Provence, Les Plus Beaux Villages Cycling Tour

8 days
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4.9/5 Excellent
75 reviews  
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Group Tour
We have partnered with the organization that presents the hallowed title of the ‘most beautiful villages of France’ (‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’). Thus far there are 157 villages spread across 21 regions that can lay claim to this prestigious title and with a number of them – for good reason – situated in the enchanting region of Provence. ...
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • The opportunity to visit and/or stay in no less than 8 Les Plus Beaux Villages
    • St Remy, birthplace of Nostradamus and the site of the sanatorium where Van Gogh painted his final works
    • History across the ages from the Roman ruins of Glanum to Medieval Castles and Abbeys
    • Sample iconic wines from Chateauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Rhône
    • Take up the challenge of one of the most iconic cycle routes of them all – Mont Ventoux
    • Embrace the elements of the good life that Peter Mayle so articulately depicted in his 1989 book ‘A Year in Provence’!
    • A quintessential Provençal experience: the weekly market. Delight in the sensory overload
    • Ride along the Gorges de la Nesque, one of our favorite cycling routes across all the tours we run

What's this trip about?

    We have partnered with the organization that presents the hallowed title of the ‘most beautiful villages of France’ (‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’). Thus far there are 157 villages spread across 21 regions that can lay claim to this prestigious title and with a number of them – for good reason – situated in the enchanting region of Provence. Notwithstanding that Provence is Ride and Seek's own back yard – their operations base is here – we were also drawn to running our inaugural ‘most beautiful tour’ here because no other region so firmly embodies the essence of the organization. This prestigious classification is not just based on aesthetics but also embraces a way of life. We still visit a number of the classic destinations such as St Remy de Provence and the Vaucluse but our itinerary incorporates so much more besides. From Les Baux to Venasque, Les Alpilles to Glanum our tour offers a broader perspective of Provence than the more regular fare. With a rich Roman heritage we also visit some of the best preserved remnants of this great empire on our journey. Interlacing this are cultural and historical highlights from our more recent past as well as insights into more distant eras. Cycling through landscapes painted by Cezanne and Van Gogh it soon becomes clear why so many of the most distinguished poets and painters chose to make Provence home. Along the way we will sample some fantastic vintages from the Côtes du Rhône region which complement a cuisine renown both for its flair and freshness. Blessed with an abundance of natural ingredients the Provencal gastronomy provides the final piece of what can only be described as the ultimate bike tour jigsaw. Our Provence itinerary is one of our Local Plus tours which are designed for the discerning cyclist who wishes to explore a region in depth without too many hotel changes. By their nature these tours provide scope for participants to ride as little or as much as they would like. As such this tour is suitable for non-riders since there are plenty of activities to keep them busy.  It also provides scope for more experienced riders to push themselves on our extra loops which include the ‘giant’ of Provence – Mont Ventoux. This is optional of course!

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySt Remy de Provence
End CityAvignon

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Cycling & Biking
  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France

Attractions

  • Avignon
  • Saint Remy de Provence

Activities

  • Culture
  • Cycling
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • Bikes equipped with Garmin GPS (choice Bianchi road carbon, hybrid Bianchi Via Nirone 7); Ebikes (EWheel) for an extra charge of $95. In Provence Lynskey Titanium road bikes will be the standard road bikes.
    • Two professional tour guides throughout the program*
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • Lunches and Dinners according to the tour program (usually three lunches are included and all dinners but one)
    • Support vehicle during the tour and luggage transfer
    • Group shuttles at the beginning and at the end of the tour
    • All activities mentioned in the day-by-day description
    • Commemorative t-shirt

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: St Remy de Provence

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mas de l’Oulivié

Terrain: Rolling

Ride: 9 mi or 15 km

A gentle but rolling start to the tour as we ride a loop from our home at the Mas de l’Oulivie for the first couple of nights through the Parc natu...

Day 2: Les Baux-de-Provence

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Mas de l’Oulivié

Terrain: Hilly

Ride: 24/37 mi or 38/59 km

We head deeper into the Parc naturel régional des Alpilles today on a rolling loop ride that meanders through vineyards and olive groves. ...

Day 3: Les Baux-de-Provence to Gordes

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Mas des Rosmarins

Terrain: Hilly

Ride: 32/46 mi or 51/73 km

We head east into the Vaucluse region of Provence towards our base for the next couple of days Gordes. After bridging the Durance we head ...

Day 4: Gordes loop to Roussillon

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Mas des Rosmarins

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 30/57 mi or 48/92 km

Gordes great location gives us great access to some spectacular riding. Today we enjoy a short loop to the villages of Saint Satu...

Day 5: Gordes loop to Bonnieux and Lourmarin

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Mas des Rosmarins

Terrain: Hilly

Ride: 32/48 mi or 52/77 km

Once again we find a series of quiet and picturesque routes as we continue our discovery of Provence’s most beautiful villages. We ride f...

Day 6: Gordes to Mazan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Chateau de Mazan

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 26/47 mi or 42/75 km

We leave Gordes and head north, cruising past the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senaque on our way to Venasque. After enjoying fanta...

Day 7: Mazan loop to Gorges de la Nesque or Mount Ventoux

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Chateau de Mazan

Terrain: Mountains

Ride:  20/39/43 mi or 32/63/70 km

Our final day on the bike takes us towards the monolith known as Mont Ventoux as we head north towards Bedoin. For the foolhard...

Day 8: Avignon

Meals: Breakfast

Terrain: Departure

Ride: None

After a leisurely breakfast, we organize a shuttle to the TGV train station on the outskirts of Avignon from where fast trains can be caught to a number of European cities.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,195
Price per day$524
Single supplement (single occupancy)$600
Last Updated: 10/10/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tourissimo.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tourissimo Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
64
Great
11
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
M

Mark L.

Aug 2018

Written on

Extremely well organized

Extremely well organized and executed without problems.

T

Tom F.

Jun 2018

Written on

This was my best tour ever for route selection

This was my best tour ever for route selection, accommodati...

K

Kathleen B.

Jun 2018

Written on

Awesome

Awesome attention to every detail.

B

Bruce N.

Jun 2018

Written on

Well organized

Well organized, great attention to detail, amazing how you found all those little quiet roads.

S

Sylvie K.

Jun 2018

Written on

Great tour

Great tour but a little tiring (distances & elevations) for someone over 70!

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Other Tourissimo Reviews

J

Joan

Dec 2019

Provided byTourissimo

Great routes, guides, hotels and bikes!

Great routes, guides, hotels and bikes!

A

Adrienne C.

Oct 2019

Provided byTourissimo

I really enjoyed the tour.

I really enjoyed the tour. The bike and cycling routes were great, loved the scenery in Slovenia and appreciated the off-bike tours. I loved the Italian lunch at the...

J

Joan H.

Dec 2019

Provided byTourissimo

Tour route was awesome.

Firstly, Beppe is a great tour guide. I appreciated all the stops for gelato and espresso. Tour route was awesome. The first day was on the line of being too long ...

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Tour Operator

Tourissimo

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Background and Mission

Tourissimo is a new deeply authentic Italian travel company whose mission is to provide active travelers a unique way to experience the natural and cultural wonders of this magnificent country. With its highly focused niche approach, Tourissimo aims to become the  number one Destination Management Company (DMC) in Italy for active travel by designing, creating and implementing exclusive programs for individuals and small groups, intimately presenting each region with a strong focus on “insider access” and special personal connections to maximize sense of place. Understanding that most travelers today want to be fully engaged and seek  memorable and meaningful experiences, all Tourissimo journeys include breathtaking scenery and activities, gourmet food and wine and a range of accommodations that together create an unforgettable taste of Italy.

Tourissimo was founded in 2015 by Beppe Salerno, a former general manager at one of the industry’s leading companies who has carried out (both as a manager and as a guide) hundreds of tours throughout Italy and amassed outstanding experience and knowledge in the field of active adventure vacations in some of the most inspiring destinations throughout Italy. Tourissimo began with a handful  of destinations including Piedmont, Puglia, Sicily, the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre; new destinations for 2016 include Tuscany, Sardinia and Friuli with the bordering country of Slovenia. Each itinerary is a carefully balanced mix of physical activities, cultural immersion and authentic learning experiences.

The Tourissimo Experience

Tourissimo provides turnkey, fully supported programs primarily serving small (8-14pp) private groups through outbound tour operators, travel agents, and private organizations, such as cycling clubs and affinity groups. All tours are designed to provide extraordinary educational hiking and bicycling in geographical areas where Tourissimo has outstanding expertise. These carefully crafted programs are active immersions into local culture and delicious cuisine for energetic, highly curious, young-at-heart travelers of all abilities who love the outdoors.

Tourissimo’s Signature Tours are ready-to-book programs of six or seven nights offering three activity levels: recreational, moderate and athletic. The cycling tours allow riders to choose a performance road bike, hybrid bike or even an Ebike (bike with pedals assisted by an electric engine). Custom tours are also available, whereby Tourissimo specifically designs programs in any Italian destination based on the individual or group’s specific interests and preferences. Custom tours may include things like kayaking, learning to make ceramics from local artisans, making handmade pasta from scratch or literary city tours in the footsteps of Dante, just to name a few.

Rates typically range from $450 to $750 per person per night, including accommodations, most meals, all transfers, daily cultural activities and two or more professional tour leaders. Programs are usually a weeklong in duration, but there are no minimum number  of nights on custom tours. Reservations can be made via www.tourissimo.travel or by calling 857-997-0051.

Additional Background

According to Active Travel Association’s 2015 Industry Snapshot, Italy is the top destination for soft adventure travel in Europe. With its longitudinal, peninsula-like shape, Italy has varying elevations from sea level to mountains reaching 12,000 feet. The country has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites (47 as of 2015), and with approximately 5000 miles of coastline and two mountain ranges including the majestic Dolomites on Eastern Alps, it’s no wonder that Italy tops the wish lists for those seeking beautiful adventures. In addition to being an unchallenged destination for food and wine aficionados, Italy’s dense network of roads and trails, charming villages, hamlets, castles, monasteries and abbeys make it the ideal destination for active travelers.

Cycling and Walking tours in Italy Tourissimo is the first Italian Destination. Management company specialized in active travel. We are local experts; we rely on experienced Italian guides and staff to deliver authentic travel experiences.

 

Why we love this operator
They offer a unique way to enjoy a classic destination by combining active travel with authentic cultural experiences.
What they’re known for
Private customized active travel experience throughout Italy that all include an element of hiking and/or biking.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Airfare
    • Pre-night hotel stays and post-tour hotel stays
    • Wine and beer with meals
    • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone
    • Guide gratuity
Cancellation policy

If you must cancel your reservation, the fees for doing so are as follows.

Days Prior to Departure Cancellation Fees:

91+ will be Admin fee – 250 USD

61-90 - Tour deposit  

31-60 - 50% of tour price

0-30 - 100% of tour price

For reservations canceled with at least 91 days advance notice, we will apply your cancellation penalties to a future reservation, no questions asked. This credit will never expire. No penalties for name changes.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches and 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information

Climate Data:

In June, temperatures average 13C (56F) low / 26C (79F) max - precipitation probability 13%.

Info about food and wine:

With a strong Italian and Spanish influence the cuisine of Provence has a distinctive flair that sets it apart from more classic French fare. Blessed with an abundance of natural ingredients that flourish in the region, Provence is unsurpassed for the freshness of its produce and variety of its dishes.

For starters you could try a sweet Cavaillon melon or one of the classified goats cheeses of the region accompanied with some fresh figs. Alternatively, you could sample a selection of tapenades on some crispy hot toast or perhaps you’d prefer a simple but exquisite pistou (basil) soup.

Moving on you could stay light with a Nicoise salad or if you’d prefer to sample something richer the regions signature dish bouillabaisse or daube (beef stew) might suit. As an accompaniment, the black diamond – truffle- could add an extra complexity to the mix that is already accented by fragrant herbs and rich olive oils.

And to finish it off the master Chocolatier Joel Durand in St Remy could sate your sweet tooth or perhaps the master Nougatier Boyer of Sault might provide a lighter option. Or just keep it simple with some anis candles or marrons glaces (crystallized chestnuts).

Whatever you choose we are sure that you will be blown away by the freshness and flavours that permeate Provençal cuisine and that’s before we even start talking about the wines to accompany it.

Provence is one of France’s serious fine wine regions, on a par with Bordeaux and Burgundy. The wines from Provence appear under 3 prefixes Coteaux D’Aix en-, Côtes de- and Les Baux de Provence – all of which you will have a chance to sample on this tour. In contrast to the cultured power of Bordeaux and the elegance of Burgundy, Provençal red wines are earthier with an almost rustic flavour. In this respect they are really interesting since quality commercial wine making is balanced by a real sense of identity.

On our tour we will cycle through some of the most prestigious wine areas that this region has to offer with a focus on the Southern Rhone, the small Les Baux appellation and Côtes de Ventoux. Since wine has been produced in the region for over 2600 years there is a large variety of grapes used in production. We look forward to introducing you to the plethora of wines on offer.

Trip ID
touris-ProLesTou

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