A Week in Provence

This week long tour has been designed to take in many of Provence’s highlights whilst also allowing time for relaxation and exploration if desired. With arrival on Saturday at Marseille airport we then transfer to the world cultural heritage city of Arles in the south west of Provence. Well known for it’s well preserved Roman amphitheatre and also where Van Gogh painted many of his famous paintings, Arles is a lovely little city to start our tour.

Venturing north the route continues to the jewel in Provence’s crown, Avignon, where we spend two nights. The route to Avignon is only 45 miles and for those who would like more cycling we have an extra ride out to the Roman aqueduct at the Pont Du Gard. Our second day in Avignon sees us cycling north alongside the river Rhone deep into wine country and the area known as the Vaucluse with the vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and there are many options for shorter or longer rides depending on your preference.

Leaving Avignon we head east passing a number of attractive hill top towns such as Gordes and Rousillion to the town of Apt where we stay for two nights. Our ride from Apt explores the area known as the Luberon with it’s numerous golden-hued, perched villages and limestone gorges. Again you have the option of a shorter ride if you prefer to take it easy.

Continuing north our route takes us along the stunning scenery of the Gorge de Nesque and onto Sault, surrounded by fragrant lavender fields. The finale is a ride to the summit of Mont Ventoux which makes a fitting end to this magnificent tour of Provence (there is an easier ride for those that don’t wish to climb Ventoux).