Hiking picnic: easy recipes and practical tips
A great picnic can turn an ordinary hike into an unforgettable memory. Picture this: after two hours of walking, you set your pack down beside a lake, facing Sainte-Victoire or the Luberon cliffs, and pull out a meal you prepared with care. The panorama serves as your tablecloth, the cicadas replace background music, and even a simple sandwich tastes like a feast.
Yet many hikers settle for energy bars and trail mix. Lack of time, lack of ideas, or fear that food won't survive the heat. The good news: with a few simple tricks and trail-adapted recipes, you can eat just as well on a trail as at home — and often better, because fresh-air appetite is unbeatable.
Here are our best recipes, packing tips and a selection of hikes with the finest picnic spots in Provence.
Easy trail-friendly recipes
The Mediterranean wrap (prep: 10 min)
The undisputed king of the hiking picnic: compact, filling and impossible to mess up.
Ingredients (for 2 wraps):
- 2 large flour tortillas
- 4 tablespoons of hummus
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1 small courgette, grated
- 100 g feta, crumbled
- A few fresh mint leaves
- A drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper
Method: spread the hummus over the tortillas, distribute the vegetables and feta, roll tightly while folding in the edges. Wrap in aluminium foil or a reusable wrap. Keeps 6 to 8 hours without refrigeration, even in warm weather.
Savoury olive and sun-dried tomato loaf (prep: 15 min + 40 min baking)
The quintessential French picnic food, best made the evening before.
Ingredients:
- 200 g flour
- 3 eggs
- 100 ml olive oil
- 100 ml milk
- 1 sachet baking powder
- 100 g pitted black olives
- 80 g sun-dried tomatoes
- 100 g grated cheese (Comte or Emmental)
- Salt, pepper, herbes de Provence
Method: mix the dry ingredients, add eggs, oil and milk, fold in the olives, tomatoes and cheese. Pour into a loaf tin and bake at 180°C for 40 minutes. Cool completely before slicing. Keeps 24 to 48 hours wrapped in a clean tea towel.
Lentil and walnut salad (prep: 20 min)
High in protein, it fuels you through long hikes.
Ingredients (for 2 servings):
- 200 g cooked green lentils (canned is fine)
- 1 apple, diced
- 50 g walnuts
- 2 spring onions, sliced
- A few sprigs of parsley
- Dressing: 2 tbsp walnut oil, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 1 tsp mustard
Method: combine everything in a glass jar. Seal tightly. Shake just before serving. Glass jars are ideal: they don't leak, don't absorb odours and wash easily.
Homemade energy balls (prep: 10 min)
The perfect snack to recharge on the trail.
Ingredients (makes 12):
- 150 g pitted dates
- 50 g rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- A pinch of salt
Method: blitz the dates, mix in the rest, roll into walnut-sized balls. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Carry in a small rigid container. They hold up all day without melting.
Practical tips for a successful trail picnic
Packing: protect and organise
The secret to a great hiking picnic is the packaging. A sandwich crushed at the bottom of your pack is a guaranteed disappointment.
- Use rigid containers: airtight boxes, glass jars (for salads), bento boxes. They protect food and prevent leaks.
- Wrap in beeswax wraps rather than cling film: reusable, they keep food fresh and don't stick.
- Place heavy items at the centre of your pack, close to your back, and fragile items (fruit, cake) on top in the lid pocket.
- Invest in a lightweight insulated pouch: it weighs just 100-200 g and keeps food cool for 4 to 6 hours with a small ice pack.
Keeping cool without a cooler
You can't carry a cool box on a hike. Here's how to keep things fresh:
- Freeze a water bottle the night before and place it next to perishable items. It doubles as an ice pack and gives you cold water as a bonus.
- Avoid mayonnaise and fresh dairy (yoghurt, cream). Opt for hummus, pesto or oil-based dressings that keep well at room temperature.
- Choose hard cheeses (Comte, Beaufort, Manchego) over soft ones: they handle heat better and are more nutritious per gram.
The minimalist kit
No need to carry a full kitchen. Here's the essential kit:
- A folding knife (for bread, cheese, fruit)
- A cloth napkin (doubles as a tablecloth)
- A small rubbish bag (leave no trace)
- A collapsible cup (for drinking from springs with a filter)
Golden rules for a nature picnic
- Leave no trace: take all your rubbish home, including peelings and apple cores (they take months to decompose and attract pests).
- Move away from the trail to set up: find a flat rock, a clearing or a shaded riverbank. Don't trample vegetation.
- Never light a fire in Provencal woodlands except in designated areas. The fire risk is real, even in spring.
- Respect the silence of the place: nature provides the soundtrack, not your bluetooth speaker.
8 hikes with the best picnic spots in Provence
1. Luberon cliffs from Roussillon — ochre panorama
Distance: 6.8 km | Elevation: +251 m | Level: Easy | Duration: 2h30
A short, beautiful loop along the Luberon cliffs overlooking the ochre village of Roussillon. Several grassy ledges at the cliff edge make perfect picnic spots facing the panorama. The moderate elevation gain makes it ideal for a leisurely outdoor lunch.
Where to spread your cloth: on the flat ledges at the top of the cliffs, facing the ochre hills and Luberon lavender fields.
2. Lac de Bimont from Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde — picnic at the foot of Sainte-Victoire
Distance: 5.8 km | Elevation: +209 m | Level: Easy | Duration: 2h
The Bimont dam holds back a deep blue lake at the foot of Sainte-Victoire. The walk is short, accessible to all, and the lake shores offer dozens of shady spots under the pines for a picnic on the grass. It's one of the most popular spots in the Aix area, and deservedly so.
Where to spread your cloth: on the grassy banks, in the shade of the pines, with Sainte-Victoire as a backdrop.
3. Pont du Gard viewpoint from Remoulins — an ancient picnic
Distance: 7.0 km | Elevation: +120 m | Level: Easy | Duration: 2h
A gentle walk along the Gardon river leading to an exceptional viewpoint over the Pont du Gard. The riverbanks upstream and downstream of the aqueduct offer pebble beaches and shady corners ideal for a picnic. In summer, you can even swim before or after your meal — a rare luxury on a hike.
Where to spread your cloth: on the pebble beaches beside the Gardon, with the Pont du Gard in the background. Head upstream for fewer crowds.
4. Lac de Peiron from Saint-Remy-de-Provence — gourmet Alpilles
Distance: 11.0 km | Elevation: +273 m | Level: Intermediate | Duration: 3h30
Longer than the previous hikes, this loop crosses the heart of the Alpilles to Lac de Peiron, a small lake hidden in the garrigue. The extra effort is rewarded by the tranquillity: you'll rarely meet other hikers here. It's the perfect spot for a gourmet picnic after a proper morning's walk.
Where to spread your cloth: by the lake, in the shade of the holm oaks. Arrive around noon to enjoy the calm before the afternoon walkers.
5. Bibemus balcony from Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde — in Cezanne's footsteps
Distance: 6.2 km | Elevation: +92 m | Level: Very easy | Duration: 2h
With just 92 m of elevation gain, this is the perfect hike for a family picnic. The trail passes the Bibemus quarries — those red ochre formations Cezanne painted so often — before reaching a natural balcony overlooking Sainte-Victoire. The terrain is flat and shaded, ideal for young children.
Where to spread your cloth: on the rocky balcony facing Sainte-Victoire, among the pines. A picnic blanket is handy on the rock.
6. Etang de Berre loop from Vitrolles — waterside picnic
Distance: 6.0 km | Elevation: +37 m | Level: Very easy | Duration: 1h30
A virtually flat walk around the Etang de Berre, accessible to pushchairs and wheelchair users for much of the route. The shores offer numerous benches and designated areas. This is the effortless picnic par excellence: zero strain, maximum relaxation.
Where to spread your cloth: on the equipped areas beside the water, facing the lake and the flamingos that frequent it.
7. Provencal hills from Le Tholonet — dam viewpoint
Distance: 11.5 km | Elevation: +275 m | Level: Intermediate | Duration: 3h30
A lovely loop through the hills around Le Tholonet with views over the Zola dam and the foothills of Sainte-Victoire. The route alternates between shaded woodland and sunny ridges, offering picnic spots for every preference: in the shade under the pines or in the sun with a panoramic view.
Where to spread your cloth: near the dam, on the flat rocks overlooking the water. It's peaceful and offers a superb view of the valley.
8. Saignon village loop — Luberon charm
Distance: 7.5 km | Elevation: +226 m | Level: Easy | Duration: 2h30
Saignon is one of the most beautiful perched villages of the Luberon, and this loop circles it via paths lined with dry-stone walls and cherry trees. The Place de la Fontaine at the heart of the village is a charming starting point, and the surrounding paths are full of quiet spots with views over the Apt valley.
Where to spread your cloth: on one of the flat areas along the trail, facing the Apt valley and Mont Ventoux in the distance. Buy bread and cheese in the village before setting off — local produce is the best picnic the Luberon has to offer.
Quick shopping list for 2 hikers
Here's a complete picnic for two, easy to prepare and carry:
| Item | Quantity | Shelf life |
|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean wraps | 2 | 8h unrefrigerated |
| Savoury loaf (slices) | 4 | 48h wrapped |
| Lentil salad (jar) | 1 | 6h with insulated pouch |
| Energy balls | 6 | 24h |
| Seasonal fruit | 2-3 | No bananas (they crush) |
| Hard cheese | 150 g | All day |
| Country bread | 1/2 loaf | All day |
| Water | 1.5 L/person | Freeze one bottle |
Total weight: around 1.5 kg per person — less than 10% of the recommended weight for a day pack.
All routes in this article are available as GPX tracks on OpenRando. Explore more hikes in Provence and find your next picnic spot.