Hilltop Villages of Provence with E-Bike

8 Days from

USD 3,649

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Trip Code :

C07PE

This tour has been designed to give you a taste of the picturesque perched villages which pepper Provence's breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon area.

Ride at your own pace with the help of the e-assist. You will be amazed to ride easily the hilly landscape of the region and enjoy spectacular views. Cross vineyards, stop in charming provencal villages, ride on scenic roads and simply enjoy the true Provence now accessible with a limited effort.

Take time to enjoy the real Provence 'Art de Vivre' following our immersive itinerary and enjoy the essence of Provence.

This tour will give you many opportunities to explore Provence's secrets. Immerse yourself in the Provence's gastronomy by strolling in the local markets which are filled with fresh, local products. Rich in colours and scents, discover the local products and experience this special atmosphere!

Highlights

Visit the picturesque hilltop villages of Provence in a more leisurely way - riding an electric bike to help you up the hills
Discover the Abbey of Senanque, surrounded by lavender fields, and the colourful ochre cliffs near the village of Roussillon
Enjoy visits to glorious Gordes and wonderful views of Mont Ventoux and Dentelles de Montrail

Key Information

7 nights twin centre accommodation in a mix of 3 star and 4 star hotels
5 Days Cycling (Including four optional rides)
GPS route directions
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent

Countries visited: France

What's Included

All breakfasts
High quality bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single supplement
Any Solo traveller supplements (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

Flights from Heathrow to Marseille with British Airways, including onward rail and station transfers
Other flights, including regional departures, Business/club/first class fares on request and First class rail
Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels
City break add-ons in Marseille and Nice

5 Days of Cycling

Day 2

53 km / 32.9 miles

Day 3

48 km / 29.8 miles

Day 5

47 km / 29.2 miles

Day 6

41 km / 25.5 miles

Day 7

45 km / 28 miles

Day 8

1 km / 0.6 miles

Itinerary

Fountain de Vaucluse is a charming village with the biggest spring in France and the fifth largest in the world. Enjoy the Provence style hotel and relax in the peaceful garden of this former mill, underneath hundred year old trees, or taste a glass of local rose wine by the pool.
You stay at Hotel du Poete*** (breakfast included)

After breakfast, ride along country lanes where a mixture of climbs and freewheeling takes you through some of the most beautiful villages in Provence. First there's Oppede le Vieux. From here you'll freewheel down before another short climb to Menerbes, made famous by the books of Peter Mayle, and a great place to stop for lunch. Then it's on to Lacoste to explore the ruined castle, once a mighty fortification and now a spectacular viewpoint.
You stay at Hotel du Poete*** (breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The first stop of the day is in Gordes - Explore the village, discover the cobblestones streets and the winding passageways in the lower part of the town. Outside Gordes, do not miss the Village des Bories, with scenic views over the village and Senanque Abbey surrounded by lavender fields, one of the Provence's icons.

Continue to the village called Roussillon. This multicoloured village is set on top of an ochre hill and is well known for the ochre cliff right in front of the main square. In Roussillon do not miss to hike the ochre trail and then lose yourself in the small street to the top of the village from where the view on the Luberon countryside is amazing.

Ochre are the treasure of the Luberon. Stretching on nearly 25km, the ochre landscape is very special from this area. Their shade infused this part of the Luberon with their colours from the whitest to dark red contrasting with the Provencal blue sky and the green of the pine trees.
You stay at Hotel du Poete*** (breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you can relax and explore the village. Find the crumbling ruins of the castle of the Bishop of Cavaillon, a museum about the Resistance and a number of lovely cafes and restaurants.

Alternatively you can spend your day in L'Isle sur la Sorgue which is just few km ride from your hotel. Surrounded by the River Sorgue, this is a charming town to potter around, its narrow streets filled with quaint cafes, little antique shops, old bridges and water wheels, not to mention a bustling market every Sunday.
You stay at Hotel du Poete*** (breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leave the beautiful Regional Natural Park of the Luberon and ride to the Comtat Venaissin area and the foot of the Mont Ventoux.

Ride to L'Isle sur la Sorgue, then through apple country where you'll see orchards aplenty. Following the lanes brings you to the mediaeval town of Pernes-les-Fontaines where you can explore the numerous ancient stone fountains and lavoirs.

Then, ride along cherry orchards to popular St-Didier and continue up the hill to the medieval settlement of Venasque (one of the prettiest villages in France) with its three Saracen towers. You'll then follow lanes and tracks up past Malemort-du-Comtat and then dropping down into the medieval village of Mazan with its church wall that is made up of more than 60 Roman sarcophagi.
You stay at Chateau de Mazan**** (breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day devoted to the Dentelles de Montmirail area, a jagged limestone mountains chain, famous for the picture postcard landscapes.

Pedal through orchards fields, vineyards and tree-lined roads with wonderful views of Mont Ventoux. Then, leave Les Dentelles behind as you head for the village of Beaumes-de-Venise with its muscat wines and olive oil museum. Then it's a gentle ride along quiet lanes, past olive groves at the foot of Mt Ventoux, heading south through the vineyards to the mediaeval village of Mazan.
You stay at Chateau de Mazan**** (breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

A day in the Comtat Venaissin area at the foot of the Mont Ventoux.

Ride to the lovely village of Bedoin, which is one of the three gates to access to the Mont Ventoux and is the starting point of the classic climb for Tour de France. Explore the lively village of Bedoin, named for the 8th century Bedouins who settled there and home to the imposing church of Saint-Antonin, with its unique Spanish style - so different from any other in Provence.

Follow established cycle routes to the Chateau Pesquie, which offers everything from a stroll in the vines, to a guided cellar tour, to a tasting, to a full picnic lunch in the gardens.
You stay at Chateau de Mazan**** (breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast in Mazan

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Vaccination

France

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals included

Provençale cuisine is a blend of many influences from the plentiful sea, to neighbour Italy and the early Roman occupation. The soil is rich and the climate is conducive to producing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.
Whilst not the most sophisticated of the French cuisines, most dishes use the excellent tasting local fresh produce. Cooking à la Provençale uses local olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and wild herbs, all ripened by the sun to give an intensity of flavour. You can browse among the colours and smells, and make picnic purchases at the lively local markets.
The proximity of the sea makes fish and seafood an important element of the local cuisine. Regional dishes include the famous bouillabaisse, a rich fish stew served with aioli and rouille; the bourride – a lighter version of the bouillabaisse; pistou soupe (summer vegetable soup with a blend of garlic, basil and olive oil); authentic ratatouille, large colourful salads and delicious courgette flower fritters. Tapenade and anchoïade are savoury dips made with local olives and anchovies; pissaladière is an onion tart with olives and anchovies and is very likely to have come from the Romans.

Weather

Temperatures tend to average around 30°C during the summer months and fall to an average of 15°C during winter. The infamous Mistral wind can have a great effect on the temperatures, particularly in the western part of Provence.

July and August are very warm with little to no rainfall. Temperatures tend to climb up to 30°C during the day. At night it cools off considerably, especially on the coast, near a lake or in the mountains. In general, the farther away from the coast the more oppressive the heat becomes during the day.

The months around the high season are the most pleasant (May, June, September, October) with average temperatures between 22°C and 27°C . October is the most uncertain month of the four, but of course it can also be a splendid month with warm, sunny days and practically no rain.

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely)
No. of days cycling: 5 (Including four optional rides)
Terrain: This tour has been designed to give you a taste of the picturesque perched villages which pepper Provence's breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon area. Ride at your own pace with the help of the e-assist. You will be amazed to ride easily the hilly landscape of the region and enjoy spectacular views. Cross vineyards, stop in charming provencal villages, ride on scenic roads and simply enjoy the true Provence now accessible with a limited effort.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.

Hilltop Villages of Provence with E-Bike

This tour has been designed to give you a taste of the picturesque perched villages which pepper Provence's breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon area.

5 Days of Cycling

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

France

Vaccination

France

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Is this trip for you?

Hilltop Villages of Provence by e-Bike