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Cycling Tour of Provence for Avid Riders

Découvrir les plus belles routes de Provence avec ce voyage à vélo 6
This cycling tour will take you through some famous villages of Provence: Venasque, Gordes, Roussillon, Frontvieille, les Baux de Provence We also organize this cycling tours for groups on a guided basis This bicycle tour includes an optional ride up the Giant of Provence: Mont Ventoux This cycling trip will take you through Pont-du-Gard, a UNESCO world heritage site Uzes, a small town of Provence Cycling tour of Provence starting from Avignon
Découvrir les plus belles routes de Provence avec ce voyage à vélo

Cycling Tour of Provence for Avid Riders

  • Level
  • PriceFrom 1,375 euros
  • DAY7 nights / 8 days

More info: Receive detailed hotel list, bike specs, and route description

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Description

Originally designed for a private group who gave their ‘seal of approval’ on the itinerary, we’ve welcomed clubs and individuals looking for an in-depth challenging tour of Provence. In fact, this itinerary is so well loved, it’s been featured in magazines and on websites like CyclingPlus!

Mix quality miles with Provence’s show-stopping scenery and you have one unforgettable journey. We can only recommend it to fit riders who can comfortably cover 90 to 100 km per day (50 to 60 miles). Over 8 days, you’ll make a grand tour of AvignonUzèsOrangeMont VentouxSaultVenasqueBédoinRoussillonLes BauxSaint-Rémy, and Arles… and that’s just a sample! On this self-guided journey, you’ll be at liberty to stop whenever you’d like, wherever you’d like — or to keep pedaling on to your heart’s content.

Other tours for Avid Riders in Provence include our scheduled tour Avignon to Nice and Upper Provence, Ventoux, and Luberon.

 

For travel and cycling tips to Provence, visit our "Travel and cycling tips" section.

Itinerary

D1Arrival in Avignon

 

Arrive in Avignon at the time of your choice. Your hotel is located within walking distance of all the major sites. 

D2Avignon — Uzès — Orange 109 km/68 miles, 920 meters/3,020 ft of climbing; shorter option: 85 km/58 miles, 660 m/2,165 ft

 

Cycling through some of the Côtes-du-Rhône's most famous vineyards will lead you to the majestic Pont du Gard, France's millennia-old Roman aqueduct. From there, you can head to Uzés, a city with an exceptional medieval heritage, or take a shortcut and head straight towards Orange (a 24 km/15 mile shortcut) where your hotel is located.

D3Orange — Bédoin and optional loop to Mont Ventoux Orange to Bedoin: 38 km/24 miles, 360 meters/1,180 ft of climbing; Orange to Bedoin via Mont Ventoux: 83 km/52 mi; 1,970 m/6,465 ft of climbing

 

Before you get on your bike for the tour's toughest day, you may want to take a stroll through Orange, famous for its Roman monuments. Of these, the Roman Theater and the Roman Arch are really worth the short walk from your hotel! Once you leave the city, you’ll be in an area known as the "Dentelles de Montmirail" (Dentelles means lace) with interesting rock formations, followed by a tour of the Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards of Vacqueyras and Beaumes-de-Venise. These provide the perfect warm-up for the day's challenge: the "Giant of Provence," all 1,910 m (5,700 ft.) of Mont Ventoux! The climb from Bédoin is the toughest, so feel free to stop for lunch and a rest before tackling it. This climb is one most often done by Tour de France riders, with the record to beat at 55 minutes and 51 seconds, held by Iban Mayo. The view from the top is magnificent! 


From the summit, you can either ride straight back to Bédoin or do a loop ride before your return. 

D4Bédoin — Roussillon Via Fontaine: 78 km/47 miles, 1,060 meters/3,475 ft of climbing; Via Murs: 52 km/32 miles, 720 meters/2,360 ft of climbing

 

We provide two equally stunning routes to Roussillon today… the choice is yours to make! The first route will take you through Venasque and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (home to one of the world's most powerful natural springs), along with the beautiful clifftop village of Gordes. It is also possible to add a few miles to include Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on this route. The second will get you to ochre-colored Roussillon via Venasque and the scenic Col de Murs, a climb done by Tour de France riders in 2000.

D5Roussillon — Fontvieille 81 km/50 miles, 840 meters/2,755 ft of climbing

 

Prepare for a total change of scenery! The day first brings you through some of the “perched” villages made famous by Peter Mayle in A Year in Provence and crosses through traffic-heavy Cavaillon, the World Capital of Melons. The scenic Destet road will then take you through fields of olive trees to the Alpilles, a low-mountain range where Fontvieille is located.

D6Fontvieille — Arles — Camargue — Les Baux-de-Provence 83 km /52 miles; 370 meters/1,215 ft of climbing

 

Begin your day’s journey with a visit to the city of Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From a fashionable city littered with Roman ruins, our itinerary will take you to the Rhône River delta, which is a protected natural reserve called the Camargue. The Camargue is particularly unique thanks to its bevy of wildlife: migrating birdsflamingos, and wild horses. Although flat, the mythic Mistral winds can make this section difficult! Turn back inland and head towards Les Baux-de-Provence, a hilltop town with a towering fortress that offers unobstructed views over Provence and the Mediterranean Sea.

D7Les Baux-de-Provence — Avignon 64 km/40 miles, 320 meters/1,050 ft of climbing

 

Although “short” compared to the others, this ride is full of sites worth visiting! St. Rémy-de-Provence and the nearby Glanum archaeological site are worth investigating, as are Tarascon and its medieval fortress. Closer to Avignon, you may wish to visit "La Montagnette" and the Abbey of St. Michel de Frigolet. Back in Avignon, you’re free to celebrate the conclusion of your tour however you please!

D8Departure from Avignon

 

After breakfast, depart Avignon at the time of your choice.

Booking & Prices

  • Option A
  • in 3-star hotels

  • 1,375 euros per person in April and October. Single supplement is 440 euros
  • 1,435 euros per person in May, June and September. Single supplement is 500 euros
  • 1,495 euros per person in July and August. Single supplement is 565 euros
  • Option A+
  • in 3- and 4-star hotels

  • 1,495 euros per person in April and October. Single supplement is 455 euros
  • 1,595 euros per person in May, June and September. Single supplement is 525 euros
  • 1,695 euros per person in July and August. Single supplement is 595 euros

These prices include:

  • 7 nights' accommodation as described above
  • Daily breakfast
  • 2 dinners (drinks are not included)
  • Luggage transfers
  • Roadbook provided as an app (when used as a GPS, no data plan is necessary) 
  • Pre-loaded GPS unit (subject to availability) or navigation app
  • Tourist information (provided as part of the app). 
  • Assistance if necessary (you will be provided with our local rep’s mobile number)
  • All tax and service charges

These prices do not include:

  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance
  • Bicycle rentals. Aluminum road bikes are available at the rate of 160 euros per bike. Full-carbon road
    bikes are available at the rate of 210 euros per bike.

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