Cycling from Ventoux to the perched villages of Provence

Today, you warm up your legs, cycling past the rows vineyards and fields of cherry orchards that blanket the plains. A beautiful loop through the wine road country discovering Beaumes de Venise and its famous wine, exploring villages hidden in the countryside such as Crillon le Brave, Lafare and Suzette. Return via the easy climb of the Col de la Madeleine with wide-sweeping views of the Rhône valley before descending to Bedoin.   

Ride : Bedoin > Suzette > Bedoin | 40 km - 25 miles | Elevation: +670m/-670m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Bedoin

From Bedoin, you head southwards and through the heart of the countryside you reach the pretty town of Pernes les Fontaines, the centre of which is home to no less than 40 old stone fountains. A bit further is Isle sur la Sorgue, a small town located on the river Sorgue with a lively quayside lined with antique shops and cafés. 

Ride : Bedoin > Pernes > Isle - 34 km - 21 miles | Elevation: +150m/-400m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Isle

Market on Sunday (big & famous one) in Isle sur la Sorgue

The eye-candy is endless for today’s ride, so you better get an early start! In landscapes dotted with dry-stone huts and ancient stone walls, you reach two of the most spectacular villages of Provence. First is Gordes, its majestic grey stone homes rising vertiginously over the Calavon valley, and crowned by its renaissance castle. Then Roussillon, its colourful homes painted in every hue of yellow-orange-red, with the natural pigments taken from the ochre quarry set just beside the village. Ride back to Isle on a cycle-only path created on a former railway line. 

Ride : Isle > Gordes > Roussillon > Isle  | 61 km - 38 miles | Elevation : +500/-500m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Isle

Today you cycle towards the Van Gogh Alpilles mountains. You pedal across the Durance River on on quiet roads and quickly reach the foothills of the Alpilles mountains blanketed by olive groves, vines and sunflower fields, passing lone farmhouses and cypress trees. You pass through the quiet village of Eygalières and then reach Saint Rémy: an artists’ village where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. 

Ride : Isle > Saint Remy - 37 km - 22 miles | Elevation: +200m/-200m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Saint Remy

Market on Wednesday & Saturday morning in St Remy de provence

You follow alongside the imposing silhouette of the Alpilles, among olive groves and almond trees. After lunch or picnic in Fontvieille, you can visit the elegant Château d’Estoublon estate, and sample their olive oils and fine wines. Riding into the heart of the Alpilles, you reach Les Baux de Provence, a medieval village built atop a vertiginous rocky spur, and listed as “one of the most beautiful villages in France”. You visit the village of Maussane - famous for its olive oil mills - before reaching the plains taking you to the Roman city of Arles, complete with its coliseum and other Roman monuments.

Ride : Saint Remy > Baux > Maussane > Arles  - 50 km - 31 miles | Elevation: +200m/-300m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Arles

Great Market on Wednesday & Saturday (big one) morning in Arles

End of the trip in Arles after breakfast

Meals included : breakfast