Famous Villages of Provence Road Bike Tour

France Bike Tours

Cycling Provence!

This Provence bike tour starts in Avignon with afternoon sightseeing possible with an early arrival and a welcome meeting in the evening. From Avignon, you’ll cycle through the vineyards of the Gard (Châteauneuf du Pape, Lirac, etc.) and see the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct). This tour is slightly different from the usual Famous Villages of Provence tour in that it covers longer distances.
The highlights of this bike tour in France include the vineyards of côtes du Rhône (Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise, etc.), the small villages at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail and Luberon cycling 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.
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	Option A, comfort	Option B, superior
April and October	£ 1019 $ 2,054 € 1179 NOK 11299 kr 10430 $ 1,356	£ 1122 $ 2,262 € 1298 NOK 12439 kr 11482 $ 1,493
Single supplement:	£ 201 $ 404 € 232 NOK 2223 kr 2052 $ 267	£ 310 $ 626 € 359 NOK 3440 kr 3176 $ 413
Supplement, single traveler:	£ 375 $ 756 € 434 NOK 4159 kr 3839 $ 499	£ 485 $ 978 € 561 NOK 5376 kr 4963 $ 645
May, June, August, and Sept.	£ 1048 $ 2,112 € 1212 NOK 11615 kr 10722 $ 1,394	£ 1184 $ 2,385 € 1369 NOK 13120 kr 12110 $ 1,574
Single supplement	£ 208 $ 418 € 240 NOK 2300 kr 2123 $ 276	£ 350 $ 706 € 405 NOK 3881 kr 3583 $ 466
Supplement, single traveler	£ 382 $ 770 € 442 NOK 4236 kr 3910 $ 508	£ 525 $ 1,058 € 607 NOK 5817 kr 5370 $ 698
July 1 to July 22 (Festival d' Avignon	£ 1077 $ 2,171 € 1246 NOK 11941 kr 11022 $ 1,433	£ 1471 $ 2,964 € 1701 NOK 16301 kr 15047 $ 1,956
Single supplement:	£ 237 $ 477 € 274 NOK 2626 kr 2424 $ 315	£ 626 $ 1,262 € 724 NOK 6938 kr 6405 $ 833
Supplement, single traveler:	£ 412 $ 829 € 476 NOK 4562 kr 4211 $ 547	£ 801 $ 1,613 € 926 NOK 8874 kr 8192 $ 1,065
July 22 to July 31	£ 1077 $ 2,171 € 1246 NOK 11941 kr 11022 $ 1,433	£ 1184 $ 2,385 € 1369 NOK 13120 kr 12110 $ 1,574
Single supplement:	£ 237 $ 477 € 274 NOK 2626 kr 2424 $ 315	£ 350 $ 706 € 405 NOK 3881 kr 3583 $ 466
Supplement, single traveler:	£ 412 $ 829 € 476 NOK 4562 kr 4211 $ 547	£ 525 $ 1,058 € 607 NOK 5817 kr 5370 $ 698

extra options

Road bike rental options:

Upgrade to Sport Carbon Road Bike (no rack): £ 30 $ 61 € 35 NOK 335 kr 310 $ 40

please note

Rates are per person based on double occupancy.

Information to read before you book.

We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.

Please see our FAQ.

Travel
Fly to Paris, Marseilles, or Avignon.
Local Travel
From Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, take the TGV to Avignon, 3-4 hours depending on connections.
From Paris city, you can take the TGV from Paris Lyon station to Avignon.
Please be aware there are two train stations in Avignon. One is the Centre train station which is 5 minutes walking distance from tour hotel and the TGV train station (about 15 minutes from the center of by taxi or you can take a local train from TGV station to the center
Centre train station in Avignon (5 minutes on foot from the hotels).
TGV train station (about 15 minutes from the town center by taxi). There are 35 trains between the Avignon TGV station and the city train station from 5:58 am to 11:00 pm (5 minutes transfer only).
Climate
Average high temp in °F for Avignon is 59 for Mar, 67 Apr, 74 May, 82 Jun, 87 Jul, 87 Aug, 78 Sep, 68 Oct & 56 Nov.
Remarks
Road bike rental is available.

Skill Level

This Provence bike tour is classified as a moderate to somewhat difficult self guided hotel tour, designed for road-bikers. Some days will get hilly, and there are a few short but steep climbs - except Mount Ventoux which is a long steep climb! However, remember you can always walk your bike if need be. Daily distances range from 22 to 65 miles. Please see the day to day for elevation information.

Where You’ll Stay

Option A
1 night in 2 star hotel with dinner included
4 nights in 3 star hotel with dinners included
2 nights in 3 star hotel with only breakfast included
All dinners are included except for the 2 nights at the B&B in Avignon.
Option B:
5 nights in 3 star hotel with dinner included
2 nights in 4 star hotel with breakfast only
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

Hotel accommodations for 7 nights in selected category
7 x breakfasts
5 x dinners
Sport Aluminum road bike (bikes are not equipped with rear rack)
Welcome beverage
Luggage transfer (please note: it is not possible to guarantee luggage delivery to next hotel before 5 pm. If you need luggage at specific, earlier time in Avignon at end of tour, please request at time of booking. Supplement will apply.
Preloaded GPS rental, route descriptions & maps (one set per booking up to 4 ppl)
Tourist tax

What’s Not Included

Individual arrival to Avignon
Upgrade to Carbon Road bike rental (please see pricing for options)
3 Dinners on Day 1, 7, and 8
Bicycle Protection
Travel Insurance

Tour	Bike
Type	Self Guided
Skill	Moderate–Difficult
Length	8 days
From	€1179 Rates
	Client Reviews

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Tour Dates

April 1 to October 25, 2019
Please note: Arrivals after 6 pm on Saturdays are not possible.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Famous Villages of Provence Road Bike Tour Map

Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Day 2: Avignon - Orange, 68 mi./110 km (option to Uzès, 54 mi./87 km) 1136 meters
Day 3: Orange - Bedoin, 27 mi. /41 km, 421 meters (option to Mont Ventoux, 35 mi./57 km), 1900 meters
Day 4: Bedoin - Fontain de Vaucluse - Gordes - Roussillon, 49 mi./78 km, 1200 meters or Bedoin - Murs - Roussillon, 34 mi./55 km, 873 meters
Day 5: Roussillon - Fontvieille, 53 mi./85 km, 933 meters
Day 6: Fontvieille - Arles - Baux de Provence, 22 mi./33 km, 314 meters or option loop in Camargue +26 mi./41 km, 113 meters
Day 7: Baux de Provence - Avignon, 38 mi./61 km, 404meters
Day 8: Departure from Avignon

Distances are approximate.

DAY 1: Arrival in Avignon
Individual arrival in Avignon and a free afternoon to explore this great city - followed by a welcome meeting in the evening. The tour and equipment will be explained. Meeting will take place every day from 3 - 5:30 pm (except on Sunday.) In case of late arrival or in case of a Sunday arrival, the meeting will take place the next day at Provence Bike Shop at 9 am sharp. If you arrive on Saturday, you must be ontime as the store is closed on Sunday. When you check in to hotel, you will receive a tour packet, luggage tags, with a map indicating how to reach the Provence Bike shop. Reception at hotel will inform the shop that you have arrived. At this time, you can then decide the fixed time of your welcome briefing.

DAY 2: Avignon - Orange, 68 mi./110 km (option to Uzès, 54 mi./87 km) 1136 meters
This day is about the vineyards of "côtes du Rhône, Lirac....Other highlights, the Pont du Gard, and the city of Orange itself with its majestic roman monuments.

DAY 3: Orange - Bedoin, 27 mi. /41 km, 430 meters (+ option to Mont Ventoux, + 35 mi./57 km), 1900 meters
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 Mont Ventoux cycling, a mountain known as the "Giant of Provence" (1910 m).

DAY 4: Bedoin - Fontain de Vaucluse - Gordes - Roussillon, 49 mi./78 km, 1200 meters or Bedoin - Murs - Roussillon, 34 mi./55 km, 873 meters
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, 53 mi./85 km, 933 meters
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./33 km, 314 meters + option: loop in Camargue +26 mi./41 km, 113 meters
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./61 km, 404 meters
Biking in Provence heading 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. Today you will return the rental bicycle, tour material, and accessories.

DAY 8: Departure from Avignon
Your Provence bike tour will end with individual departure following breakfast.

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