Provence is home to many amazing architectural accomplishments, including the very beautiful medieval gothic structure, Palais des Papes. So, you certainly won't get bored of your surroundings while cycling in Provence, France.
Despite its popularity, you can still get away from the hustle and bustle and find your own hidden delights on one of our self-guided Provence cycling tours. Picture romantic tucked-away chateaux, bustling local markets and idyllic villages on a relaxing trip where all the logistics are taken care of.
In this region, nothing compares to the scent of the garrigue: a heady mixture of lavender, herbs and wildflowers that cover the hills. When you embark on one of our Provence cycling holidays, you'll be able to experience the aroma for yourself.
You'll make memories to last a lifetime here, even when doing some of the simpler things such as eating lunch under plane trees, shopping for vibrantly coloured arts and crafts and savouring the stunning panorama from the hilltops.
During our carefully crafted cycling holidays in Provence, discover pretty vineyards, olive groves and apple orchards as you cycle through country lanes and greenways on our Landscapes of the Luberon tour. Or you can jump on your bike and visit extensive Roman remains, UNESCO sites and wine festivals during our Vineyards of Vaucluse trip.
Let us help you book your self-guided cycling holiday in Provence
If you're about to plan your next trip and have any questions about, get in touch with us and one of our experienced team will be able to help. Before you book, we can talk you through what you can expect when you set off on one of our bike trips in Provence.
We've handpicked a selection of bike tours of Provence that encapsulate the region's stunning character best. Here are a few of the places you can experience as part of your self-guided cycling holiday.
If it's the tradition and history of Provence that you want to see first and foremost, the northwestern Provençal department of Vaucluse is the place to experience it. Home to a number of notable historical sites including Orange and its most populus commune, Avignon, Vaucluse features a collection of delightful Provençal villages. These epitomise the wider region, along with a landscape of craggy hilltops amid stunning natural scenery.
For wine lovers, our eight-night stay in the area discovering the department's famous vineyards is one not to be missed.
Considered the heart of Provence, the Luberon region sits at the southern end of Vaucluse and extends in the Alpes de Haute Provence. It encapsulates some of the very best sights Provence has to offer, offering a wealth of lush lavender landscapes, word-class vineyards, and a collection of perched hilltop villages fit for the front of any postcard. As relaxing a location for a cycling tour as you'll find in Europe.
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Visit the picturesque hilltop villages of Provence with an electric bike - so much easier with the extra boost of power on those hills! Discover the colourful landscapes and lavendar fields as well as local architecture, bustling markets and gastronomy.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
The Vaucluse is characterised by several things but none perhaps as much as the vineyards which cover the patchwork landscape and the ever present shape of Mt Ventoux, 'the Giant of Provence', silent and ever watchful on the horizon. This 6 night cycle takes you around the eastern side of the Vaucluse, where you will have ample opportunities to taste the local produce as you venture right up to the foot of the mountain.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
The picturesque, perched villages of Provence offer stirring images along with a history which, in some places, stretches back over a thousand years. On this 8 night holiday you'll discover vineyards, olive groves, monasteries, chateaux and caves along with the region's famous Ochre Trail and, of course, the lavender which scents the summer air.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Provence is a place whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to such iconic figures as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas (not to mention Peter Mayle!), and this 4 night holiday has been designed to give you a taste of the famous hilltop villages which dot its breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon region.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
A ride through the incredible contrasts between a rich, and variable natural environment : the blue strides of lavender, the subtle nuances of green in the forests, the flamboyant and blinding colours of the cliffs of ochre, or the austere white of the limestone hills.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
The air filled with the scent of lavender, the tangy aroma of freshly pressed olive oil and the sound of cicadas singing, experience the art de vivre in Provence.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
Provence is a place whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to such iconic figures as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas (not to mention Peter Mayle!), and this 6 night holiday has been designed to give you a taste of the famous hilltop villages which dot its breath-taking, lavender-scented Luberon region.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
For wine-lovers, this 8-night tour circles the famous Cotes de Rhone vineyards, and includes 2 nights in Vaison la Romaine - France's most extensive Roman site with 6000-seat theatre, baths, houses and streets. Swimming pools 6 nights out of 8.
DEPARTURE MONTHS
France boasts many amazing cycling trails, but Provence is undoubtedly up there as one of the very best areas to cycle in the country, and indeed the continent. Provence delivers a rich tapestry of stunning landscapes in every corner of the region, and the peaceful, tranquil nature of the routes make it one of the most relaxing places to experience by bike.
Opinion differs slightly on when is best to experience Provence on two wheels, but general wisdom suggests that anywhere from April to October – which is when many our tours run – will provide the sort of trip you're looking for.
If you want to avoid the rush or more intense weather conditions, you may wish to book either side of peak summer months. Late spring (April-May) and early autumn (September-October) bike tours of Provence offer a milder but still pleasant climate and are a little less busy than in the summer window.
One of the great things about booking a self-guided cycling holiday in Provence with us is that we take care of all the logistical bits for you. All of our Provence cycling tour packages include full accommodation, as well as flights, bike hire, baggage transfer and more.
Rest assured, we carefully choose the best possible accommodation for our tours as we do every other element of your holiday. So, you can simply enjoy the trip.
It's very hard to go wrong with any cycling tour of Provence, such is the diversity and unique character of the landscapes of the region. The cycling tour packages we've put together are designed to highlight different areas, from the many hilltop villages and rich architecture of Vaucluse to the lavender-draped fields and famous vineyards of the Luberon.
As an area revered for its outstanding beauty, choosing the 'most' beautiful cycling tour of Provence will likely come down to your personal preference.
Again, choosing the best cycle route across Provence will likely come down to what you prefer. Some trails of the Provençal region are certainly more challenging than others, so selecting the best route may depend on your appetite for an intense trail.
We have, however, aimed to overcome any intimidation factor by introducing e-bikes to our fleet for our hilltop villages tour, which will make light work of the climbs as you take in everything the trip has to offer.
Provence is a sizeable region, and our bike tours of the area focus on particular departments, or regions, that showcase the culture and spirit of that location. As such, we recommend a stay of four to eight nights to get the most from your trip, which are exactly the term options we offer.
You can find out more about any particular cycling holiday in Provence by selecting the 'View Holiday' tab next to each listing. If you've found the trip you want to go on, there a number of ways you can proceed. You can:
You packing list for a Provence cycling tour should include all the essentials you require for a number of days' cycling. While you'll most likely have pleasant weather throughout your trip, it's never a bad idea to bring cold weather and waterproof clothing alongside your warm weather clothing and typical cycling gear.
Make sure to take a look at the activity level for your chosen trip and pack accordingly in terms of supplies and support items you might require. Some reassurance if you forget something you need: France is a country well set up for cycling and cycle tourism and you'll almost certainly be able to pick up any essentials while on holiday if you need them.
We've got over four decades of experience in creating memorable, once-in-a-lifetime adventure holidays for our customers. When it comes to booking a self-guided cycling holiday in Provence, there are a number of reasons why you needn't look any further than us:
