Famous Villages of Provence
France Bike Tours
Cycle Provence and enjoy fine food and great wine!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1197 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This bike tour in France takes you through the premier attractions of the beautiful Luberon region as well as the magnificent Alpilles Mountains, and the great Côtes du Rhône vineyards. The small villages, age-old architecture, and exquisite scenery have made this region one of the best cycling and sightseeing places in France.
You’ll cycle off the beaten path - far from the main roads, from Gordes to Les Baux de Provence, from Fontaine de Vaucluse to Châteauneuf du Pape, from Venasque to Roussillon - all the while enjoying the intoxicatingly fresh air and mesmerizing rolling hills so filled with history and tradition and ripe with color - of which artists including Vincent van Gogh and Picasso have taken full advantage. (See also Provence-Luberon and Provence-van Gogh tours).
From the comfortable saddle of your bicycle, you will come to personally experience the intricate culture of this rich region at your own pace.
Highlights
- “Côtes du Rhône” vineyards
- The well-preserved Roman monument, The Mausoleum
- Abbey of St Michel de Frigolet
- Fontaine de Vaucluse
- Village of Isle sur la Sorgue
Want to see more bicycle tours in France?
Itinerary
Note: This tour is also available as a road bike tour.
Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Day 2: Avignon - Sorgues - Avignon, 30, 32, 38, or 41 mi. (48, 51, 62, or 67 km.) - depending on option chosen
Day 3: Avignon - Les Baux de Provence, 30 or 35 mi. (48 or 55 km)
Day 4: Les Baux - Arles - Les Baux, 32 mi. (51 km)
Day 5: Les Baux - Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue, roundtrip to Gordes & Roussillon, 42 mi. (68 km)
Day 7: Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue, roundtrip to Venasque, 30 mi. (49 km)
Day 8: Transfer Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue - Avignon and departureDAY 1: Avignon
Arrival in Avignon. Free afternoon to explore this great city - followed by a welcome meeting in the evening at the Provence Bike Shop for presentation of the tour, distribution of documents and bikes.Category A: 3* hotel in BB
Category B: 4* hotel, with pool, in BBDAY 2: Avignon - Sorgues - Avignon, 30, 32, 38, or 41 mi. (48, 51, 61, or 67 km.) - depending on option chosen
This day is dedicated to wine discovery: the “Tavel”, first rosé in France, and the “Lirac”, with its rare elegant quality (optional). The “Châteauneuf du Pape”, a vintage wine, is specifically grown on a ground covered with pebbles. These pebbles accumulate heat during the day and give it back during the night. This wine is also unique because it is made from 13 different varieties of vine.From the small village of Tavel, which is comfortably surrounded by lush vineyards, you will travel on to Châteauneuf du Pape. Here you will find the ruins of the Castle that served as a comfortable summer residence for the Popes. Via quiet country roads, you will next make your way back to Avignon.
*Easy to moderate cycling day. +/- 242 meters of climbing or 318/402/481 corresponding to the longer distance options.
Category A: 3* hotel, in half board
Category B: 4* hotel, with pool, in BBDAY 3: Avignon - Les Baux de Provence, 35 mi. (55 km)
Heading south towards the very heart of Provence, you will ride into the foothills of the Apilles Mountain range (with low altitude fluctuation). 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. In St. Rémy de Provence, where Nostradamus (the doctor and astrologist famous for his predictions) was born, 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 bike on to Les Baux de Provence, stop to enjoy “l’elixir (liquor) du Révérand Pére Gaucher” in the Abbey of St Michel de Frigolet. It is situated on the “Montagnette”, a small mountain (highest point 170 m). Overnight in Les Baux de Provence.*Easy to moderate with difficult climb to Les Beaux. +/- 523 meters of climbing.
Night at Les Baux de Provence. Category A & B: night in the same 3* hotel “De charme”, with pool.
Category A: room of “standard” category, in half board
Category B: room of “superior” category, in BB
DAY 4: Les Baux de Provence - Arles - Les Baux, 32 mi. (51 km)
Three options are given today: resting time at the hotel, visiting the village of Les Baux de Provence, or biking for about 32 miles on flat ground that includes a visit to the wonderful town of Arles.
The village of Les Baux de Provence, with its charming houses all strung together, sits cozily on a rock where the view is 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 endlessly blue waters of the sea to deal with.
Arles, an ancient Roman capital and large religious center during the Middle Ages, 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 city, you may relax at numerous refreshing outdoor cafés. Overnight in the same hotel.*Easy. +/- 402 meters of climbing
Night at Les Baux de Provence. Category A & B: night in the same 3* hotel “De charme”, with pool.
Category A: room of “standard” category, in half board.
Category B: room of “superior” category, in BBDAY 5: Les Baux - Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today, you'll start by crossing the small hills of Les Alpilles (highest point: 390 meters). En route, delightful villages will await your acquaintance. In Eygaliéres alongside a hill of donjon vestiges, you will be able to take a break at the foot of a 12th century Chapel, where it used to be a heathen temple dedicated to water. Next, you'll head east along quiet roads to the Monts de Vaucluse, reaching the heart of the regional park of the Luberon. Overnight either in Fontaine de Vaucluse or in Isle sur la Sorgue, on the riverside.*Easy to moderate. +/- 391 meters of climbing
Night in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on the riverside or in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, on the riverside
Category A: “Residence-Hotel” 4*, with pool, in half board
Category B: 3* hotel “De Charme”, with pool, in BBDAY 6: Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue - Gordes - Roussillon - Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue, 42 mi. (68 km)
At the foot of a golden cliff flows one of the most important springs in Europe: the Fontaine de Vaucluse. This site is famous for its breathtaking natural atmosphere and is also known thanks to the Italian humanist and poet Pétrarque from the 14th century.
Further on, two villages are worth a visit: Gordes and Roussillon. Gordes has attractive stone houses and nicely paved, arched streets. It is hung up on a cliff at the start of the Luberon chain. Around the villages are numerous “Bories” (huts made out of dry stone) that will amaze you with their various shapes. Roussillon, a totally different 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. Overnight in the same hotel.*Easy to moderate with a difficult climb to Gordes. +/- 800 meters of climbing.
Night in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on the riverside, or in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, on the riverside
Category A: “Residence-Hotel” 4*, with pool, in half board
Category B: 3* hotel “De Charme”, with pool, in BBDAY 7: Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue - Venasque - Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue, 30 mi. (49 km)
The big village of Isle sur la Sorgue is surrounded by the arms of the river and becomes animated every Sunday morning when a famous antique market, as well as a large Provencal market take place.
In every street of the village, there are booths with shimmering colors, stimulating odors, Provencal cloths, handicraft, clothes, pottery…. Vegetables, sweets, delicatessen, goat cheese, honey, and jam… lavender, spices, Provencal herbs… exuberance, laughing, hustling… All meridian culture is here!
Escaping north, you'll next bike on quiet country roads to reach a pleasant village located on top of a hill that overlooks the plains of Carpentras; namely Venasque. The village presents magnificent views also over Mont Ventoux, the highest point in Provence (1910 m high). Night in the same hotel.*Easy to moderate. +/- 634 meters of climbing.
Night in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on the riverside, or in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, on the riverside
Category A: “Residence-Hotel” 4*, with pool, in BB
Category B: 3* hotel “De Charme”, with pool, in BBDAY 8: Transfer Fontaine de Vaucluse/Isle sur la Sorgue to Avignon. Departure.
A short transfer to Avignon is included in the tour price (9 AM to 6:30 PM). A supplement will be required for departures before 8 AM or after 7 PM or for transport of your own bicycle.You can view all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.
Accommodation
Option A Comfort: (swimming pools for 5 nights)
- 4 nights in 3 star hotels
- 3 nights in 4 star Hotel Residence
Option B: (swimming pools for all nights)
- 2 nights in 4 star hotel in Avignon
- 5 nights in 3 star hotels
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodation for 7 nights in selected category
- 7 continental or breakfast buffets (depending on hotel)
- 24 gear lightweight upgraded VTC hybrid bicycle equipped with luggage rack, rear pannier bag, water bottle, and lock
- Accessories including odometer, repair kit, road book, preloaded GPS, handlebar bag (one set per 4 people or one set per two)
- Helmet rental (must be reserved in advance)
- Luggage transfer between 9:30 am and 5 pm*
- Transfer Day 8 Isle sur la Sorgue to Avignon train station from 9 AM to 6:30 PM
- Local taxes
- Option A only: 5 x three-course dinners
- *If you need to receive your luggage at a specific time, either during the tour or in Avignon at the end of the tour, please specify when booking. A supplement will apply.
What’s Not Included
- Individual arrival
- Lunches
- Drinks with meals
- Option A: Dinners on Day 1, 7, and 8
- Option B: All dinners
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Daily arrival possible from April 1 to October 25, 2021
Arrivals after 6 pm on Saturdays are not possible. If you arrive on Sunday, the bike distribution and welcome meeting will take place on Monday.Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Option A:
April, May June, Aug, September, and October: $ 1916 £ 1081 $ 1,885 € 1197 NZ$ 2052 kr 12325 $ 1,485 Single room supplement: $ 635 £ 358 $ 625 € 397 NZ$ 680 kr 4088 $ 493 Single room supplement (traveling alone): $ 781 £ 441 $ 769 € 488 NZ$ 836 kr 5025 $ 605
July: $ 1980 £ 1117 $ 1,948 € 1237 NZ$ 2120 kr 12737 $ 1,535 Single room supplement: $ 699 £ 395 $ 688 € 437 NZ$ 749 kr 4500 $ 542 Single room supplement (traveling alone): $ 845 £ 477 $ 832 € 528 NZ$ 905 kr 5437 $ 655
Option B:
April and October: $ 1951 £ 1101 $ 1,920 € 1219 NZ$ 2089 kr 12552 $ 1,512 Single room supplement: $ 682 £ 385 $ 671 € 426 NZ$ 730 kr 4386 $ 529 Single room supplement (traveling alone): $ 835 £ 471 $ 822 € 522 NZ$ 895 kr 5375 $ 648
May, June, August, September: $ 1981 £ 1118 $ 1,950 € 1238 NZ$ 2122 kr 12748 $ 1,536 Single room supplement: $ 712 £ 402 $ 701 € 445 NZ$ 763 kr 4582 $ 552 Single room supplement (traveling alone): $ 867 £ 489 $ 854 € 542 NZ$ 929 kr 5581 $ 672
July 26 to July 31, inclusive: $ 1981 £ 1118 $ 1,950 € 1238 NZ$ 2122 kr 12748 $ 1,536 Single room supplement: $ 712 £ 402 $ 701 € 445 NZ$ 763 kr 4582 $ 552 Single room supplement (traveling alone): $ 867 £ 489 $ 854 € 542 NZ$ 929 kr 5581 $ 672
July 1 to July 25, inclusive (Festival d' Avignon): $ 2205 £ 1244 $ 2,170 € 1378 NZ$ 2362 kr 14189 $ 1,710 Single room supplement: $ 941 £ 531 $ 926 € 588 NZ$ 1008 kr 6055 $ 730 Single room supplement (traveling alone): $ 1096 £ 619 $ 1,079 € 685 NZ$ 1174 kr 7053 $ 850
*Please note: All pricing listed above only applies if the start and end of the tour take place during the months listed.
Extra Options
Electric bike rental: $ 160 £ 90 $ 157 € 100 NZ$ 171 kr 1030 $ 124
Tandem bike rental, discount: $ 46 £ 26 $ 46 € 29 NZ$ 50 kr 299 $ 36
Upgrade to road trekking bike with rack and mudguard: on request
Sport aluminum road bike (no rack): $ 29 £ 16 $ 28 € 18 NZ$ 31 kr 185 $ 22
Sport carbon road bike (no rack): $ 85 £ 48 $ 83 € 53 NZ$ 91 kr 546 $ 66
Recumbent bike: On request
Tandem and recumbent bikes also available
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This self-guided hotel tour is being given an easy to moderate rating by Tripsite’s own resident cyclist, Hennie. She does concede that while there are some difficult climbs, it should not discourage anyone from taking this tour as she states it is a very beautiful tour and a favorite amongst her cycling group. Her daily rating is included in the day to day details. Daily distances range from 22 to 36 miles but are variable. Unfortunately, there are days when traffic cannot be avoided due to the lack of designated bike paths. Day 4 may be used as a rest day. Remember, electric bikes are always an option!
Airport Info
Fly to Paris.
Local Travel
From Paris, train transfer from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport via Paris-Lyon station to Avignon (TGV), 3-4½ hrs. depending on connections. Taxi or Navette (shuttle bus) to the first hotel.
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.
Day of Rest
Day 4 in Les Baux.
Remarks
Please note that you must be able to change your own tire. There is no immediate technical assistance for this tour. If needed, a repair or replacement bike will be available the following day. Also available as a ROAD BIKE TOUR.
Extra Stay
Extra nights in Avignon possible upon request.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Transhumance.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
Reviews
David and Anne S.
1 year agoVerified Reviewer
Marion L.
1 year agoVerified Reviewer
Colleen J.
2 years agoVerified Reviewer
Gloria C.
2 years agoVerified Reviewer
Abbie M.
2 years agoVerified Reviewer
Ann S.
2 years agoVerified Reviewer
Bill & Kristy C.
3 years agoVerified Reviewer
Liz G.
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Harvey A.
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Karen A Thompson
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Michele D.
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Y. Silverberg-Urian
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Kevin Romanowski
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Edward Nyland
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Edward Nyland
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Neil and Reute
6 years agoVerified Reviewer
Andy and Lynn
8 years agoVerified Reviewer
Panteha & Tom
10 years agoVerified Reviewer
Tripsite Customer Reviews
David and Anne S.
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Marion L.
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer