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: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
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: Luxury Hotels in traditional Provencal villages
Group Size: Minimum 2 people
Cost: USD* $2557 per person (riders), AUD $3660 (non-riders)
Deposit: USD* $640/person - Reserve now
Single supplementary fee: AUD $1160

Inclusions

• Seven nights accommodation in luxury 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 days guided ride OR 1 days 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, if required, for the duration of the trip
• Back-up technical/mechanical assistance with hire bikes

Extra options

1 days guided ride OR 1 days guided sightseeing excursion included, extras available at 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 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. 

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. Tonight there will be a welcome dinner at a local restaurant near your hotel.

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 tonight. 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, lAbbaye 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 Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Distance: 38km (23miles)

From St Remy-de-Provence, your trip takes you north-east over to the beautiful village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. This a pleasant and relatively flat route. The village of Fontaine is famous for its mysterious underground springs and the emerald-green waters of the river that snakes its way through the town. Fontaine is also the home to Petrach, one of Frances most important 14th century poets. Tonight dinner is reserved for you at a local restaurant in the village - see your day-to-day itinerary for details.

Day 4: Fontaine/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 tonight. 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: 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: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to Mazan
Distance: 22km (13 miles)

Today you head north-eastwards from Fontaine 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 worlds 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 Popes 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 tonight in the hotel-restaurant.

Day 8: Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Departure and Au Revoir

All good things must come to an end and its 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.