The magic of Provence by bike: from the Rhone Valley to the Luberon
Price per person
From 850€
Type of stay
Bicycle trip
Location
Avignon - France
Duration
7 days
Difficulty
Departures
Every Sunday from March 23 to November 01. Other days possible at no extra charge if 4 or more.
Capacity
2 people minimum
Reference
Cyclo 31
Your stay
The magic of Provence by bike: Rhone Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
Discover the magic of Provence by bike on this magnificent loop itinerary from Avignon through the southern Rhône valley, Mont Ventoux and Lubéron. A cycling holiday in the heart of idyllic Provencal countryside. On the program: vineyards and orchards in the Rhône valley, ancient remains, charming Provencal villages, lavender fields and ochre earth tones, all dominated by the mythical Mont Ventoux.
On this bike tour, you’ll leave Avignon, the City of the Popes, and cross the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, stopping off at Châteauneuf du Pape, the most famous appellation in this wine-growing region, on your way to Orange, home to some of the best-preserved Roman monuments, such as the theater and the Arc de Triomphe. This route through the Provencal countryside, punctuated by pretty villages, then takes you to Vaison-la-Romaine, a Roman and medieval town, and to the edge of Mont Ventoux, the magic mountain! A land of lavender, truffles and hilltop villages, Mont Ventoux has everything it takes to rival its neighbor, the Lubéron, which you’ll be touring over the next few days.
A mythical stage of the Tour de France, we suggest dropping you off at the summit (1900 m) to take full advantage of a long descent of the pebbled west-facing slope at the top, then wooded in the middle, to finally reach the fields of Lavender that surround the village of Sault as far as the eye can see… A moment of pure bliss! At the end of the day, you’ll reach Isle sur la Sorgue, at the gateway to the Lubéron and known as the “Little Venice of Provence”. A long stage, but mostly downhill. However, there is an alternative route to Isle sur la Sorgue that takes you around Mont Ventoux, through the Côtes du Rhône vineyards and the village of Gigondas, not far from Carpentras.
This bike tour continues in the Lubéron. Visit the charming villages of Gordes, Sénanque and its Cistercian abbey, or Roussillon, famous for its splendid ochre rocks. Don’t miss the “sentier des ocres”. A final leg, partly along the Durance and then the Rhône, takes you to Avignon.
You'll enjoy :
- Famous Côtes du Rhône appellations
- Remarkable Roman remains in Orange and Vaison La Romaine
- The mythical Mont Ventoux descent (optional) over lavender fields
- The Luberon massif and its ochre hues
- The many charming villages along the route
Daily program
Day 1 - Arrival Avignon
Arrive in Avignon and settle into your charming hotel with excellent cuisine on Barthelasse Island in a very quiet area (with swimming pool), about 5 km from Avignon Centre; free parking.
Day 2 - Avignon - Orange
- 35 km
- 130m
Depart Avignon and cross the island of Bathelasse, the largest island in the Rhône, and its flourishing orchards to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy a wine tasting here and head for Orange, where the Roman theater and triumphal arch are well worth seeing.
Day 3 - Orange to Vaison-la-Romaine
- 40 km
- 265m
Today’s route takes you through the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, passing typical villages such as Sérignan, Sainte Cécile les Vignes, Saint Roman de Malegarde and Villedieu. Arrive in Vaison-la-Romaine, a pretty Roman and medieval town.
Day 4 - Vaison-la-Romaine to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
- 55 or 75 km
- 150 or 250m
You have two options:
1/ You continue your walk at the foot of the ever-present Mont Ventoux through the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, passing through wine-producing villages such as Rasteau, Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Sarrians.
2/ Recommended option (subject to good weather at the summit – 1900m!): We can also drop you off with your bike (at an additional cost) at the summit of the mythical Mont Ventoux (known as Le mont chauve or the magic mountain!). You’ll then descend on the other side through the lavender fields of the Sault region.
End of the stage at l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the “Little Venice of Provence”, so called because of the many small canals that run through the town.
Day 5 - Loop towards the Luberon
- 15 à 40 km
- 500m
This region is too beautiful to leave so quickly. So spend a second night in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and explore the charming Luberon valley today. Highlights include the village of Gordes, the Cistercian abbey of Sénanque and the ochre rocks of Roussillon, which give Provence its colors.
Day 6 - L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to Avignon
- 40 km
- 23m
On small roads along the Durance and Rhône rivers, you’ll reach Avignon, where you can visit the historic center and the Pope’s palace before returning to your hotel.
Day 7 - End of your stay
Departure after breakfast.
rates
Price per person
- March 23 to April 19 / September 28 to November 01: €850
- April 20 to June 07 / September 07 to 27: €970
- June 08 to Sept 06: €1030
Price includes
- 6 nights and pdj in 3 and 4* hotels (1 charming 2* hotel) (ch double / twin)
- Meeting with our local correspondent
- Route book with map and directions
- Luggage transfer at each stage
- 7/7 technical support
Supplements
- VTC bike rental (helmet not included): €110
- Electric bike rental (helmet not included): €270
- Half-board package: €260
- Transfer to the summit of Mont Ventoux: €300 per transfer
- Departure other than Sunday: 110 € per person if 3 people. 165€ per person if 2 people. 330€ for 1 person
Further information
We take care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking.
Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure.
At the end of the afternoon, you’ll meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kg) + 1 carry-on.
Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (generally one month before) and/or on arrival at your first accommodation.
It includes :
A welcome letter with key practical information:
- Baggage transport times
- Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
- Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
- Any additional information
Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information
Any necessary vouchers to be given to the service provider(s)
On request and depending on the tour:
- Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance. The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
- Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
- Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device
On this tour, we can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation:
- A VTC bike adapted to the ride and the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With equipment :
- 1 rear bag
- 1 repair kit
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for electric bike)
For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follower bike
The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We’ll take care of collecting them.
This tour is offered in the “superior” category
Hotel categories :
- Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent comfort level) and bed & breakfasts.
- Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort) and charming bed & breakfasts.
- Luxury: The tour features mainly 4- and 5-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort).
For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available:
- 7 days a week
- from 07:30 to 20:30.
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