Full challenging tour of Provence by bike

You start your first cycling day from Avignon to Chateauneuf du Pape. It takes you first to Ile de la Barthelasse: an island squeezed between two branches of the Rhône River. Through farmers’ fields and small country roads, you’ll pass old farmhouses and orchards of all kinds. Heading northward the landscape slopes gently upwards, and you enter the famous vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape. Lunch in the village.
. Wine tasting : before or after lunch, enjoy a visit & wine tasting in a wine estate ( 1h)
After lunch, you continue pedaling onwards towards the Rhône River, and cross it. The vines are replaced by fruit orchards of all kinds, separated by neat rows of cypress trees . You travel in France's most reputed vineyards destined for rosé wines: the village of Tavel. This prestigious appellation is the only rosé wine to be found on the wine lists of every Michelin 3* restaurant in France. You then complete the loop back to Avignon.

Ride: Avignon > Chateauneuf > St Laurent > Tavel > Avignon | 58 km |  Elevation : + 340m /- 340 m
Along the way, there are 2/3 short stretches of unpaved track /dirt roads
Meals included: breakfast & lunch & 1 wine tasting 
Night: Avignon

You start your biking day through a mosaic of orchards and cypress trees, and cycle into the quaint village of Barbentane before climbing up on the “Montagnette” – literally “little mountain” – with wide-sweeping views of the plains, and scent of roasting pine needles and aromatic herbs.  At the back of the Montagnette lies the monastery of St. Michel de Frigolet. You continue through the charming villages of Graveson and Maillane before reaching Saint Rémy de Provence, an artists' town where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life.
. Olive oil tasting: you stop in an olive mill and enjoy an olive oil tasting. The region of the Alpilles being quite famed for its olive groves & high quality olive oil. 
You continue onwards biking along the winding roads of the Alpilles mountains, in landscapes of pine trees and wildflowers. You reach Les Baux de Provence, a town perched vertiginously atop a rocky crag, crowned by the ruins of its feudal castle - listed among the most beautiful villages in France. You continue to Maussane & Mouries, famed villages for their olive mills, and then to St Remy.

Ride: Avignon > Abbaye de Frigolet > Graveson > Les Baux > Maussane > St Remy  | 62 km | Elevation : +630m / -590m
Meals included: breakfast & lunch & 1 olive oil tasting
Night: St Remy

Your cycling trip continues as you head into the plains to the east, towards the lost village of Eygalières, surrounded by vast olive groves. Through farmlands and endless orchards, you cross the Durance river. On the opposite bank, you reach Cavaillon bursting with locally grown fruits and vegetables. You continue onwards to the perched villages of the “Petit Luberon” : Robion, Oppede & Menerbes.
. Wine tasting : You stop in a wine estate for a wine tasting.
You follow small country lanes across the fertile plains, lined with fruit orchards, to reach the town of l'Isle sur la Sorgue, completely encircled by the clear green waters of the Sorgue river.

Ride: St Remy > Eygalieres > Robion > Oppède > Menerbes > Isle| 63 km | Elevation : +430m / -420m
Meals included: breakfast & lunch &  1 wine tasting
Night: Isle sur la Sorgue

Today's loop ride takes you to visit the most beautiful of the region's perched villages! And they call them the "perched" villages of Provence for a reason: high above the plains, and sometimes set dizzyingly above the rock upon which they were built, the high vantage-points offered better protection from enemies. With each climb under your belt the beauty of each village is unveiled. Fontaine de Vaucluse and its mysterious spring : no one or machine has been able to gauge its depths.  Gordes and its rings of homes sweeping upwards towards its castle. Roussillon and its village homes painted in a palette of colour from pale yellow to deep red.  Bonnieux and its labyrinth of winding streets to its Romanesque church and majestic cedars. And finally the hamlet of Lacoste, crowned by the ruins of Sade's castle. You continue cycling back to Isle.
. Olive oil tasting on the way
At the end of your cycling day, you can taste the local olive delicacy, typical of provence ( tapenades ) at a local producer in Isle

Ride: Isle > Fontaine > Gordes > Roussillon > Bonnieux > Lacoste > Isle | 66 km | Elevation : +800m / -800m
Meals included: breakfast & lunch & 1 olive oil tasting
Night: Isle sur la Sorgue

Today is a longer bike ride but worth the effort: you follow the contours of Mont Ventoux, Provence’s highest peak, cycling at the divide between the cultivated fields and the majestic forested slopes. Villages are nestled at the foot of the slopes.  You first cycle towards Velleron and Pernes les Fontaines with its 40 fountains and its Romanesque church. The road begins to climb, winding amid the cherry orchards, before the village of Vénasque comes into view. Listed among the most beautiful villages in France, Vénasque is perched defiantly atop a hill. Its homes cling to the very edges, surrounded by a valley of cherry orchards. You continue pedaling onwards to the small village of Méthamis. You reach the town of Villes-sur-Auzon. With the summit of Mont Ventoux at its closest, you defiantly head closer to its base, to the village of Bédoin. The village of Bédoin sits at the southern foot of Mont Ventoux, where the famed Tour de France race begins its ascent toward the summit.

Ride: Isle > Pernes > Venasque > Methamis > Ville s/ Auzon > Bedoin | 50 km | Elevation : +620m / -380m
Meals included: breakfast & lunch
Night: Bedoin or Crillon 

You pedal through the most prestigious winemaking villages in the southern Rhône Valley: Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise (sweet muscat whites). You’ll ride through a sea of vines.
. Wine tasting : in a wine estate around Gigondas.
Through a succession of tiny villages, on back roads lined with oak forest and orchards, you reach Vaison la Romaine, France’s largest Roman archaeological site. You cross the 2000 year-old bridge up to the Medieval village. Perched dizzyingly on the rock above the Ouvèze River, the cobbled streets lead up to the ruins of the 12th century feudal castle, from where the view extends to the entire town and to far-reaching countryside. You continue cycling in the backcountry around Vaison off the beaten tourist path, dotted with quaint villages, truffle oak plantations, and orchards. You’ll see Mont Ventoux from its more imposing north face. After a tough but short climb to Saint Marcellin & Puymeras, you end this beautiful cycling day in Vaison.

Ride: Bedoin > Gigondas > Seguret > Vaison > Puymeras > Vaison | 57 km | + 660m/-760m
Meals included: breakfast & lunch & 1 wine tasting
Night: Vaison

After breakfast, enjoy a stroll in Vaison. Transfer to Orange train station. End of the trip.

Meals included: breakfast