From Mont Ventoux to Chateauneuf du Pape Provence France A once in a lifetime cycling tour covering all of the Provence region, this challenging bike tour lets you discover Avignon, Pont du Gard, the flatlands of the Camargue, the Mediterranean Sea and the Alpilles & Luberon Mountains. Along the most beautiful roads of Provence, you explore stunning sceneries of vineyards, lavender fields, and perched villages. Cycle 50-100km per day, and with a few small and not so small hills added to the mix, this trip takes you where no other tour do: breathtaking canyon roads, villages far off the tourist radar, and to the very roof of Provence. HIGHLIGHTS All the best and most rewarding rides in Provence with spectacular variety of countryside, from the Mediterranean sea to the Mont Ventoux The artists' town of Saint Rémy, the medieval Avignon, and Arles the roman city Ascension of Mont Ventoux by bike Biking Tour Meeting: Avignon Airport:   Marseille Transfer: Trip Brochure (PDF)

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

 

Transfer and Other Charges:

Trip can start any day during the season

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

WARNING
Despite all our care to update the description of our itineraries, there can be changes on the ground that are not reflected in the notes.
Roadwork occurs every year: signs can disappear or change, new intersections can form or change... Remain vigilant while reading the notes, paying close attention to the cumulative mileage on your bike computer and in the route notes. In case of a doubt along the route, be aware of how to return to that spot easily if you’ve made the wrong turn.

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival on your own in the medieval town of Avignon. You can visit the covered market every morning (except Mondays). 
Meals included: none
Overnight in Avignon

Day 2: Avignon to Uzès
Your journey begins northbound through Barthelasse island. Here, two branches of the Rhône frame a paradise of country lanes and orchards of all kinds. An out and back detour to the village of Châteauneuf du Pape is tempting before you head westward to Tavel, France's capital of rosé wines. Beyond Tavel, you cycle through rolling hills of pine forest and shrub vegetation, some easy hills to get your legs warmed up. You reach the majestic town of Uzes, with its regal stone mansions, castle of the Dukes, and Places des Herbes square.
Cycling about 49km +550m/ 400m // Longer option with Châteauneuf du Pape detour 74km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Uzès

Day 3: Uzès to Saintes Maries de la Mer
With the dominant Mistral winds at your back, the day's ride is almost entirely southbound to the Mediterranean Sea.
Today you visit the Pont du Gard, a 2000 year old bridge spanning over the Gardon River, part of an aqueduct of awe inspiring Roman engineering. Take a break by the river's edge, marveling at the bridge's seemingly impossible architecture and beauty. Beyond the Gardon river, some rolling hills of vineyards await, eventually dipping down to the plains, where open fields and salt flats lead the way, extending into the horizon. Through the Camargue you reach the town of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, with its white washed homes set in otherwise wild marshlands.
Cycling about 98km +350m/500m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Saintes Maries de la Mer

Day 4: Saintes Maries de la Mer to Arles
As flat as a pancake and windswept by the Mistral, you leave the Mediterranean through the heart of the Camargue Nature Park. Dotted with sparse bull and horse farms, graced by the overhead flight of thousands of flamingos, the lands of the Camargue seem desolate, with sparse tufts of hearty plants surviving the salt
rich soils. The rounded, north facing walls of traditional white Camargue homes deflect the powerful winds. At the ride's end you cross the mighty Rhône River to reach the Roman town of Arles, a lively town whose streets are set around a 2000 years old Roman coliseum.
Cycling about 53km +/ 100m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Arles

Day 5: Arles to L'Isle sur la Sorgue
Leaving Arles, you head north, passing the very spot where Van Gogh painted his "Starry Night over the Rhône". You are riding towards Les Alpilles a jagged limestone massif. Cycling up into the heart of the mountains, you reach the perched medieval village of Les Baux, hanging defiantly on its rocky crag, overlooking its prized olive groves. A freewheeling descent takes you down the north face of the Alpilles and to the artists' village of St. Rémy, where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life here. From here he did his most prolific and acclaimed work. Heading eastward you then cross the Durance Valley and follow small country lanes across the fertile plains, lined with fruit orchards, to reach the town of l'Isle sur la Sorgue.
Cycling about 66km + 450m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in L'Isle sur la Sorgue

Day 6: Perched Villages of Provence
They are called "perched" villages for a reason: high above the plains, and sometimes set dizzyingly above the rock upon which they were built.
With each climb under your belt the beauty of each village is unveiled: Gordes and its rings of homes sweeping upwards towards its castle, Roussillon and its village homes painted in a palette of colour from pale yellow to deep red, Bonnieux and its labyrinth of winding streets to its Romanesque church, huddled below majestic cedars, and the village of Lacoste, crowned by the ruins of Sade's castle.
Cycling about 73km + 1000m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in L'Isle sur la Sorgue

Day 7: Isle sur la Sorgue to Bedoin 
In the sleepy village of Méthamis, you take a seldom used road winding eastward and upward, gaining 500m in elevation to the St. Hubert farm. With an overhead view of the vast lavender fields, you reach the village of Monieux. Then the real fun begins: arguably the most spectacular cycling road Provence has to offer: Les Gorges de La Nesque. Set above a spectacular canyon, a slow and winding 20km descent twists through limestone arches, at times the gradient barely discernible if not for your roaring speeds. Exhilarating...You touch down in the village of Villes sur Auzon, back in the plains. With the summit of Mont Ventoux at its closest, you defiantly head closer to its base, to the village of Bedoin.
Cycling about 81km +1300m/ 1000m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Bedoin

Day 8: Mont Ventoux
You're at 300 meters, and the summit soars at 1.5 km higher in the sky. With an average grade of 7.5%, you're facing 22km of pure uphill. Often touted as the hardest climb in France, Ventoux is a true test for your climbing legs, attracting amateur cyclists from all over the world. The first 5km are the easiest, a gradual uphill through the orchards and vines, passing the hamlet of Sainte Colombe. But then as you climb through the oak, cedar and then beech forests the slopes are at their most severe. By the time you reach the Chalet Reynard, with only 6km left to go, the gradient is more forgiving. The final hairpin turn towards the summit stands before you like a wall, but with the goal in view you find the energy to surge over the top... There are several options to return to Bedoin, but it's all downhill from here.
Cycling about 56 km + 1800m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Bedoin

Day 9: Departure
End of your tour in Bedoin or add an extra night.

Note: Risk of snow on Mt Ventoux in March/April/Oct/Nov. This tour is not available in July & August, because of path restrictions (fire risk). Possible local
authorities restrictions from Late June to September 15th.

Optional Extension: Around Mont Ventoux (95km + 1600m) - Inquire for extra cost
The Gabelle road is magnificent as you climb up from Flassan, winding at a regular incline on a seldom used road. You reach Sault and admire the vast expanse of lavender fields before tucking in behind the mountain, along the Toulourenc valley. Here, you cycle through forgotten villages, far from the tourist radar, including Reilhanette and Brantes, the later deserving a lengthy visit. Eventually, you reach the tiny village of Veaux and cross the Toulourenc (you can go for a dip here) before a winding road leads you to Malaucène, and then back to Bedoin.
 

                                            Arles area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	52	55	61	66	73	82	87	86	78	69	58	53
Average Low Temperature (°F)	39	40	44	48	55	62	66	66	60	53	45	40
Average High Temperature (°C)	11	13	16	19	23	28	31	30	26	20	15	12
Average Low Temperature (°C)	4	4	7	9	13	17	19	19	15	12	7	4

Source: NOAA

Seasons
The Provençal climate is characterized by the bright and ever-present Provençal sun. The winds and rains are sporadic year-round.

Winters are most often mild and sunny, with incredibly clear skies. This is a great season with incredible lighting.

Autumn & Spring, with their mild weather, can sometimes bring with them more abundant rains. 

Summer months can be very hot and dry, with occasional thunderstorms that cool the air. 

We recommend visiting between March and June or September and November, when the mild temperatures are ideal.


Mistral Wind
The mistral is a strong and turbulent wind that blows in gusts. It cools the hot summer temperatures and produces a brisk chill in the winter. 
It is always accompanied by the sun, an intense blue sky, and spectacular visibility.

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Accommodations
This is a progressive trip, so you will be staying in different establishments along the way. 

Description
We favour small local establishments, often family-run hotels or B&Bs, that employ local people. Selected by our track finders, our accommodations are chosen based on the friendliness of the owners, the quality of the service, the charm of the establishment and, quite often, the quirkyness (of both accommodation and owners!) that makes where you sleep an integral part of your adventure. 

Your package includes standard accommodation (with all basic comfort and services) but it is possible to upgrade to more comfortable accommodations for an extra fee.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel Boquier in Avignon
Night 2: La Taverne de Sophie in Uzès
Night 3: Hotel Les Arcades in Saintes Maries de la Mer
Night 4: Hotel Régence in Arles
Night 5 & 6: Les Névons in Isle sur Sorgue
Night 7 & 8: L'Escapade in Bedoin

Hotel Boquier in Avignon
In a quiet pedestrian street, in the heart of Avignon, stands the Boquier hotel (2 stars). This atypical and cozy building from the 18th century will warmly welcome you. Each of the 13 comfortable room comes equipped with air conditioning, a flat screen television, a private shower room and Wi-Fi access.

La Taverne de Sophie in Uzès
Tonight, you are accommodated in a lovely old stone building, right in the city center. The rooms are spacious and include free Wi-Fi, TV, air conditioning and en suite bathroom.

Hotel Les Arcades in Saintes Maries de la Mer
This 2-star family-hotel has 19 bedrooms, all featuring private facilities, TV, and Wi-Fi access. 

Hotel Régence in Arles
This small 2* hotel, in the heart of Arles, offers 16 bedrooms. The rooms are bright, sound proof, air conditioned, and they all have a private bathroom. direct telephone line, satellite TV, safe and Wi-Fi internet.
Please, note that all rooms are located on the upper levels and there are no lift in the building.

Les Névons in Isle sur la Sorgue
Bordered by an arm of the Sorgue river and chestnut trees, this 3-star hotel offers 44 comfortable rooms. All rooms come equipped with a bathroom, a flat screen TV, a safe, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi access.
You can relax in the swimming pool, on the roof with beautiful panoramic views over the city.

L'Escapade in Bedoin
In this hotel, you will find bright and simply decorated bedrooms equipped with private bathroom, TV, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.


Meals
Only breakfasts are included in your package.

Breakfast will be provided by the accommodations.

Tack:
Horses:
Pace:		Easy to moderate level of biking with a maximum of 45 km a day. Several days have climbs.
Level:		(4 to 5 out of 5)    Challenging - Demanding
Riders:		Min 2	Max 6

Trip Difficulty: Challenging
You enjoy cycling long distances and challenging climbs: you are a real cyclist. You would love to climb the Mont Ventoux, the cyclists' Everest. You will cycle from 49 km to 98 km a day, with lots of hill work, sometimes quite steep.

GPS & Travel Kit
We will send you the GPS files for your trip via email, before the start of your holiday. You will have to bring your own device whether it is a Garmin GPS or a Smartphone with the files already downloaded.
Your Travel Kit containing road book & vouchers will be sent to the first accommodation of the trip. The road book contains technical description of the itinerary, 1: 100 000 scale maps integrated in the book with itinerary traced out, contact listing and helpful recommendations (restaurants, museums, vineyards, craftsmen, where to find a bank machine…).

Equipment
If renting a bike with us, your bike is delivered at your accommodation on Day 1 with all the necessary equipment ( helmet, bike lock...).

No matter the kind of bike chosen for your holiday, if you borrow a bike through us, you will get the following items for your tour:
• helmet > our regular “helmet head tour” is 54cm > 58cm. If you need a larger helmet, please contact us
• security vest
• pump
• one inner tube and repair kit per two bikes
• bike computer
• front pannier
• two side panniers
• water bottle holder
• one lock per two bikes

Road Bike - extra cost
You can choose the full road bike option (carbon or aluminium) with a supplement. This kind of bike is highly recommended for people who decide to do a challenging cycling tour with jaunt distances of around 100km per day. The road bike is ultra-light and its frame is made entirely of aluminium or carbon and designed to accomplish the ultimate performances.
We recommend the full carbon bikes only for those used to riding them. Though sleek and light, the bikes sacrifice comfort for speed, they’re more difficult to handle, and they’re not really meant to stop every 10km to visit villages.
Our Cannondale (Synapse Carbone 105 Triple plateau or equivalent) are equipped with Shimano parts (Gearing: compact crank 2 rings 34x50 with 11x32 rear cogs > 22 speed).

Automatic shoes
You can choose to ride a road bike with or without automatic shoes If you choose to bring your own automatic shoes, you must also bring  your pedals and the tools to fasten them on the bike.
Keep in mind that wearing automatic shoes is not really recommended for sightseeing. If you are planning to stop and visit places along your ride they are not very comfortable to walk in.

Bring your own bike
If you are bringing your own bike, make sure to also bring panniers, map holder, a bike computer and all of the other necessary equipment (inner tube, repair kit, pump, helmet).

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:

(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Passport Note

France is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.



Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:

(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;

(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	1
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	No
Other EU	No
Return Ticket Required?
British	No
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	No