Explore medieval villages on a Provence Bike Tour with Fresh Eire Adventures. Savour the rural countryside by bike, enjoying the smells and sights of France. Stunning lavender fields, delicious fresh market produce, gorgeous fresh salads and vegetables are all on display. The laid back and friendly locals are a joy to meet. Biking through some of the most picturesque countryside you're likely to ever see from your comfortable Fresh Eire Adventures saddle. Provence; with the lavender-scented breeze flowing through your hair, knowing there's a delicious wine just down the road ... these are the dreams we have when conjuring up images of the French south. Enjoy gourmet meals and carefully selected wines before turning in for the night in gloriously authentic Classic or Deluxe hotels. Our Fresh Eire Adventure of this glorious region takes in the very best of the Luberon and Vaucluse in Provence and Languedoc. We visit the towns and cities of Avignon, Uzes, Gordes and St Remy. Prepare to see rows upon rows of lavender fields and vineyards, typical stone houses with lavender shutters and bustling markets. Expect to meet the friendliest, most charming and warmest locals in all of France and sample their fine produce along the way. #pedalon
Please see our Blogs for Marseille Attractions, Hotel & Restaurant, for Avignon Hotels & Restaurants for Bordeaux and for Paris Casual dining restaurant & takeaway to help with pre and post trip suggestions.
Dates Provence Tour | Prices Provence Tour | Included Provence Tour | Extras Provence Tour
Our Fresh Eire Adventure of this glorious region takes in the very best of the Luberon and Vaucluse in Provence and Languedoc. We visit the towns and cities of Avignon, Uzes, Gordes and St Remy. Prepare to see rows upon rows of lavender fields and vineyards, typical stone houses with lavender shutters and bustling markets. Expect to meet the friendliest, most charming and warmest locals in all of France and sample their fine produce along the way.
Itinerary
Day 1
Avignon is where we will meet on our first morning together. It can be reached by high speed train (TGV) from both central Paris or Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. It is also easily accessed by train from Marseille and many other cities (such as Lyon, Nice, Cannes, Barcelona and Geneva). Most of our guests arrive in Avignon the day before to explore this beautiful city and visit the Palais des Papes, a magnificent medieval fortress, to get a feel for the region.
On our first morning, we'll meet at 9am close to the Hotel d'Europe at Place Crillon, just inside the ramparts by the banks of the Rhone! There will be no hanging around as we'll be off on our bikes, immediately after a bike fitting and safety presentation, and cross the mighty Rhone river, leaving Avignon behind us.
We bike along quiet back roads, passing many orchards - cherries are in season from late May through July - to Tavel, a town famed for it's rosé wine. Here, we'll enjoy our first meal together - a beautiful lunch in a very authentic local cafe.
From Tavel we'll continue to cycle towards our destination Uzes where we'll check in to our hotel for two nights. Tonight we'll meet for a pre-dinner drink in a wonderful wine bar in the medieval centre before enjoying a glorious authentic dinner togther in the market Place aux Herbes.
Included meals: lunch, dinner
Classic hotel: Hotel La Taverne
Deluxe hotel: La Maison d'Uzes
Day 2
Our second day together we'll complete a loop taking in a ride through St Quentin-de-Potterie, a small village known for its pottery tradition.
We'll enjoy a leisurely lunch here and stop off in an organic vineyard run by an order of Greek Orthodox nuns for a wine tasting on our way back to Uzes. Dinner tonight is in a local restuarant in the wonderful Place aux Herbes - if the ceps are in season expect to enjoy their unique earthy taste and fabulous texture...we'll be sure to have you try some Gigondas tonight.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Classic hotel: Hotel La Taverne
Deluxe hotel: La Maison d'Uzes
Day 3
On our third morning together, after an early breakfast, you'll have time to explore the market in the town. Markets in Provence are a feast for the eyes - a true spectacle! You'll be tempted to pick up the produce for close inspection; please don't - the vendors really prefer you not to. After a coffee, we'll get on our bikes and ride to the Pont du Gard, a 2000 year old Roman aqueduct. A sight to behold, and built in 19 BC to carry water from Uzes to Nimes, the 35 arches of its 270m long upper tier were designed to carry over 20,000 cubic metres of water every day.
Weather dependent, we'll stop for a gourmet picnic lunch prepared by your guides, at a scenic spot midway to our destination.
We'll continue our bike ride to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, one of Provence's most famous towns where we'll stay for one night in our beautiful hotel. Our hotel is situated close to where van Gogh spent a year from 1889 painting while hospitalized at the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole. Tonight we'll dine together in a fantastic restaurant in the town and you'll have time to take a stroll around chic Saint-Rémy-de-Provence afterwards.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Classic Hotel: Le Chalet Fleuri
Deluxe Hotel: Mas des Carassins
Day 4
On our fourth morning we visit the hospital where van Gogh spent time painting some of his most famous works. We'll visit the olive groves with a local art historian who will bring the paintings to life.
You will also have an opportunity to see van Gogh's perfectly preserved bedroom, the view from which is the lavender garden which inspired one of his famous paintings. (June, July and August are the best months to visit for the lavender flowers).
We will also have a brief visit of the Roman site "Les Antiques" of Glanum. We stop for lunch in the charming town of Isle sur la Sorgue. We'll pass through Fontaine de Vaucluse, home of waterfall and spring so deep it first attracted the attention of the famous diver Jacques Cousteau. Continuing to bike to our next destination, our hotel in Gordes, once we arrive you will enjoy a spectacular view of the hilltop town where we'll spend two nights here. Tonight you'll dine on your own but we'll happily make reservations for you in our favourite local restaurants.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Classic hotel: Mas de la Senancole
Deluxe hotel: Mas des Romarins
Day 5
Our fifth day's ride is outstanding! After a breakfast in the garden (weather permitting of course!) we shall cycle from Gordes to Roussillon where we will marvel at the ochre cliffs and enjoy lunch together before riding onward to Menerbes. Menerbes is associated, for better or for worse, with the British writer Peter Mayle who came to live here in the late 1980s, setting his whimsical "A Year In Provence" here. We'll ride through the village and then have a wine tasting before continuing to Lacoste. Those of you who are familiar with the work of the Marquis de Sade will know that the chateau here in the village was where the infamous writer set many of his works. We will then bike back towards Gordes stopping off in the quirky Musee de tire-bouchon for a wine tasting at the Domaine de la Citadelle.
Tonight we'll have a delicious Provençale dinner together one last time at the wonderful Ferme de la Huppe.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Classic hotel: Mas de la Senancole
Deluxe hotel: Mas des Romarins
Day 6
This morning, after breakfast, we will shuttle you back to Avignon TGV station where you can return to Paris or its airport, or make any number of rail connections to other regions, or pick up a rental car. Alternatively, you are welcome to spend an extra morning and afternoon at the hotel pool relaxing before taking a taxi to your next destination.
Dates Provence Tour
- Please contact us with your preferred date in mind
Any other start dates available upon request (subject to availability)
Prices Provence Tour
- Classic: US $4,895 pps. Single supplement US$500
- Deluxe: US $5,795 pps. Single supplement US$1000.
- Upgrade to Super Deluxe for your final 2 nights for an additional $800pps.
Included Provence Tour
- Use of hybrid bike and helmet. More about our bikes
- Transfers from/to Avignon centre (or TGV station or SNCF station) on start/end day
- 4 exquisite dinners & wine
- 3 gourmet lunches & wines
- Admissions to all included attractions & tastings
- Baggage transfers
- Tips for hotels/restaurants
- Healthy snacks, water, full guiding services, support vehicle.
- 5 nights B&B in 3 star hotels (Classic) & 4 star hotels (Deluxe), with continental breakfast
Extras Provence Tour
- Upgrade to a carbon road bike or e-bike at extra cost. More about our bikes
- Self-guided extension packages available in Paris (3 nights, 4 star from $1295 pps)
- Guided extension packages available in Paris (3 nights, 2 days guided Tour, 1 free day from $1595pps)
- Gratuities for guides
Related Posts From Our Blog
Marseille Attractions, Hotel & Restaurant
Click here to see the top chateaux in Bordeaux
Paris Casual dining restaurant & takeaway