TRIP FINDER
This Provence Bike tour takes you through the Cotes de Rhone and Alpilles scenery and sites, passing through the typical and charming Luberon villages along the way.
2017 per person price
| Classic Tour | 1290 € |
| Classic+ Tour | 1560 € |
| Deluxe Tour | 2350 € |
* Price based on double room occupancy - please contact us for details on single room supplements
* Please note : high season supplement for this tour from June 16 to August 20
| CLASSIC PACKAGE | |
| 2 Nights Hotel le Siècle in Mazan | www.le-siecle.com |
| 2 Nights Jas de Gordes in Gordes Standard room | www.jasdegordes.com |
| 2 Nights Hotel du Soleil in St Remy de Provence | www.hotelsoleil.com |
| CLASSIC + PACKAGE | |
| 2 Nights Hotel des Pins in Bédoin | www.hotel-des-pins.fr |
| 2 Nights Jas de Gordes in Gordes | www.jasdegordes.com |
| 2 Nights Hotel le Gounod in St Remy de Provence | www.hotel-gounod.com |
| DELUXE PACKAGE | |
| 2 Nights Château de Mazan in Mazan | www.chateaudemazan.com |
| 2 Nights La Bastide de Gordes in Gordes | www.bastide-de-gordes.com |
| 2 Nights Ateliers d Images in Saint Remy de Provence | www.hotel-image.fr/ |
Upon your arrival in Avignon, we will transfer you to your first hotel, in Mazan, in the heart of the Vaucluse region of Provence (please note, the CLASSIC+ itinerary is based in nearby Bedoin). The countryside is spectacular, with the impressive Mont Ventoux as a backdrop, and small Provencal villages dotting the plains and vineyards that spread out around you. This typical small Provencal town will enchant you, with its rich 2000 year old history. Before dinner, our Trip Manager will meet up with you to go over your trip package and make sure your bikes are fitted properly. A delicious first dinner is included tonight.
Your ride today is beautiful, taking you through several picturesque villages, such as Bedoin, Flassan, and Ville sur Auzon - each worth some meandering, and always with the impressive Mont Ventoux as your imposing backdrop. You will pedal along lovely quiet roads, and through some of the oldest vineyards in all of France. We recommend the detour into the town of Beaumes de Venise; not only is the town quite charming, but if you feel like it, after finding some lunch, you can stop for a tasting of their wonderful sweet white wines, or some of the Cotes de Rhone reds. If you prefer, take some time to explore at the shop of the local olive mill to taste the fruity artisanal olive oils. The ride finishes back on the flats to return you to Mazan for your second evening.
After a leisurely breakfast, you ride southwards towards the Rhone plains. You'll ride through the small village of Venasque (considered by many as the most authentic village of the Venaissain region, and on towards Isle Sur la Sorgue. This compact town, built on the islands of five branches of the Sorgue River, is most well-known today for its huge weekend antique markets. During the week as well, it is worth taking the time to visit the many antique shops and boutiques, and to find lunch or at least a cool refreshment in one of the many cafés. From there it is not far to your destination; you may decide to add on a few kilometres to visit the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse, with its beautiful spring; save a little energy for the very end, as Gordes is perched, spectacularly, on the top of a hill. Your dinner this evening is included.
Your ride today is a great one: a loop ride including many of the classic Luberon villages (originally made famous in Peter Mayle’s book, A Year in Provence), allowing lots of exploration. You’ll ride through Roussillon, with its ochre cliffs, mined for the rich pigments, Bonnieux, with its shady squares, twisting streets and panoramic view, and Lacoste, with the ruins of the castle of the Marquis de Sade. There is an option to ride to the lively town of Apt, accorded a special label for gourmets. At the end of your ride, you can decide to pedal down (but don’t forget you have to come back up!) into the valley to visit the Cistercian Abbey of Senanque, perhaps in time to see the monks during vespers, and to admire the lavender fields. You'll also want to take a little time explore the unique borie village (traditional stone huts), on the outskirts of Gordes.
You leave Gordes after your breakfast this morning, heading westwards. After pedaling along the plains through the base of the Luberon hills with a detour up into Menerbes, you arrive in the lively town of Cavaillon, famous for the cavaillon melons, smaller and juicier than cantaloupe, and coveted by the locals. You can detour into the centre of town to find some lunch here if you like. Cavaillon is also where you cross over the Durance river, and then continue along small roads through vineyards, olive groves and orchards, on to your final destination, the provencal town of St Remy de Provence. St Remy is where Van Gogh was incarcerated in the St Paul de Mausole hospital for a year (and where he completed an astonishing 150 paintings!). Enjoy a pastis at one of the local cafes before your delicious dinner, included this evening.
You have a stunning ride today, heading up "the climb of the trip" into the Alpilles hills, with their beautiful white stone, often set against an intense blue sky, where writers such as Daudet and Frederic Mistral settled. Be sure to stop to enjoy the panoramas often (and to catch your breath!); you’ll agree the work is worth it when you arrive at Medieval Les Baux, tucked into the rocks, with a breathtaking panorama below the ruins of the town’s castle ruins. Stop if you like to enjoy the unique sound and light show in one of the old bauxite quarries, before descending through Maussane les Alpilles and on to Eygalieres, with its shady squares, and lovely little church. The ride brings you back to St Remy through more orchards and olive groves. Perhaps take the time before dinner to visit the Roman site of Glanum, just on the outskirts of town.
After a final breakfast, we transfer you from your hotel back to Avignon for further travels. Bon Voyage!
