TRIP DETAILS:
Trip Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Average Daily Distance: Up to 30km (20 miles) per day
Stays: Two nights: St Remy-de-Provence
Two nights: Gordes
One night: Mazan
One night: Vaison-la-Romaine
One night: Chateauneuf-du-Pape
2008 Dates: Between April and October
Start: St Remy-de-Provence (transfer from Avignon TGV Station)
Finish: Chateauneuf-du-Pape (transfer to Avignon TGV Station)
Accommodation: 3 and 4 Star Quality Hotels in traditional Provencal villages
Group Size: Minimum 2 people
Cost: AUD $3870/person (riders), AUD $3575 (non-riders)
Deposit: USD* $892/person - Reserve now
Single supplementary fee: AUD $1020
Inclusions
- Seven nights accommodation in luxury 3-4 star hotels in traditional Provencal villages, breakfasts daily (taxes included)
- Transfers between the train station (or airport) and hotels
- Daily luggage deliveries from hotel to hotel
- 3 gourmet dinners
- 1 day’s guided ride OR 1 day’s guided sightseeing excursion
- Bike hire (Seven days bicycle hire including free delivery and bike accessories such as helmets, computers, repair kits, water bottles, pumps and locks)
- Comprehensive information pack on arrival, containing day-to-day itineraries, guide book, route maps and directions, travelling information and tourist brochures
- 24-hour back up support and assistance if required including regular contact with tour guides and access to a cell phone for the duration of the trip
- Back-up technical/mechanical assistance with hire bikes
Extra options
Guided Bike rides: Additional cost
General tour guiding: Additional cost
Wine Tours: Additional cost
Day 1: St Remy-de-Provence
Getawaybybike staff will be at the train station (or airport) to meet you and transfer you to your four-star luxury hotel in St Remy-de-Provence. Your hire bikes will be delivered on arrival, as well as your cycling itinerary and information pack. There will be time to put your bike together and have a short shake-down ride if you wish; staff will be on hand to provide any technical assistance and support if required. Depending on the time of your arrival, there should also be opportunities to do some sightseeing in St Remy itself. Tonight there will be a welcome dinner at your hotel in St Remy.
St Remy-de-Provence, immortalized by Van Gogh and other painters who fell in love with the region, is a charming medieval town, historically rich, prosperous and with a somewhat chic ambience.
Day 2: St Remy-de-Provence
Today we have a few rides for you to choose from depending on what you would like to see and how far you would like to ride. Free night. Feel free to choose from one of the many tempting brasseries or restaurants in the town centre of St Remy.
Circuit 1 : Les Baux de Provence Distance: 20km (12 miles)
This circuit is generally flat apart from a steep climb up into Les Baux and around Les Alpilles hills; riders require a moderate to good level of fitness. Stop in at the Roman site of Glanum and explore the roman antiquities on the route to Les Baux. We recommend lunch in the classified village of Les Baux de Provence.
Circuit 2: Olive Grove/Alpilles Distance: 26.5km (16 miles)
This is a similar circuit to Circuit 1 although a little longer. It is generally flat apart from a steep climb up into Les Baux and around the Alpilles region which is famous for its olive groves and olive oil mills; riders require a moderate to good level of fitness. Stop in at the Roman site of Glanum and explore the roman antiquities on the route to Les Baux. We recommend lunch in the classified village of Les Baux-de-Provence.
Circuit 3: Abbaye de St Michel-de-Frigolet Distance: 30km (19 miles)
This is an easy, flat, riding circuit; this circuit will suit beginner riders who can ride the distance; there is a moderate incline up into Abbaye-de-St-Michel-de-Frigolet and a moderate level of fitness is required. Take a picnic lunch and picnic under the trees in the grounds of the Abbaye before spending the afternoon exploring this beautifully decorated Abbaye. The beautiful 10th Century abbey, l’Abbaye de St Michel-de-Frigolet is located in a tranquil setting and is famous for its unique thyme-flavoured liqueur produced by the monks.
Day 3: St Remy-de-Provence to Gordes
Distance: 38km (23miles)
From St Remy-de-Provence, your trip takes you north-east over to the beautiful, classified village of Gordes. This a pleasant and relatively flat route apart from a steep climb up into the village of Gordes - once you reach your destination however you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the Luberon countryside. The jewel in the Provencal crown, Gordes is one of the “must-see” villages in this region. Listed as one of France’s “most beautiful villages” and popular as a summer retreat with film stars and artists alike, the village of Gordes will impress with its exceptional charm and unique stone architecture. The town, built along the hillside which offers splendid views over the valley and across to the Luberon mountain ranges, winds around the 12th century fortified castle that crowns the village. Free night. There are plenty of tempting restaurants in and around the village of Gordes from which to choose, offering splendid views out across the Luberon.
Day 4: Gordes Circuits
Once again we offer a few rides for you to choose from depending on what you would like to see and how far you would like to ride. Free night. Feel free to choose from one of the many tempting brasseries or restaurants in the heart of the village.
Circuit 1: Ochre Cliffs Distance: 21km (12.6 miles)
This pretty circuit is generally quite flat (apart from steep climbs up into the villages of both Gordes and Roussillon) and should suit riders with a good level of fitness.
Situated in the heart of one of the biggest ochre deposits in the world, Roussillon is famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ochre quarries. From its ochre cliffs, tunnels and canyons streaked with colour from the brightest yellows to the deepest reds, ochre is everywhere in Roussillon and the surrounding countryside. The contrast between the red cliffs, the blue Provencal sky and the green pines is breathtaking.
Circuit 2: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Distance: 26km (16 miles)
This is a nice, easy short ride for beginner/casual cyclists with flat stretches all the way. A moderate level of fitness is required. Explore the mysterious spring at Fontaine as well as the Petrarch Museum and the WWII museum. Suggested lunch spot - one of the many restaurants at Fontaine by the River Sorgue. If you’re feeling energetic why not take a canoe/kayak ride down the Sorgue to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and back again.
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, famous for its mysterious underground springs and the emerald-green waters of the river that snakes its way through the town, is also home to one of France’s greatest 14th century poets - Petrarch.
Circuit 3: Abbaye-de-Senanque/Venasque Distance: 30km (19 miles)
This is a beautiful circuit (if somewhat steep!) offering superb panoramic views of the stunning 11th century Abbaye de Senanque, nestled amongst lavender fields, as well as the classified village of Venasque perched high on a rocky outcrop. This circuit is very hilly and is designed for riders with a very good level of fitness.
Day 5: Gordes to Mazan
Distance: 26km (16 miles)
Today you head north from Gordes through pretty sun-drenched vine-covered countryside, passing picturesque villages and travelling along quiet country roads until you arrive at your destination Mazan. The little town of Mazan nestles at the foot of Mont Ventoux; its territory is devoted to agriculture and viticulture and the area produces some very well known and respected Cotes du Ventoux wines. Mazan, once home to the Marquis de Sade (the Chateau is a private hotel now), is a lively market town and is famous for its fresh fruit, aromatic herbs and truffles. Dinner tonight in your hotel-restaurant.
Day 6: Mazan to Vaison-la-Romaine
Distance: 23km (14 miles)
Day 6 and you ride northwards again, skirting around the mystical “Geant de Provence” (Mont Ventoux) and through the pretty market towns of Caromb and Malaucene before arriving in the beautiful former Roman town of Vaison-la-Romaine.The jewel of Roman Provence, as its name indicates, Vaison-la-Romaine is a “must-see” for visitors to the region. Within this small town of just over 6000 inhabitants lies some of the world’s most astounding ancient Roman ruins alongside a carefully preserved medieval village. Free night. Why not try one of the many tempting bistros or restaurants on Place Montfort in Vaison-la-Romaine.
Day 7 : Vaison-la-Romaine to Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Distance : 34km (20 miles)
You leave Vaison-la-Romaine today and travel in a south-westerly direction through the famous wine belt of the Rhone Valley region of Northern Vaucluse. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop off for wine tastings at the various Domaines lining this route (or better still take a guided wine tour). The route is quite flat and will suit most riders with a moderate level of fitness.Known as the “capital” of the Rhone River wine valley, Chateauneuf-du-Pape (the “Pope’s New Castle”) lies at the heart of the richest and certainly the most valuable wine producing area of Provence. Viticulture was originally established here during the 14th century by Pope Clement V, but it was not until sometime during the papal reign of his successor, Pope John XXII, that the castle was built as a summer retreat for the Avignon-based popes and the name of the town came into being. Dinner at your hotel-restaurant tonight.
Day 8: Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Departure and Au Revoir
All good things must come to an end and it’s time to say au revoir to beautiful Provence. We hope that your trip has been an enjoyable and memorable one and that we will see you again in the not too distant future!
On your last day our Getawaybybike staff will collect you from your hotel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, transfer you to the railway station in Avignon, and assist with your departure.
If you would like to reserve this trip go to our Reserve a Trip page.Or if you would like to be kept up to date with details of our trips please go to our Enquire About a Trip Page.
