Cost:
737 UK $1540 Cdn based on double.
Single
supplement: 154
UK $ 321 Cdn
Cycle rental paid locally 75
Euros.
Start Dates: any day from March to October.
Duration: 7 nights.
Tour Profile: Moderate to difficult - paved roads. Some difficult ascents.
Included: seven nights accommodation, breakfast daily, five
dinners, luggage transfer, complete route maps and
notes, local representative for assistance.
Accommodation
7
nights/8 days -Night 1 is spent in the heart of Avignon
in a comfortable town hotel (2* Logis de France). All
the major sites are an easy walk away. There are generous
continental breakfasts provided.
Our next 3 nights are in the village of Fontvieille
(2* Logis de France), an attractive rustic logis with a
small pool and terrace garden. A really peaceful place to
spend your evenings. Our last 3 nights are spent in the
village of L’Isle sur la Sorgue. Our usual hotel
is a modern 2*hotel, beautifully situated along the Sorgue
river, bordered with chestnut trees. It is a very
peaceful, location and has a roof top pool and
serves home made jams at breakfast.
Start Point: Avignon End of
Tour: Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Itinerary
Day
1. Arrival in Avignon. Stay inside Avignon’s fortified
city for the first night. Discover the beauty of one of
Provence’s great cities. From the “Palais des Papes”
to the “Pont d’Avignon,” a stroll through history.
Night Avignon.
Day 2. Ride from Avignon to the Alpilles, and Fontvielle
(45km) via the Monastery Saint Frigolet (12th century)
which takes its name from the thyme (“ferigoulo” in
Provençal), which grows wild on the hill sides. It’s
most famous pilgrim was Anne of Austria who went to pray
for an heir to the throne of France…the future Louis
XIV. Night in Fontvieille. (B, D)
Day 3. Ride to les Baux de Provence, St. Remy de Provence
and back to Fontvielle (45 km).
Baux is a wonderful 10th century AD, a wonderful hilltop
town that belonged to the Grimaldi family until 1790.
Today, Prince Albert of Monaco retains the honorary title
of Marquis of Les Baux. From there drop down into Saint Rémy
de Provence for a stroll to discover several 15th / 16th
century mansions or to have a drink under a plane tree
(almost as old as the buildings). Night Fontvieille. (B,
D)
Day 4. A relaxing day trip to Arles, returning to
Fontvieille (30km) (Wednesday is market day) Discover Van
Gogh’s second home and the city’s Roman center. With
its baths , theatre and remarkably preserved amphitheatre.
There is also a rather beautiful Mediaeval cathedral and
square. Night Fontvieille. (B, D)
Day 5. Fontvieille to L’Isle sur la Sorgue (55km).
Ride into the heart of the Baux valley through the typical
provencal village of Maussane. Enjoy the centre’s cafés
and producers of local wonders like the 17th century
Cornille mill where you can taste one of Provence’s best
olive oils or try a tapenade at Jean Martin’s. Arrive in
L’Isle sur la Sorgue, Provence’s antiques capital… Night
L’Isle sur la Sorgue. (B, D)
Day 6. A day in the Luberon (62km)
This takes you along little roads, through wonderful
villages from Gordes to Roussillon. Bucolicsettings for a
wonderful day. Night L’Isle sur la Sorgue. (B, D)
Day 7. Another Luberon ride (42km) A day to discover some
of the lesser known villages in the Mont de Vaucluse
including Venasque that overlooks Mont Ventoux, perched at
the summit of a rocky outcrop, classed amongst one of the
"most beautiful villages in France." The village
boasts a beautiful baptistery believed to be the oldest in
the region.
Night once again in L’Isle sur la Sorgue. (B)
Day 8. Trip ends after breakfast in L’Isle sur la Sorgue.
Transfer to nearby train station. (B)
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