TOUR AT A GLANCE – Provence Bike
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departures 2012: May 26 & Sept 1, and private departures.
Departing from: Montélimar on Saturday afternoon, Day 1
Tour finishes: Orange train station, morning Day 8
Price 2012: €2,250 per person based on double occupancy and minimum of 6 people . Single Supplement €260.
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All dates are Guaranteed departures. You can create your own date for a small group. Click on any picture to enlarge. (CD 280112)
Provence – the word itself evokes much that is desirable in life: beautiful scenery, fine food and wine, and the irresistible joie de vivre of its local inhabitants. We take you through medieval hilltop towns and past fields of lavender and tidy vineyards. We take the time to stop along the way at wonderful bistros and cafes where we sample authentic Provencal cuisine and the best wines that the region offers. We cycle the back roads of the Vaucluse and Drôme regions, frequenting charming villages and the wilder side of Provence on the north flank of Mont Ventoux. You can even ride to the 6,232-foot summit to get a taste of what it’s like for the riders in the Tour de France. Full vehicle support and small, charming hotels each night provide additional elements of comfort and appeal. This combination of exercise and indulgence creates the perfect cycling vacation.
Trip Design: We have re-designed this trip for 2012, running it in reverse to increase the chance of having the wind at our backs! We have also designed it to enable both novice and expert bikers to discover the joy of cycling in Provence. The week-long trip takes us around the Mont Ventoux, famous both as a magnificent feature of the Provençal landscape as well as a grueling stage of the Tour de France. Each day riders have a beautiful and relatively easy ride along quiet roads that link the charming villages and hamlets of the area. We also give strong riders the option each day of adding some scenic and challenging rides into the surrounding hills. We have found that this is often an excellent formula for couples and friends who have disparate riding skills.
Luggage is transferred by van. 2 nights Saint Paul Trois Châteaux, 3 nights Vaison la Romaine, and 2 nights near Bédoin. Trip ends in Orange.
Day 1 – Saturday: Independent arrival in Montélimar. There are regular rail connections from Paris to Montélimar (3-4 hour travel time). Your guides will meet you for a van transfer around 3:30 p.m. (exact time to correspond with a TGV train from Paris) from the Montélimar train station to our first night’s accommodation at the Hotel l’Esplan in Saint Paul Trois Châteaux. Dinner tonight in the excellent hotel dining room. Overnight in Saint Paul Trois Châteaux. Hotel and dinner included.
Day 2 – Sunday: Our ride takes us up onto a little used ridge road that links small stone hamlets and isolated farms before dropping down into the valley and the village of Grignan, the perfect stop for a mid morning croissant and café au lait. Grignan is famous for its imposing 16th-century château which sits high up on a rocky spur. The ride continues past fields of lavender to the walled village of Richerenches which was formerly a bastion of the Knights of Saint John. Here we lunch beneath the shade of enormous plane trees. A short, flat afternoon ride takes us home. Optional wine tasting at Chateau Gourdon, whose excellent Veilles Vignes Cotes du Rhone is made from the fruit of 100 year old vines. Dinner in a lively bistro in the village square. Overnight Saint Paul Trois Châteaux. Mileage: 50 km (31 mi) with 60 km (38 mi) option. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 – Monday: A gorgeous ride awaits us as we leave the Drôme region and head south towards Mont Ventoux. On our way we stop in Villedieu, one of our favorite places because of its sublime village square, complete with enormous shade trees, tinkling fountain, bakery and café. Our eventual destination is the remarkable town of Vaison La Romaine, which features a historic Roman core, a beautifully preserved Medieval upper village, and a vibrant town centre with dozens of shops, cafes and bistros. We stay in the heart of the matter at the Hotel Burrhus, which is an “Art” hotel with a fabulous location convenient to everything. It features a lovely balcony terrace where we relax and enjoy an aperitif overlooking the main village square. Dinner in the upper village. Mileage: 50 km (31 mi) with 60 km (38 mi) option. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 – Tuesday: The town is buzzing with life this morning because today is Le Grand Marché , considered the best of all Provençal markets. Hundreds of stalls sell handicrafts, linens, ceramics, herbs, soaps, and food, including olives prepared in every conceivable way. Partake in this quintessential Provençal experience in the early morning and then meet up to explore the rest the old town, including the 2,000 year old Roman ruins and the dramatic medieval town, built in the 8th century as protection against marauding barbaric tribes. Our afternoon ride meanders through the Côtes du Rhone wine villages of Rasteau, Cairanne, and Sablé where you can taste and tipple to your hearts content. Tonight is a free night dinner so you can choose to go big at one of the gastronomique restaurants or just enjoy some wine and cheese on the terrace. The choice is yours. Mileage: 40 km (25 mi) with 55 km (35 mi) option Hotel & breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 5 – Wednesday: Today’s ride takes us to the most remote part of the region as we ride along the northern edge of Mont Ventoux. This area is sparsely populated, but still dotted with picturesque hilltop villages like Brantes. We follow the emerald-coloured waters of the Gorges du Toulourenc to return to our hotel in Vaison la Romaine. As this is one of the most challenging days of the trip, our support vehicle can offer riders a lift to the top of the pass for an easier ride back to our hotel. Dinner in the village at a small wine bistro. Mileage: 55 km (35 mi), or up to 70 km (45 mi). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 – Thursday: From Vaison la Romaine we ride through the wine village of Gigondas towards the Dentelles de Montmirail on our way to Bédoin. The Dentelles are short, steep mountains with a distinctive rocky limestone ridge. We have lunch in the quaint village of Beaumes de Venise, which is famous for its sweet Muscat wine. The afternoon ride passes by some of the most beautiful villages in France: Caromb and Crillon le Brave, which is perched high on a hill with breathtaking views onto the slopes of Mont Ventoux. We stay at a charming hotel just outside of Bédoin village, the Hotel des Pins. Unwind by the pool or in a hammock after your ride. We have dinner at the hotel where the young chef creates recipes based on local seasonal products but with an exotic touch! Dinner and overnight near Bédoin. Mileage: 50 km (30 mi) with longer option available. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 – Friday: We thread our way from village to village, including Mormoiron and Venasque, all linked by the beauty of the Provençal countryside. Behind it all, Mont Ventoux — nicknamed “The Giant of Provence” — towers over the surrounding countryside. Serious cyclists can opt to pedal their way to the summit where, on a clear day, you may see both the Alps and the Pyrénées. The climb is often part of the Tour de France and anyone who goes for the summit will gain a new-found respect for the cyclists who compete in The Tour. The rest of us will enjoy a superb bistro lunch over looking a limestone gorge from Venasque village, and have one final tasting at the excellent Caves coopératives à Bédoin. Overnight and dinner at the hotel. Mileage: 50 km (30 mi) with Mont Ventoux option. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 – Saturday: After breakfast we offer a van transfer to the Orange train station for quick rail connections back to Paris, Lyon and other destinations. Breakfast included.
Useful Links -Provence tourism: general site on the region and its food, arts, & activities
Orange Roman Theater: official site of this amazing monument, lots of good info
Côtes du Rhône: very informative site on one of France’s best wine families
Mont Ventoux: interesting Wikipedia entry, including lots of Tour de France stats
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: look at all the fabulous things to see in France!
General Information
| Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with challenging optional rides. It is perfect for anyone who is physically fit and likes to cycle; the presence of a support van and relatively flat terrain means that cyclists of all abilities may join. The daily distances are around 50 kms (30 miles) a day, or about four hours of riding more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon.What is included: All accommodations (2 nights Saint Paul Trois Châteaux, 3 nights Vaison la Romaine, 2 nights Bédoin); 7 breakfasts and 6 dinners; bilingual guide or guides; support vehicle; guided tours as noted in the itinerary; all luggage transfers; including a scheduled pick up from Montélimar train station and a final scheduled transfer to Orange train station; bikes (quality 27-speed hybrid-style touring bikes with front handlebar bags and rear racks).Getting therethis will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page.Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page).
Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.  We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
