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Particulars

Trip Dates:

2008
May 29-June 4
September 1-7

Self-guided and custom trips also available and can start any day.Call or email for details.

2009
May 28-June 3

August 30-Sept 6

Trip Size:

8-16 participants

Total Days:

7 days/ 6 nights

Arrive/Depart:

Avignon/Gordes

Accommodations:

Clair de la Plume, Grignan

Hotel Beffroi, Vaison-La-Romaine

Les Geraniums, Le Barroux

Hôtel Les Romarins, Gordes

Activity Level:

Moderate
20-40+ miles daily
van supported

Terrain:

1 day gently rolling, 3 days are moderately rolling, 1 day hilly

Cost:

Land Cost (current year):
US $2250
Includes 6B/2L/5D

Single Supplement:
US $400

Bike Rental:
US $140

Provence Classic, Biking

Avignon, Vaison-La- Romaine and Gordes

With its quiet roads amidst fields of lavender, fine wines to taste, and wonderful food to eat, the Provence region of France is heaven on earth for the itinerant cyclist. After meeting in Avignon, we’ll transfer to the countryside to begin our tour, cycling a route that will include the region’s market towns, wine-making villages and medieval cities. We’ll taste wine in centuries old caves, see Roman antiquities in Vaison le Romaine, visit hill-top castles steeped in history and stroll markets at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and others. We’ve been coming here for 15 years and can say there are few places as welcoming to those on a bicycle as this enchanting area of France.

Only Great Explorations:

• Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences.
• A ride you will never forget: the descent from atop Mt. Ventoux through the Gorges du Nesque.
• Private tour of the Castle of Madame Sevigne.
• Order off the menu at restaurants you won't find in guidebooks.
• Distinctive, charming hotels too small for larger groups.
• We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises.

 

Itinerary

Getting there :
Avignon: Most participants will arrive from Paris by train the night before our departure, allowing you time to discover the charms of this vibrant city.

DAYS 1+2:
Grignan 20, 30 or 50 miles - After a short transfer from Avignon, we’ll start cycling north through fields of lavender and vineyards with visits to the villages of Serignan and Suze-la-Rousse. In Grignan, we’ll visit the castle of Madame Sevigne perched high on a hill above town and explore the artisan shops and boutiques before dinner. Our hotel here, now an elegant inn, was formerly the home to the French ambassador to Canada! On our second day here we’ll explore the region around Nyons, a town with an active market and lots of shops and restaurants.

DAY 3:
Vaison Le Romaine 25, 40 or 60 miles - Cycling on quiet roads we’ll reach Richerenches, famous for its truffle market. In Villedieu we’ll stop for lunch and in Vaison we’ll visit the extraordinary Roman excavations and theatre that are as impressive as any in France. Our comfortable hotel, located in the heart of the historical district, hosts regular showings of contemporary works by local artists.

DAY 4:
Le Barroux - Our route today explores the wine route with stops in the villages of Seguret and Sablet; there are opportunities to taste wine in Gigondas or from one of the vineyards along the way. Lunch options abound and for those interested in how olive oil earned its reputation here, you can visit a mill to see how it is pressed and made. Afterwards, we’ll climb up to the village of Le Barroux, with a chateau perched on top. Just below this chateau is our hotel, where we’ll enjoy dinner from its geranium filled terrace overlooking the Luberon valley.

DAY 5+6:

Gordes - You’ll descend from Le Barroux to the valley today, visiting Mazan and Venasque along the way to Fontaine de Vaucluse. Here, you’ll marvel at the site that inspired the Italian Petrarch to write poetry. After lunch there are options to hike up to a ruined castle before the ride into L’ Isle Sur La Sorgue, and on (and up) to Gordes. On our next day we’ll visit the hill-top villages of Rousillon, Lacoste and Menerbes. There are lunch spots in each of these to choose between and other sites to see, including perhaps the world’s largest collection of wine corkscrews in a wine museum (with tasting) en route.

DAY 7: Transfer to Avignon for trains onward.