Biking Tour through Provence Gems

5.0/5 on 8 Reviews

A self-guided bike tour on the quiet and colorful roads of Provence. Experience natural attractions along with the culture and outstanding food. A delightful combination of adventure and relaxation!

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Ref: P0702ST

Provence
8 day(s)
Moderate
~ 32 km/day
Itinerant

When travelling?

From April to October.

Minimum age

12 y/o

Related categories:

Discover the wonders of Provence by bike

This bike tour through Provence takes you by villages, castles, and historical monuments, letting you absorb the true atmosphere of this area. The route begins in the town of Avignon and leads through the well-manicured vineyards of the Chateauneuf--du-Pape area. From here, you’ll come to Orange, where you’ll want to see the best-preserved Roman theatre in France that seats 9,000 people! Continue on to Seguret, one of Franc’s most beautiful villages. If you like, take a say trip to Vaison-la-Romaine homes. The path next takes you to the foot of the mythical Mont Ventoux in Bedouin and Mazan.
You’ll ride on quiet road lined with olive and cypress trees. When passing through historc ancient villages, you’ll hear the people speaking with a southern France accent. Keep pedaling south and go through the country’s former capital, Pennes-les-Fontaines. Soon you’ll fall under the charms of the L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Canals. This trip allow you time to slow down and take in the sights, sound and smells of Provence.

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Program

Day 01

Arrival at Avignon

Start your cycling trip in the heart of Provence, in Avignon, a city with an exceptional architectural and artistic heritage. Discover the many treasures of the city: the Popes' Palace, the Saint Bénezet bridge, the ramparts, the dozens of churches and chapels, all of which bear witness to the city's rich past and give it its unique character.

Day 02

Avignon – Orange

42 km
+ 154 m

Let yourself be seduced by the charm of Avignon, visit the Palace of the Popes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stroll through the old town. Then, leave the city of the Popes to join the Rhône and its confluences through the countryside. Change banks to reach the famous village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A stop to taste its great wines is a must. Finally, pedal peacefully through the vineyards to reach Orange and its ancient theater.

Day 03

Orange – Séguret

25 km
+ 156 m

You leave the historical city center to reach the plain of Orange. You drive along a very intriguing rock formation called "Dentelles de Montmirail" and enjoy the ancestral knowledge of the winegrowers who work the renowned terroirs of Sablet or Gigondas.

Day 04

Loop to Vaison-la-Romaine

40 km
+ 416 m

Today you leave for an excursion to Vaison-la-Romaine. You will cross the vineyards on country roads and then pass a small pass which will offer you superb views over the valley before reaching the ancient Templar village of Saint-Roman-de-Mallegarde. You continue along the course of the Aygues river and then branch off to Vaison-la-Romaine. A town with 2000 years of history, it will also seduce you with its markets of local products and its medieval streets. Then you get back on the saddle to return to Séguret.

Day 05

Séguret – Mazan

34 km
+ 353 m

Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise... Discover the villages that are hidden behind the great wines of the Rhone Valley. Then pedal in the plain of Carpentras on small roads between fields of lavender and olive trees. Stroll under the bell towers of the villages of Carromb, Modène and Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols before reaching Mazan and its historic center.

Day 06

Mazan – L’Isle sur la Sorgue

31 km
+ 165 m

Head south to the former capital of the Comtat Venaissin, Pernes-les-Fontaines. The city has preserved many medieval vestiges as well as some forty fountains which gave it its name. Then follow the Canal de Carpentras before falling under the spell of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, an ancient fishing village built on stilts in the 12th century. Today the city is mostly known for its antique dealers and second-hand goods dealers, more than 350 of them!

Day 07

Loop around Fontaine de Vaucluse

21 km
+ 100 m

This loop takes you to the entrance to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse from where you can swap your bike for a canoe and descend the Sorgue peacefully.

Option canoe ride

You will go down the Sorgue river and will be able to enjoy a swimming break if the conditions are suitable.

Options:

25,00 € € Adulte
12,50 € € Enfant (6-14ans)

Day 08

Departure from Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

You leave after taking a last walk around Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

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Accommodation

Standard

Convenient stops for cyclists: easily accessible accommodation, essential comfort, and immediate proximity to bike paths or village centers.

Breakfast
2/3 stars

Comfort

Comfortable stays in characterful accommodations with cycling-friendly services, attentive hospitality, and ideal locations along our most scenic routes.

Breakfast
3/4 stars

Haut de gamme

Comfortable stays in characterful accommodations with cycling-friendly services, attentive hospitality, and ideal locations along our most scenic routes.

Breakfast
3/4 stars

*Typical example of accommodation corresponding to the proposed category. These photographs are for illustrative purposes only.

Equipment

Our services include luggage transport in order to let you enjoy your trip comfortably and without stress :

we transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle ;
your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive ;
we provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.

Our advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip. If you expect to arrive at the next accommodation early, we recommend that you take an extra set of clothes with you in your bicycle bag.

On your arrival day, we provide you with:

a touring bike adjusted to your size;

equipped : front panier, a saddlebag (or two if the luggage transportation is not included), helmet (on demand), reflective vest, complete repairing toolkit.

We also offer on this trip :

electric assisted bikes for adults (+1m55);
children bikes suited to their size;
children equipment (trailer, seat, trailer bike, follow-me system);
road bikes;
gravel bikes;

You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied. You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied (see the Tarif tab)

For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee). You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way. -> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details regarding the download and use of the app will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.

A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided with all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests. We can send printed travel documents (extra cost of €15 for printing and postage, in France only), which include:

a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike;
a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest.

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Information

Beginning of the trip

As the first day is a non-biking day, you’ll arrive at your leisure, depending on your route. Please note that rooms are usually available by mid-afternoon, depending on your accommodation. Please let us know if you are arriving late.

To get to the departure point

By plane: flight for Avignon, Marseille Provence or Nîmes

By train: direct TGV trains from Paris (Gare de Lyon station), Lyon or Marseille to Avignon. The duration of the trip is about 2h40 from Paris, 1h10 from Lyon and 35mn from Marseille. To plan your trip, www.thetrainline.com

Car park

You can find secure parking solutions in Avignon. For further information www.parkopedia.fr

To get back to the departure point

There is a rail link between l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Avignon (duration 30min). Private transfer available on request.

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5.0/5 on 8 Reviews

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1069 €/pers.

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Ref: P0702ST

Provence
8 day(s)
Moderate
~ 32 km/day
Itinerant

When travelling?

From April to October.

Minimum age

12 y/o

Related categories:

Tried and tested Trips!

Experience

15 years' experience in cycling to advise and satisfy you
Tested & Approved

The whole team goes out into the field to design the itineraries and select the best partners (accommodation, bikes, etc.).
Quality of service

A dedicated customer service team available and ready to listen, from the moment you book until you return from your holiday.
Secure payment

Individual or fractional payment by secure means via our website

They've just returned from their travels!

The 01/07/2025

5/5

« Nice ride in the provence »

We were very satisfied about the whole experience. Everything was well organized and the contact person was very helpful. Everything worked out perfectly. The bicycles were very good, and the supported equipement as well. The App with the routes was very helpful and is well done. The daily distances were as expected and there was enough time to enjoy all the places along the route. The hotels are carefully selected and satisfied our needs.

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Lino.

The 24/10/2024

5/5

« Lovely First Time Tour of Provence - Highly Recommend »

My husband and I booked a self guided 10 day extended tour in Provence and the route and scenery exceeded our hopes and expectations.Quality and well maintained bikes and small road routes, minimal shared roads, accompanied by vinyards, big sky and medieval villages all the way. Great bikes and friendly, clean accommodations. Timely and helpful communications with the team. This is our 2nd tour with Vélo Voyageurs and highly recommend.

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Ocean Gril.

The 09/06/2024

5/5

« Spring in Provence »

Wonderful trip through Provence, with lots of variety in scenery each day, Hotels were mostly family run and very welcoming to cyclists.

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Peter.

The 14/05/2024

5/5

« Picture Perfect Provence »

This was a lovely trip that I did with my husband and adult daughter. Great food along the way. A chance to savor Provence on “slow time” - the birdsongs, flower fragrances and even frogs singing! I highly suggest e-bikes! Lots of hills. The busy towns can be challenging to navigate, but it’s worth it. VV did a fine job in planning and running this trip. I also suggest going late or early in the season to avoid heat and crowds. We went in early May, and it was do-able and enjoyable. Vive Provence!

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Margaret.

The 11/05/2023

5/5

« Provence gems »

We had a lovely time cycling through ancient villages and beautiful countryside. The navigation was smooth and the bicycles were top notch. The hotels were great quality and the people were very kind. We loved the food and wine along the way. At the end of the trip, we would have started over again.

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G&D.

The 05/06/2022

5/5

« Wonderful birthday trip. »

We had a wonderful time on my 70th birthday trip, with a diverse group of friends and relatives, ranging from age 15 months to 75 years.

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Marc.

The 01/06/2022

5/5

« Great trip around Provence villages »

This was our second trip with Vélo Voyageur and we were not disappointed. The team helped us to tailor our trip to include extra time in places we especially wanted to visit near to the standard itinerary . The route finding was easy, on cycle routes where possible, or on very quiet country lanes with minimal traffic and lovely scenery. The app was very user friendly and English too! The hotels we stayed in were in peaceful locations, comfortable and characterful. We recommend Velo Voyageur and look forward to our next trip.

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Louise.

The 18/01/2022

5/5

« A Sensory Trip through Provence »

Wherever you live in this world, it is likely that you occasionally need a vacation for your senses. If we are not given the opportunity to see, smell, taste, touch and hear new things periodically, we risk becoming stunted and will soon lose our sense of purpose on this earth. When this happens to my wife, she sometimes says to me "the flower is starting to wilt," and I know this means that action is required. The "Gems of Provence" is the trip that provides the perfect treatment. Start off with a nice long walk from Avignon across the river to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, visit the Jardins de l'abbaye Saint-André and experience the botanical trail or "Le sentier botanique." Now, at last, you are in Provence, can you tell? From Avignon, the trip takes you to wonderful places. While the lavender fields are not blooming in October, other features take center stage as the endless vineyards sport their autumnal colors. Can you find places to stop along the way, eat your lunch and drink wine while sitting in the vineyards? Some may seek out a variety of eating establishments along the way which is fine, but I think we preferred sitting among the vines for our "pique-nique." And, under the watchful eye of Mont Ventoux. (Not cycling to the top, just below it of course) Are you getting the idea? Palaces and fortifications, public markets, bakeries, baguettes, fields of grapes and lavender, picturesque villages, a bottle of the rosé produced in these vineyards, the rich color and scent of Autumn and the setting sun illuminating the village at Séguret. Are artists inspired to paint here? Of course, what a question! The accommodations were very good, the trip was planned well and everything functioned as it should. Now, what are you going to do the next time your flower starts to wilt?

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Philip and Penny.