Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders

Trip codeCyclo 33
Trip activity :Self guided bike tour
Location :Avignon - France
Duration :6 days
Departure :Every Sunday from April to October.
Trip grading :
Capacity :Minimum 2 people
Price per person :
From 1015 €
Pricing informations
Discover our other Self guided bike tour in Provence ici
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders
  • Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon in Provence, for avid or electric riders

Tour description

Cycling Mont Ventoux and Luberon. Upper Provence by bike.

This 6 days, self guided cycling trip though the Ventoux and Luberon mountains allows you to explore the magnificent Vaucluse area in the heart of Provence. This cycling itineraly should be theorically for cyclists who regularly cycle. However, it is accessible to everyone by electric bike! Starting from Bedoin, at the foot of Mont Ventoux and ending in Roussillon or Gargas village in the heart of massif of Luberon, the route includes stages every day allowing you to fully enjoy the region, with options offering different levels of difficulty. You can choose, for example, to climb the legendary Mont Ventoux, or stroll through the Gorges de la Nesque or take a detour to pedal as close as possible to the Dentelles de Montmirail or reach the village of Gordes a little further.During this cycling holiday, you will cross the wine-growing landscapes of the Côtes du Rhône and their famous villages of Vacqueyras, Gigondas and Beaumes de Venise at the foot of the magnificent “Dentelles de Montmirail”, You will climb the “Giant of Provence” also called “Mont chauve” or “Magic Mountain” that is Ventoux, legendary stage of the Tour de France or bypass it and snake through the Gorges de la Nesque, a wild and grandiose canyon with spectacular views. You will cross the lavender fields towards Sault and stroll through some of the most beautiful villages of France such as Séguret near Ventoux or Gordes and Roussillon in the Lubéron massif, famous for its ocher colors and its “ocher trail”. You will also stay at Fontaine de Vaucluse which houses the Santon museum and made famous by its chasm.

Highlights
    • The tour of the “Dentelles de Montmirail”, between rocky cliffs and famous wine villages

The possibility of climbing the mythical Mont Ventoux

  • The beautiful winding road of the Gorges de la Nesque
  • A romantic escape in the lavender fields
  • The villages of Fontaine de Vaucluse and Roussillon in the Luberon Massif
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Program

Day 1Arrival in Avignon (Sunday)

Arrive in Avignon at the time of your choice. An early arrival will allow you time to visit the ancient city of Avignon and its highlights, such as the Palace of the Popes, located a few minutes’ walk from your hotel.

Night in Avignon (or Mazan)

Day 2The Dentelles de Montmirail loop 67 or 80 km - 560 or 1000 m

Our taxi partner will first transfer you to Bédoin where you ́ll be outfitted with your rental bike.

If you have the time and inclination, you may ride a loop around the fabulous Dentelles de Montmirail (a vertebrae of dramatically jagged mountains). Your toast-giving skills may come into play during today’s loop. You’ll wheel through some of the most noted wine-making villages in Provence, starting with Beaumes-de-Venise. From a scenic spot at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, this old-world village is home to Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, one of the planet’s most applauded wines. Vacqueyrasis next, followed by Gigondas and then Séguret, which lives up to its hype as one of France’s “most beautiful villages.” As your loop begins to bend around, you’ll pedal into Vaison-la-Romaine. Divided by the Ouvéze River, Vaison-la-Romaine’s lower half features a trove of Gallo-Roman ruins, making it one of Europe’s largest archaeological sites, while the upper half, perched atop a knuckle of rock, rates as a monument to medieval architecture.

Before reaching Mazan, you’ll have the option to ride up to the tiny village of Suzette, a modest ascent (400 m) that, if you so choose, will add 20 km to the day’s ride.

If you arrive too late or don’t feel like doing the loop, you have the option of riding the10 km from Bédoin to Mazan.

Day 3Mazan -Sault via Nesque Canyon or Ventoux 39or 59 km - 870 or 1880 m

Depending on preference, you’ll have the option to climb Mont Ventoux, the “Giant of Provence,” or go a more leg-friendly route through Gorges de la Nesque. The first option allows you to climb a classic route up Mont Ventoux, which touches the sky at 1,912 meters (6,273 feet). This barren peak enjoys all-star status with riders, having appeared in the Tour de France 15times since 1951. The second option corkscrews along the floor of the Gorges de la Nesque and averages, by our count, 11 picture-stops per mile (14 if you visit the Chapelle Saint-Michel, a tiny, 12th-century chapel tucked under acliff). You’ll stayin Saulttonight, a tiny village that’s as historic as it is beautiful.Surrounded byfields oflavender, your ride around Sault could resemble an unframed Monet painting in 3-D (depending on the time of year)

Diner and night in hotel

Day 4Sault -Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 58 km - 610 m

Today’s ride allows you to experience rural Provence at its best. You’ll wheel across rolling green hills and through timeless villages hemmed with vineyards and fruit orchards…the type of decaffeinated setting that causes sound-minded people to ponder quitting their jobs, moving to Provence,and spending their remaining years in sun-drenched fields applying oil paints to canvas. The village of Venasque, designated one of France’s “most beautiful villages,” highlights the ride. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse will be your home for the night. Huddled at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse features the fifth largest underground spring in the world. Against a backdrop of craggy cliffs and draping foliage, the spring’s emerging turquoise-colored waters are extremely camera-worthy.

Night in hotel

Day 5Fontaine-de-Vaucluse –Roussillon or Gargas 37 or 53 km - 720 or 1020 m

It won’t take long for the day’s wow-factor to kick in when you ride into Gordes. Perched atop a hillside, it is one of France’s 144 “most beautiful villages”. Ancient stone buildings line its many narrow cobbled alleyways and arcades, all of which lead to the Chateau de Gordes, the village’s iconic landmark. Nearby Sénanque Abbey, located below Gordes, is worth visiting as well. From here you’ll bicycle through a chain of scenic, hillside villages – Menerbes, Lacoste and Bonnieux – before reaching Roussillon, yet another of France’s “most beautiful villages,” which once served as home for writer Samuel Beckett. Last night in hotel in Roussillon (confort level) or Gargas (Superior level).

Night in hotel

Day 6Departure

Transfer to Avignon and departure. We will usher you to Avignon so you can continue on your adventure.

Practical details

Need more informations ? +33 (0)5 56 79 25 05

We take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike.

You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure .

At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.

Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.

We remind you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day

Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.

It includes:

  • A welcome letter with the main practical information:
  • The time slot for baggage transport
  • Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from rental if necessary
  • Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
  • Any additional information
  • The logbook travel package including map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical indications
  • The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)

On request and depending on the circuits:

  • The “Evazio” application to download from smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on the your smartphone) and / or oral.
  • The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
  • The loan of a GPS device with the pre-recorded tracks
  • Sends GPX tracks of each stage to be used with your own navigation support

On this circuit, we suggest that you provide you with the choice and by reservation:

  • A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
  • An electric bike adapted to the route

With its equipment:

  • 1 rear bag
  • 1 handlebar bag
  • 1 set of repair
  • 1 helmet
  • 1 anti-theft device
  • 1 charger (for the electric bike)

For the youngest, we can offer depending on age and size

  • A child’s bike
  • A baby seat
  • A trailer
  • A follow-up bike

The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size.

At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We will take care of their recovery.

This tour is available in a “confort” version, a “superior” version is available on request.

The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:

Comfort : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars (or equivalent) and rooms of host.

Superior : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 3 and 4 stars (or equivalent) and charming guest rooms.

Luxury : The circuit mainly presents 4 and 5 star hotels or equivalent

Our support team remains available for the duration of your trip.