The Lavender Route in Provence: visit guide
The image is famous: purple waves rolling as far as the eye can see under the southern sun. Jean Giono called lavender ” the soul of Provence “. When planning your trip along the Lavender Route, there are many questions to ask: when should you leave, what route should you take and where should you stay? This guide provides the answers. In fact, our campsite near the Drôme, Le Garrigon, is located right next to a lavender field, at the crossroads of the most beautiful sites in the Drôme and Vaucluse.
When can you see the lavender fields in bloom? The 2025 calendar
The most frequently asked question is probably the best one: when is the best time to admire the flowers? The answer depends on three factors: the year’s weather, altitude and lavender variety. A long period without rain can bring the harvest forward, while a storm can delay it. To help you find your way around, here’s a provisional calendar.
| Region | Geographical area | Type of lavender | Optimum flowering period | Harvest time and holidays |
| Drôme Provençale | Tricastin plain (Grignan) | Lavandin | Mid-June to mid-July | Early/mid-July |
| Drôme Provençale | Baronnies, Haut-Diois | True Lavender | Early July to early August | Late July to mid-August |
| Vaucluse | Plateau de Valensole | Lavandin & Sage | Mid-June to mid-July | Mid-July (Festival on 3rd sun. of July) |
| Vaucluse | Pays de Sault, Plateau d’Albion | True Lavender | Early to late July | Late July (Festival on August 15) |
| Vaucluse | Luberon (Plateau des Claparèdes) | Lavandin | Late June to mid-July | Mid to late July |
What’s the difference between lavender and lavandin?
As you can see from the chart, there are two types of lavender:
- Fine (or true) lavender: this is the star, the original, the one that benefits from a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). It grows at altitude, above 800 meters, on sunny mountain slopes. It has a subtle fragrance and recognized medicinal virtues. Its fields present a variety of shades of color.
- Lavandin: a more robust natural hybrid that grows in the plains. Its yield of essential oil is much higher, and it is often used in soaps and cleaning products. Visually, its fields are a uniform, intense purple, making it a favorite subject for photographers.
Lavender Route map: our recommended itineraries
There isn’t just one Lavender Route, but a multitude of circuits criss-crossing Provence. From our campsite, you’re ideally placed to explore the Drôme and Vaucluse regions. Here are a few suggestions.
Itinerary 1: in the heart of the Drôme Provençale (around Grignan)
This itinerary plunges you into picture-postcard landscapes. From Grillon, head for Grignan. The panorama of the hilltop village and its Renaissance château, with a lavender field in the foreground, is a must.
Continue on to the Clansayes plateau and La Garde-Adhémar, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”, for views over the Rhône valley. This region is full of charm, making our campsite the perfect choice for your vacation.
Route 2: the mythical plateaus of the Vaucluse (from Sault to Valensole)
For total immersion, head for the great plateaus. The Valensole plateau is the largest and most famous, a veritable ocean of lavender, sometimes mingling with fields of sage or sunflowers.
Further north, the Sault plateau is considered the cradle of fine lavender. Lavender blooms later here, and the lavender festival held here every August 15 is an authentic tradition.
Itinerary 3: the Enclave des Papes loop, starting from the campsite
This itinerary on the Lavender Route is a local exclusivity, easy to complete in a day from the campsite. It introduces you to the Enclave des Papes, the Vaucluse region nestled in the Drôme.
Take the secondary roads around Valréas, Richerenches and Vinsobres. Here, lavender fields rub shoulders with vineyards, creating a unique mosaic of colors and terroirs, with the silhouette of the Lance mountain as a backdrop.
Where to stay on the Lavender Route?
Our 4-star Le Garrigon campsite welcomes you to Grillon, in the heart of the Enclave des Papes. Our location is a major advantage: you’re in the Vaucluse, but right on the border with the Drôme provençale. This means you can visit the Drôme Provençale and the Vaucluse without changing accommodation.
Picture this: after a day on the perfumed roads, you return to the campsite. Take a dip in one of our two swimming pools, one of which is covered and heated. In the evening, on the terrace of your mobile home or on your pitch, you can enjoy the fresh air, the view and the scent of the lavender fields that border the campsite. It’s the complete Provencal experience.
The Lavender Route is much more than a simple itinerary, it’s an immersion in a landscape and a culture. As you plan your itinerary, you’ll treat yourself to a unique sensory experience, made up of memorable colors and fragrances. To make your trip perfect, our Le Garrigon campsite awaits you as the ideal base in the heart of Provence’s blue gold.