Overview
A six day self-guided cycling holiday, starting in Avignon and finishing at L’Isle–sur-la-Sorgue, famous for its cobbled streets and canal systems. Cycle between 35-60km per day, staying at small guesthouses along the way in typical Provençal towns and villages. This is an easy to moderate level cycling holiday, exploring the landscapes of Les Alpilles and Le Luberon, ancient olive and cypress groves, with an option to cycle to the iconic winelands of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
This tour is available all year round, and you can choose between a hybrid bike or an e-bike rental as an optional service.
- Les Alpilles
- Le Luberon
- Follow in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
- Hilltop villages of Gordes, Les Baux, Bonnieux and Lacoste
- L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Avignon
Arrive in Avignon, and spend this first day visiting the medieval city classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on the banks of the Rhône, Avignon holds many treasures: the Palais des Papes, the famous Saint Bénezet bridge, churches and museums, traditional squares and secret alleys.
- Overnight in Avignon (standard option: Hotel Boquier or similar // upgrade option: Hotel Central or similar)
Optional extra day: Circular ride to Châteauneuf-du-Pape | 54km
Today’s journey from Avignon to Châteauneuf-du-Pape takes you first to L’Île de la Barthelasse, an island squeezed between two branches of the Rhône. Cycle through meadows and along small country roads, past traditional farms and old orchards. Heading northward, the landscapes slope gently upwards, as you enter the famous vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We recommend visiting one of the prestigious wine estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape before you return to Avignon following the same way.
- Cycling for the day: 54km ↑100m ↓50m
- Overnight in Avignon (standard option: Hotel Boquier or similar // upgrade option: Hotel Central or similar)
Day 2: Avignon to St-Remy-de-Provence | 35km
Leave the historic city centre and head towards the Montagnette massif, passing olive, almond and pine trees. Frigolet Monastery is an ideal place to picnic. Descend to the village Graveson, a place with hundred-year-old plane trees and a cafe that is a firm favourite called, L’Univers. The painter Auguste Chabaud of the Fauves movement lived in this village, and his amazing works are exhibited in a small museum. Continue on through Maillane, known for being the birthplace of 19th century poet Frédéric Mistral, who was a Nobel Prize winner for literature. Your day comes to a close in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a city of artists where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life.
- Cycling for the day: 35km ↑250m ↓200m
- Overnight in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (standard option: Hotel du Soleil or similar // upgrade option: Hotel Sous les Figuiers or similar)
Day 3: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence circular ride | 42km
Today you can relax and explore Saint-Rémy-de-Provence or do a circular ride through the countryside and visit Les Baux-de-Provence. Leaving Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, you can visit Saint Paul de Maussole, where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life and did some of his most famous work. Adjacent to the monastery is Glanum, a Roman archaeological site. Continue along the winding roads of the Alpilles mountains as far as Les Baux-de-Provence, listed among the most beautiful villages in France, a town perched vertiginously atop a rocky crag, crowned by the ruins of its feudal castle. Explore Les Baux, its castle and Carrieres de Lumieres, an ancient quarry that has been restored to display different artworks on huge stone walls (entrance not included), before returning to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
- Cycling for the day: 42km ↑400m ↓400m
- Overnight in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (standard option: Hotel du Soleil or similar // upgrade option: Hotel Sous les Figuiers or similar)
Day 4: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue | 42km
Cross the Alpilles massif to reach Le Luberon, with a first stop is Eygalières, surrounded by vast olive groves and beautiful stone houses. Climb the hill to the castle ruins where you get a wonderful view of the surrounding areas. Continue through farmlands and endless orchards until you cross the Durance River to reach Cavaillon, a perfect place to shop for a picnic. The last stop for the day is L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, also called Provençal Venice, with its many water wheels and canals, where you spend the next two nights. The clear green waters of the Sorgue River completely encircle this veritable island of a village. Explore the antique shops that line the quays, and watch the world go by at one of the many waterfront cafes.
- Cycling for the day: 42 km ↑130m ↓140m
- Overnight in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (standard option: Les Terrasses by David et Louisa or similar // upgrade option: Grand Hotel Henri or similar)
Day 5: L’Isle sur-la-Sorgue circular rides | 22/40/60/75km
Today, you have a few cycling options to choose from or book an extra night in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (with an extra day of bike rental) to cover them all.
- Overnight in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (standard option: Les Terrasses by David et Louisa or similar // upgrade option: Grand Hotel Henri or similar)
Options 1 and 2:
There are a few climbs today, but they are worth cycling through some of the region’s most famously beautiful villages of Gordes and Roussillon. After visiting them, you have two options: the easier of the two returns to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue via a peaceful cycle-only path following a former railway line. To add some extra hilltop villages to the mix, the second option includes a return via the villages of Lacoste, Ménerbes and Oppède.
- Cycling for the day: 60km ↑575m ↓575m (longer option with adding the villages of Lacoste, Ménerbes and Oppède : 75km ↑1000m ↓1000m)
Option 3:
An easy ride to the Fontaine de Vaucluse: home to one of the largest natural springs in the world, ranked fifth in the world with a total average flow of 630 million cubic metres of water each year. The intense beauty of this natural site has intrigued and inspired many French writers and poets, including Petrarch, Boccaccio, Chateaubriand, Frederic Mistral and René Char. Enjoy a coffee break or lunch on the square in Lagnes, just like locals do and then return to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for an overnight.
- Cycling for the day: 22km ↑230m ↓230m (you can stop in Lagnes and go for a two-hour kayak tour down the Sorgue river – available only in the summer, needs to be pre-booked)
Option 4:
Head along tiny country roads and warm your legs before climbing to the hilltop village of Venasque. From Venasque, a succession of hidden perched villages in the Monts du Vaucluse takes you back to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
- Cycling for the day: 40km ↑650m ↓650m
Day 6: Departure
The trip ends after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
The standard accommodation is in 2- and 3-star hotels in private en-suite double/twin rooms. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. Optional hotel upgrade is possible to 3- and 4-star hotels. Please note that an additional supplement may be applied during the Theatre Festival in Avignon in July.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Boquier (Avignon)
- Hotel du Soleil (St-Rémy-de-Provence)
- Les Terrasses by David et Louisa (L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Hotel Central (Avignon)
- Hotel Sous les Figuiers (St-Rémy-de-Provence)
- Grand Hotel Henri (L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included. Lunch packs for the next day can be pre-ordered at each accommodation, or you can buy bread, cheeses and meats, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables at local markets. For dinner, you can visit one of the restaurants in the villages or order from the a la carte menu in your accommodation.
Local markets
- Avignon: Les Halles indoor covered market every morning except Monday
- St-Rémy-de-Provence: big market on Wednesday morning and a small one on Saturday morning
- L‘Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: big market on Sunday morning
- You may enjoy our blog on French markets
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for cyclists with an average level of fitness used to regular exercise and who can handle cycling uphill. Easy to moderate cycling up to 60km per day on small roads and tracks with moderate but steady climbs along the way through hilly terrain (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. Your holiday information pack will include more detailed information on route navigation.
When to go
This trip is available on any date throughout the year from January to December.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate desired start date when booking. Provence is beautiful in the spring months of March, April and May when the blooming of the wildflowers is stunning. Summers in Provence are hot and dry, with temperatures that often exceed 30C and relatively cool nights with temperatures between 20-25C. Autumn is still warm and the daily temperatures range between 12-20C. Winter is mild and relatively sunny, with average daily temperatures between 3-11C and January being the coldest month. This is also the perfect time to experience Provence without the crowds.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this holiday is Marseille. Alternative airports are Nice, Paris, Montpellier, Toulon and Nîmes.
By train or bus
- Arrival: from the nearest international airport in Marseilles, it takes 2h to reach Avignon. From Paris, it is a 3h journey by train. You can check train schedules and prices here.
- Departure: from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where there is a train station to travel onwards.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights of double occupancy with private facilities in hotels
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers days 2 and 4 (One piece per person up to 20kg)
- Travel kit with roadbook and integrated maps (one set per room provided on arrival
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights and airport transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Bike rental
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses – please note that if you need additional transfers due to weather conditions etc., these are at your expense with payment on the spot
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payment on the spot)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Bike rental. Please note: For e-bike rental, you need to pre-authorise your credit card as a guarantee
- Extra nights – please note that if you book extra nights, there is also a supplement for an additional day of bike rent
- Supplement bike rental on the extra days
- Upgraded charming hotels with a supplement – prices per person in double/twin rooms available in the booking form; single rooms to be quoted on request
- Airport transfers from/to Marseille airport (note a surcharge is required if the transfer is on Sundays, bank holidays and at night)
Bike rental
Hybrid bikes: A lightweight, aerodynamic bike with slightly wider tyres than road bikes, designed to combine comfort and performance on both roads and trails.
An ideal bike for touring and riding between 25 and 60km per day. The hybrid bikes – Trek or equivalent – are top of the range: equipped with Shimano parts, lightweight aluminium frames, and a triple chainring. Pedalling: 28/38/48 with 11/32 groupset > 27 speeds.
The bike frames are unisex: where possible, we provide a comfortable women’s saddle for all women riders. Equipment: one repair kit for two bikes – an inner tube per bike – pump – helmet – one front pannier – one side pannier – one water bottle holder – one lock per bike.
E-bikes: Provence is hilly, and most of the prettiest villages are elevated, which means you have to climb to get there. The e-bike is, therefore, perfect for Provence. How it works: when you start pedalling, the electric motor is activated. You can choose between several levels of electric assistance. Equipped with a battery with a range of 90km (Bosch battery 500Wh), a low frame (Frame Cannondale Mavaro), puncture-proof tyres, hydraulic brakes (Shimano M365 hydraulic disc, 180/160mm, guaranteeing the highest level of safety). Equipment: anti-puncture tires – repair kit – an inner tube for three bikes, pump tips – pump – helmet – anti-theft -one handlebar bag – two waterproof rear panniers – bike charger. During the bike delivery, you will be asked for a pre-authorisation of your credit card as a guarantee.
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