| Day 1 : The Popes of Avignon
Avignon
6:00pm welcome meeting with your guide at the hotel on day 1 in the heart of Avignon, city of the Popes. Explore the 14th century gothic palace that once served as home to the papacy, the old walls that still remain intact and circle Avignon completely, and the 12th century pont d’Avignon that today spans only partway over the mighty Rhône. Enjoy a traditional and authentic Provencal meal in Avignon with your group. Night in the heart of the old city.
Day 2 : The vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône
Avignon>Rasteau>Cairanne>Vaison la romaine
- About 25km cycling -
Morning transfer to the town of Rasteau, nestled in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône vineyards. Here the landscapes are a never-ending set of soft, undulating hills, carpeted by the most prestigious vines of Grenache and Syrah. You pass through a succession of small wine-making villages: Cairrane, Villedieu, Buisson, each off-the-beaten track and filled with authentic Provencal charm. You reach Vaison la Romaine, France’s largest Roman archaeological site, where you can discover the impressive monuments and ruins. Your hotel is set in the heart of the medieval town, from where a set of narrow, cobbled steps lead to the ruins of the feudal castle. Dinner and night in Vaison la Romaine.
Day 3 : Olive groves and Truffle Oak plantations
Vaison la romaine>Puyméras>Vaison la romaine
- About 35km cycling -
It’s Tuesday morning, market day in Vaison. The streets and squares are full with market stalls and bursting with fresh produce, scented spices and perfumes, and intricate Provencal crafts and tissues. Your bike ride today is through the heart of the centuries – old olive groves – with their ancient and gnarled trunks – producing one of France’s most coveted oils: huile d’olive de Nyons. This is also an area laden with truffle oak plantations and harbouring the famous black truffles that fetch a king’s ransom during the winter months. The quaint town of Buis les Barronies will offer you a nice chance to enjoy a cold drink under the shade of a plane tree before returning to Vaison la Romaine. Dinner on your own. Night in Vaison la Romaine.
Day 4 : Famous red wines at the foot of Mont Ventoux.
Vaison la Romaine>Séguret>Gigondas>Beaumes de Venise>Bédoin
- About 35km cycling -
The medieval town of Séguret, listed among the most beautiful in France, offers you an opportunity to dismount and stroll along the old cobbled streets. The village of Gigondas isn’t much farther, world famous for its red wines, and whose generous wine cellar in the main square offers samples from most of its producers. But the wine tour isn’t finished: cycling into the village of Beaumes de Venise, the local specialty is sweet white wines made from Muscat grapes, sipped in the shade with a single ice cube. The picturesque back country roads lead you to the foot of Mont Ventoux, Provence’s highest peak. You reach the town of Bédoin, legendary for its role as the start of Tour de France climbs. Rather than tackle the 22 km climb, arguably the hardest in France, you can check into your hotel, just outside Bedoin, hidden in the pine forest, where you can take a refreshing dip in the pool. Dinner and night in Bedoin.
Day 5 : The Timeless villages of Mont Ventoux
Bédoin>Mormoiron>Méthamis>Ville sur Auzon>Flassan>Bédoin
- About 35km cycling -
Today’s ride takes you around the villages and vines of Ventoux, to remote villages and through fruit orchards. You will be nestled at the junction between the untamed forested hills of Mont Ventoux and the cultivated plains of Muscat grapes and cherry orchards. Each of the villages is set at the foot of the slopes, and offers the chance to explore: Flassan and its ochre plastered walls, Méthamis and its perched medieval ruins, Mormoiron and its quaint cafés and village square, Villes sur Auzon and its quiet streets. This is authentic Provence, far from the grasps of excessive tourism, where you can enjoy the timelessness of the villages and the countryside. Return to Bedoin for dinner and night.
Day 6 : The 40 fountains of Pernes.
Bédoin>Mazan>St Didier>Pernes>Isle sur la Sorgue>Cabrières d’Avignon
- About 45km cycling -
Heading south, and twisting around the contours of the slopes, you pass through the cherry orchards of Saint Didier before reaching Pernes les Fontaines. A lively town, Pernes boasts 40 magnificent fountains, quaint village streets and squares. Farther south is the town of l’Isle sur la Sorgue, veritable island of a village, entirely surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Sorgue river. The quays are lined with cafés and antique shops, while the old heart of town boats a labyrinth of tiny streets and squares to stroll through. You leave l’Isle sur Sorgue through the Calavon valley, heading into the famed Luberon. Dinner and night in Cabrières.
Day 7 : The Luberon Mountains
Cabrières d’Avignon>Cabrières d’Avignon
- About 45km cycling -
In a décor of old stone walls and centuries-old shepherd’s huts, the Luberon Mountains are dotted with some of the most spectacular villages in Provence. Gordes: its massive stone buildings rising vertiginously from the Calavon valley and crowned by its renaissance castle. Roussillon: set on the world’s largest ochre deposit, its homes painted in every hue of pale yellow to deep red, a rainbow-of-a-village highlighted by the ever-present Provencal sun. Bonnieux: from Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, a town set in the heart of the Luberon, a town filled with picturesque squares and interesting shops, its 12th century church capping the village under the shade of giant cedars. Return to Cabrières for dinner and night.
Day 8 : Au revoir in Avignon
Cabrières d'Avignon>Coustellet>Avignon
- About 5km cycling -
After breakfast, your last ride will take you to the morning market in Coustellet: intimate and authentic Provençal market with a great variety of local products. End of your trip after a short taxi transfer to Avignon (15km, 20mn)
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