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Tour de Provence Luberon
Duration
7 days
Site savings
$35
From
$3,456 USD
This tour of Provence takes in the region made famous in Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’, with its lavender farms and olive groves, charming villages with bustling markets overlooked by apricot-coloured houses with pastel blue shutters. Menerbes, Gordes, Roussillon with its ochre cliffs, Vaison-la- Romaine and its Roman bridge – all will enthrall you, as will the earthly delights of the wineries of Gigondas and Beaumes-de-Venise. Dine on seafood from the Mediterranean, lamb from the high pastures, glorious fruit and vegetables, and culinary masterpieces suffused with herbes de provence. This cycling tour of Provence is a feast for all the senses as you take in the sights, sounds, tastes and smells that make this region so unique.
- CategoryFor Food Lovers
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration7 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainAgricultural
- Distance167.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance33.6 miles
operated by
Tour de Vines
Tour de VinesQuick Stats
- Duration7 days
- Main DestinationProvence & the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur)
- Distance167.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance33.6 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainAgricultural
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Arrival
The tour operator can pick you up from either of the Avignon train stations (the TGV or the centre ville), any of the hotels in Avignon, or from other nearby locations (e.g., Nîmes airport) by arrangement. You will arrive at the hotel near the market town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where bikes are fitted and adjusted to your individual requirements.
Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, or take a short trip into the village, which is famous for its antiques and bric-a-brac market and stores. Early arrivals may wish to ride to the Fontaine de Vaucluse to see the famous resurgent spring of the river Sorgue.
In the evening, after a briefing on the week ’s ride, you will sit down to the first of many gourmet meals, washed down with one of the excellent wines from the slopes of Mont Ventoux, whose imposing profile dominates the region.
- Hotel Mas De Cure Bourse
- Dinner
- Day 2Into the Luberon
Today you will be heading into the heartland of Provence – the Luberon – and the picturesque villages depicted in Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’. The first, and most westerly of the Luberon’s villages is Oppede-le-Vieux, followed by Ménerbes, both perched atop small climbs, with the corresponding downhill reward afterwards. You will take a leisurely route through these villages, maybe stopping for a coffee or a pastis.
For lunch you will visit perhaps the most photogenic of the Luberon villages, Gordes, perched on a hilltop and overlooked by its 16th century château. You will be staying near Gordes tonight so the afternoon can be spent in the village itself, or by the pool at the hotel. There are also optional excursions to the Abbaye de Senanque – a perfect example of Romanesque architecture dating from the 12th century, set in a valley amongst picturebook fields of lavender – or the nearby Village des Bories – a fascinating hamlet of traditional Provencal dry-stone dwellings.
- 24.9 miles
- Mas de la Senancole, Gordes
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 3Gordes to Lourmarin
Heading north from Gordes, you will swing east and south to arrive at Roussillon, perching above the ochre cliffs. Roussillon was once the major producer of ochre for paints and pigments and boasted 17 different colours. A sign-posted trail leads to the quarries where the shades of red, orange, yellow and purple rock contrast startlingly with the deep blue Provencal sky.
From Roussillon, you will cycle over the Pont St Julien, a Roman bridge, before crossing the plain on a lovely cycle path and climbing again into Lacoste, where the ruined chateau of the Marquis de Sade looms over the village. Next is Bonnieux from whose heights give a splendid panorama of Luberon and where there are restaurants to dine in for lunch.
A long but gentle climb brings you to the delightful village of Lourmarin where you will spend the night.
- 27.3 miles
- Le Moulin de Lourmarin
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 4Loop ride in Lourmarin
No need to unpack today as you do a loop ride! Cycle through the charming villages of Peypin d'Aigues, La Tour d’Aigues and Ansouis. Enjoy classic sceneries that are typical in Provence filled with delightful hamlets, vineyards and lush valleys.
On the way back to Lourmarin, taste the fruits of the vineyards you cycled past with wine tasting at a nearby chateau.- 34.8 miles
- Le Moulin de Lourmarin
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 5Ride to Sault
There is a gentle climb from the start today as you go back up the road on which you came into Lourmarin. A quick downhill followed by another easy climb takes you through a couple of hamlets before descending into the market town of Apt. Savor the flat ride past vines and olive trees until you reach St-Saturnin for lunch. Prepare for another climb as you go past spectacular gorges and the ancient Chateau de Javon. Take pleasure as you emerge into the lavender fields and sheep pastures of the Plateau d’Albion along with immense views of Mont Ventoux dominating the horizon.
A long descent takes you to the bottom of Sault before riding up through the town to the hotel. Sault is a local centre for wild products – wood mushrooms, pheasant, wild boar and other game – and one or more are likely to feature on the menu tonight as a reward for the hard work.
- 36 miles
- Hostellerie du Val de Sault
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 6Towards Mazan
Your final day on the saddle requires you to make a choice between climbing 1,900m (6,233ft) Mt Ventoux or cycling its southern flank with stunning views of Gorges de la Nesque. Either way the ride will be splendid.
Re-group in Bedoin and swap stories over a sumptuous lunch. Get back on the bikes for a ride through the vineyards of Cotes de Ventoux before ending in Mazan where you will also spend the night.- 31.1 - 36 miles
- Chateau de Mazan
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 7Departure