Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

5 Days Excluding Flights From

5 Days from

£ 1069

£ 1259

Cycling

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Ages :

18+

Trip Code :

C04PL

Provence is a place whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to such iconic figures as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas (not to mention Peter Mayle!).

This 4 night short break holiday has been designed to give you a taste of the famous hilltop villages which dot its breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon region.

On this four night holiday you’ll discover the beauty of Provence – a region where refinement and tradition blend beautifully, and whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to the likes of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas, not to mention Peter Mayle! You’ll look out over a patchwork blanket of fields, olive groves, vineyards and, in the south east, apple orchards which cover the floor between the mountains on either side. While the vineyards here may not be as well-known as those of the Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux, some superb wines are produced here – so be sure to stop off for a tasting or two.

Highlights

A lavender-scented patchwork of sun drenched vineyards, olive groves and apple orchards
Mediaeval perched villages: Gordes and Bonnieux, with spectacular views across the Luberon
Quiet country lanes and cycle paths; beautiful Provencal countryside and sleepy hamlets
Great lunch options; chateaux and wine estates all too happy to provide tastings
A variety of hotels, each with a swimming pool
Based on our popular 6-night trip - Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

Key Information

4 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies)
Management by your Headwater local appointed agent

Countries visited: France

What's Included

All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals
GPS route directions and maps
RideWithGPS navigation app
High Quality Bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single supplement (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplements (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

Flights from Heathrow to Marseille with British Airways, including onward rail and station transfers
Other flights, including regional departures, Business/club/first class fares on request and First class rail
Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels
City break add-ons in Marseille and Nice

3 Days of Cycling

Terrain:

The cycling is mostly on plains or gentle foothills and we have used the quietest possible lanes to link the towns and villages. There are only occasional (unavoidable) short stretches on major roads. One or two parts of the countryside are fairly hilly, so take your time on the steeper climbs and admire the wonderful long-distance views.

Day 2

50 km / 31.1 miles

Day 3

45 km / 28 miles

Day 4

33 km / 20.5 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

C04PL - Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Itinerary

Pernes-Les-Fontaines Pernes-Les-Fontaines London London

Arrive at your 3 star hotel, just north of the town of Pernes-les-Fontaines. There’s plenty of time to relax and explore the hotel grounds before dinner. (Staying at Hotel l’Hermitage, Breakfast with dinner in local restaurant)

Meals included: Dinner

Pass by Pernes-les-Fontaines before setting off alongside the Canal de Carpentras and on through the beautiful scenery of the Vaucluse down to the popular town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The old town here is entirely surrounded by the clear waters of the River Sorgue. There are lots of lunch options in the town, or you could stop a little further on in the pretty village of Fontaine-de- Vaucluse. In the afternoon you climb to enjoy your first spectacular views of the Luberon before descending past vineyards, olive groves and windmills, and on to the ochre-painted village of Roussillon, the starting point of the Ochre Trail. (Staying at Hotel Les Sables D’Ocre, Breakfast included)

Distance covered: 31mi (50km)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, Then head south along country lanes where a mixture of climbs and freewheeling takes you through some of the most beautiful villages in Provence. First there’s Bonnieux. Then it’s on to Lacoste to explore the ruined castle, once a mighty fortification and now a spectacular viewpoint. From here you’ll freewheel down before another short climb to Menerbes, made famous by the books of Peter Mayle, and a great place to stop for lunch. Then continue to Oppede le Vieux, another perched village before to reach Fontaine de Vaucluse.
You stay at Hotel du Poete (breakfast included)

Distance covered: 28mi (45km)

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning you ride to L’Isle sur la Sorgue, then through apple country where you’ll see orchards aplenty. Following the lanes brings you to the mediaeval town of Le Thor. Then it’s back to Pernes-les-Fontaines where you have time to explore the mediaeval old town and the numerous ancient stone fountains and lavoirs.
You stay at the Hotel l’Hermitage (breakfast at the hotel, evening meal at a local restaurant)

Distance covered: 21mi (33km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/moderate)
Average daily distance on move on days: 35km ( 22 miles).
No. of days cycling: 3
Terrain: The cycling is mostly on plains or gentle foothills and we have used the quietest possible lanes to link the towns and villages. There are only occasional (unavoidable) short stretches on major roads. One or two parts of the countryside are fairly hilly, so take your time on the steeper climbs and admire the wonderful long-distance views.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies.

Your itinerary has been designed to give you a taste of the picturesque perched villages which pepper Provence’s breathtaking, lavender-scented Luberon area. The hilly landscape of the region means the cycling can be challenging at times but for each tough climb you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view. Starting in the mediaeval town of Pernes-les-Fontaines, famous for its numerous ancient stone fountains and lavoirs, you’ll enjoy far-reaching views over the Luberon as you make your way to the ochre-red village of Roussillon passing vineyards, chateaux and castles on the way. You then head out along the Ochre Trail and along country lanes to pass through some of the most beautiful villages in Provence – each one offering stirring images along with a history which, in some places, stretches back over a thousand years – before your final stretch takes in sweeping apple orchards, typical French villages, quaint cafes and the fascinating network of caves at Grotte de Thouzon.

Joining Instructions

Alternative Air Travel
Alternative flights, onward rail to your holiday area, and connecting private transfers can be arranged from most UK airports. If you would like to use one of the many ‘low cost’ airlines, we can book these on your behalf (£30 admin fee per person). We can also book UK shuttles to connect with your onward flight, please call for details and prices.

Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Location end: Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Transfer Details

Standard transfers
Transfers included from Avignon TGV train station at 13:19, and back to Avignon TGV train station at 11:45.

Vaccinations and Health

France

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Food & Drink

All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals included.

Provençale cuisine is a blend of many influences from the plentiful sea, to neighbour Italy and the early Roman occupation. The soil is rich and the climate is conducive to producing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.
Whilst not the most sophisticated of the French cuisines, most dishes use the excellent tasting local fresh produce. Cooking à la Provençale uses local olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and wild herbs, all ripened by the sun to give an intensity of flavour. You can browse among the colours and smells, and make picnic purchases at the lively local markets.
The proximity of the sea makes fish and seafood an important element of the local cuisine. Regional dishes include the famous bouillabaisse, a rich fish stew served with aioli and rouille; the bourride – a lighter version of the bouillabaisse; pistou soupe (summer vegetable soup with a blend of garlic, basil and olive oil); authentic ratatouille, large colourful salads and delicious courgette flower fritters. Tapenade and anchoïade are savoury dips made with local olives and anchovies; pissaladière is an onion tart with olives and anchovies and is very likely to have come from the Romans.

Weather

Temperatures tend to average around 30°C during the summer months and fall to an average of 15°C during winter. The infamous Mistral wind can have a great effect on the temperatures, particularly in the western part of Provence.

July and August are very warm with little to no rainfall. Temperatures tend to climb up to 30°C during the day. At night it cools off considerably, especially on the coast, near a lake or in the mountains. In general, the farther away from the coast the more oppressive the heat becomes during the day.

The months around the high season are the most pleasant (May, June, September, October) with average temperatures between 22°C and 27°C . October is the most uncertain month of the four, but of course it can also be a splendid month with warm, sunny days and practically no rain.

Weather Charts

TRIP

C04PL - Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels

We’ve hand-picked a lovely selection of hotels for your holiday. The Hotel l’Hermitage in Pernes-les-Fontaines is set in 2 hectares of grounds with a swimming pool and its own orangery; the Hotel les Sables d’Ocre in Roussillon sits amidst landscaped lawns with a relaxing pool area; while La Bastide du Bois Breant in Maubec provides a typically Provencal feel, sitting in its own woodland and boasting a lovely pool.