Alpilles & Luberon

Introduction
Provence France
This lovely self-guided cycling holiday combines beautiful Provence landscapes with historical towns.

Embark on this tour starting & finishing in Avignon. From there you head to St Remy, in the Alpilles mountains, and finish in the Luberon mountains. Ride through the vineyards, olive groves and hilltop villages that years ago inspired some of the greatest artists like Van Gogh & Cezanne.

Whether you’re a novice or keen rider, Provence is a cycling paradise with endless kilometers of diverse landscapes, spectacular views and untouched treasures. You can stop as frequently as you like to take it all in. We have included a few loop rides allowing you on some days to take some free time to relax from your rides and to explore the surrounding area.
Savour provencal food & wine bursting with the flavours of the sun, chat with the locals as you walk through the market and cycle on beautiful routes...

HIGHLIGHTS 
- Cycle through sun-kissed landscapes, surrounded by olive groves, pine trees and oak forests, Van Gogh’s inspiration 
- Discover beautiful hilltop villages & the Colorado Provencal 
- Stop for a wine or olive oil tasting along the way

Accomodation


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: Hotel Chalet Fleuri in St Remy
Night 3: Hotel Magnarelles in Maussanne

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.

Hotel Chalet Fleuri in St Remy
This charming 3-star hotel is located in a historic property dating from 1870, surrounded by centenary trees. Each room offers a view on the park and comes with air conditioning, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi access and private facilities.  
There is a small outdoor pool to cool off in the evening.

Hotel Magnarelles in Maussanne
This small hotel offers 18 rooms, all featuring a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi access and air conditioning. Guests are welcome to go for a swim in the outdoor pool.  


Meals
Only breakfasts are included in your package.

Breakfast will be provided by the accommodations.

Riding

Trip Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
You’re in good shape and used to regular and sustained exercise. You will cycle from 35 to 61 km a day, with moderate but steady climbs along the way.

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

E-Bike - extra cost
Provence is hilly and most of the prettiest villages are “hilltop”, meaning you have to climb to get there.
Our E-bikes becomes a wonderful compromise: while still doing exercise – you still have to pedal to get these things going after all – you can access the hilliest and most breathtaking of what Provence has to offer without being a great cyclist. You can also accompany a more athletic spouse or friend on one of our holidays. When you start pedalling, the electric motor is automatically triggered. You will have the choice between several levels of assistance.
Our E-bikes (E-Ride or equivalent) are equipped with a battery with about 90km autonomy, a low frame (easy to get on and off), anti-puncture tires (reducing the risk of flats), and hydraulic brakes, ensuring the highest standard of safety.
With our E-bike we provide:
• a briefing from a specialized mechanic, who will show you how to use and get the most out of your rides. During the briefing a credit card pre-authorization of 800€ will be asked as a guarantee.
• assistance, meaning if you have any problems whatsoever with your E-bike, our mechanic will come and repair it at no charge.

Hybrid Bike - extra cost
Our high-end HYBRID bike rental (trek or equivalent) come equipped with Shimano parts, light aluminium frames, and a triple-plateau (Gearing: 28/38/48 with 11/32 cluster > 27 speed).
Hybrid bikes are undoubtedly the best choice when tackling the day long rides, thanks to a high performance level and no sacrifice on comfort: wider tyres, the slightly more upright position and the flat handlebars make for a real comfy ride.
This light and aerodynamic bike is ideal when dealing with the steep climbs on your Provence cycling holiday.
Our bike frames are unisex. When possible, we provide a comfortable woman saddle to all women riders.

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).

Itinerary

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. Recognised for its beauty and rich history, we recommend you take the afternoon to walk the walled city. Highlights include the Place du Palais, next to the Place de L'Horloge and the ruined bridge of Le Pont Saint-Benezet over the River Rhone. There are lots of museums to visit and many cafes and restaurants for fabulous food and drinks.  
Meals included: none
Overnight in Avignon

Day 2: Avignon to Saint Rémy
Cycle between the Durance and Rhône Rivers, through a mosaic of orchards and cypress trees. You will arrive into the quaint town of Barbentane before climbing up on the “Montagnette” – literally “little mountain” – where your wide-sweeping views of the plains are accompanied by the scent of roasting pine needles and aromatic herbs. At the back of the Montagnette lies the monastery of St. Michel de Frigolet, built over eight centuries, with architecture ranging from Romanesque to Neo-Gothic era.
You then cycle through the charming villages of Graveson and Maillane before reaching Saint Rémy de Provence, an artists' town where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life.
Cycling about 35km +250m / -200m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Saint Rémy de Provence

Day 3: Saint Rémy to Maussanne
Leaving St. Rémy, you can visit Saint Paul de Mausole, where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. Adjacent to the monastery is Glanum, a Roman archaeological site. Its massive limestone ruins are a testament to over 2000 years of history.
Your route continues along the winding streets of the Alpilles mountains through landscapes of pine trees and wildflowers until you reach Fontvieille, and Les Baux de Provence. Les Baux is listed among the most beautiful villages in France, a town perched vertiginously atop a rocky crag, crowned by the ruins of its feudal castle. Take your time to explore Les Baux before continuing to Maussane.
Cycling about 28km +1250m/-300m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Maussanne

Day 4: End of tour 
Your cyling tour ends after breakfast.

Rates and Dates for Alpilles & Luberon

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Avignon
Airport: Marseille
Transfer:

Climate:
                                    Saint Rémy de Provence area