Each of your senses will take you on a journey through this remarkable landscape. Gaze across undulating meadows. Run your hands over centuries-old stones. Hear a trickling fountain in the town square as you savor a slice of fresh melon. Open the windows and let the scent of endless lavender fields waft through your dreams.
Days 1-2 From storybook Saignon, pedal easygoing paths through lavender fields and oak groves | Explore Bonnieux, the town Peter Mayle called home while writing A Year in Provence | Vincent van Gogh painted the starry nights of Provence—enjoy stars of the Michelin variety at our hotel’s acclaimed restaurant | Pedal past the walled village of Ménerbes and the hamlet of Lacoste | Cross the Pont Julien, an ancient Roman stone arch bridge | Opt to indulge in a treatment at La Coquillade’s world-class spa.
Days 3-4 Fall in love with ocher-colored Roussillon | Linger in Gordes, where a massive 12th-century castle keeps watch over neighboring towns | Stop to admire lovely medieval Sénanque Abbey | Cycle to your heart’s content in the lavender-scented countryside | Journey into undiscovered Provence, a new landscape that offers a different perspective with the Alps’ snowy peaks in the distance | Engage in a friendly game of pétanque, a traditional game that originated in this sunny region.
Days 5-6 Discover the 12th-century castle of Simiane-la-Rotonde, a charming hilltop town | Tour a lavender distillery and learn about the myriad uses of this fragrant flower | Ever tried goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves? Today’s your chance in the town of Banon | Head out on a final spin through the serene sun-drenched countryside | A Michelin-starred dinner provides the perfect farewell to Provence.
The trip was absolutely fantastic. The hotels we stayed in were beautiful, the bike routes were varied and well thought out (with very little car traffic!), and our guides were some of the best I have ever had on any organized trip.- NYC
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Enjoy splendid hilltop views of the Luberon and a restaurant with two Michelin stars at this beautifully renovated Provençal farmhouse. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool)
Set in the heart of the Luberon and surrounded by vineyards, this hotel features exceptional views and refined elegance. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Surrounded by fragrant gardens, this early 17th-century convent was transformed by the legendary cosmetic and fragrance brand L'Occitane into a superb hotel with Michelin-starred dining. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Comments about Provence Bike Tour:
The trip was absolutely fantastic. The hotels we stayed in were beautiful, the bike routes were varied and well thought out (with very little car traffic!), and our guides were some of the best I have ever had on any organized trip.
Comments about Provence Bike Tour:
What an awesome trip! I appreciated all of the detailed planning involved and wonderful execution. Also, I was delighted not only to enjoy a beautiful, scenic, sometimes challenging ride, but, in addition, to learn so much about the region, its culture, history, people and experience the fresh wonderful food as well. Well done to all at Backroads for such an exceptional trip experience plus the best leaders and van support team.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
Images shared by Karen L. M.
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Comments about Provence Bike Tour:
Biking for miles on quiet roads with fields of lavender, and little medieval towels perched on hilltops. So beautiful!,
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The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| 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 | 14 | 800 | 16 | 1300 | ||||||
| 2 | 17* | 800 | 20* | 1000 | 25* | 1200 | 39 | 1900 | ||
| 3 | 13* | 700 | 27 | 2200 | 36 | 3300 | ||||
| 15* | 1200 | |||||||||
| 4 | 18* | 1000 | 26* | 2200 | 38 | 2900 | ||||
| 5 | 16* | 1000 | 28* | 1600 | 36 | 2000 | ||||
| 18* | 1600 | |||||||||
| 6 | 15 | 1400 | ||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
In Provence you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Provence—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Provence. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
Our Trip Leaders in Provence live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
We design and support our Provence trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
