly challenging hike that takes you to several highlights of the Garlaban massif, such as the Col de l'Amandier, the Parloire and the Barre Coupé, the Plaine de la Grive (a strange, undulating plain), the Col du Tubé and the Taoumé. All this with beautiful 360° views of the entire region. This plain should not be confused with the Corniche des Tourdres (thrushes in Provençal), which is located above Lascours.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 609 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 607 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 709 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 242 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Allauch (13190)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.339715° / E 5.490758°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3145ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The hike starts from the Claous cemetery car park above Allauch, just after a riding centre.

(S/E) Go up the road and immediately turn left onto a very steep lane (Chemin de la Colline). Continue for 500 m.

(1) Take a path on the right 100 m before an electricity pylon and begin a long descent to reach a small plain.

(2) Turn left and follow the main track for about 500 metres.

(3) At a left-hand bend, leave the track and climb directly up a path heading north-west. Turn right at the end of this path: this is the start of the Vallon de l'Amandier. Follow the track and then the path leading to the pass of the same name.

(4) Cross the track and take the south-east facing path opposite, continuing for 2 km and ignoring a path on the right. Pass through La Barre Coupée and La Parloire. Continue for another 500 m.

(5) Cross a path and continue straight ahead to reach the Plaine de la Grive, which is a plain in name only.

(6) Turn right for another leg-breaking climb to the summit of the day. Arrive at Col du Tubé.

(7) Take the descending track on the right.

(8) After 450 m, turn towards a small clearing on the right and find a path that is not very visible, which allows you to leave the somewhat monotonous track. A little further on, rejoin the track and arrive at the large Taoumé crossroads.

(9) Take the clearly visible path that branches off to the right to go around and along the Taoumé plateau. Stay below the ledge and arrive below the peak.

(10) Turn right to begin a somewhat difficult descent.

(11) Turn left onto a yellow-marked trail. You will arrive at a rocky plain. Continue straight ahead, heading west towards the Pounche des Escaouprés, a large, elongated plateau-like feature.

(12) Take the path that follows the plateau on its northern side and return to the track, following it to the left. Cut across the bend a little further on by taking a path downhill to the left, then continue along the track for about 250 metres.

(13) Turn right onto a clearing platform and take a path immediately to the left. This path takes you past old bauxite mines with blocked entrances. The colour of the earth in this area leaves no doubt about the presence of the ore. Continue along the main path until you reach a clearing.

(14) Take the clearly visible path on the right. Note the blocked mine entrance on the right-hand side of the clearing, hidden behind a small mound. Return to the road you started on and follow it to the left to get back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 258 m - Claous car park
  2. 1 : km 0.67 - alt. 309 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 279 m - Track on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.8 - alt. 268 m - Leave the trail
  5. 4 : km 4.12 - alt. 439 m - Col de l'Amandier
  6. 5 : km 5.69 - alt. 518 m - Plaine de la Grive
  7. 6 : km 6.47 - alt. 606 m - Turn right
  8. 7 : km 7.79 - alt. 688 m - Col du Tubé (691m)
  9. 8 : km 8.25 - alt. 655 m - Path on the right
  10. 9 : km 8.89 - alt. 623 m - Taoumé crossroads
  11. 10 : km 9.83 - alt. 626 m - Below Taoumé, start the descent. - Pic du Taoumé
  12. 11 : km 9.98 - alt. 579 m - Path on the left
  13. 12 : km 10.48 - alt. 513 m - Pounche des Escaouprés
  14. 13 : km 11.8 - alt. 376 m - Mine trail
  15. 14 : km 12.97 - alt. 316 m - Clearing, on the right
  16. S/E : km 13.59 - alt. 258 m - Claous car park

Notes

This is an AMFRA Marseille hike. Thanks to Bernadette and Corinne for this beautiful walk.

(10) Turning left, you can climb Pic du Taoumé and then head to the Grosibou cave just next door.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
groupo segundo
groupo segundo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route with varied and diverse landscapes. Very interesting, especially towards the end and the passage through the boxite mine. However, the route is flat... but you need to be careful in certain places.
The tour is physically demanding, especially the climb up the Col des Amandiers. Take great care on the descent down the Escanpons
In short, a beautiful route.

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Anne13
Anne13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We followed the route until after La Parloire. A magnificent route, highly recommended.
Then, at the next junction, we turned right onto the path marked for Taoumé because we wanted a shorter circular route.
A little further up the marked trail, we left it via a path on the right that leads to the main track descending from the Col de Baume Sourne.
A nice circular route that took us about 4 hours, excluding breaks, and covered approximately 12 km.

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Hu
Hu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Hello.
I noticed a significant discrepancy between the advertised elevation gain and the actual elevation gain. When analysing the data, I realised that the highest point of the hike at 701 m (geodetic point) was reported as 763 m on my route, which is impossible. I checked with other landmarks, and the problem persisted. I ultimately concluded that I could not rely on either elevation.
Other than that, the route was fine.

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TONY 13
TONY 13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with a reliable and well-detailed route. With views of St. Victoire, Mont Julien and others.

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Pat 13
Pat 13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route, moderately difficult, with beautiful views and fossil hunting along the way.

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Claude 13720
Claude 13720

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike that delighted all 19 participants. For lunch in a nice spot, we pushed on to the Aroumi well. Even with GPS, we missed certain junctions three times. It's not the GPX file that's at fault, but you have to keep an eye on it, especially when you have to leave the wide track for smaller paths.
Highly recommended.

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