Provence France – Bike Tour
This trip, we’ve decided to stray outside the region’s most famous pockets to show you our favorite hidden gems. You’ll see authentic Provence as you experience daily life in towns like Forcalquier and Pierrerue. You will stay in a 17th century convent, and go inside the labs at Occitane. View the sky from a local observatory, and learn about the red-hued houses of Roussillon on a private tour through the ochre mines. Best of all, you still experience the classics—with a twist.
Day 1 – Aix en Provence
Pedal from the Lure Mountain to the headquarters of Occitane, where you get to blend your own Provençal fragrance
Day 2 – Mane-en-Provence
Shop for picnic goodies among the market stalls of little-known Forcalquier, then bike into the Lubéron valley
Day 3 – St Saturin les Apt
Build up your appetite for dinner on a Century Ride via Apt and the Calavon River
Day 4 – Menerbes
Experience Peter Mayle’s Provence on two wheels, pedaling past the picture-postcard villages of Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes, and Lacoste
Day 5 – Vaucluse
Ride through the beautiful Vaucluse mountains, where you enjoy stunning views and a royal picnic
Day 6 – Avignon
Breakfast in Gargas, then au revoir in Avignon
Activity level is Moderate:
This trip is rated Moderate. Most of the riding is quite manageable, becoming slightly more challenging around the Vaucluse area and our final hotel. However, where the hills are challenging—up to Massif des Cèdres, for example—the B&R van is there to help out weary riders. Daily distances average 50 km (31 mi.), with the option for a 102 km (63 mi.) Century Ride on one day.