Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

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5 Days From

$2180

$2076

Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling

5 Days Starting and ending in Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Visiting: France

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

C04PL

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

Leisurely / Moderate

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

History, Photography

Activities:

Cycling, Sightseeing, Walking

From: $2180 $2076 Travel Club discount: -$104

NB: Prices correct on 19-Sep-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

On this four night holiday you'll discover the beauty of Provence - a region where refinement and tradition blend beautifully, and whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to the likes of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas, not to mention Peter Mayle! You'll look out over a patchwork blanket of fields, olive groves, vineyards and, in the south east, apple orchards which cover the floor between the mountains on either side. While the vineyards here may not be as well-known as those of the Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux, some superb wines are produced here - so be sure to stop off for a tasting or two.

Highlights

  • A variety of hotels, each with a swimming pool

  • Great lunch options; chateaux and wine estates all too happy to provide tastings

  • Mediaeval perched villages: Gordes and Bonnieux, with spectacular views across the Luberon

  • Based on our popular night,

  • A lavender-scented patchwork of sun drenched vineyards, olive groves and apple orchards

  • Quiet country lanes and cycle paths; beautiful Provencal countryside and sleepy hamlets

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Meals Included: Dinner

Arrive at your 3 star hotel, just north of the town of Pernes-les-Fontaines. There's plenty of time to relax and explore the hotel grounds before dinner. (Staying at Hotel l'Hermitage, Breakfast with dinner in local restaurant)

Day 2 : Pernes-Les-Fontaines To Roussillon

Meals Included: Breakfast

Pass by Pernes-les-Fontaines before setting off alongside the Canal de Carpentras and on through the beautiful scenery of the Vaucluse down to the popular town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The old town here is entirely surrounded by the clear waters of the River Sorgue. There are lots of lunch options in the town, or you could stop a little further on in the pretty village of Fontaine-de- Vaucluse. In the afternoon you climb to enjoy your first spectacular views of the Luberon before descending past vineyards, olive groves and windmills, and on to the ochre-painted village of Roussillon, the starting point of the Ochre Trail. (Staying at Hotel Les Sables D'Ocre, Breakfast included)

Day 3 : Roussillon To Fontaine De Vaucluse

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, Then head south along country lanes where a mixture of climbs and freewheeling takes you through some of the most beautiful villages in Provence. First there's Bonnieux. Then it's on to Lacoste to explore the ruined castle, once a mighty fortification and now a spectacular viewpoint. From here you'll freewheel down before another short climb to Menerbes, made famous by the books of Peter Mayle, and a great place to stop for lunch. Then continue to Oppede le Vieux, another perched village before to reach Fontaine de Vaucluse. You stay at Hotel du Poete (breakfast included)

Day 4 : Fontaine De Vaucluse To Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you ride to L'Isle sur la Sorgue, then through apple country where you'll see orchards aplenty. Following the lanes brings you to the mediaeval town of Le Thor. Then it's back to Pernes-les-Fontaines where you have time to explore the mediaeval old town and the numerous ancient stone fountains and lavoirs. You stay at the Hotel l'Hermitage (breakfast at the hotel, evening meal at a local restaurant)

Day 5 : Leave Pernes-Les-Fontaines

Meals Included: Breakfast

What's Included

  • Meals
    4 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 2 dinners.


* All accommodation
* All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals
* Services of your local Headwater Representative
* GPS route directions and maps 
* /RideWithGPS/ navigation app
* High quality hybrid bikes 
* Luggage transfers between ho

What's Not Included

  • OPTIONAL UPGRADES

  • Other flights, including regional departures

  • Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels

  • Business/club/first class fares on request

  • Flights from Heathrow to Marseille with British Airways, including onward rail and station transfers

  • First class rail

  • City break add-ons in Marseille and Nic

Food


All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals included.

Provencale cuisine is a blend of many influences from the plentiful sea, to
neighbour Italy and the early Roman occupation. The soil is rich and the
climate is conducive to producing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.
Whilst not the most sophisticated of the French cuisines, most dishes use the
excellent tasting local fresh produce. Cooking à la Provencale uses local
olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and wild herbs,
all ripened by the sun to give an intensity of flavour. You can browse among
the colours and smells, and make picnic purchases at the lively local
markets.
The proximity of the sea makes fish and seafood an important element of the
local cuisine. Regional dishes include the famous bouillabaisse, a rich fish
stew served with aioli and rouille; the bourride – a lighter version of the
bouillabaisse; pistou soupe (summer vegetable soup with a blend of garlic,
basil and olive oil); authentic ratatouille, large colourful salads and
delicious courgette flower fritters. Tapenade and anchoïade are savoury dips
made with local olives and anchovies; pissaladière is an onion tart with
olives and anchovies and is very likely to have come from the Romans.

Accommodation

We've hand-picked a lovely selection of hotels for your holiday. The Hotel l'Hermitage in Pernes-les-Fontaines is set in 2 hectares of grounds with a swimming pool and its own orangery; the Hotel les Sables d'Ocre in Roussillon sits amidst landscaped lawns with a relaxing pool area; while La Bastide du Bois Breant in Maubec provides a typically Provencal feel, sitting in its own woodland and boasting a lovely pool.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    There are no specific health risks.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Age 8+ can go on this tour.

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Luggage transfers between hotels

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

paul green (Google Reviewer)  

Went on a tour of...

14-Jan-2022

Went on a tour of morocco in October and loved it ,mohamed the tour guide was excellent, probably go with exodus to India next year

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
John Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I went cycling in Albania...

19-Aug-2023

I went cycling in Albania with exodus as my first holiday with them. Such a well organised and wonderful experience where I met multiple fellow travellers who have been advocates of them for many years. You can't argue with happy repeat customers and I'm planning my next adventure with them soon

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

David (Google Reviewer)  

Exodus are generally a good...

21-Aug-2024

Exodus are generally a good travel company. Things tend to run smoothly and trips well organised. Their customers tend to be at retirement age. Trips are a bit overpriced. I would also avoid trips in Europe, as these often focus on more coffee stops and meals, rather than walking. I would also recommend making sure your guide records any accidents you have, hopefully not applicable. I had one on Sierra de Aitana which the guide saw and knew about, but he and Exodus said it never happened when I followed up after the trip. I wasn’t putting in a claim, just suggested a safety improvement. They have since apologised and acknowledged this as an error. They are a good reliable option for outside of Europe trips.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

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Travel Club discount: -$104

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Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

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Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Jul 12, 2025 - Jul 16, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Jul 16, 2025 - Jul 20, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Jul 19, 2025 - Jul 23, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Jul 23, 2025 - Jul 27, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Jul 26, 2025 - Jul 30, 2025
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Travel Club discount: -$104

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Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Aug 02, 2025 - Aug 06, 2025
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Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Aug 06, 2025 - Aug 10, 2025
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Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Aug 09, 2025 - Aug 13, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Aug 13, 2025 - Aug 17, 2025
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Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Aug 16, 2025 - Aug 20, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Aug 20, 2025 - Aug 24, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Aug 23, 2025 - Aug 27, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Aug 27, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Aug 30, 2025 - Sep 03, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Sep 03, 2025 - Sep 07, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 10, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Sep 10, 2025 - Sep 14, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 17, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Sep 17, 2025 - Sep 21, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Sep 20, 2025 - Sep 24, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Sep 24, 2025 - Sep 28, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Sep 27, 2025 - Oct 01, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Oct 01, 2025 - Oct 05, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Oct 04, 2025 - Oct 08, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Oct 08, 2025 - Oct 12, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 15, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Oct 15, 2025 - Oct 19, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Saturday - Wednesday

Oct 18, 2025 - Oct 22, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

Wednesday - Sunday

Oct 22, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025
$2180 $2076

Travel Club discount: -$104

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  • Free Date Changes

    CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.

  • Low Deposit

    CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.

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