Famous Villages of Provence Road Bike Tour

France Road Bike Tour

This tour is slightly different from the usual Famous Villages of Provence tour in that it covers longer distances.

This tour also starts in Avignon with afternoon sightseeing possible with an early arrival and a welcome meeting in the evening. From Avignon, the tour leads to the city of Orange with its majestic Roman monuments. Along the way, you’ll cycle through the vineyards of the Gard (Châteauneuf du Pape, Lirac, etc.) and see the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct). There’s also the option of extending the day with a trip to the dukedom of Uzès.

The highlights of the third day include the vineyards of côtes du Rhône (Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise, etc.) and also the small villages at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Here you have the option of taking on the challenge of cycling up Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence as it is 1910 meters high.

Day 4 will end in Roussillon, which is known for its steep ochre cliffs with shiny colored walls. En route, you’ll pass through many quaint typical French villages, such as Venasque, La Roque/Perne, Fontaine de Vaucluse and Gordes with its bories or huts made of dry stones. On this day, you can opt to cycle an extra 4 miles to visit Isle/Sorgue, which has a famous open Provencal market and antiques on Sunday mornings.

The next day will find you cycling north of the Luberon chain (Natural Regional Park) through villages such as Lacoste and Cavaillon. Arles will excite you with its Provencal atmosphere, narrow streets and many Roman monuments, such as the amphitheatre. By the castle ruins in Les Baux de Provence, you have a great view of the entire region. Some of the highlights on Day 7 include St. Rèmy de Provence with its Roman vestiges, Tarascon with its medieval castle (one of the most magnificent in France!), the small hill of Montagnette where you can visit the great St Michel de Frigolet Abbey and then finally back to Avignon, home of the Popes’ Palace and St. Bénézet Bridge.

Where You’ll Stay

Option A: 3 nights in 2 star hotels, 2 nights in 3 star hotels, 2 nights in a 2 star B&B. All dinners are included except for the 2 nights at the B&B in Avignon.
Option B: 2 nights in 4 star B&B, 3 nights in 3 star hotels, and 2 nights in 2 star hotels. All dinners are included except for the 2 nights at the B&B in Avignon. Some hotels/B&B’s have a pool so don’t forget to pack your bathing suit!

What’s Included

• 7 night hotel accommodations
• Breakfasts & 5 dinners
• Welcome beverage
• Luggage transportation
• Route descriptions & maps

What’s Not Included

• Road bike rental (rental available)
• 2 Dinners (in Avignon)
• Airfare to Paris, available by request

Tour Dates

• Arrival daily from March 31 to October 20, 2012.

Skill Level

Moderate to difficult self guided hotel tour is designed for road-bikers. Some days will get hilly and daily distances range from 22 to 65 mi., but are variable.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Avignon.
2. Avignon - Orange, 55 mi. (option to Uzès +17 mi.)
3. Orange - Bedoin, 26 mi. (option to Mont Ventoux +36 mi.)
4. Bedoin - Roussillon, 35 or 49 mi.
5. Roussillon - Fontvieille, 54 mi.
6. Fontvieille - Arles - Baux de Provence, 22 mi. (option loop in Camargue +25 mi.)
7. Baux de Provence - Avignon, 38 mi.
8. Departure from Avignon.

Distances are approximate.

DAY 1: Arrival in Avignon.
Individual arrival in Avignon. Free afternoon to explore this great city - followed by a welcome meeting in the evening.

DAY 2: Avignon - Orange, 55 mi. (option to Uzès +17 mi.)
The day begins with a short transfer from Avignon to Sorgues, where the bike tour will officially commence. You will begin by exploring the vineyards and wines of the Gard, such as the "Lirac", with its rare elegant quality, and the "Châteauneuf du Pape", a great vintage wine. You will then visit the Pont du Gard, an expansive Roman aqueduct, and cycle on to the city of Orange with its majestic Roman monuments. It is optional to bike to the dukedom of Uzès.

DAY 3: Orange - Bedoin, 26 mi. (option to Mont Ventoux +34 mi.)
Today, you will ride past the vineyards of Côtes du Rhône. You'll be amazed at the small villages at the foot of the small mountain chain "Dentelles de Montmirail". Here, you have the option of biking to Mount Ventoux, known as the "Giant of Provence" (1910 m).

DAY 4: Bedoin - Roussillon, 35 or 49 mi.
At the foot of a golden cliff flows one of the most important springs in Europe: the Fontaine de Vaucluse, one of the many incredible places you will visit today. This site is famous for its breathtaking natural atmosphere. Further on, two villages are worth a visit: Gordes and Roussillon. Gordes has attractive stone houses and nicely paved, arched streets. Surrounding the villages are numerous “bories” (huts made out of dry stone) that will amaze you with their various shapes. Roussillon, a unique little village, sits on a small hill colored with red ocher. The house walls are stained with ocher, from red to yellow, contrasting nicely with the dark green of the pine trees. At the top of the village, a viewpoint offers a spectacular view over the plains, Gordes, and the small villages around.

DAY 5: Roussillon - Fontvieille, 54 mi.
The delightful villages in the north of the Luberon chain such as Lacoste, Ménerbes, and Bonnieux will all await your aquaintance. Eventually you will reach the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Luberon. The nice road of Destet will take you to the small villages at the foot of the Alpilles chain, including Maussane les Alpilles and Fontvieille.

DAY 6: Fontvieille - Arles - Baux de Provence, 22 mi. (option loop in Camargue +25 mi.)
Today, you will travel to Arles, an ancient Roman capital that was a large religious center during the Middle Ages. The city has brilliant houses surrounding its arenas, which are perhaps the city's most captivating feature. Every Saturday morning, the city streets transform into a bustling open market. In the heart of the old center, you may relax at numerous refreshing outdoor cafés. Onward to the village of Les Baux de Provence, with its charming houses all strung together. Les Baux de Provence sits cozily on a rock where the vistas are magnificent: groves of olive trees flow across the plains, cypress trees stretch toward the sky, fields overflow with beautiful flowers, small villages pepper the landscape, and of course, there's the endless blue waters of the sea to marvel at. There is an optional biking loop in Camarque that runs to Vaccarès pond.

DAY 7: Baux de Provence - Avignon, 38 mi.
Traveling north, you will reach St. Rémy de Provence. But first, you should not forget to stop to enjoy “l’elixir du Révérand Pére Gaucher” (a liquor) in the Abbey of St Michel de Frigolet. It is situated on the “Montagnette”, a small mountain (highest point 170 m). In St. Rémy de Provence, you will come across 2 well-preserved Roman monuments: the Mausoleum and Municipal Arch. St. Rémy de Provence was once a rich Glanum city, abandoned at the end of the 3rd century and now only ruins remain. As you cycle back to Avignon, you will ride into the foothills of the Apilles Mountain range. The landscape is made up of small hills with chalky ridges that love to soak under the sun, and where you can easily see why painters such as Vincent van Gogh found their inspiration.

DAY 8: Departure from Avignon. Individual departure following breakfast.

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