Road bike France

The magic of Mont Ventoux and the most beautiful villages of Provence by road bikeRef CR1C

Provence, with its sun-drenched vineyards, gently scented lavender fields and cicadas singing, is a dream destination for road cyclists. Countless small roads with little traffic, beautiful gorges, villages full of charm and some great mountain passes where we can let off steam. As an absolute highlight, Mont Ventoux towers in the middle of the Provençal plain and with its 3 different sides offers enough matter to spend a whole week on its roads. On this 4-day centre-based trip, we move into our accommodation in a small village ideally situated between Mont Ventoux and the Luberon Nature Park. From our guest room with pool, we can tackle the Géant de Provence from two different sides, Bédoin and Sault. The third day of cycling is dedicated to the beautiful small roads of the Luberon massif and a visit to its legendary villages (Gordes, Mures, Roussillon...). Let yourself be enchanted by the exceptional heritage of the Luberon (Senanque Abbey, Oppède le Vieux...)!

Tour without assistance vehicle: from 385€ - Details Duration : 5 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 ascent to the legendary Mont Ventoux (1911 m) from two sides (Bédoin and Sault)
  • The lonely roads of the Luberon with little traffic
  • The dreamlike atmosphere of Provence with its lavender fields and cicadas singing
  • The comfort of our guest room with pool

Description

Comments

  • This trip also exists as a 7-daytrip with a second accommodation north of Mont Ventoux (Baronnies provençales Nature park).
  • For group offers please contact us directly.

Centre-based trip

3 cycling days + arrival and departure day/4 nights

With this centre-based trip you will undertake your daily stages starting from our partner accommodation located in the surroundings of Carpentras south of Mont Ventoux (3 nights' accommodation). With a mixture of Provençal charm and tradition, our guest house in Saint-Didier (Vaucluse) welcomes you for the first part of your stay. At the foot of Mont Ventoux, your hosts will welcome you personally. With its pool, the accommodation is a true oasis of freshness and offers everything for the perfect rest after a day in the race saddle. A sportsman-friendly breakfast and balanced yet hearty evening meals full of Provençal tradition are included. Bienvenue en Provence!

Levels of difficulty

Each day you choose between three different route options with varying distances and altitude gain (levels 1, 2 and 3).

Programme

Day 1: Individual arrival in Saint-Didier

Welcome to Provence! On arrival in the late afternoon, check into your rooms and get the bikes ready for tomorrow. Dinner included.

Day 2: The south-east of Mont Ventoux

A first day of road cycling, which we use for a first exploration of the area. The beautiful gorges of the Nesque await us today. On level 2 we set off for a complete tour of Mont Ventoux. The fittest among us will venture the first ascent of Mont Ventoux, from its easiest side: Sault. The level 1 route runs south of the summit with some beautiful panoramas of the Monts de Vaucluse and Luberon in the distance.

Today's highlights:

  • The magnificent road through the Nesque Gorges (levels 1, 2 and 3)
  • The picturesque section of the Toulourenc (level 2)
  • The ascent of Mont Ventoux from Sault (level 3)

Distance & cumulative elevation gain

  • Level 1: approx. 80 km & 1500 m
  • Level 2: approx. 120 km & 1700 m
  • Level 3: approx. 120 km & 2300 m
Day 3: The lonely roads of the Luberon

The Luberon Regional Nature Park is the backdrop for our second day of cycling. On its own, the Luberon seems like Provence out of a picture book: rolling lavender fields, vineyards, villages made of natural stone, a moderate relief and an equally gentle way of life. We have selected the most beautiful stretches for you to give you maximum pleasure!

Today's highlights:

  • Le col de Murs (627 m), natural gateway to the Luberon (levels 1, 2 and 3)
  • The village of Fontaine de Vaucluse with its rock spring (levels 1, 2 and 3)
  • The small villages full of charm at the foot of the Petit Luberon (level 3)
  • The Calavon cycle path and the Pont Julien crossing (year 3 BC) (levels 1 and 2)
  • The 3 jewels of Provence: Roussillon, Gordes and the Abbey of Senanque (levels 1, 2 and 3)

Distance & cumulative elevation gain

  • Level 1: approx. 60 km & 1100 m
  • Level 2: approx. 90 km & 1300 m
  • Level 3: approx. 120 km & 2000 m
Day 4: The southwest of Mont Ventoux

The routes of levels 2 and 3 leads us today (again) up to the Mont Ventoux. By the way, Bédoin is the starting point of the most difficult side of the Géant de Ventoux, which the Tour de France usually takes when the Ventoux is on the programme. After the morning's efforts, we discover the limestone peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail, towering over the famous vineyards of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise....

Today's highlights:

  • Conquering Mont Ventoux from Bédoin, over its most legendary flank! (Levels 2 and 3)
  • The ride at the foot of the magnificent Dentelles de Montmirail (levels 1, 2 and 3)
  • The villages of Malaucène and Beaumes de Venise, where a break in the shade of the plane trees will do you good (levels 1, 2 and 3)

Distance & cumulative elevation gain:

  • Level 1: approx. 60 km & 800 m
  • Level 2 & 3: approx. 95 km & 2200 m
Day 5: Individual departure

End of our services after breakfast.

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

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime between early April to mid-November. Cycling in the area is best in the low season from the beginning of April to mid-June or from mid-September to the end of October.

Costs and services

Price per person:

A single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

The price includes:
  • 4 x nights in a charming guest house with pool in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 4 x breakfasts
  • 4 x dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Carefully designed itineraries on 3 levels of difficulty
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • Lunch
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • 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 changes 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 accommodation (4 nights) 295 € / 

Transfer Carpentras - Accommodation (day 1) 30 € / 

Transfer Accommodation - Carpentras (day 5) 30 € / 

Road bike rental: see below

Road bike rental

The following road bike models are available for rent:

Standard road bike
Look 765 or equivalent, carbon frame and fork, Shimano Ultegra compact 50/34 groupset and 11x32 cassette (subject to availability)
175 € / 

e road bike
Aluminium frame
195 € / 

Repair kit included. The prices include delivery and collection from your hotel.

Please specify your model choice, pedal choice and your height when filling out your tour reservation form.

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.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

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.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

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.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, 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

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.

How to get to the meeting point

By plane

Avignon airport: www.avignon.aeroport.fr

Marseille airport: www.marseille-airport.com

Airport transfers are available on request. Please contact us for a quote.

By train

  • Hotel in the surroundings of Carpentras: Carpentras railway station (regional trains)
  • Next stations for high-speed trains: Avignon, Orange
  • Transfers available upon request

SNCF: www.voyages.sncf.fr

By car

Route planner : en.mappy.com

Parking: In the event that you arrive by car, various parking options will be proposed.

Route 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 price is based on 2* and 3* hotels and comfortable guesthouses with double rooms and en-suite facilities.

For private groups and self-guided trips it is possible to customise the accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

This trip is also an opportunity to discover the famous French gastronomy. 

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local products will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation  
  • Cereal bars and dried fruit during the day
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)
  • For lunch, we offer 3 options based on your preferences: 
    • A picnic to carry along in a small backpack. It contains an individual salad (carbohydrate and vegetable based salad), cold meats, cheese and fruit. This picnic can be carried in a small backpack or a handlebar bag. 
    • "Racing food" for those "allergic" to backpacks: energy bars, dried fruit.
    • No lunch organised by France Bike Trips, leaving you free to stop and eat when and where you choose (restaurant, bakery, grocery store...).

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

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 TGV and SNCF 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.

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

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
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • A pair of biking shoes
  • A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
  • Sport socks.
For your bike
  • Gearing adapted to riding in the mountains: if in doubt ask your local cycle dealer
  • 2 spare tubes
  • 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
  • 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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