Gravel France

Explore ochre, vineyards, and garrigue on this 4-day gravel trip in ProvenceRef CG4C

Enjoy a memorable gravel trip in the heart of Provence! Over an extended weekend, we’ll explore the hidden treasures of the iconic Luberon mountain massif. Ride through timeless hilltop villages, wild trails weaving through mountains and garrigue, serene pine forests, and awe-inspiring viewpoints that reveal a mosaic of lavender fields, vineyards, and orchards. We’ll venture to the vibrant, multicolored landscapes of Rustrel and Roussillon, home to the famous ochre mines—true natural wonders. On gravel, every trail, backroad, and rugged path brings us closer to the essence of the Petit and Grand Luberon, blending discovery with a sense of freedom. This journey is crafted for gravel riders seeking adventure and a connection to both culture and nature.

Tour without assistance vehicle: from 450€ - Details Duration : 4 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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Highlights

  • The peaceful backroads, dirt roads, and wild trails of the Luberon
  • The Provençal atmosphere, with the sounds of crickets and cicadas in the background...
  • The iconic villages of the Luberon, strung together in a scenic journey
  • A looped, point to point route that blends adventure with logistical ease

Description


Physical levels

Some of our Gravel tours offer various levels of difficulty, from 1 to 3. When variants are available, details (distance and altitude gain) can be viewed in the day by day details of the “programme” tab.
In the case of tours with variants, regardless of the level you choose, accommodation is always in the same destination (except some rare exceptions, clearly stated in the description). This allows you to choose the most suitable level on a day-to-day basis.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Cavaillon - Cucuron

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services start on day 1 at 10am at Cavaillon SNCF railway station. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Cavaillon. In this case, you start your tour directly after breakfast from the hotel.

Today's highlights

Ride through the charming Provençal village of Robion
Climb the picturesque Petit Luberon massif.
Enjoy a thrilling descent down the southern face of the massif (level 1)
Ride along the crests of the Petit Luberon, taking in breathtaking panoramic views (level 2)
Meander through a delightful mix of olive groves and vineyards on your way to Cucuron

Distances / altitude gains / gravel portions

  • Level 1: approx. 55 km / altitude gain: approx. 1150 m / 35% of gravel
  • Level 2: approx. 65 km / altitude gain: approx. 1350 m / 35% of gravel
Day 2: Cucuron - Céreste

Today's highlights

Cross the Petit Luberon from south to north via a secret Combe
Visit Bonnieux, a stunning hilltop village in the heart of the Luberon
Discover the Vallon de l’Aigue Brun, a meandering river at the base of the Grand Luberon
Explore Castellet-en-Luberon, nestled at the foot of the Mourre Nègre
Conclude your journey in Céreste, a charming village at the foothills of the Grand Luberon

Distances / altitude gains / gravel portions

  • Level 2: approx. 65 km / altitude gain: approx. 1100 m / 30% of gravel
Day 3: Céreste - Apt

Today's highlights

Enjoy a scenic loop on the eastern side of the Grand Luberon (level 2)
Ride along the dramatic Oppedette Gorges
Marvel at the vibrant ochre deposits of the Colorado Provençal
End your day in Apt, the heart of the Luberon and the renowned capital of candied fruit

Distances / altitude gains / gravel portions

  • Level 1: approx. 45 km / altitude gain: approx. 1000 m / 25% of gravel
  • Level 2: approx. 65 km / altitude gain: approx. 1100 m / 35% of gravel
Day 4: Apt - Cavaillon

Today's highlights

Pass through Rustrel and enjoy another opportunity to admire the stunning ochres of the Colorado Provençal
Visit the "flamboyant" village of Roussillon, known for its vivid ochre hues
Discover Gordes, a breathtaking hilltop village with its striking stone architecture, where the green of olive trees and cypress provides a beautiful contrast

Distances / altitude gains / gravel portions

  • Level 2: approx. 75 km / altitude gain: approx. 1000 m / 15% of gravel

Itinerary end: The trip ends in Cavaillon in the late afternoon (ca. 5pm). On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you.

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

See photos and videos of this trip

Make sure to check our France Bike Trips media gallery in order to get a feel for this trip and this destination.

After your trip with us, you also have the opportunity to create your own album with your impressions. We would be happy to do the work for you - all you have to do is send us your photos.

Don't miss new albums in our online gallery with our email notifications! As soon as a new photo or video album is published, you will receive a short e-mail from us. To subscribe, click on "Be notified of new albums" in the media gallery.

Dates

This trip is available from early April to late September, with the tour starting on a day of your choice.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of

The price includes:
  • 3 nights in 2 and 3* hotels as well as typical Chambres d'hôtes in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 3 continental breakfasts
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see useful information tab)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Available extra services

(prices per person)

Single room for 3 nights 130 € / 

Extra night in a 3* hotel, double room, breakfast included 80 € / 

Extra night in a 3* hotel, single room, breakfast included 140 € / 

Dinner reservations for 3 evenings, fixed price for the group 35 € / 

Gravel bike rental

Bikes available for rent:

Gravel bike BMC URS or equivalent (4 days)
Carbon frame, disc brakes, Sram Apex 11-42 cassette
330 € / 

The price includes delivery and collection of the bike(s) in Cavaillon. A repair kit (multi-tool, pump, inner tube, tyre lever) is provided. Don't forget your helmet!

Don't forget to let us know your size on your booking form, as well as your choice of pedals.

Vélorizons cycling jersey

A cycling jersey to our taste.

A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.

Features

- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem

Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut:
Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above

Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.

Private groups & custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Booking procedure & cancellation policy

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Tour confirmation

We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking. Please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here.

Need advice?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com. You find the booking information also on this page.

Self-guided trips: what you should know

Pick a date of your choice and book for as few as 2 people. We take care of the reservation of your accommodation (with breakfast and dinners), the transport of your luggage for each stage and provide you with detailed travel documents (reservation list, detailed road book with highlighted maps, our navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks).

Our promise: "Your bike adventure on a plate."

  • perfect on-site logistics,
  • a carefully planned route,
  • ride on the most beautiful routes of a region without missing the highlights

Requirements

  • Self-guided navigation with the help of our navigation tools (roadbook, navigation app and/or GPS tracks)
  • Consideration of weather conditions and of the group's capacity with regard to the tour programme
  • Arrival at the accommodation in due time
  • Basic knowledge of equipment and bicycle technology for possible repairs
  • First aid and emergency management

With our travel documents, our advice and a thorough travel preparation on your part, nothing should stand in the way of a wonderful, trouble-free cycling trip.

Note: On our self-guided tours you ride on your own and without a cycling guide. The tours are specifically aimed at people who want to be independent and have experience in navigation. We cannot be held liable for navigation errors, personal misconduct, carelessness, insufficient timing or misjudgement of weather conditions or emergency situations. Any change of itinerary on your part is your own responsibility.

How to get to the meeting point

By plane

Marseille Provence airport

Nice airport

On request, we can look and arrange for airport transfers.

By train

SNCF National railway company

The trainline

By car

Route planer: en.mappy.com

If you are arriving by car: Durance car park or at our partner hotel if you book extra nights.

Your navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality.

Our standard prices are based on 2* and 3* hotels and comfortable guest houses (typical Chambres d'hôtes) with double rooms and en-suite facilities.

It is possible to customise the accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food on this trip

This trip includes breakfast only. If you wish, we can arrange dinner reservations for you at local restaurants (see optional extra services). You'll be responsible for your own lunches. Along the route, you'll find plenty of shops, bars, and other spots to stock up on supplies.

Our hosts take great care to ensure the quality and variety of your meals. Wherever possible, fresh, locally sourced ingredients will be used. This trip also offers a chance to discover the local gastronomy and regional delicacies—l'art de la table!

Please note: If you have any food intolerances, kindly inform us in the comments section of the booking form.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday.

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any high-speed trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage

All your luggage must be distributed in two bags: a backpack and a travel bag:

1/ Backpack (or saddlebag)

This is the bag or saddlebag (saddle or handelbar) you use every day while cycling, if you choose to take a picnic lunch (see paragraph "Food"). This bag should not be too large (up to 20 litres).

It will contain: a picnic for lunch, snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing and sunglasses, ...

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It will contain all the belongings you will not use during the day. You will find it at the accommodation in the evening (or sometimes for lunch).

List of equipment to pack:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or sweat band
  • A bike helmet
For your upper body
  • Two cycling jerseys or technical t-shirts  (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois (avoid triathlon shorts)
  • A pair of warm cycling tights or leg warmers
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
For your feet
  • A pair of biking shoes (we recommend mtb shoes in which you can walk or hike-a-bike short steeper sections)
  • A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
  • Sport socks.
For your gavel bike
  • A gear ratio suitable for gravel and steep climbs (2-speed subcompact front, e.g. 30/46 or 28/44 and a 11/34 cassette or 1-speed, e.g. 42 chainring and an 11/42 cassette). We warmly recommend a gear ratio of less than 1 between small chainring and large sprocket. If in doubt, consult your local bike shop.
  • Gravel tyres with a minimum width of 35 mm (unless otherwise stated in the tour description): The volume is decisive, a more aggressive profile on the flanks and rear tyre is desirable on loose ground (e.g. model WTB Riddler or Schwalbe G-One).
  • 2 spare tubes and if possible a spare tire
  • Puncture repair kit
  • Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
  • A rear derailleur cable
  • Chain lube
  • A pump
  • A multitool
Other
  • A pair of bike specific gloves
  • A bike lock
  • A headlamp with batteries
  • A pair of spare laces
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • A swimsuit
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A pocket knife
  • A few plastic bags to protect your belonging
  • A needle and thread
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

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    A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


    Phone number: +33 458 140 435

    Contact us

    A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

    Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

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