Mr Cooper says...
Very well organised, with excellent directions and achievable distances to cycle daily. Cycles very good condition, well maintained, clean and comfortable ...
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On this six night holiday you'll discover the beauty of Provence - a region where refinement and tradition blend beautifully, and whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to the likes of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas, not to mention Peter Mayle! You'll look out over a patchwork blanket of fields, olive groves, vineyards and, in the south east, apple orchards which cover the floor between the mountains on either side. While the vineyards here may not be as well-known as those of the Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux, some superb wines are produced here - so be sure to stop off for a tasting or two.
Your itinerary has been designed to give you a taste of the picturesque perched villages which pepper Provence's breathtaking, lavender-scented Luberon area. The hilly landscape of the region means the cycling can be challenging at times but for each tough climb you'll be rewarded with a spectacular view. Starting in the mediaeval town of Pernes-les-Fontaines, famous for its numerous ancient stone fountains and lavoirs, you'll enjoy far-reaching views over the Luberon as you make your way to the ochre-red village of Roussillon passing vineyards, chateaux and castles on the way. You then head out along the Ochre Trail and along country lanes to pass through some of the most beautiful villages in Provence - each one offering stirring images along with a history which, in some places, stretches back over a thousand years - before your final stretch takes in sweeping apple orchards, typical French villages, quaint cafes and the fascinating network of caves at Grotte de Thouzon.
We've hand-picked a lovely selection of hotels for your holiday. The Hotel l'Hermitage in Pernes-les-Fontaines is set in 2 hectares of grounds with a saltwater swimming pool and its own orangery; the Hotel les Sables d'Ocre in Roussillon sits amidst landscaped lawns with a relaxing pool area; while the Mas de la Senancole provides a typically Provencal feel, sitting in its own gardens and boasting a lovely pool.
Arrive at your 3 star hotel, just north of the town of Pernes-les-Fontaines. There's plenty of time to relax and explore the hotel grounds before dinner. (Staying at Hotel l'Hermitage, Breakfast with dinner in a local restaurant)
Pass by Pernes-les-Fontaines before setting off alongside the Canal de Carpentras and on through the beautiful scenery of the Vaucluse down to the popular town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The old town here is entirely surrounded by the clear waters of the River Sorgue. There are lots of lunch options in the town, or you could stop a little further on in the pretty village of Fontaine-de- Vaucluse. In the afternoon you climb to enjoy your first spectacular views of the Luberon before descending past vineyards, olive groves and windmills, and on to the ochre-painted village of Roussillon; this is the starting point of the Ochre Trail and your home for the next two nights. (Staying at Hotel Les Sables D'Ocres, Breakfast only)
Explore Roussillon, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, to discover its ochre-red rocks, stone buildings and unusual rock formations known as the 'Provencal Colorado'. For those wanting a longer day out, it's a scenic cycle ride through Provencal countryside up to the picturesque perched village of St Saturnin-les-Apt with its crumbling castle and one of the best views in the Luberon. (Staying at Hotel Les Sables D'Ocres, Breakfast only)
After breakfast, set out along the Ochre Trail to the village of Gargas where you have the opportunity to visit the Ochre Mines of Bruoux. Then head south along country lanes where a mixture of climbs and freewheeling takes you through some of the most beautiful villages in Provence. First there's Bonnieux, from where the nearby Chateau la Connorgue (made famous by Ridley Scott's A Good Year) can be visited for tastings. Then it's on to Lacoste to explore the ruined castle, once a mighty fortification and now a spectacular viewpoint. From here you'll freewheel down before another short climb to Menerbes, made famous by the books of Peter Mayle, and a great place to stop for lunch. The last leg takes you to Les Imberts where your hotel awaits. (Staying at Mas de la Senancole. Half Board)
Walk or cycle to the famous, mediaeval perched village of Gordes today, to experience one of the best views there is over the Luberon - a patchwork of open plains, sprawling vineyards and olive groves. Explore the village and its castle and perhaps take a taxi (payable locally) up to the beautiful l'Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque. Guided tours are available in the afternoon, or pay an early morning visit for the chance to explore at your leisure. (Staying at Mas de la Senancole. Half Board).
This morning you ride through apple country where you'll see orchards aplenty. Following the lanes brings you to the mediaeval town of Le Thor, after which you pass the ruins of the fortified monastery at Thouzon, along with the Grotte de Thouzon; a network of caves carved out by an underground river. Then it's back to Pernes-les-Fontaines where you have time to explore the mediaeval old town and the numerous ancient stone fountains and lavoirs. (Staying at Hotel l'Hermitage, Breakfast with dinner in local restaurant)
Please note that cycling helmets are compulsory in France for children under 12. As we are unable to provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.
Please see our Planning you holiday page for full details.
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking. If you'd like to keep your bikes with you for any extra nights we can arrange this for you for just £25 per adult per day.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Find out more on the hotel website and read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades are not available at this hotel.
Please contact us for extra night prices.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website and read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades are not available at this hotel.
Please contact us for extra night prices.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website and read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
| Dates | Roussillon room |
| 13/05/2018 - 31/10/2018 | £13 |
All prices shown above are valid from 16/02/2018. Prices are per person, per night, and are based on two people sharing.
Please contact us for extra night prices.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.
Find out more on the hotel website and read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades are not available at this hotel.
Please contact us for extra night prices.
NEARBY:
Find out more on the hotel website and read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades are not available at this hotel.
Please contact us for extra night prices.
Find out more on the hotel website and read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Room upgrades are not available at this hotel.
Please contact us for extra night prices.
Transfers included from Avignon TGV train station at 13:19, and back to Avignon TGV train station at 11:45.
Please call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or email usa@exodustravels.com to arrange connecting flights.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Very well organised, with excellent directions and achievable distances to cycle daily. Cycles very good condition, well maintained, clean and comfortable to ride. All staff willing and able to support if required.
Incredible 200 km of beautiful countryside, cuisine and culture of Provence! Loved every minute despite 35° heat and 35% elevation. La vie est belle!
Great all round experience
This holiday has given us the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful villages in Provence under our own steam and away from the crowds you'd find on a typical coach trip The exercise of cycling during the day is a great appetite-sharpener for enjoying some excellent food and local wines in the evening.
Lovely holiday in beautiful part of world
The two holidays we have had with Headwater were extremely enjoyable. Our first was a walking holiday and the second was a cycling holiday.
We had a fantastic holiday, The scenery, food and accomodation were great. Although we are both pretty fit my wife isn't such a keen cyclist but she really enjoyed this. The reps were really helpful when my wife wanted to swap to an E-bike towards the end when it got really hot, and now she wants to go again which I never thought would happen! I would really recommend this holiday and the E- bikes for those less enthusiastic about cycling
Great cycling location with generally very quiet roads, beautiful countryside and pretty villages perched on hilltops - definitely a great way to explore the region - you can smell the lavender fields and really enjoy the countryside. Both Keith and Claire were excellent reps - really friendly, helpful and flexible in every way. The food at Dame L'Oie in Perne la Fontaine was superb as was the food at Hotel de Sable. Quality of the bikes was very good. The itinerary for the rest day at Maubec was a little underwhelming as we felt the villages weren't that picturesque with few options for coffee/stop-offs and only managed to get lunch at the last stop in Robion. We would have preferred to go back to Lacoste and Menerbes which we had whizzed through the day before.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday. Find out about The Headwater Price Promise to ensure you're getting the very best value for money.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
| Jun 2018 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 22nd Jun | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 24th Jun | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 26th Jun | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 28th Jun | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 30th Jun | US$1925 | Check availability |
| Jul 2018 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Jul | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 4th Jul | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 6th Jul | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 8th Jul | US$1925 | Check availability |
| 10th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 12th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 14th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 16th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 18th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 20th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 22nd Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 24th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 26th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 28th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 30th Jul | US$1985 | Check availability |
| Aug 2018 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 3rd Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 5th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 7th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 9th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 11th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 13th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 15th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 17th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 19th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 21st Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 23rd Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 25th Aug | US$1985 | Check availability |
| 27th Aug | US$1975 | Check availability |
| 29th Aug | US$1975 | Check availability |
| 31st Aug | US$1975 | Check availability |
| Sep 2018 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 4th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 6th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 8th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 10th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 12th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 14th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 16th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 18th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 20th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 22nd Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 24th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 26th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 28th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 30th Sep | US$1825 | Check availability |
| Oct 2018 | Tour only | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Oct | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 4th Oct | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 6th Oct | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 8th Oct | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 10th Oct | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 12th Oct | US$1825 | Check availability |
| 14th Oct | US$1795 | Check availability |
The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed locally by Headwater appointed rep.
Departures
Every two days from 22nd Jun 2018 to 14th Oct 2018, for 6 nights.
Meals
All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals
Electric bikes
It is possible to hire electric bikes for this holiday at a supplement of £100 per person. As these are available on a first come first served basis, we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment. Please call us for further details.
Tour only
Transfers included from Avignon TGV train station at 13:19, and back to Avignon TGV train station at 11:45.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling. Simply complete the form below and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.
Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 to discuss your requirements in more detail.
We've been creating high-quality relaxed activity holidays since 1985 and our wealth of experience means we're able to build the perfect tailor-made tour for you. Our 'Gold Trusted' rating on Feefo, the independent review site, underlines our exceptional levels of customer service, and our ATOL bonding and ABTA membership guarantees your holiday is safe with us.
