Provence Biking
- Incredible biking through perched villages, vineyards and orchards
- Discover the vibrant artist community of St-Rémy
- A tour and tasting at a family-run olive oil mill
- Soak up Provençal life in renowned Gordes and ochre-hued Roussillon
From the Windswept Alpilles to Perched Lubéron Villages
It's a slower pace of life here in southern France. Amid the Alpilles, where olive trees glisten silver in the breeze. Where limestone hills press wavelike against the ultra-blue sky. And sun-drenched villages tempt you to linger, relax over a pastis or a local rosé. In the Lubéron, it's a celebration of color, be it poppies and wildflowers in spring, lavender in summer or changing grape leaves in fall. Pedal quiet roads to medieval hilltop towns. Soak up views of vineyards, orchards and windswept countryside. And rejoice in the Provençal cornucopia: fresh goat cheese, honey, olives, tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes and heavenly pastries. Find bliss in Provence, with Backroads, on a bicycle.
Day 1 Incredible biking through perched villages, vineyards, olive groves and orchards
Warm up your cycling muscles and get to know the Alpilles, a world of windswept crags dotted with oak, pine and cypress trees Explore Les Baux, perched high above a limestone landscape pockmarked with caves and said to be frequented by witches and goblins.
Day 2 Discover the vibrant artist community of St-Rémy, filled with fountains, gardens, cheery cafés and tree-lined boulevards Join a historian on a visit to the asylum where Vincent van Gogh spent his last days Drop in at Moulin du Calanquet, a delightful family-run olive oil mill, for a tour and tasting.
Day 3 Dramatic limestone peaks and quintessential Provençal landscapes Before bidding adieu to the dramatic scenery of the Alpilles, bike to Eygalières, a small terraced town guarded by an ancient castle Spin through scenic country roads to the picturesque walled village of Ménerbes.
Day 4 Explore Ménerbes, immortalized by Peter Mayle in his best-selling A Year in Provence 
Enjoy a tour and picnic lunch at a lavender distillery Marvel at the Chaussée des Géants, a canyon radiant with 16 shades of ochre.
Days 5-6 Savor farm-fresh cuisine and noteworthy regional wines Quiet roads lead through rolling fields of lavender and wheat into the foothills of Mont Ventoux, the "Giant of Provence" Rub shoulders with the locals in traditional Provençal villages such as Venasque, listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (France's Most Beautiful Villages) Surrounded by venerable Côtes du Ventoux vineyards, relish a final spin through idyllic hamlets of the Vaucluse.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This was the best trip I have ever taken in my life. It was exceedingly well organized. Dare I say perfect? This is the first time that I continually miss a place where I just took a vacation. I miss the multisensory experience of biking through the back roads of Provence - the lavender fields, sunflower fields, bread and cheese (nothing like these to be found anywhere in the US), winding through perched medieval villages, the satisfaction of completing a long ride and getting to eat whatever I want. I really appreciated the well-written directions that enabled me to safely bicycle alone when I wanted to. I appreciated the thoughtful inclusion of features of Provence that in 6 days made me feel like I got a taste of everything that it had to offer. I tend to live in my head a lot in real life. The biking experience kept me in the here and now, which leaves me with a flood of what feels like several weeks worth of memories. Our trip leaders were quite literally omniscient and omnipresent. I put a photo of the experience on my laptop desktop as well as on my desk to bring back the feelings of amazement, expansiveness, connectedness with the earth that I experienced while biking with Backroads in Provence.- Santa Monica, CA
As soon as I said "au revoir!" to our delightful guides, I was overcome with awe and appreciation for the trip. I was nervous about the biking. That ended up being a wonderful challenge that I am proud to say I accomplished. And it was worth it! Eating the cheeses and breads, drinking the local wines, the espresso. Seeing the sights of lavender, poppies, cherry trees. Staying at lovely country inns and a chateau....it was a dream come true. Anyone considering this trip- Go!!!- Boulder, CO
This trip far exceeded my expectations. I really got to experience the best of Provence: its cultural and historical heritage, the food, and the sites and smells (gardenia, roses, lavender, and honeysuckle ). What a fantastic treat for the senses and for the mind.- Hoboken, NJ
Casual Inns
Auberge de la Benvengudo
Les Baux (2 nights) Situated at the base of Les Baux and surrounded by a tranquil garden, this hotel was once a typical Provence family home. (pool, tennis)
Le Roy Soleil
Ménerbes (2 nights) You are sure to feel connected to nature at this lovely eco-friendly hotel nestled amount the Lubéron mountain range. Using natural products and resources wherever possible, this hotel is rich with tranquility and peace of mind. (pool, spa)
Château de Mazan
Mazan (1 night) This elegant 18th-century château, former residence of the Marquis de Sade, rests at the foot of towering Mount Ventoux.
Alsace & the Black Forest Biking
France's Wine-Rich Valley & Germany's Fabled Woodland
Classic:
Loire Valley Biking
Among the Grand Chateaux
Classic:
Singles+Solos:
This Trip Is Rated Level 2-5
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 18 miles
- 300 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 2 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 22, 32, 41 miles
- 500 - 2300 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 28, 32, 34 miles
- 660 - 2810 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 3 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 28, 38, 47 miles
- 1600 - 2700 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 17, 40, 50 miles
- 1000 - 2600 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 12, 18 miles
- 1000 feet elevation gain
More Recommended Trips
For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Provence tour experts. See our award-winning Europe France biking tours, Europe France walking and hiking tours and Europe France multisport tours.
