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Trip Itinerary
La belle vie spills over on our most classic Provence bike tour featuring market villages, stunning gorges, and iconic climbs.
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Where to Arrive
Airport:
Paris (CDG)
Pick-up location:
Place Crillon, Avignon, France
Pick-up time:
11:30 AM
Where to Depart
Airport:
Paris (CDG)
Drop-off location:
Avignon TGV or Central Train Station, Avignon, France
Drop-off time:
11:30 AM
Additional Arrival Information
We suggest that you arrive at least one day prior to the start of your Provence bike tour, which will enable you to adjust to the time zone and minimize the risk of missing the trip start due to flight-related delays. We recommend that you fly into Paris (CDG). From Paris, take a TGV train to Avignon, either from the TGV station at Charles de Gaulle Airport or from the Gare de Lyon in Paris. Please note that there are two train stations in Avignon—the TGV and the center station (Gare d'Avignon-Centre). To ensure a quicker journey, we recommend you book your ticket to arrive at the TGV station that is approximately five miles from the center station downtown. To reach Place Crillon, taxis are available for approximately 20 euros. There is also a frequent shuttle service for a few euros that connects the two train stations.
Alternatively, you may fly into Marseille (MRS) or Nice (NCE) and take a train to Avignon. You will arrive at Avignon-Centre train station. To reach Place Crillon, taxis are available for approximately 10 euros.
Train schedules are available and tickets can be booked directly online at www.trainline.com or using our in-house travel agent services. (Please note the train schedule changes frequently. Please consult the Trainline site for the most up-to-date schedule.)
Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at the Place Crillon (Pl. Crillon, 84000 Avignon, France) in Avignon at 11:30 AM on the first day of the trip. After a one hour shuttle by private coach, your luxury Provencal vacation begins! Enjoy a delicious lunch as your guides explain how the trip will unfold, and fit you to your Trek bike. Once everyone’s bike is ready you’ll be off to explore the quiet roads of Provence.
If you will be late for the pick-up or are going to miss it altogether, please inform your guides. If you cannot reach them, please call our first hotel, Château de Mazan (+33 4 90 69 62 61), and leave a message with your expected arrival time and contact details. You may take a taxi to the first night’s hotel for approximately 100 euros.
Additional Departure Information
You will say farewell to your guides at 10:30 AM at the Hôtel Le Jas de Gordes. After saying goodbye to your guides, you will take a private coach to the Avignon TGV or central station (approximately one-hour shuttle). You can take a train to Paris or any other destination from either station. Please do not book any train before 12:00 PM to accommodate possible delays due to traffic.
Say bonjour to Provence with a warm-up loop
Overview
Welcome to Southern France and the start of your Provence bike tour! After meeting your guides at the Place Crillon in Avignon and a private one-hour shuttle, you will arrive in Mazan, a quiet village in the Vaucluse department of Provence, home to Mont Ventoux. You’ll join your Trek Travel guides for a delicious lunch, then spend some time ensuring you have a perfect fit to your Trek bike. Afterwards, head out on a warm up loop as you take your first pedal strokes and test your bike on your way to Beaumes-de-Venise with its stunning views of the surrounding region. Hillsides covered in lush vineyards speckled with sleepy villages accompany you on your ride with the mighty Mont Ventoux in the background. Tonight, you’ll gather with your new traveling companions for conversation and a short round of introductions. Savor your first provençale dinner and wines of the region together at your charming hotel, Château de Mazan, once frequented by the notorious Marquis de Sade.
Hotel
Château de Mazan
Meals included
Lunch | Social Hour | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Beaumes-de-Venise
Explore Beaumes-de-Venise, a medieval village built against a line of cliffs called "les Demoiselles de Montmirail" and renowned for its Muscat wine.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Château de Mazan to Beaumes-de-Venise - Approximately 22 mi | 35 km and 1,394 ft | 425 m
Pedal along one of the most beautiful rides in the Vaucluse, the iconic Gorges de la Nesque
Overview
The Gorges de la Nesque awaits today, as you pedal along one of the most beautiful rides in the Vaucluse. This ride is a Trek Travel guide favorite, and is arguably one of the most gorgeous rides in the world. An enormous limestone massif, the gorges have been carved over millenia by the meandering Nesque River. Remains of Neanderthal inhabitants have been discovered in this river valley and its beauty is immortalized in Frederic Mistral’s poetry. With cliffs measuring 600 feet, your climb is rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views as you descend to a family farm for lunch as a group. For lunch, we will share a true farm-to-table meal. Magali opens her farm and her kitchen to us and prepares for us a simple, fresh, and homemade meal. Committed to offering quality farm products and to being an ambassador of sustainable and responsible agriculture, she has created the Ferme Auberge de la Maguette with the vision of sharing the true French heritage. This afternoon’s ride takes you back to Château de Mazan for a relaxing afternoon and then it's on to a decadent dinner in the beautiful setting of the restaurant La Colombe in Bédoin, expertly prepared by the celebrated chef, known for his refined homage to the ingredients of the region.
Hotel
Château de Mazan
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Farm-to-table lunch at Auberge de la Maguette
After a beautiful ride through Gorge de la Nesque, join our friend Magali as she welcomes us to enjoy a traditional French meal at her Auberge de la Maguette.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Mazan to Gorges de la Nesque - Approximately 46 mi | 75 km and 3,957 ft | 1,206 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Mazan to Gorges de la Nesque with Shuttle - Approximately 26 mi | 42 km and 3,370 ft | 1,030 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Mazan to Gorges de la Nesque to Blauvac - Approximately 49 mi | 80 km and 4,331 ft | 1,320 m
Tackle the challenging Mont Ventoux
Overview
Today is set to be a memorable day as you'll get the chance to take a try at the Géant de Provence (Giant of Provence): le Mont Ventoux. This classic climb from Bédoin is renowned throughout the cycling world as one of the most challenging ascents in the Tour de France. This is one of France’s most unique climbs, with forested switchbacks giving way to a long ascent across a moonscape to cycling’s famous landmark – the distinctive tower on top of Ventoux. This mountain has both crowned champions like Chris Froome and Alberto Contador, and witnessed tragedy, like the stories of Tom Simpson. Each is a heralded chapter in the pageantry of the sport of cycling, and if you take the challenge, you’ll inscribe your own name in its history. Our guides will be there with you every step of the way! You will also have the option to either cheer on your friends from the van as they ascend or take on only certain sections of the ride. Lunch is on your own today at Chalet Reynard, a restaurant ideally located before the most challenging part of the ascent to the summit of Mont Ventoux. This afternoon ride takes you down toward Sault then over the edge of the Vaucluse Plateau and into the magical heart of the Luberon. Winding roads and beautiful descents lead you through breathtaking valleys and villages to your destination: Gordes. This romantic medieval village perched high on a cliff overlooking the valley was once the heart of the area’s resistance during World War II. Relax at the pool of our hotel before joining the group for a dinner at one of our favorite local spots.
Hotel
Hotel Le Jas de Gordes
Meals included
Breakfast | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Challenge the Mount Ventoux
Nicknamed "the Beast of Provence" for good reason, this challenging climb takes you 5,250 feet (1,600 m) up to a lunar-like landscape at some grueling gradients.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Mazan to Mont Ventoux to Farm - Approximately 41 mi | 66 km and 6,421 ft | 1,957 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Chalet Reynard to Gordes with Shuttle - Approximately 34 mi | 55 km and 1,266 ft | 386 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Mazan to Mont Ventoux to Gordes - Approximately 58 mi | 93 km and 6,837 ft | 2,084 m
Experience a truffle picnic lunch by a family of truffle hunters in their private oak garden
Overview
Following your morning café au lait and pain au chocolat, head out for another ride in paradise. Today's ride is indicative of the quintessential beauty and simplicity of Provence. Be prepared to take many photos this morning as you ride through Gordes, a picture-perfect, stone-built village that sits perched high above the Luberon valley. You'll then head to the iconic and often photographed Abbaye de Senanque – a Cistercian abbey dating to the 12th-century, whose monks still produce lavender and honey. Here you can admire the meticulous lavender-lined garden in the front of the abbey before getting back on the road. Afterwards, make your way to Venasque, which boasts one of the most wild, rugged, and breathtaking passes in all of Provence. You'll then stop for a coffee break in the charming town of Saint-Didier, where you can appreciate the beauty of its church and tree-lined streets. This is a day of highs, as lunch today is also an experience to remember. We'll be welcomed by a family of truffle hunters who will host a three-course truffle lunch in their private oak tree garden. This afternoon we will shuttle back to the hotel, where you can relax by the pool or indulge in a soothing massage. Tonight, you are free to explore Gordes for dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants.
Hotel
Hotel Le Jas de Gordes
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch
Highlight of the Day
Featured Meal | La Truffe du Ventoux
At the base of Mont Ventoux, the Jaumard family has roamed their truffle fields for three generations. The first seeding was made by Albert Jaumard in the seventies. The farm and truffle hunting is now operated by Franck and Alexis, Albert's grandsons, with the same passion and ingenuity that all the Jaumards possess.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Gordes to Saint-Didier to Monteux with Shuttle - Approximately 24 mi | 39 km and 1,427 ft | 435 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Gordes to Saint-Didier with Shuttle - Approximately 12 mi | 20 km and 1,213 ft | 370 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Gordes to Saint-Didier to Monteux to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse - Approximately 51 mi | 83 km and 3,937 ft | 1,202 m
Discover the renowned villages of the Luberon and experience the open-air market in the town of Roussillon
Overview
Today you'll visit an area of Provence legendary for its medieval hilltop villages, rolling hills, and quiet winding roadways. Orchards of cherry trees and vineyards line your route as you pedal to the Roussillon open-air market. We will stop briefly, to explore the market and make sure you've had the chance to admire the stunning ocher cliffs of Roussillon. Then, ride over the Pont Julien, a 2,000-year-old Roman bridge that spans the Calavon River. Explore the cobblestone streets and art galleries of Bonnieux and admire a spectacular view of the Château Lacoste beckons as you climb to this quaint village to find your perfect bistro lunch. Post-lunch will lead you through villages tucked along the Luberon ridge, all the way back to the hotel. This afternoon, relax as a group with a glass of wine and perhaps enjoy a few rounds of pétanque, one of Provence’s favorite pastimes. Before dinner, we'll gather for a private wine tasting of Rhône wines with Laetitia, our local sommelier. We'll then spend the evening celebrating from a beautiful terrace in the heart of the Luberon. Enjoy dinner tonight at one of our favorite local restaurants, where our host and chef perfectly blends fresh ingredients with cooking styles from Provence, as we reminisce with newfound friends about our incredible Provence bike trip.
Hotel
Hotel Le Jas de Gordes
Meals included
Breakfast | Social Hour | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Pont Julien
Ride over this magnificent Roman bridge, built in 3 BC as part of the Domitian Way linking Spain to Italy.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Gordes to Roussillon to Lacoste Loop - Approximately 27 mi | 44 km and 2,031 ft | 619 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Gordes to Roussillon to Lacoste with Shuttle - Approximately 19 mi | 31 km and 1,430 ft | 436 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Gordes to Roussillon to Lacoste to Oppède le Vieux - Approximately 36 mi | 58 km and 2,953 ft | 900 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY’S ACTIVITY:
Wine tasting with our local sommelier, featuring wines of the Rhône valley
Rise early for a morning loop to Lioux
Overview
All good things must come to an end, and now, sadly, it’s true for our cycling adventure in Provence. This morning you'll have the chance for one last loop in the Luberon; a beautiful spin along the valley floor to the dramatic limestone cliff that towers over the village of Lioux. Or if you’d rather skip the ride, you are welcome to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. A private Trek Travel shuttle will depart from the hotel at 10:30 AM. You will say farewell to your guides before the one-hour huttle to the Avignon Central Train Station or the TGV station. Please do not schedule a train out of Avignon before 12:00 PM on the last day of the trip to allow plenty of time for any unforeseen delays.
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Falaise de la Madeleine
Enjoy your final, peaceful morning riding alongside the stunning 330 foot (100 m) tall limestone cliff overhanging the small village of Lioux.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Gordes to Lioux Loop - Approximately 16 mi | 26 km and 1,388 ft | 423 m
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
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Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
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