Provence Biking
A Blissful Journey through the Alpilles & the Luberon
Savor the slow pace of life in southern France on a journey for the senses through Provence. Bike amid the Alpilles, where olive trees glisten silver in the sun. Then pedal in the Lubéron, where celebrations of color vie for your attention, be it poppies and wildflowers in spring, lavender in summer or changing grape leaves in fall. Ride quiet roads to medieval hilltop villages, taking in views of vineyards, orchards and windswept countryside. Visit the historic towns of Gordes and St-Rémy, and sample delicacies such as fresh goat cheese, olives and pastries. Find your bliss in Provence on a bicycle with Backroads.
Trip Planning Links
- Incredible biking through perched villages, vineyards and orchards
- Visit a family-run olive oil mill for a tour and tasting
- Discover the vibrant artists’ community of St-Rémy
- Visit Saignon, one of France's ten olders towns
- Soak up Provencal life in renowned Gordes and ochre-hued Roussillon
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Les Baux
Shuttle to Moulin du Calanquet, a delightful family-run mill, where we sample fresh olive oils 
Bike through beautiful Provençal countryside on a warm-up ride, passing olive groves and rugged scenery Explore Les Baux, a fascinating village perched on a rocky plateau above a limestone landscape pockmarked with caves and said to be frequented by witches and goblins Head to the artists’ community of St-Rémy and join a historian on a visit to the asylum where Vincent van Gogh spent his last days Try your hand at the traditional French game of pétanque.
Days 3-4 saignon
Before bidding adieu to the scrub oak, olive groves and undulating terrain of the Alpilles, ride to Eygalières, a small terraced town guarded by an ancient castle Pedal to Saignon, said to be one of France’s ten oldest towns Spin through the quaint town of Ménerbes en route to the Domaine de la Citadelle winery, home of the Corkscrew Museum Discover Roussillon, surrounded by stunning ocher-shaded scenery.
Days 5-6 Mazan
Set off on quiet roads amid rolling fields of lavender and wheat to explore the foothills of Mont Ventoux, the "Giant of Provence" Rub elbows with locals at the colorful Bonnieux market and stroll through Gordes, a lovely village perché clinging to the craggy southern face of the high Vaucluse Plateau Wander the inviting serpentine streets of Venasque, designated as one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Surrounded by venerable Côtes du Ventoux vineyards, relish a final spin through pretty hamlets such as St-Pierre-de-Vassols, where you can stop to sample specialties including table grapes, cherries and truffles.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
This was the best trip I have ever taken in my life. It was exceedingly well organized. Dare I say perfect? This is the first time that I continually miss a place where I just took a vacation. I miss the multisensory experience of biking through the back roads of Provence - the lavender fields, sunflower fields, bread and cheese (nothing like these to be found anywhere in the US), winding through perched medieval villages, the satisfaction of completing a long ride and getting to eat whatever I want. I really appreciated the well-written directions that enabled me to safely bicycle alone when I wanted to. I appreciated the thoughtful inclusion of features of Provence that in 6 days made me feel like I got a taste of everything that it had to offer. I tend to live in my head a lot in real life. The biking experience kept me in the here and now, which leaves me with a flood of what feels like several weeks worth of memories. Our trip leaders were quite literally omniscient and omnipresent. I put a photo of the experience on my laptop desktop as well as on my desk to bring back the feelings of amazement, expansiveness, connectedness with the earth that I experienced while biking with Backroads in Provence.- Santa Monica, CA More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
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Provence Biking
PROVENCAL PLEASURES: Casual Inns
Auberge de la Benvengudo
Les Baux (2 nights) Nestled in a tranquil garden, this hotel offers a swimming pool, a tennis court and elegant guest rooms furnished with antiques.
Auberge du Presbytere
saignon (2 nights) Located in one of the ten oldest villages in France, this inn offers individually decorated rooms and a restaurant specializing in regional cuisine made from the freshest local ingredients.
Le Chateau de Mazan
Mazan (1 night) The former residence of the Marquis de Sade, this elegant 18th-century château is nestled at the foot of towering Mount Ventoux.
Provence Biking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. | ||
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 21 miles
- 300 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 18, 43, 56 miles
- 450 - 1900 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 28, 50 miles
- 660 - 2800 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 3 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 32, 41, 54 miles
- 1600 - 3500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 25, 40, 42 miles
- 1250 - 3450 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 12 miles
- 600 feet elevation gain