Lavender fields that come to life in the breeze. Cherry orchards around the bend. The Mistral that swirls in the paintings of van Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin. The hills and villages that inspired them. The wines. The cool evenings. The breathtaking village of Gordes that stands on the edge of a cliff. And Roussillon with its brilliant red colors. Indulging in local specialties at lively outdoor markets. Playing a round of pétanque and sipping a café au lait. After your journey through Provence, this will be your new list of favorite things.
Days 1-2 Bike through 8 of the 20 villages
that have been awarded Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages AOC status for producing a superior quality wine under strict criteria 
Pedal through the unspoiled terrain of the Drôme region, the gateway to Provence On the way to the viticulture town of Gigondas, pedal a wooded road along the Dentelles de Montmirail, limestone mountains with dramatic serrated ridges.
Day 3 Exquisite hotels including one of our favorites: Crillon le Brave
Ride the stunning Gorges de la Nesque below spectacular Mont Ventoux on your way to Sault Meander through winding cobblestone streets for a taste of medieval Provence.
Day 4 Private tastings of the best local vintages
A morning spin leads to Château Pesquié for a tour and wine tasting Gregorian chants and the oh-so-Provençal fragrance of lavender welcome you at the peaceful 12th-century Abbaye de Sénanque Explore Gordes, a glorious village perché clinging to the Vaucluse Plateau.
Days 5-6 Rub shoulders with locals in quintessential Provençal villages
such as Ménerbes and Lacoste The Lubéron's bucolic plains and foothills line your route to the Domaine de la Citadelle winery, whose 1,200 corkscrews add a twist Cross Pont Julien, a Roman bridge built around 300 B.C., to reach the village of Roussillon, resting on one of the world's biggest ochre deposits.
Trip Highlights
- Incredible biking through perched villages, vineyards and orchards
- Private wine tastings of the best local vintages
- Soak up Provençal life in renowned Gordes and ochre-hued Roussillon
- Exquisite hotels including one of our favorites: Crillon le Brave
- Take aim during a round of pétanque
Premiere Inns
Château de Massillan (1 night): With elegant contemporary interiors, this castle nestled in Côtes du Rhône vineyards was built in 1555 for a mistress of Henry II. (pool)
Hôtel Crillon le Brave (2 nights): Flawlessly combining rustic charm and elegant luxury, an "evocative country house hotel crowning an ancient hamlet, backdropped by Mont Ventoux," according to the Hideaway Report. A Relais & Châteaux member. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool)
Le Mas des Herbes Blanches (2 nights): This ancient stone farmhouse-turned-sophisticated inn offers splendid hilltop views of the Lubéron Valley. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, tennis)
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.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 23* | 900 | 32 | 1800 | ||||||
| 2 | 24* | 500 | 33* | 2000 | 46 | 2500 | 65 | 3000 | ||
| 3 | 27* | 2300 | 35* | 2500 | 50 | 2600 | 81 | 8000 | ||
| 4 | 21* | 600 | 31 | 2000 | 38 | 2300 | 50 | 2900 | ||
| 5 | 25* | 1500 | 32 | 1800 | 40 | 2500 | 50 | 2600 | ||
| 6 | 17 | 1300 | ||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/2-7 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/9-14 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/16-21 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/23-28 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/30-7/5 Price: $4598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/7-12 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/4-9 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/1-6 Price: $4598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/8-13 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/22-27 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/29-10/4 Price: $4298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1600 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
The trip was fantastic. The routes and scenery were breathtaking. The hotels were the most beautiful I've ever experienced. The food and wine was great. The van support was terrific and exceeded any expectations I had. Our needs were expertly and very thoughtfully tended to. And, most of all, the tour leaders, Sarah and Ali, were wonderful hosts -- charming, fun, energetic, smart, cool headed, and knowledgeable.- San Francisco, CA
The trip exceeded our expectations. Thoughtfully planned and executed. It was a perfect blend of chateaus, croissants and cycling! Thank you for a wonderful trip.- Weston, MA
This was our best trip ever and we have taken 4 with B & R and one other with Backroads. The leaders made a world of difference.- New York NY
Our biking trip in Provence was one of the best vacations I have had. It was well organized, the local inns were charming, and the guides were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. I am already starting to think about where to go on our next Backroads trip.- Pickering, ON
This was a wonderful experience. Our leaders were fantastic, very professional. We will definitely plan to use Backroads for future vacation adventures.- Gray, TN
This was a trip we will remember forever; one of the most enjoyable things we have ever done. We were very pleased with the bike fits and really appreciate the willingness and time Backroads took to communicate with our Denver bike fitter.- Centennial, CO
This was a really outstanding trip. I've been to Provence many times but not by bicycle. Your organization is really great. I am annoyed that in 40 years of bike riding in Berkeley (1960-2000) we did not connect sooner.- Winnetka, IL
The whole experience was amazing! The longer riding options were great exercise, and the routes were scenic and peaceful. The accommodations and food were memorable. The group activities were just right and allowed us to enjoy meeting some really great people, while still having time to ourselves. A huge amount of the credit goes to our tour leaders for making this such a memorable experience.- Bainbridge Island, WA
My wife and I had an AMAZING time on this trip! The trip experience exceeded our expectations in every area. I haven't and won't stop raving to all of our friends until our next adventure with Backroads, next year! The accommodations were first-rate and the meals were wonderful. The trip leaders were extremely knowledgeable of the area and culture and really made the trip an eleven out of ten!- Lincolnshire, IL
It surpassed all of my expectations. Well thought out, terrific leaders, beautiful accommodations.- Media, PA
Thanks for putting together these amazing experiences...maybe Congress needs one of these trips to Provence to see how peaceful life can be, how whether Democrat or Republican, we all want basically the same things in life, to be together with friends and family, to challenge ourselves physically, mentally and socially, to leave the world a better place, to take time to breathe and...most importantly to enjoy the ride!- San Anselmo, CA