Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

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5 Days From

$2270

Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

5 Days Starting and ending in Pernes-Les-Fontaines, France

Visiting: Pernes-les-Fontaines, Roussillon, Provence

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

C04PL

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

Easy & Moderate

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Trip Styles:

Active

Activities:

Cycling, Sightseeing, Walking

From: $2270

NB: Prices correct on 22-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Embark on a captivating cycling adventure through the enchanting Hilltop Villages of Provence. This tour invites you to explore the lavender-scented landscapes of sun-drenched vineyards, olive groves, and apple orchards. Pedal along quiet country lanes and cycle paths, discovering medieval perched villages like Gordes and Bonnieux, each offering breathtaking views across the Luberon. Enjoy delightful lunch options and indulge in wine tastings at welcoming chateaux and estates. Stay in a selection of charming hotels, each featuring a swimming pool for relaxation after a day of cycling. With high-quality bikes and convenient luggage transfers, this tour ensures a seamless journey through the picturesque Provencal countryside, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the region's beauty and tranquility.

Highlights

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

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

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

  • Great lunch options with chateaux and wine estates offering tastings.

  • Explore the ochre-painted village of Roussillon and the starting point of the Ochre Trail.

  • Visit the medieval town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, surrounded by the clear waters of the River Sorgue.

  • Discover the ruins of the fortified monastery at Thouzon and the Grotte de Thouzon caves.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines

Accommodation Name: Hotel l'Hermitage

Meals Included: Dinner

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 : Pernes-Les-Fontaines To Roussillon

Location: Roussillon

Accommodation Name: Hotel Les Sables D'Ocre

Meals Included: Breakfast

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 : Roussillon To Fontaine De Vaucluse

Location: Provence

Accommodation Name: La Bastide du Bois Breant

Meals Included: Breakfast

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 : Fontaine De Vaucluse To Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines

Accommodation Name: Hotel l'Hermitage

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

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

Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines

Meals Included: Breakfast

LEAVE PERNES-LES-FONTAINES

What's Included

  • All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals

    All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals are included in the tour package.

  • GPS route directions and maps

    GPS route directions and maps are provided for your convenience during the tour.

  • RideWithGPS navigation app

    The RideWithGPS navigation app is included to assist you on your cycling journey.

  • High Quality Bikes

    High quality bikes are provided for your cycling tour.

  • Luggage transfers between hotels

    Luggage transfers between hotels are included to ensure a hassle-free experience.

  • All accommodation

    All accommodation during the tour is included.

  • Services of your local Headwater Representative

    The services of a local Headwater Representative are included to assist you during your tour.

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance and supplements

    Travel insurance, single supplement, and solo traveller supplements are not included and are available on request.

  • Flights and transfers

    Flights from Heathrow to Marseille, including onward rail and station transfers, are not included.

  • Other flights and class upgrades

    Other flights, including regional departures and Business/club/first class fares, are not included and are available on request.

  • Room upgrades and extra nights

    Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels are not included.

  • City break add-ons

    City break add-ons in Marseille and Nice are not included.

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

  • What type of bicycles are provided for the tour?

    The tour provides high-quality hybrid bikes for your journey through the Provencal countryside.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    Yes, all continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals are included in the tour package.

  • Is luggage transfer provided during the tour?

    Yes, luggage transfers between hotels are included to ensure a hassle-free experience.

  • What kind of navigation support is available during the cycling tour?

    The tour includes GPS route directions, maps, and the RideWithGPS navigation app for navigation support.

  • What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?

    The tour features a selection of hand-picked hotels, each with a swimming pool, such as Hotel l'Hermitage in Pernes-les-Fontaines, Hotel les Sables d'Ocre in Roussillon, and La Bastide du Bois Breant in Maubec.

  • 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

Trustpilot
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
Ann B (Google Reviewer)  

We had a week walking...

08-Oct-2024

We had a week walking and wine in the Duro valley with two local guides Louis and Theresa. They were both exceptional, knowledgeable, professional and funny. Our group of 11 had a great time. This was a premium tour. Our 4 star hotels were both well located clean and with great views. We had several local meals arranged by our guides with local people cooking for us. We did not meet any other walkers during our hikes only two shepherds. I would certainly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the local produce and wine. We both felt as we had learnt a lot about Portugal during this tour. We will use Exodus again. One of our group had done 30 tours with Exodus over the years. Quite an endorsement.

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.

David (Google Reviewer)  

Exodus are generally a good...

21-Aug-2024

Exodus are generally a good travel company. Things tend to run smoothly and trips well organised. Their customers tend to be at retirement age. Trips are a bit overpriced. I would also avoid trips in Europe, as these often focus on more coffee stops and meals, rather than walking. I would also recommend making sure your guide records any accidents you have, hopefully not applicable. I had one on Sierra de Aitana which the guide saw and knew about, but he and Exodus said it never happened when I followed up after the trip. I wasn’t putting in a claim, just suggested a safety improvement. They have since apologised and acknowledged this as an error. They are a good reliable option for outside of Europe trips.

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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Prices last published on 21-Dec-2024

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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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