Cycling and walking in Provence is a sensual experience. As you move slowly through the landscape smell the wild thyme and rosemary. Stop to admire the texture of olive trees against old stone walls. Taste fresh chèvre mingled with tapenade piquant. Listen to the splash of fountains in village squares lined with rustling plane trees.
Location
Vaison-la-Romaine
Vaison-la-Romaine, France
Day 1+2
Gigondas
Gigondas, France
Day 3
Gordes
Gordes, France
Day 4
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France
Day 5
St-RĂ©my-de-Provence
Saint-RĂ©my-de-Provence, France
Day 6+7+8+9
What’s Included in the Cost of Your Trip?
INCLUDED INÂ REGULAR TRIP
8 nights hotels
Transfers between Vaison, Gordes, and St-RĂ©my
All breakfasts and 2 dinners (1 dinner for Casual/B&B version)
Luggage transfers
Use of a high quality performance hybrid or road bike and accessories
Comprehensive Tour Details with detailed pre-trip information
Detailed route instructions and maps
Personal meet & greet with our local Area Manager
Area manager available on call throughout the tour
Access to Loyalty Program and other exclusive benefits
Specifics
TRIP DATES
Start any date between April 1 and October 31
We recommend you to start your trip on a Monday so that you can enjoy the Provencal market in Vaison held every Tuesday.
We recommend you to start your trip on a Monday so that you can enjoy the Provencal market in Vaison held every Tuesday.
Custom trips also available and can start any day. Call or email for details.
TOTAL DAYS
9 days / 8 nights
ARRIVE / DEPART
Vaison-la-Romaine / St-RĂ©my-de-Provence
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Rides: 10 to 50 km (6 to 31 miles).
Walks: 10 to 16 km (6 to 10 miles), 3 to 4 hours.
Your Route Instructions provide information on each walk and ride, so that you can select the ones appropriate for you.
TERRAIN
Some hills every day of minor to moderate difficulty. Shorter or longer rides possible.
COST
Casual/B&B Accommodation: US $1,530
Single Supplement: US $520
Classic Accommodation: US $2,010
Single Supplement: US $595
Luxe Accommodation: US $2,990
Single Supplement: US $810
Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept payment in Canadian dollars also. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Getting There
Vaison-la-Romaine, Gordes, and St-Rémy-de-Provence are all about 650 km southeast of Paris. Access is via either Avignon or Orange, which can be reached via the TGV (high speed train), and are only a three to four hour journey from Paris. Transfer to Vaison, Gordes, or St-Rémy via public transportation. We will provide you with detailed instructions. The region can also be reached by air or from other gateway cities such as Marseille, Lyon or Nice. We’ll provide you with detailed instructions.
1
Day 1
Vaison-la-Romaine
Arrival in Vaison-la-Romaine, where you stay for three nights. Visit the famous Roman ruins, then explore the medieval quarter perched high over the town. Your bicycle is waiting for you, so you can go for a warm-up ride.
2
Day 2
Vaison-la-Romaine
Today’s activities are up to you. You have the full dossier of rides and walks to choose from. You could cycle through apricot and cherry orchards to Malaucène, a quintessentially Provençal town. There’s a pleasant walk from Malaucène part-way up Mont Ventoux to a chapel. Or explore the Dentelles with a walk to the remote, perched village of Crestet, now home to an art centre.
Distance: up to 23 km, elevation gain 337 m.*
3
Day 3
Gigondas
Today ride to Entrechaux, set against Mont Ventoux and with a ruined castle looming high over the village. Add loops to Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, or Buis-les-Barronies. From Mollans there’s a walk to Pierrelongue, where a church perches high on a rocky spire. Or wind your way among wine villages, past Cairanne and then Rasteau, known for a sweet dessert wine. Add a loop to Sablet and Séguret hugging the Dentelles mountains. Extend your Route du Vin tour to Gigondas and beyond. Consider a walk into the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail, among vineyards and lacy, rocky peaks.
Distance: up to 58 km, elevation gain 539 m.*
4
Day 4
Gordes
Today you’re transferred to Gordes, your base for two days. Take time to explore Gordes, then walk to Sénanque Abbey, enjoy the peace and tranquility of its valley setting, and explore the Bories Village, made up of round stone huts some of which are hundreds of years old.
Distance: 49 km, elevation gain 140 m.*
5
Day 5
L’Isle-sur-la-SorgueÂ
Today bike to Roussillon, a village of red ochre. Add a ride to the perched village of Lacoste, home of the Marquis de Sade. Or explore L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, called the “Venice of the Comtat”, then Fontaine de Vaucluse, on your way to Ménerbes, on it rocky promontory.
Distance: up to 71 km, elevation gain 502 m.*
6
Day 6
St-RĂ©my-de-ProvenceÂ
Begin with a transfer to St-Rémy-de-Provence, where you’ll stay for three nights. Stroll through this pretty town, then walk to Glanum and Les Antiques, ancient sites with magnificent Roman ruins, then continue to Les Deux Trous, a scene painted by van Gogh.
Distance: 37 km, elevation gain 291 m.*
7
Day 7
St-RĂ©my-de-Provence
Enjoy a ride to Eygalières, an artists’ village on a mostly flat ride, with fine views of the Alpilles range from nearby St-Sixte Chapel. Extend to the ruined “eagles’ nest” village of Les Baux. Take a more direct route to Les Baux through the Val d’Enfer, the “Valley of Hell”, or head there on foot.
Distance: up to 50 km, elevation gain 377 m.*
8
Day 8
St-RĂ©my-de-Provence
Cycle to Mas Blanc-des-Alpilles. Follow tiny canals through the garden of Provence on this flat ride. Extend your easy ride to the castles of Beaucaire and Tarascon.
Distance: various options- see Route Instructions.*
9
Day 9
St-RĂ©my-de-Provence
Take a final stroll in St-RĂ©my before heading off for your next adventure.
Many daily cycling options for distances of 20-60+ km and elevation gains of 100-500 m. Hiking options for distances of 3-13 km.
*Distance and elevation gains may vary depending on hotels chosen for specific departure.
Casual/B&B
L'Evêché, Vaison-La-Romaine
A luxurious B&B located in the haute village with just five guest rooms, this property was once owned by the bishop of Vaison. There are great views of the old town and the castle, and lively Vaison with great restaurants is a stroll away.
Le Verger, Gordes
Situated in the rolling hils of Gordes, Le Verger offers a rustic and comfortable stay. Terrace balconies offer fantastic views of the surrounding countryside while the garden side pool offers a refreshing dip.
HĂ´tel du Soleil, Saint-RĂ©my-de-Provence
This tranquil 3-star hotel is a short walk (300 m) from the historical centre. There is a swimming pool and many shaded areas to relax on the surrounding terrace.
Classic
Hotel Le Burrhus, Vaison-La-Romaine
This hotel overlooks a pretty square right in the heart of Vaison. The hotel has been recently renovated, and often hosts art exhibits in the hotel’s lounges; the owners are very friendly and there is dedicated garage for bike storage. Straight Talk: rooms are smallish and aren’t completely sound-proofed, but we have often stayed here and enjoyed.
Hotel Les Romarins, Gordes
A charming boutique hotel & restaurant with views over Gordes, and an inviting swimming pool and gardens. Walking distance (500 m) to several options for dinner.
HĂ´tel Gounod, Saint-RĂ©my-de-Provence
Gounod wrote the opera Mireille here. The property has been renovated using stylish furnishing and rich colours. There is a pool and garden in the courtyard. Straight Talk: this hotel has a distinctive personality that can be a jolt to some: “It’s one of those eclectic lodgings blending a great deal of comfort, a little bit of flamboyance, lots of mediterranean, and ample personality….The decor is bold and sensual, quirky perhaps, in that it mixes the classical with occasional strong colours; the overall effect is very pleasant and more than a little bit dreamlike.” Secret Places
Luxe
Hotel Beffroi, Vaison-La-Romaine
Located in the medieval village, this chateau features lovely gardens, a restaurant and a pool. It is in one of the most beautiful 16th century mansions in the Old City of Vaison; you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
La Bastide de Gordes & Spa, Gordes
At the heart of the perched village of Gordes, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, the 5-star La Bastide de Gordes offers all the splendour of a former stately home with swimming pool and terraced gardens. The hotel combines charm, elegance, comfort and luxury. Restaurant and spa services available.
L'Atelier de L'Image, Saint-RĂ©my-de-Provence
This chic and modern 4-star hotel has been established around the theme of photography and has a gallery. There is a Resto-Bar that serves Japanese and French cuisine in contemporary decor or on the terrace in summer.
Trip Reviews
“Cycling in a new country puts the memories in the soul as there is time to absorb the beauty. The balance of cycle/hike and just being a tourist was great. It is hard to beat the exhilaration of cycling in a beautiful country and all the roads were well paved and cyclist friendly. The smaller the town is the more intimate the relationship with the hosts in the accommodations. Aude and Jean Loup at L’Eveche were fabulous. Isabelle at Mas des Oliviers was wonderful, all breakfast food was homemade from yogurt to honey. Thierry our driver added much to our tour, he shared his knowledge and love of his country.”
“We were pleased with the hotels. The staff was very helpful when we needed assistance. I loved that each place was different and provided sites to see. The nice thing is that there are enough choices provided so we could select for hikes that matched our energy level for the day. The area manager was very friendly and helpful.”
“We chose Randonnee for our Provence Multi-Sport tour because we thoroughly enjoyed your Ireland package and we are Randonnee Tours advocates (spreading the word to all family and friends)! In fact, we now have a bucket list of completing as many of your country tours as possible. All accommodations were great places to stay with authentic feels and charming neighborhoods. We truly enjoyed those places that included breakfast each morning and the occasional dinner.”
“We had a wonderful time. The weather was so good to us! And all the hotels you booked for us were just great. We especially loved the rich décor, delicious breakfast and helpful folks at Hotel Gounod. Our favorite hike was The dentelles de Montmiraille, Spectacular! Thank you for your help it was a grand vacation.”
“Very relaxing and great countryside to ride through. Would do it again.”
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