This tour combines a cycling & walking trip. You explore the most famous parts of Provence taking in Van Gogh's Alpilles mountains and some of the best Luberon walks, passing through scenery painted by Van Gogh as well as beautiful hilltop villages. During this Provence walking and cycling trip, you will follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps from St remy into the Alpilles landscapes of olive groves to the spectacular perched village of Les Baux, through plains dotted with cypress and old stone farmhouses . You carry on all the way to the Luberon that inspired Peter Mayle’s "A Year in Provence".
You continue onwards to the Luberon Mountains: An endless discovery of medieval villages set atop their rocky perches - such as Bonnieux -its tight gorges and forest paths that lead you from one magnificent perched medieval village to the next. Your journey will take you through the most famed villages of Provence. You will end your trip in the town of Isle sur la Sorgue, with its antiques, Venice-like canals and famous Sunday morning market !
The ideal trip, off the beaten tracks and paths, for fantastic hiking in Provence combined with an authentic Provence cycling tour.
Your trip begins in the heart of Avignon. A medieval town on the banks of the mighty Rhône River, Avignon hides many treasures: the Popes palace, the 12th century bridge, the 14th century ramparts, still intact, and many museums and churches. Meander through a labyrinth of cobbled streets and discover cafés in open squares, shaded by plane trees.
Meals included : none
Night : Avignon
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You start your Provence cycling tour between the Durance and Rhône Rivers, through a mosaic of orchards and cypress trees. You cycle into the quaint village of Barbentane before climbing up on the Montagnette – meaning literally - little mountain where your wide-sweeping views of the plains are accompanied by the scent of roasting pine needles and aromatic herbs. At the back of the Montagnette lies the monastery of St. Michel de Frigolet, built over eight centuries. You cycle 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.
It is no wonder why Van Gogh chose Saint Rémy as a second home, a town bathed in light and colour. Leaving St Remy, you can visit Saint Paul de Mausole, the former monastery where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life, and did some of his best work. Just beside the monastery is Glanum, a Roman archaeological site, its massive limestone ruins a testament to over 2000 years of history. Biking along the winding streets of the 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. Les Baux is listed among the most beautiful villages in France. Ride back to St Remy.
You start your first walk from the picturesque Saint Rémy into the Alpilles hills, then along the fabulously panoramic ridge-line. Along the way, take the time to visit the Saint-Paul de Mausole monastery, where Van Gogh spent over a year, creating over 150 paintings and some of his best work.
Your Provence 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 lies Cavaillon bursting with locally grown fruits and vegetables. You continue onwards to the charming little town of Isle. 
A short transfer takes you to Fontaine de Vaucluse and its mysterious spring : no one or machine has been able to gauge its depths. Following a 300 year-old wall built to ward off the plague – which entered Marseille in 1720 – you walk along paths carved into the bush and cedar forests to Gordes. Transfer at the end of your walk in Gordes back to Isle.
Your biking journey takes you to two of the most beautiful villages of the Luberon 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.
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.
From Bonnieux, you walk along plateaus laden with lavender fields and truffle oak plantations, crossing the gap between the two Luberon mounds. On top of a canyon rim, you’ll see the guest house "Les Seguins" far below - a restored 17th century goat farm - nestled by the river, a hidden gem in an idyllic setting. A secret cobbled path zigzags its way to the canyon floor. Transfer back to Bonnieux.
Transfer from Bonnieux to Isle sur la Sorgue. End of the trip in Isle sur la Sorgue
