An overall wonderful experience with magnificent scenery and food for such a reasonably priced tour.
The walking was a bit harder than the moderate rating given to it
The accommodation although basic chalet style was adequate but was more than made up for by the charm and efficiency of our hosts, Sara and Rich.
The gourmet evening meals provided by Sara were consistently amazing.
I would highly recommend the tour based on Sara and Rich being your hosts at the chalet.
I booked on the last scheduled "Highlights of Provence" tour for 2015 at the last minute from Australia (where sadly, this tour operator doesn't get much exposure). The tour proved to be an absolute joy, a real jewel of a holiday. The "centre-based" accommodation concept is clever, as you can relax for the duration and not have to pack and unpack every day. Groux-les-Bains is a good base - it is a charming village, well maintained and with a good range of eateries and little shops. The Hotel les Alpes in Groux-les-Bains was a lovely base - my room was spacious, comfortable and spotlessly clean. The hotel staff were friendly and the breakfast buffet was generous with a variety of choices. The two dinners we ate in the hotel restaurant (included in the tour price) were stylish and delicious.
It was a wonderful walk with magnificent scenery and fantastic Medieval Villages many listed by UNESCO. We had no problems with local organisation, everything went like clockwork.We would definitely recommend the walk to anyone considering a sojourn in rural France.Thank you for organizing such a wonderful experience for us.