Tour Overview
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Route Map:
Click
here to see a close approximation of this itinerary's route. Note: This map is not intended for navigation purposes, but it will give you an excellent picture of the territory
covered by this tour's itinerary. You may use the Google Map controls to zoom in, zoom out, and examine the terrain.
Tour Dates: You may begin this tour on any day, but please note that bike pick-up and return cannot occur on a Sunday.
We ask that tour participants arrive at the tour's starting point at least one
day prior to Day 1 of their tour to avoid the impact of possible travel delays.
No activities are scheduled for this day. See Schedule for blackout dates and additional tour scheduling considerations.
Location: Located in the far southeast of France, Provence is known for its lovely Mediterranean climate, fields of sunflowers,
vineyards, the Impressionists, Roman ruins, and that most famous mountain stage of the Tour de France race, the climb up Mont Ventoux, France's highest peak
between the Pyrenees and the Alps. For those who dream of completing a Tour de France mountain stage, this tour incorporates the climb up Mont Ventoux into one
of its stages. For those who prefer to leave Tour de France mountain stages to the professionals, however, an incredibly beautiful alternate route is provided.
The tour begins and ends in Avignon, 3 - 4 hours from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport by express train. Overnight destinations include Avignon, Gordes, Sault, and Vaison-la-Romaine.
Tour Type: Circuit tour
Terrain: The terrain, like everything about this region, is diverse. While there are lots of ups and downs on this tour (some
challenging), you will also enjoy long, relatively flat stretches of effortless cycling.
Length:
7 days / 8 nights
Distance: Total: 169 miles / 273 km. Average per day: 33 miles / 55 km
Highlights:
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Some of France's most beautiful perched medieval villages -- Gordes, Roussillon, Menerbes, Goult, etc. -- bathed in the warm Provencal sun.
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The climb up Mont Ventoux, the roof of Provence and location of the popular Tour de France mountain stage.
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The sheer beauty of the Mediterranean landscapes and the play of light that so captivated Impressionists like Van Gogh.
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The charming riverside villages of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Fontaine de Vaucluse.
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The gorges of the Nesque and the Toulourenc Rivers.
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Vineyards, wine villages, and free wine tasting opportunities.
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Avignon, the region's most colorful and cultured city, with its medieval wall surrounding the city and its former Papal palace.
Pricing Details
Note: All prices are US dollars.
Adult Price - US $795.00 per person
Children age 16 or younger traveling with 2 adults - $350.00 per child
Discounts are available for parties of 5 or more adults.
The tour price includes:
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Tour Documentation: Route instructions, map, Pre-trip Preparation Guide, On-Road Quick Reference Guide, and Sights Guide.
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Bike Rental for 7 Days: Excellent quality
hybrid or mountain bike with handlebar bag, map carrier, cyclometer, water bottle cage, rear rack, lock, repair kit, and helmet. Optional pedal cages.
Road / racing bikes are available for a supplemental charge.
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Daily Baggage Transfers
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English-Speaking Support Staff
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Reservation of your Accommodations
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Shipping and Handling Charges for US customers
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Basic SAG Support: If you choose not to cycle on one or more days due to weather, illness, etc., AND
you notify your Diverse Directions support representative in advance so that you and your bikes can be transported along with your luggage, no additional charges will apply.
The tour price does NOT include:
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Hotels: Because you are free to select from a wide range of hotels -- from charming and basic 2-star to
4-star luxury (where available) -- the cost of your hotel accommodations is not bundled into the tour package price. See our Accommodations Options page for
the price ranges of each category of hotel. A list of accommodations options for this tour, with website links, is available upon request.
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Meals: You are free to determine your own budget for meals. A wide variety of options are available --
from creating a picnic from provisions obtained at a boulangerie / patisserie, to dining at bistros and restaurants, or taking meals at your hotel (where
available.) Please note that breakfasts are NOT included in France hotel rates. However, hotels with restaurants often offer a demi-pension option, which
includes the cost of your room, breakfast, and dinner at a reasonable price.
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Transportation from your home to Avignon and from Avignon to your home.
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Personal expenses
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Insurance
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Shipping and Handling Charges for non-US customers: A shipping & handling charge of US $15.00 will be added to tour orders made from outside the US.
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Expedited Shipping (all nations): If the shipment of tour materials must be expedited, the express mail charges will be added to the tour package price.
For Diverse Directions' payment terms, cancellation policy, and all terms & conditions, please see Terms
& Conditions.
When you are ready to book your tour, please complete
and submit our secure Tour Order Form.
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in Avignon. Spend 2 nights.
Arrive in Avignon at the time of your choosing. No activities are scheduled for this day.
Day 1: Free Day in Avignon.
During your first full day in Avignon, you'll pick-up your bicycle and have the opportunity
to take it for a leisurely spin around Avignon or on the beautiful island in the Rhone called the Isle de Barthelasse. In addition, you'll have plenty of time to sight-see, shop, dine and prepare for your next
day's departure.
Avignon is a vibrant, sunny, southern city, full of historical sights. Must-sees include the Palais des Papes, the palatial residence of the Popes
who moved here from Rome in the 14th century when Rome was politically unstable, and the city's collection of art museums and
Romanesque, gothic and renaissance churches. In addition, you will be fascinated by Avignon's centuries old ramparts which completely surround the
city's medieval center, as well as the 12th century bridge which partially spans the mighty Rhone River. You'll be staying within the city's walled
center, just a few short steps from a multitude of fabulous restaurants and shops. For more information, click to visit
Avignon on the web.
Day 2: Avignon to Gordes - 42 km /
26 miles. Spend 2 nights.
Following your departure from Avignon and its environs, you'll begin your first full day of
cycling on quiet country roads winding through
the famous vineyards of the Rhone river valley.
The first half of today's route is almost completely flat with the exception of
a climb to the sleepy village of Jonquerettes.
You'll continue easy cycling through the lively market town of
le Thor
and on to
Isle-sur-le-Sorgue, often referred to as the Provencal Venice owing to
its being traversed by five branches of the River Sorgue. With its blocks of riverside cafes and restaurants, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue makes a
wonderful rest stop before beginning the second, more challenging half of the
day's ride.
Next you'll visit the charming village of
Fontaine de Vaucluse. Squeezed into the sharp end of a narrow valley, the
village takes its name from the beautiful and mysterious spring feeding the river Sorgue. This spring comes from deep underground - nobody knows how deep. In the 1950s, Jacques Yves Cousteau came with a submersible to explore the depths but did not find the bottom. Gushing out of a 230 meter high cliff, the underground
spring is the world's fifth most powerful resurgent river. This extraordinary phenomenon forms the crystal-clear Sorgue river, which soon turns a startling emerald; and it's this vivid hue that dominates the
village of Fontaine de Vaucluse. To get an idea of its splendor,
take a look at this YouTube clip
of the village and river.
After tearing yourself away from Fontaine de Vaucluse you'll begin your climb in
earnest into the Luberon, with ever expanding views and more charming villages
as you make your way to one of the Luberon's most magnificent hilltop villages, Gordes.
If the Luberon were a country, Gordes would be its capital. This is the Parthenon of Provence, an imposing edifice born of stone that has always attracted its share of attention because it is just so good-looking. Inevitably, Gordes is officially one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France. It's not just the stunning view of Gordes as you approach it; Gordes is also a pleasure to explore from within, along its tight alleyways and arcades. There are many restaurants and cafes, from simple to refined; some bakeries and food stores; and a thriving arts scene. Your explorations will take you to the spots where the view outward from Gordes is also spectacular, high over the Luberon plain.
Day 3: Circuit of the perched villages of the Luberon -
42 km / 26 miles.
Today
you'll have the entire day to delight in the perched villages of the Luberon -- that part of Provence made famous by Peter Mayle in
his bestselling memoir, A Year in Provence. Today's ride is truly one
of the highlights of this tour as you cycle through deep Mediterranean forests
laced with rugged limestone outcroppings, each of your climbs being rewarded with absolutely stunning views.
You'll have the opportunity to visit the
quintessentially Provencal villages of Lacoste, Roussillon, Ménerbes,
Goult,
and Joucas. Both Ménerbes and Roussillon are officially
classified as among The Most Beautiful Villages in
France.
Your visit to
Roussillon includes
the opportunity to visit the adjacent ochre quarries responsible for the amazing
colors of its buildings. From the center of the village you can take the Ochre
Walk, an incredible nature walk through ochre-colored hills, a color you've most
likely never seen in nature.
You'll marvel at the picturesque beauty of each medieval enclave you visit
today, with their stone cottages clinging to the hillsides overlooking the
majestic landscapes below them.
Day 4: Gordes to Sault - 60 km / 37 miles. Spend 1 night.
On today's ride, you'll turn your sights almost exclusively toward the raw,
unspoiled, off-the-beaten path natural beauty of the Luberon. Shortly after your departure from Gordes, you'll skirt the nearby mountains cycling alongside jagged rock walls. Your route
today is largely a steady climb, with some exciting roller coaster-like ups and downs. The highlight of this day's ride however is the magnificence of the
Gorges de la Nesque with its expansive vistas, hairpin switchback turns
and Grand Canyonesque drama. After leaving the Gorges, you'll soon arrive in Sault,
the staging point for your Mount Ventoux adventure.
Day 5: Sault to Vaison-la-Romaine - 57.1 km / 35 miles via Mont Ventoux or 46.6 km / 29 miles via easier alternate. Spend 2 nights.
For couples and groups consisting of individuals with different fitness, skill and / or interest levels, the climb-up
Mount Ventoux, the mountain made famous by five-time Tour de France
champion Lance Armstrong, is optional. The alternative route consists of gently rolling hills interspersed with stretches of flat, effortless cycling
and a couple of climbs. The alternative route includes the spectacular scenery of the Valley of the Toulourenc
and passes through several beautiful villages as well.
For our adventure seekers, our climb up Mount Ventoux begins in
Sault, the most popular approach to the summit due
to its more manageable grade overall. From Sault to Chalet Reynard (the point at which all approaches up the mountain converge) the grade ranges
from 1% to 6%. Midway through your climb up the mountain's forested eastern slope you'll encounter an average grade of slightly less than 6% for 7
consecutive kilometers.
From Chalet Reynard to the summit, the grade ranges from 6.5% to 10.4% with the steepest grade occurring at the
very summit for 1.1 kms. By the time you've reached the mountain's barren summit, you will have climbed 1150 meters over 21.1 kilometers. Of course,
your descent to Vaison-la-Romaine is a spine-tingling, hair- raising, thrill-a-minute, once in a lifetime experience as well.
Day 6: Free day in Vaison-la-Romaine.
You'll appreciate a full day to explore magnificent
Vaison-la-Romaine. We recommend beginning your exploration of Vaison in the medieval upper town with its narrow, winding streets lined with
beautiful gardens, charming shops and wonderful restaurants. Perched above the upper town you'll find the ruins of a 12th century castle and it's once
mighty fortifications. As mid-day approaches, you'll want to descend the hill on which the upper town rests to experience the convivial ambience of
Vaison's lively new town. There, we recommend having lunch and shopping for locally crafted treasures before descending further to spend your afternoon
exploring the excavated ruins of an extensive Roman settlement including the homes of its wealthiest residents with their still intact mosaic floors and
indoor plumbing. Vaison is indeed a sensual delight! For more information, click to visit
Vaison-la-Romaine on the web.
Day 7: Vaison to Avignon -
69 km / 43 miles - Spend 1 night.
Dominated by exquisite natural beauty and a numerous villages, each lovelier than the last, you may be tempted to devote the entire day to this
final stage of your tour itinerary. From Vaison, you'll travel along the edge of the Dentelles (French for lace) Mountains down the Route du Vin to
the charming winemaking villages of Séguret,
Sablet, and
Gigondas. From there, you'll head east for more level cycling, passing through one of
France's most exclusive wine appellations, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a wonderful
place to have lunch and explore.
After lunch, you'll cross the Rhone back into the Gard region. Your route will take you down the west side of the Rhone to Roquemaure and then, onto
to the Isle de Barthelasse where you'll cycle on tiny back roads through apple, peach and pear orchards and fields of sunflowers. Before returning to
Avignon however, we recommend stopping in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, just across the Rhone from Avignon. Villeneuve is where the cardinals settled
when on their arrival in the 14th century in Avignon they found no place to build. In addition to its many splendid sights such as the
massive citadel known as Fort St André and the Tour Phillipe le Bel, from here, you'll enjoy incredible views of Avignon and Mount Ventoux.
You will return your rental bikes before 6 pm.
When you are ready to book your tour, please complete
and submit our secure Tour Order Form.
