Provence cycling tour

We can meet you all at Marseille Airport or a nearby airport hotel at around 12:00 noon. There will be a 1hr 15min drive to the age-old spa town of Greoux-les-Bains which will be the tour base for the first three nights. You are now in Provence, a meeting point of dramatic landscapes, healing waters and exceptional food and wine. There will be time this afternoon for a bike fitting before a short warm-up ride. During dinner our team will also provide a briefing of the fantastic cycling that now awaits.

Meals: Dinner Included / Sleep: Greoux-les-Bains

Today you will ride alongside the deep gorges of the Verdon River. The route follows what is arguably Europe’s most spectacular canyon. A 25km split in the earth which includes vertical rockwalls down to the turquoise-coloured river waters below. The cycling route which follows the gorge offers breathtaking landscapes from the small villages and perched lookout points which you will ride past. During the afternoon you might like to treat yourself to a thermal bath back in town. Relax in the waters which emerge from below at a very soothing 44°C!

Distance: 95km (1250m elevation) / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Greoux-les-Bains

Our base in Greoux-les-Bains allows us to ride the quiet backroads to our lunch stop in Cotignac. The village square provides a fantastic setting for lunch. Cotignac is rated as one of the most beautiful villages of France (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France). The cycling route will take you through woodlands, past cave formations, rivers and small waterfalls. The ride is a fantastic hotel to hotel loop ride showcasing the nature of Provence!  

Distance: 100km (950m elevation) / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Greoux-les-Bains

Today is all about cycling alongside the lavender fields and breathing in the fresh fragrance from this beloved flower. The ride finishes in Lourmarin which is another jewel of Provence. The small streets and cafes will be the stage for your post-ride lunch and coffee stop. Give in to Provence and feel relaxation take over your body! A short drive away we have also organised an organic olive-oil mill and farm visit. The olive-oil tasting is always a highlight! During the late afternoon you will arrive to Nimes. Apart from being a beautiful place for sightseeing it also has a rich road cycling tradition. The Tour de France last used Nimes as the Stage 16 finish town during the 2019 race edition and the 2017 La Vuelta a España also actually started in Nimes.

Distance: 80km (500m elevation) / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Nimes

Nimes is the capital of the Gard department and your hotel is right in the centre of this ancient Roman city. In fact, you are staying only a 250m walk from the Roman coliseum (Arenes de Nimes). This hotel to hotel loop ride allows you to enjoy the countryside as you follow the gentle undulations. Today’s ride follows a 100km loop to the north of the city. At KM75 you will pass through Uzes which is a quaint village and the perfect place to recharge your batteries. Coffee in the town centre will be a great experience!

Distance: 100km (1000m elevation) / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Nimes

With four good days of cycling already under your belt and Mont Ventoux calling, today is the perfect time to enjoy a cycling rest day. There will still be plenty of interesting things to see and do though! First up, a visit to ‘Pont du Gard’ which is an architectural masterpiece. This aqueduct comprises three tiers of arches which rise to a height of 47 metres. Like many of the best Roman constructions it was built without mortar. There will now be a 1.5hr drive towards Sault our home for the final 4 nights on tour. Lunch and an afternoon visit to a Lavender farm will be an excellent finish to a well deserved rest day. At tonight’s tour dinner we will go through all of the planning for what will be a huge day tomorrow tackling Mont Ventoux!!

Distance: Cycling Rest Day / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Nimes

Rolling out from the hotel and within a few minutes you will be at the base of Mont Ventoux. From Sault, ‘Le Geant du Provence’ offers a fantastic 24km climb for those keen to add a TDF giant to their CV. ‘Ventoux’ has celebrated 10 TDF summit finishes and the battle during 2016 saw Chris Froome actually comically running up the climb without a bike! The aim today is to arrive at Chalet Reynard in good condition. The final section up to the iconic weather station tower on the summit is where the real challenge lies. From Chalet Reynard the final 6km to the Ventoux summit average a challenging 8%. Be amazed as every pedal stroke now reveals the lunar landscape (i.e limestone outcrops). As you pass the monument dedicated to Tom Simpson you are now in the closing stages of what will be one of your greatest cycling achievements.

The ride will descend down to visit Bedoin and cyclists can choose to ride either 55km or 80km. The longer ride option will see the route becoming a hotel to hotel loop ride.

Distance: 55km (1250m elevation gain) or 80km / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Sault

A scenic hotel to hotel loop ride through Provence has been designed for today. The idea is that there are some short climbs but nothing that ever gets too steep. After finishing Col de Murs you will ride into Gordes for a coffee stop. This 5km climb only peaks at approximately 600m elevation but is often linked during a Tour de France rendezvous. From the coffee stop the ride pushes onto Roussillon another of France´s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and its famous Ochre Trail. The red and colourful landscapes resemble a small piece of central Australia in France.

Distance: 90km (1250m) / Meals: Breakfast Included / Sleep: Sault

It might be the final day but a fun canyon ride has been saved for last. ‘Gorges de la Nesque’ just seems to arrive out of nowhere. What now follows is an 18km descent at 2.5% grade, meaning you will still need to keep some pressure on the pedals. Winding roads lead to a free-flowing descent down to the canyon floor! The rest of the ride follows the agricultural land and continues along quiet backroads all the way back to Sault. Later this evening we will all enjoy a final dinner and celebrate what has been a great adventure through southern France.

Distance: 90km (1350m) / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included / Sleep: Sault

Following breakfast the guides will be available to transfer you directly to Marseille Airport by 12 noon. Please keep this time in mind if you need to book onwards international flights. From here we will say our goodbyes before you continue on your own adventures.

Meals: Breakfast included