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Freewheeling & cycling through the Luberon and lavender fields
    • France - Provence
    • 5 days
    • Cycling
    • Self-guided
      • From March to November
    • 2 - 10 travellers
      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior
      • Trip code : A1207
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About the Freewheeling & cycling through the Luberon and lavender fields trip

Your Provence cycling trip

This self guided Provence cycling trip starts in the quaint town of Isle sur la Sorgue - the Venice of Provence - famous for its Sunday market. You explore the famous Luberon; the magnificent perched villages of Venasque, Gordes, Bonnieux, and Lacoste. Roussillon, and the world’s largest ochre deposit.
During this self guided bike tour, you discover an "off-the-beaten track side" of the Luberon, just above Bonnieux,  with its lavender fields and its hidden villages. (lavender is blooming between mid June and mid July). You ride through a paradise of rolling hills and small back roads, along diverse landscapes of vineyards, olive trees and cherry orchards. 

Highlights of the trip

  • The perched villages of the Luberon: Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste!
  • The "Provencal Venice" Isle sur la Sorgue and its famous market
  • The lavender fields above Bonnieux
  • A paradise of rolling hills and small back roads along cherry orchards vineyards 
  • Roussillon and its world’s largest ochre deposit
  • Shaded cafés in quiet village squares 



    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From the blog

Freewheeling & cycling through the Luberon: Day by day

Day 1 - Isle sur la Sorgue, the Venice of Provence

isle sur la sorgue venice of provence famous market heart of the luberon

  • Your Provence cycling trip begins in the quaint town of Isle sur la Sorgue. This veritable island of a village is carved into a circle by the waters of the Sorgue, with quaint quayside antique shops and a labyrinth of narrow roads in the centre.
  • Night in Isle sur la Sorgue

  • We recommend : 
    . Have an extra night in Isle sur la Sorgue. Make day 1 match with a Sunday, and discover the great & famous Sunday morning market of Isle : one of the most famous in Provence ..

  • Access: Regular train lines from Avignon and Marseille city-airport > Isle sur la Sorgue on the SNCF website

Day 2 - Cherry orchards and Perched Medieval villages

venasque famous perched village pernes les fontaines beautiful cherry orchards in blossom

  • Ride - Isle-sur-la-Sorgue > Pernes-les-Fontaines > Venasque > Isle-sur-la-Sorgue 
    40km / 24.8 miles - Ascent: +650 m / Descent: -650 m
  • This first ride takes you through the Pays des Sorgues, its back roads lined with cypresses and old farmhouses. You reach Pernes-les-Fontaines, with its 40 fountains, its Romanesque church, its mansions. You then explore the peaceful landscapes and the perched villages of the Monts de Vaucluse, northern Luberon. Venasque, a medieval town, is labelled as one of “the most beautiful villages of France”. You continue on toward lost hamlets on tiny country roads through cherry orchards and Muscat vineyards, all the way down  to Isle through pine forests and quaint valleys.
  • Night in Isle sur la Sorgue.
  • MEALS included: Breakfast
     
  • Great market on Thursday & Sunday (big & famous one) morning in Isle sur la Sorgue
  • Market on Wednesday morning in Velleron
  • Market on Saturday morning in Pernes Les Fontaines

Day 3 - Grey stones and Magnificent perched villages of the Luberon

cycling in the luberon famous perched village of gordes roussilon

  • Ride - Isle sur la Sorgue > Cabrières > Gordes > Roussillon > Bonnieux  
    40km / 24.8 miles - Ascent: +700 m / Descent: -430 m
  • Your biking journey takes you to two of the most beautiful villages in the region, ending in the picturesque village of Bonnieux. First is Gordes, its grey stone buildings rising in gravity-defying concentric circles, high above the Calavon valley below, crowned by its renaissance castle. In a stark contrast is Roussillon, set on the world’s largest ochre deposit. Its sands, in every hue of yellow, orange, and red, have been used to paint the façades of the village homes, a rainbow of colour highlighted by the ever-present Provençal sun. Stroll through the pigmented streets or the abandoned ochre quarry, a guaranteed postcard picture with every step, before hopping back on your bike.
  • Night in Bonnieux.
  • MEALS included:  Breakfast 
  • Small market on Tuesday morning in Gordes
  • Market on Thursday morning in Roussillon

Day 4 - Luberon mountains & lavender fields

lavender field above bonnieux in the luberon

  • Ride - Bonnieux > Auribeau > Castellet > Apt> Bonnieux 
    49km / 30.4 miles - Ascent: +630 m / Descent: -630 m
  • Heading eastward from Bonnieux, you ride through a countryside dotted with stone villas and bories, passing secluded and mysterious truffle oak plantations. You cross the hollow that divides the Luberon mountains in two, and ride atop the scenic Claparèdes plateau, carpeted with lavender. You continue eastward to the tiny and lost villages of Auribeau and Castellet, far off the tourist-radar. You wind down leasurely to the Calavon valley, where a cycle-only path leads you into the town of Apt. Filled with quaint restaurants and cafés - and the world capital of candied fruit- Apt provides the perfect setting for a lunch break, replenishing your energy for your climb back to Bonnieux, on a quiet road lined with vineyards.
  • Night in Bonnieux
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

  • Market on Friday morning in Bonnieux, and a small one on Wednesday morning
  • Market on Tuesday & Saturday morning ( famous & big one) in Apt

Day 5 - The perched villages of Peter Mayle's Luberon

peter mayle luberon and isle sur la sorgue great sunday market

  • Ride - Bonnieux > Lacoste > Ménerbes > Oppède > Isle sur la Sorgue  
    35 km / 21.8 miles - Ascent: +300 m / Descent: -600 m
  • There's a reason Peter Mayle chose the Luberon to settle down and write his tales, and today you will see why!
    Whether Lacoste, Oppède, and Ménerbes, set on their rocky perches overlooking the valley, with their cafés, tiny shops, windy streets, and picturesque lookouts, is an invitation to explore at length. In between each of those villages, along tiny roads, you will cycle past old farmhouses and centuries-old dry stone huts, and among truffle oak plantations and almond trees.
  • Your Provence cycling holiday ends in l’Isle sur la Sorgue.
  • MEALS included:  Breakfast

  • Market on Friday morning in Bonnieux, and a small one on Wednesday morning
  • Market on Thursday morning in Ménerbes

  • We recommend : 
    . Continue onwards your exploration of Provence in the Van Gogh and Ventoux regions !

  • Return: Regular train lines from Isle sur la Sorgue > Avignon and Marseille city/airport on the SNCF website

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    Trip details
    Freewheeling & cycling through the Luberon and lavender fields
        • France - Provence
        • 2 adults (2x760€)
        • 0 children (0x760€)
      • 5 days
      • Simple
    Total 1520€
    Deposit 480€
    Book now !