Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling - Short Break

Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling - Short Break

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5 Days From

$2090

Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling - Short Break

5 Days Starting and ending in Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Visiting: France

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

C04PL

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

Leisurely / Moderate

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

History, Photography

Activities:

Cycling, Sightseeing, Walking

From: $2090

NB: Prices correct on 05-Jul-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

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 variety of hotels, each with a swimming pool

  • Great lunch options; chateaux and wine estates all too happy to provide tastings

  • Mediaeval perched villages: Gordes and Bonnieux, with spectacular views across the Luberon

  • Based on our popular night,

  • A lavender-scented patchwork of sun drenched vineyards, olive groves and apple orchards

  • Quiet country lanes and cycle paths; beautiful Provencal countryside and sleepy hamlets

Itinerary

Day 1


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)*



Day 2


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 only)*



Day 3


After breakfast, set out along the Ochre Trail to the village of Gargas where
you have the opportunity to visit the Ochre Mines of Bruoux. A greenway cycle
path takes you on to the medieval town of Apt to explore the old town, or
simply enjoy a coffee, before heading 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, from where nearby
Chateau la Connorgue (made famous by Ridley Scott's A Good Year) can be
visited for tastings - if you choose to climb higher up, simply incredible
views unfold. 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. The last leg takes
you to Maubec where your hotel awaits - a 18th century farmhouse, restored in
the Provencal style, set amongst its own woodland with a lovely swimming pool
to relax beside before dinner. *(Staying in La Bastide du Bois Breant, Half
Board)*



Day 4


This morning you ride through apple country where you'll see orchards
aplenty. Following the lanes brings you to the medieval town of Le Thor,
after which you pass the ruins of the fortified monastery at Thouzon, along
with the Grotte de Thouzon; a network of caves carved out by an underground
river. 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. *(Staying at Hotel l'Hermitage, Breakfast with dinner in local
restaurant)*



Day 5


LEAVE PERNES-LES-FONTAINES



What's Included

  • Meals
    4 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 2 dinners.


* All accommodation
* All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals
* Services of your local Headwater Representative
* GPS route directions and maps 
* /RideWithGPS/ navigation app
* High quality hybrid bikes 
* Luggage transfers between ho

What's Not Included

  • OPTIONAL UPGRADES

  • Other flights, including regional departures

  • Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels

  • Business/club/first class fares on request

  • Flights from Heathrow to Marseille with British Airways, including onward rail and station transfers

  • First class rail

  • City break add-ons in Marseille and Nic

Food


All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals included.

Provencale 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 Provencale 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.

Accommodation

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.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Luggage transfers between hotels

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    There are no specific health risks.

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Age 8+ can go on this tour.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

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Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

paul green (Google Reviewer)  

Went on a tour of...

14-Jan-2022

Went on a tour of morocco in October and loved it ,mohamed the tour guide was excellent, probably go with exodus to India next year

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
John Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I went cycling in Albania...

19-Aug-2023

I went cycling in Albania with exodus as my first holiday with them. Such a well organised and wonderful experience where I met multiple fellow travellers who have been advocates of them for many years. You can't argue with happy repeat customers and I'm planning my next adventure with them soon

Rob Burridge (Google Reviewer)  

I'v just come back from...

17-Jul-2022

I'v just come back from an amazing Wildlife & Wilderness trip in Botswana and I highly recommend Exodus Travels. Our guide Brian, was extremely knowledgeable on both the wildlife and history of Botswana and neighbouring countries. The other three staff, Abbis, Chief & Mr T, who accompanied us through out our 2 week trip, put in the hard work and made sure our camp was always prepared and that we we're well fed and looked after. The tour took us to some beautiful places and we saw some amazing wildlife, and on several occasions this was due to Brian's knowledge of the area and wildlife behaviour. Exodus have been very quick to respond to any queries I had, and the whole experience ran smoothly. I was also pleased to hear that during lockdown they provided staff with food packages 👍. I'd normally go on self organised trips, however, with this trip, the tour and guide Brian took us to places not possible otherwise and showed us things that we would'v missed out on. All of which were the highlights of the tour.

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

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  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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