TRIP DETAILS:
Trip Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Average Daily Distance: 30km (20 miles) to 50km (30 miles) per day
Stays: 2 nights St Remy
3 nights L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue
2 nights Vaison-la-Romaine
2008 Dates: Between April and October
Start: St Remy-de-Provence (transfer from Avignon TGV Station)
Finish: Vaison-la-Romaine (transfer to Avignon TGV Station)
Accommodation: 2 Star Family Hotels in traditional Provencal villages
Group Size: Minimum 2 people
Cost: USD* $1658/person
Deposit: USD* $640/person - Reserve now
Single supplementary fee: AUD $450/person

Inclusions

• Seven nights accommodation in quality 2 star family hotels in traditional Provencal villages, breakfasts daily (taxes included)
• Transfers between the train station (or airport) and hotels
• Three dinners (including a welcome dinner with your tour guides on the first night)
• Daily luggage deliveries from hotel to hotel
• 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

Bicycle Hire: Additional cost
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 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 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 in St Remy with your tour organisers.

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.

Abbaye de St Michel-de-Frigolet Circuit
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, 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. Tonight feel free to dine at one of the many restaurants in the town of St Remy.

Alpilles Circuit
Distance: 48km (30 miles)

This route is generally flat apart from the climb up into Les Baux and around Les Alpilles hills; a moderate to good level of fitness is required. Stop in at the Roman site of Glanum and explore the roman antiquities on the route to Les Baux. From Les Baux you head north to Maillane and then onto the Abbaye-de-St-Michel-de-Frigolet. We recommend the old village of Les Baux-de-Provence or the restaurant in the hotel at Abbaye-de-St-Michel-de-Frigolet for lunch. Tonight feel free to dine at one of the many restaurants in the town of St Remy.

Day 3: St Remy de Provence to L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue
Distance: 34km (21 miles)

From St Remy-de-Provence, your trip takes you back north-east over to the pretty town of L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, famous for its canals, water wheels and antique and craft shops. We will travel along picturesque roads, through quiet villages and cross over the Rhone before arriving at L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue. L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue was once a settlement for fishermen in ancient times, and then expanded during the Middle Ages into a bustling commercial and manufacturing centre within the region. Today it is a thriving market town, renowned throughout France for its lively antique and second-hand markets held every Sunday. Dinner will be provided tonight as it’s your first night in L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue. After dinner you can take a walk around town and take in the sights of this beautiful town.

Day 4 and 5: L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue

Once again 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.

Gordes/Abbaye-de-Senanque Circuit
Distance: 36km (22.5 miles)

Flat riding apart from the steep climb up into the village of Gordes and up the hill from Abbaye-de-Senanque - the views from the top are worth it though! This pretty circuit is not long but riders will need to have a good level of fitness and some climbing experience. Suggested stop for lunch - Gordes naturally! There are some excellent places to eat including a nice little wine bar with great ambience and excellent food.

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.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and Velleron/Pernes-les-Fontaines Circuit

This option offers you the choice of riding both circuits in one go or doing the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse ride in the morning followed by lunch in L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue and then onto our Velleron/ Pernes-les-Fontaines Circuit in the afternoon.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Circuit
Distance: 14km (9 miles)

This is a nice, easy short ride with flat stretches all the way. Explore the mysterious spring at Fontaine as well as the Petrarch Museum. 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.

Velleron/Pernes-les-Fontaines Circuit
Distance: 23km (14 miles)

This is a pretty ride through the region’s “salad bowl” to the interesting town of Pernes-les-Fontaines. The terrain is generally flat and this ride will suit the recreational cyclist with a moderate level of fitness.
As its name suggests, Pernes-les-Fontaines is a town of fountains - in fact as many as 40 in all. The majority of the fountains (to be found in all shapes, sizes and styles) were installed from the second half of the 18th century. The Fontaine du Cormoran and the Fontaine du Gigot are said to be the most beautiful.

Venasque/Bories/St Didier Circuit
Distance: 48km (30 miles)

This one is for the climbers and those who love descents! Whilst not a long route, there a couple of very steep climbs and riders should be experienced and have a very good level of fitness for this ride. Look out for the interesting Bories huts along this route. Suggested stop for lunch - Venasque. Looking for a sugar fix later in the afternoon? Stop in at the Nougaterie/Chocolaterie in St Didier!

Classified as “one of the most beautiful villages in France” Venasque sits majestically atop a rocky outcrop dominating the Nesque Valley and the Carpentras plains. Venasque is one of the oldest villages of the Comtat Venaissin and its interesting and dramatic past is reflected in the buildings and sites that makes this village a worthwhile detour off the normal touristy path. Located between Pernes-les-Fontaines and Venasque, the charming little village of St Didier is set within the superb environs of the Vaucluse hills.

The main street is lined with gorgeous platane trees and cafes, providing a cool spot during the warmer months of the year to relax over a refreshing drink or ice-cream.
Your second dinner of the tour is reserved for night four. Details are provided in your day-to-day itinerary. Free night on night five. Why not take a stroll around this beautiful town and take in the sights. Alongside the canals there are plenty of tempting restaurants from which to choose.

Day 6: L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue to Vaison-La-Romaine Distance: 46km (29 miles)

From L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, you will head northwards, through beautiful sun-drenched country across to Mazan skirting around the mystical Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux to the classic Provencal village of Malaucene and finishing in the old Roman town of Vaison-La-Romaine, the jewel of Roman Provence, as its name indicates.

Steeped in Roman history and rich in architecture, Vaison is a delightful village; its many gorgeous tree-shaded outdoor restaurants and cafes, bustling markets, wine and gourmet festival, and wonderful Provencal boutiques will no doubt tempt you back for another visit! Your third dinner of the tour is reserved for night six. Details are provided in your day-to-day itinerary.

Day 7: Vaison-La-Romaine

This is your last day of riding, so make the most of it! Once again 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.

Circuit 1: Wine Route Distance: 47km (29 miles)

This one is for the wine lovers! This circuit is not a difficult one; the terrain is mostly flat or rolling and should suit most riders with a moderate to good level of fitness. There are plenty of opportunities for wine tastings at the many Domaines (wineries) scattered throughout this corner of Provence. Suggested stop for lunch - Gigondas.

Over the centuries, Vacqueyras has largely been an agricultural centre, its principal crop being its wine production. With vineyards extending as far as the Dentelles de Montmirail ranges, it produces one of the three major vintages of Cotes du Rhone de Vaucluse wines. Although this village has long been regarded as a producer of wines of renown, it was not until 1990 that local wine-growers obtained official recognition for the quality of their wines and were bestowed with the Cotes du Rhone AOC classification. Known the world over for its famous Muscat (and equally distinguished Cote-du-Rhone village reds and whites), Beaumes-de-Venise actually derives its name from the famous prehistoric caves (or baumes) to be found in the hill overlooking the town.

Circuit 2: Dentelles de Montmirail Mountain Distance: 45km (28 miles)

This circuit offers a great mix of moderate to steep climbs through rolling Provencale countryside travelling through Malaucene and then onto some little known roads through the Dentelles. It’s an ideal circuit for the experienced rider who has a good level of fitness to tackle the climbs through the Dentelles. Lunch - a picnic would be perfect.

The picturesque village of Malaucene lies at the foot of Mont Ventoux and is a popular starting point for the various cycling routes up the mountain slopes. During the 14th century Papal reign in Avignon, it was the summer residence of Pope Clement V. Pope Clement also frequently visited the Chapel Groseau, situated a few kilometers away on the D97 road to Mont Ventoux.

The Dentelles de Montmirail are short, steep mountains with a distinctive rocky ridge, extending west geologically from the Ventoux mountains. The jagged, rocky top is named after the lace (dentelle) it’s thought to resemble. The mountains form a circle at the southwest end, between Gigondas, Beaumes-de-Venise and Lafare, and extend northeast past Malaucene, with an extension to the north to Vaison-la-Romaine. Tonight feel free to dine at one of the many restaurants in Vaison-la-Romaine. You will have probably discovered some hidden gems during your wanderings around this delightful Roman town. What better way to celebrate a memorable trip to Provence than with a glass or two of Cote du Rhone.

Day 8: Vaison-La-Romaine

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 Vaison-la-Romaine, 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.