Itinerary Expand all Pernes-les-Fontaines to Pernes-les-Fontaines Day 1 Arrive in Pernes-les-Fontaines Arrive at your 3-star hotel in Pernes-les-Fontaines. Relax with a dip in the pool or explore the grounds before dinner. Dinner is included at a local restaurant, transfers to and from are provided.Comfortable hotel Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Pernes-les-Fontaines to Les Imberts Cycle alongside the Canal de Carpentras, before heading, via quiet country lanes and verdant vineyards, towards the ‘island city’ of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, surrounded by the clear waters of the River Sorgue. This popular town offers many riverside cafés and is a great place to stop for lunch before heading on to the charming, mediaeval village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Visit the largest spring in France, or potter around the handful of quaint shops and cafés, before ascending to your first, stunning view across the Luberon Valley. You then descend, amidst vineyards and olive groves, to the village of Les Imberts, just below the famous perched village of Gordes. Ride options: 30km/19mi or 35km/22miComfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 At Les Imberts (Optional) Walk or cycle to the famous, medieval perched village of Gordes today, to experience one of the best views there is over the Luberon – a patchwork of open plains, sprawling vineyards and olive groves. Explore the village and its castle and perhaps take a taxi (payable locally) up to the beautiful l’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. Guided tours are available in the afternoon, or pay an early morning visit for the chance to explore at your leisure. Optional ride: approx. 9km/6mi Comfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 4 Les Imberts to Apt After breakfast set out through the tranquil countryside and make the short climb up to Roussillon and the start of the Ochre Trail. Enjoy the views, and perhaps a morning coffee, before pedalling on to Gargas to visit the vast Ochre Mines of Bruoux, and enjoy a spot of lunch. You'll then follow quiet lanes past vineyards - perhaps stopping to taste and purchase some of the local wines - up to the perched village of Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt, before freewheeling down to the medieval town of Apt, famous for its crystallised fruits and traditional pottery. Ride options: 33km/21mi or 37km/23miComfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 At Apt Today explore Apt's old town, wandering along the narrow alleyways to the ancient Cathedral of Ste Anne, which has its origins in Roman times (the lower crypt dates back to AD 1). In addition to the town's museums and the Maison du Parc du Luberon, there are also plenty of shops, cafes and colourful Saturday and Tuesday markets selling a range of locally grown produce and traditional Provencal arts and crafts.Comfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Apt to Maubec This morning your route follows a greenway (once an old railway track) alongside the River Calavon before crossing the Pont Julien, a stone bridge built in Roman times and an excellent picnic spot. Leave the greenway then to follow quiet lanes to the wonderful village of Bonnieux, passing Château la Connorgue en-route (made famous by Ridley Scott's film A Good Year starring Russell Crowe), where you can stop for a tasting. From the village you then head on through the centre of the Luberon with views up to the perched villages of Lacoste and Bonnieux, as you wind your way to Maubec and your hotel. Comfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 At Maubec (Optional) Options today include circular rides to the pretty villages of Lagnes, Taillades and Robion. Alternatively, take a taxi ride (payable locally) to explore historical Saint-Remy-de-Provence to visit the old town, impressive Roman site of Glanum and the monastery of Saint Paul de Mausole where van Gogh lived during the period of such eternal masterpieces as The Starry Night. Comfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Maubec to Pernes-les-Fontaines This morning you’ll cycle past apple orchards to the small, mediaeval town of Le Thor on the banks of the River Sorgue before continuing to the hilltop town of Thouzon. Visit Castle Thouzon (an ancient fortified monastery) and explore Les Grottes de Thouzon, a 320m-long cave carved out by an underground river over 60 million years ago. After lunch, continue on to Pernes-les-Fontaines where you’ll have time to explore the mediaeval old town and the numerous ancient stone fountains. Comfortable hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 9 Leave Pernes-les-Fontaines If you are on our standard transfer our reps will take you to Avignon TGV station in time for the train to Marseilles. Meals included: Breakfast
France No visa required for British passport holders. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
Hotels You stay in a wonderful mix of hotels this week. Hotel l'Hermitage offers a relaxing stay in a 19th Century manor house with lovely grounds and a swimming pool; Mas de la Sénancole in Les Imberts is your next stop, offering Provençal-style rooms, a heated outdoor pool and a spa with sauna, hot tub and massage room; your home in Apt is the cosy Hotel Sainte Anne, a small family-run hotel just across the river from the old town; and your final stop is La Bastide du Bois Breant, a former farm house, once owned by a duchess and set amid its own woodland in the peaceful south west of the Luberon.
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