Classic or Luxury Famous Villages of Provence

Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Day 2: Avignon - Châteauneuf-du-Pape - St Laurent des Arbres - Avignon, 42 mi. (68 km) +/-310m elevation
Day 3: Avignon - Isle sur la Sorgue, 12 mi. (20 km) optional loop Isle - Pernes les Fontaines - Venasque - Isle sur la Sorgue, 25 mi. (40 km) +/-650m elevation
Day 4: Isle sur la Sorgue - Gordes - Roussillon - Isle sur la Sorgue, 38 mi. (61km) +575m/-575m elevation
Day 5: Isle sur la Sorgue - Eygalières - St Remy de Provence, 23 mi. (37 km) +/-200m elevation
Day 6: St. Remy - Fontvieille - Les Baux - St. Remy, 26 mi. (42 km) +400m/-400m elevation
Day 7: Transfer to Avignon, depature

All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Either on arrival or day 2 before cycling, you will meet with a local host for a tour briefing and bike handover.

Avignon is one of Europe’s most culturally rich towns, all packed within its 14th-century ramparts and recognized for its beauty and rich history. Take the afternoon to walk this walled city! Highlights include the Place du Palais, next to the Place de L'Horloge, & the ruined bridge of Le Pont Saint-Benezet over the River Rhone. There are lots of museums to visit and many cafes and restaurants for fabulous food and drink.

Sample accommodations:

Classic - Hotel Central (3*)
Luxury - Cloitre St. Louis (4*)

Day 2: Avignon - Châteauneuf-du-Pape - St Laurent des Arbres - Avignon, 42 mi. (68 km) | +/-310m elevation
Leaving Avignon and heading north, you’ll cycle through farmers' fields on small country lanes, passing old farmhouses and orchards of all kinds. Heading northward, the landscapes slope gently upwards and you enter the famous Côtes-du-Rhone wine-making village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here you can have nice bistro lunch on a sunny terrasse, and why not stop for a wine tasting at one of the many renowned wineries before looping back through the countryside and the Isle de Barthelasse to Avignon, where you will spend your second night.

Sample accommodations:

Classic - Hotel Central (3*)
Luxury - Cloitre St. Louis (4*)

Day 3: Avignon - Isle sur la Sorgue Sorgue, 12 mi. (20 km) optional loop rides:  Isle - Pernes les Fontaines - Venasque - Isle sur la Sorgue, 25 mi. (40km) | +/-650m elevation
From Avignon, you'll take a little-known cycle path following a river and out of the city. A short climb takes you up to the village of Jonquerettes before heading back down to the valley and reaching the pretty town of l’Isle sur la Sorgue. This veritable island of a village is carved into a circle by the waters of the Sorgue, with quaint quayside antique shops and a labyrinth of narrow roads in the center. A picnic lunch in l’Isle on the grass by the quays is recommended. From the comforts of your island town, you can add a loop ride through the Pays des Sorgue, its back roads lined with cypresses and old farmhouses. You'll reach Pernes-les-Fontaines with its 40 fountains, its Romanesque church, & mansion. Continuing along tiny country roads you'll reach medieval Venasque, labeled as one of the most beautiful villages in France. From Venasque, you'll pedal towards lost hamlets through cherry orchards and Muscat vineyards, all the way down to Isle. Isle sur la Sorgue is also called the Provencal Venice with its many water wheels and canals where you will spend the next two nights. Once in Isle sur la Sorgue you can choose from two different loops either to Venasque labelled most beautiful village in France or to Fontaine, the source of the Sorgue river or relax and stay in Isle sur la Sorgue. 

Sample accommodations:

Classic - Hotel Cantosorgue (2*)
Luxury - Grand Hotel Henri (4*)

Day 4: Isle sur la Sorgue - Gordes - Roussillon - Isle sur la Sorgue, 38 mi. (61km) | +575m/-575m elevation
“Wow” is probably the best way to sum up the day’s ride: a never-ending barrage of scenery and gorgeous perched medieval villages. The effort put forth during your climbs will be rewarded by visits to villages classed among the most beautiful in France: Gordes and Roussillon. After visiting both Gordes and Roussillon there are two options for you today. The easier of the two returns to l’Isle sur la Sorgue via a pleasant and peaceful cycle-only path laden over a former railway line, passing former rail stations. To add some extra hilltop-villages to the mix, we’ve included an optional return via the villages of Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes, & Oppède le Vieux, all spectacular in their own right. 

Sample accommodations:

Classic - Hotel Cantosorgue (2*)
Luxury - Grand Hotel Henri (4*)

Day 5: Isle sur la Sorgue - Eygalières - St Remy de Provence, 23 mi. (37km) | +/-200m elevation
You'll take scenic side roads lined with pear and apple orchards from Isle sur la Sorgue, as you descend toward the town of Cavaillon. There is a bit of traffic to cross Cavaillon, but shortly after crossing the Durance River, the tiny back roads return and the countryside is once more laden with quaint villages until you reach the village of Eygalières,. Here you can have lunch and explore the cobbled streets as well as the old stone ruins that crown the village. Beyond Eygalières, you ride along a scenic but somewhat rocky track, tucked in below the imposing limestone ridge of the Alpilles. If you'd like, you can stop at a family-run wine estate for a tasting (not included) before reaching the artsy town of St Rémy.

Sample accommodations:

Classic - Hotel Gounod (3*)
Luxury - Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa (5*)

Day 6: St. Remy - Fontvieille - Les Baux - St. Remy, 26 mi. (42km) | +400m/-400m elevation
If you are in town on a Wednesday, you should not miss the big market in the morning, strolling through the market stalls just like locals do! Today you can either relax and explore Saint Remy or do a loop ride through the countryside and visit Les Baux de Provence. Leaving St. Rémy, visit Saint Paul de Mausole, where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life and did some of his best work. Adjacent to the monastery is Glanum, a Roman archaeological site, its massive limestone ruins are a testament to over 2000 years of history. The route continues along the winding streets of the Alpilles mountains through landscapes of pine trees and wildflowers until reaching Les Baux de Provence, a town perched vertiginously atop a rocky crag, crowned by the ruins of its feudal castle. Take your time to explore Les Baux, its castle, & Les Carrieres de Lumieres, an ancient converted quarry displaying different artworks on the stone walls (entrance not included). You'll return to St. Rémy for your second night. 

Sample accommodations:

Classic - Hotel Gounod (3*)
Luxury - Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa (5*)

Day 7: Transfer to Avignon, depature
Transfer to Avignon can generally be organized according to your travel plans.  Or, why not extend your stay by cycling to the Roman city of Arles and to the flatlands of Camargue? Your cycling tour ends after breakfast and a private taxi transfer will take you to Avignon center or TGV station. We can arrange additional transfers upon request with a supplement.

Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Either on arrival or day 2 before cycling, you will meet with a local host for a tour briefing and bike handover.

Avignon is one of Europe’s most culturally rich towns, all packed within its 14th-century ramparts and recognized for its beauty and rich history. Take the afternoon to walk this walled city! Highlights include the Place du Palais, next to the Place de L'Horloge, & the ruined bridge of Le Pont Saint-Benezet over the River Rhone. There are lots of museums to visit and many cafes and restaurants for fabulous food and drink.

Sample accommodations:

• Classic - Hotel Central (3*)
• Luxury - Cloitre St. Louis (4*)

Day 2: Avignon - Châteauneuf-du-Pape - St Laurent des Arbres - Avignon, 42 mi. (68 km) | +/-310m elevation
Leaving Avignon and heading north, you’ll cycle through farmers' fields on small country lanes, passing old farmhouses and orchards of all kinds. Heading northward, the landscapes slope gently upwards and you enter the famous Côtes-du-Rhone wine-making village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here you can have nice bistro lunch on a sunny terrasse, and why not stop for a wine tasting at one of the many renowned wineries before looping back through the countryside and the Isle de Barthelasse to Avignon, where you will spend your second night.

Sample accommodations:

• Classic - Hotel Central (3*)
• Luxury - Cloitre St. Louis (4*)

Day 3: Avignon - Isle sur la Sorgue Sorgue, 12 mi. (20 km) optional loop Isle - Pernes les Fontaines - Venasque - Isle sur la Sorgue, 25 mi. (40km) | +/-650m elevation
From Avignon, you'll take a little-known cycle path following a river and out of the city. A short climb takes you up to the village of Jonquerettes before heading back down to the valley and reaching the pretty town of l’Isle sur la Sorgue. This veritable island of a village is carved into a circle by the waters of the Sorgue, with quaint quayside antique shops and a labyrinth of narrow roads in the center. A picnic lunch in l’Isle on the grass by the quays is recommended. From the comforts of your island town, you can add a loop ride through the Pays des Sorgue, its back roads lined with cypresses and old farmhouses. You'll reach Pernes-les-Fontaines with its 40 fountains, its Romanesque church, & mansion. Continuing along tiny country roads you'll reach medieval Venasque, labeled as one of the most beautiful villages in France. From Venasque, you'll pedal towards lost hamlets through cherry orchards and Muscat vineyards, all the way down to Isle. Isle sur la Sorgue is also called the Provencal Venice with its many water wheels and canals where you will spend the next two nights.

Sample accommodations:

• Classic - Hotel Cantosorgue (2*)
• Luxury - Grand Hotel Henri (4*)

Day 4: Isle sur la Sorgue - Gordes - Roussillon - Isle sur la Sorgue, 38 mi. (61km) | +575m/-575m elevation
“Wow” is probably the best way to sum up the day’s ride: a never-ending barrage of scenery and gorgeous perched medieval villages. The effort put forth during your climbs will be rewarded by visits to villages classed among the most beautiful in France: Gordes and Roussillon. After visiting both Gordes and Roussillon there are two options for you today. The easier of the two returns to l’Isle sur la Sorgue via a pleasant and peaceful cycle-only path laden over a former railway line, passing former rail stations. To add some extra hilltop-villages to the mix, we’ve included an optional return via the villages of Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes, & Oppède le Vieux, all spectacular in their own right. 

Sample accommodations:

• Classic - Hotel Cantosorgue (2*)
• Luxury - Grand Hotel Henri (4*)

Day 5: Isle sur la Sorgue - Eygalières - St Remy de Provence, 23 mi. (37km) | +/-200m elevation
You'll take scenic side roads lined with pear and apple orchards from Isle sur la Sorgue, as you descend toward the town of Cavaillon. There is a bit of traffic to cross Cavaillon, but shortly after crossing the Durance River, the tiny back roads return and the countryside is once more laden with quaint villages until you reach the village of Eygalières,. Here you can have lunch and explore the cobbled streets as well as the old stone ruins that crown the village. Beyond Eygalières, you ride along a scenic but somewhat rocky track, tucked in below the imposing limestone ridge of the Alpilles. If you'd like, you can stop at a family-run wine estate for a tasting (not included) before reaching the artsy town of St Rémy.

Sample accommodations:

• Classic - Hotel Gounod (3*)
• Luxury - Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa (5*)

Day 6: St. Remy - Fontvieille - Les Baux - St. Remy, 26 mi. (42km) | +400m/-400m elevation
If you are in town on a Wednesday, you should not miss the big market in the morning, strolling through the market stalls just like locals do! Today you can either relax and explore Saint Remy or do a loop ride through the countryside and visit Les Baux de Provence. Leaving St. Rémy, visit Saint Paul de Mausole, where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life and did some of his best work. Adjacent to the monastery is Glanum, a Roman archaeological site, its massive limestone ruins are a testament to over 2000 years of history. The route continues along the winding streets of the Alpilles mountains through landscapes of pine trees and wildflowers until reaching Les Baux de Provence, a town perched vertiginously atop a rocky crag, crowned by the ruins of its feudal castle. Take your time to explore Les Baux, its castle, & Les Carrieres de Lumieres, an ancient converted quarry displaying different artworks on the stone walls (entrance not included). You'll return to St. Rémy for your second night. 

Sample accommodations:

• Classic - Hotel Gounod (3*)
• Luxury - Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa (5*)

Day 7: St. Remy - Arles, via Les Baux & Maussane, 31 mi. (50 km) | +250m/-300m elevation
Today’s ride takes you around the contours of the Alpilles Mountains, first passing the splendid Romanesque chapel Saint Gabriel. Soon after the climb begins, 4km through the heart of the mountain and to the perched village of Les Baux. A freewheeling descent takes you back towards the plains, passing the ruins of a 2000-year-old aqueduct before reaching Arles and its Roman coliseum. 

Sample accommodations:

• Hotel du Forum (3*)
• Maison Volver (4*)

Day 8: Transfer to Avignon, departure
Your cycling tour ends after breakfast and a private taxi transfer will take you to Avignon center or TGV station. Transfer time can generally be arranged according to your plans.  We can arrange additional transfers upon request with a supplement.

EXTENSION 

If you would like to extend your adventure you can either add an extra night in Arles and loop ride to the stunning Camargue national park or ride until the Med sea and stay in Saintes Maries de la Mer? 

Option 1: Arles loop 46km, 56km or 66km 
You leave Arles and head south towards the vast expanses of the Camargue. The horses, the lagoons, the bulls, the rice fields and the reeds: the landscapes do not deceive, you are in the heart of the Camargue! You will discover the great wilderness of the Camargue with its pink flamingos and saltwater lagoons stretching out as far as the eye can see. 

Option 2: Ride from Arles to Saintes Maries de la Mer 54km, +50m/-100m 
Your day’s journey, as flat a pancake – perhaps even flatter – takes you due south, through vast expanses of rice paddies and marshlands, where you enter the heart of the Camargue Nature Park. The lagoons are untamed and carry on as far as the eyes can see, harbouring clumps of the precious few plant species that can survive the salt-rich waters. The salt crystals on the cracked earth shine like diamonds in the Mediterranean sun. You then veer right along the sea wall, a thin strip of land in between nowhere and the Mediterranean Sea. Soon you’ll catch a glimpse of the bell tower of Saintes-Maries de la Mer, and the white washed homes of the town. 

Avignon - Morning Gourmet Tour 

This option offers the perfect combination of food, win,e and sightseeing. It is bound to please every food and wine lover as you meet local artisans and taste regional products in small groups (max.10).  Embark on a 3.5 hour walking tour to discover Avignon with your guide, stroll through picturesque parts of the town and learn about culinary traditions and local history, from the oldest bakery in town to the best chocolate maker. The tour ends with a tasting of a Châteauneuf du Pape, the region’s most prestigious wine. Includes approximately 10 tastings (food, olive oil, cheese) and a wine tasting.

Wine Tour Châteauneuf-du-pape with pick up and drop off in Avignon

Join a half day wine tour from Avignon to Châteauneuf du Pape (non-private, maximum 6 participants), available for morning or afternoon tours. Learn more about the Southern Rhône premium wine village as a local wine expert will reveal a wealth of secrets about the vines and explain the key elements of the wine-making process as you visit the cellar and taste four to five wines at a local wine estate (depending on the wine expert you visit 1 or 2 wine estates). The tasting characteristics, ageing potential and varying influences of the terroir and cellar methods will all be described. Transfer back to Avignon after the tour. Not possible on Saturday’s & Bank Holidays unless for private groups.

Kyak in Fontain de Vaucluse (Day 3)

Descend the Sorgue river for a 2 hour kyaking adventure in Fontain de Vaucluse. You’ll be driven back to the start to Fontaine to continue your cycling tour (advanced reservation required.)