The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon

Trip codeCyclo 31
Trip activity :Self guided bike tour
Location :Avignon - France
Duration :7 days
Departure :Every sunday from 24th of March to 27th of October
Trip grading :
Capacity :Min 2 people
Price per person :
Discover our other Self guided bike tour in Provence ici
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon
  • The magic of Provence by bike. Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon

Tour description

The magic of Provence by bike: Rhône Valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon

Discover the magic of Provence by bike during this magnificent loop itinerary from Avignon through the southern Rhône valley, Mont Ventoux and Luberon. A cycling holiday in the heart of the idyllic Provence countryside. In the program : Prestigious vineyards and orchards of the Rhône valley, roman remains, charming provencal villages, lavender fields and a palette of ocher ground.

During this cycling trip, you will leave Avignon, the City of the Popes and cross the Côtes du Rhône vineyards with a stop in Châteauneuf du Pape, the most famous appellation of this wine region, towards Orange. This town has some of the best-preserved Roman monuments, such as the theater and the Arc de Triomphe. This route through the Provençal countryside punctuated by pretty villages then takes you to Vaison-la-Romaine, a roman and medieval city on the outskirts of Mont Ventoux, the magical mountain! Country of lavender, truffle and hilltop villages, the Mont Ventoux area has all the assets to compete with its neighbor Luberon, which you will travel through the following days.

Mythical stage of the Tour de France, we suggest you to be dropped off at its summit (1900 m) so that you can fully enjoy a long descent down its western slope, peeled at the top and wooded in its middle, and finally reach the lavender fields around the village of Sault.. A pure moment of happiness! At the end of the day, you will reach Isle sur la Sorgue, called the “petite Venise of Provence”. One quite long stage but mostly downhill ! Nevertheless, a very pleasant variant allows you to reach Isle sur la Sorgue by bypassing Mont Ventoux summit and cycling through the Côtes du Rhône vineyards and the village of Gigondas, not far from Carpentras.

This cycling tour continues in the Luberon massif. Visit the charming villages of Gordes, Sénanque and its Cistercian abbey or Roussillon, known for its splendid ocher rocks. Do not miss to walk the “path of ocher”. A last stage partly along the Durance river and Rhône river will make cycling back to Avignon.

Highlights
  • The renowned Côtes du Rhône wines
  • Unique Roman remains in Orange and Vaison La Romaine
  • The mythical descent of Mont Ventoux (optional) towards the lavender fields
  • The very Provençal massif of the Luberon and its ocher colors
  • The charming villages that line the route
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Program

Day 1Arrival in Avignon

Come to Avignon and settle down in your charming 3*** hotel outside of town.

Day 2Avignon - Orange 35 km - 130 m

Your welcome meeting is at 9:30am at the hotel reception. Then you will cycle across the biggest island in the Rhone through flourishing orchards to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Make wine tasting here and ride on to Orange where the Roman theatre and the triumphal arch are worth to be seen.

Day 3Orange - Vaison-la-Romaine 40 km - 265 m

Today you ride through the vineyards of the Cotes du Rhone and pass typical villages like Sérignan, St. Cécile les Vignes, St. Roman de Malegarde and Villedieu before you arrive in Vaison-la-Romaine, a lovely Roman and medieval town.

Day 4Vaison-la-Romaine - Isle-sur-la Sorgue 55 or 75 km - 150 or 250 m

Continue your ride along the ‘Cotes du Rhone’ vineyards and pass wine villages like Rasteau, Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Sarrians. We can also take you and your bike up to the top of the Mont Ventoux (not included). And you will ride down on the other side to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Finally you arrive in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the Venice of Provence, so called because of the numerous little canals running through the town.

Day 5Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Lubéron 15 to 40 km - 500 m

This region is too beautiful to leave so quickly. So you’ll stay a second night in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and explore the lovely Lubéron Valley today. Some highlights await you: The village of Gordes, the Cistercian abbey of Sénanque and the ochre rocks of Roussillon which have given Provence its colors.

Day 6Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Avignon 40 km - 23 m

On little roads and along the Rhone River you cycle back to Avignon where you can visit the historical center and the Pope’s palace before getting back to your hotel on the Île de la Barthelasse.

Day 7Departure

Departure after breakfast.

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 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 “superior” version :

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.