Provence, Les Plus Beaux Villages Cycling Tour

Highlights

• The opportunity to visit and/or stay in no less than 8 Les Plus Beaux Villages
• St Remy, birthplace of Nostradamus and the site of the sanatorium where Van Gogh painted his final works
• History across the ages from the Roman ruins of Glanum to Medieval Castles and Abbeys
• Sample iconic wines from Chateauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Rhône
• Take up the challenge of one of the most iconic cycle routes of them all – Mont Ventoux
• Embrace the elements of the good life that Peter Mayle so articulately depicted in his 1989 book ‘A Year in Provence’!
• A quintessential Provençal experience: the weekly market. Delight in the sensory overload
• Ride along the Gorges de la Nesque, one of our favorite cycling routes across all the tours we run

What's this trip about?

We have partnered with the organization that presents the hallowed title of the ‘most beautiful villages of France’ (‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’). Thus far there are 157 villages spread across 21 regions that can lay claim to this prestigious title and with a number of them – for good reason – situated in the enchanting region of Provence. Notwithstanding that Provence is Ride and Seek's own back yard – their operations base is here – we were also drawn to running our inaugural ‘most beautiful tour’ here because no other region so firmly embodies the essence of the organization. This prestigious classification is not just based on aesthetics but also embraces a way of life. We still visit a number of the classic destinations such as St Remy de Provence and the Vaucluse but our itinerary incorporates so much more besides. From Les Baux to Venasque, Les Alpilles to Glanum our tour offers a broader perspective of Provence than the more regular fare. With a rich Roman heritage we also visit some of the best preserved remnants of this great empire on our journey. Interlacing this are cultural and historical highlights from our more recent past as well as insights into more distant eras. Cycling through landscapes painted by Cezanne and Van Gogh it soon becomes clear why so many of the most distinguished poets and painters chose to make Provence home. Along the way we will sample some fantastic vintages from the Côtes du Rhône region which complement a cuisine renown both for its flair and freshness. Blessed with an abundance of natural ingredients the Provencal gastronomy provides the final piece of what can only be described as the ultimate bike tour jigsaw. Our Provence itinerary is one of our Local Plus tours which are designed for the discerning cyclist who wishes to explore a region in depth without too many hotel changes. By their nature these tours provide scope for participants to ride as little or as much as they would like. As such this tour is suitable for non-riders since there are plenty of activities to keep them busy.  It also provides scope for more experienced riders to push themselves on our extra loops which include the ‘giant’ of Provence – Mont Ventoux. This is optional of course!

What's excluded

• Airfare
• Pre-night hotel stays and post-tour hotel stays
• Wine and beer with meals
• Personal expenses such as laundry and phone
• Guide gratuity

Accommodation