A biking tour full of taste and flavors! Discover the wines of Provence, from the Rhone Valley to the Haut-Vaucluse area to the Drome and back to Ventoux area. Taste the grand wine of Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, chocolates, and lavender flavored honey. Gourmet stages combine with astonishing visits along the Castle and Abbey route like Rochegude and Grignan; Roman art in Vaison la Romaine; the Dentelles de Montmirail, the fields of lavender at the foot of the Mont Ventoux, and more. Place of departure is Villeneuve-lès-Avignon from where you have a superb view of the Avignon skyline, and looping through the charming countryside you finish in the charming Provençal village of Bedoin and we transfer you back to Avignon. Your itineraries are studied with care and patience ; they avoid the traffic and look up the highlights. Last but not least, enjoy the select hotels and restaurants where you’ ll be accommodated in charming hotels such as a luxurious Relais & Château castle in Rochegude, a unique manor house in Grignan, a 16th century mansion in Vaison la Romaine and a typical Provençal hotel in Bedoin at the foot of Mont Ventoux.		I cannot begin to tell you what a postive and beautiful experience we had. The logistics ran like clockwork, leaving us free to enjoy bicycling, the lovely French people, food, wine and countryside. Accomodations were better than expected and hotel staff were all delightful! I want to go back...now! - A. Urso

DAY 1: Arrival in Avignon. You can visit Avignon and Villeneuve today and take in its many sites. Installation at your charming hotel, orientation at 4:30 PM, bike delivery, dinner in Villeneuve. Option for orientation at 8:30 am next day. (D)

Day 2: From Avignon to Chateauneuf du Pape (23 km): Today, you ride through the vineyards of the renowned appellation “Cotes du Rhone” de Chateauneuf-du-Pape and if you like, stop to visit and taste in one of the cellars of the village. On your way, you can stop at the village Le Pontet, in the outskirts of Avignon and visit the 14th century chapel. Night and dinner at a very charming chateau hotel in Chateauneuf du Pape. (B,D)

Day 3: From Chateauneuf to Rochegude (35km): On this itinerary you will pass Serignan de Comtat, an important medieval village (origins go back to 6C BC) in the history of the Counts of Toulouse and the domain of Dianne de Poitiers. Continue on to Rochegude in the Drome department and lavender country. The village is built around its castle and your hotel is a charming and elegant 4 star Relais et Chateaux. (B,D)

Day 4: From Rochegude to Grignan (35km) Today's ride will bring in the village of Suze la Rousse before Grignan. In Suze, you will find the a 12th century castle in which today operates the University of Wine. From the castle you can see the Dentelles de Montmirail (craggy mountain peaks) and Mont Ventoux. In Grignan, you stay below its famous chateaux in a very comfortable 3 star chateau/manor house. (B)

Day 5: Grignan loop tour or day off (44km): If you choose to ride, you will travel to the lavender areas around Grignan to St Paul Les Trois Chateaux and La Garde d'Adhemar. These 2 villages are classical provencal villages with exceptional beauty. La Garde d'Adhemar has preserved its medieval structure and ramparts and was originally colonized during the Roman era by veterans of the Roman legions in the 1st century. Return to Grignan. If you stay in Grignan, you can explore this beautiful 16-17C chateau and learn the story of Madame de Sevigne. (B)

Day 6: Ride from Grignan to Vaison la Romaine (43km)
Vaison, a town of art, has a rich cultural heritage. It was built up in the middle ages and modern times but the town owes its fame to the ancieant Roman foundations and its ruins. "La Romaine" was added in 1924! Stay in an historic 15th century mansion in the center of town. (B,D)

Day 7: Ride from Vaison to Bedoin; 2 options:
Option 1: the easier ride, it passes through the wine villages of Gigondas, Vacqueras, and Beaumes de Venise to finish in Bedoin (30km). Option 2 crosses the Dentelles de Montmirail involving some climbs (35km). A variant of option 2 is to ride Mont Ventoux, famous Tour de France climb fondly known as the Giant of Provence! This will add 10 km and at least 1-2 hours of climbing up to 1909 meters (approx 6000 ft). Tonight you stay at the edge of the village of Bedoin in a very charming inn. The scent of lavender is in the air during June and July in this countryside! (B)

Day 8: Departure. You are transferred back to Avignon; about 45 min drive.

Hotel List in order: l'Atelier**+, Chateau Les Fines Roches****, Chateau de Rochegude****, Hotel Clair de la Plume***, le Beffroi***, des Pins***

The trip includes: Take the Virtual Hotel Tour! very comfortable country lodgings & deluxe hotels, 4 dinners and daily buffet breakfasts, all route maps and cue sheets, site information, daily bag transfer, local bilingual emergency support, and technical support, orientation, departure transfer. We also include travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more.

You are important to us; so we make you thoroughly prepared and include:
Pre-trip travel documents: you will receive extensive information as a customer prior to your departure. Upon confirmation we will send you some general information about preparations including passport info, training tips, and reading lists. As a customer you can also Purchase product from Hammer Nutrition, get 2 FREE issues to Velo News, and much more!

Upon final payment, we will send to you a complete list of documentation by email including Hotel List, contact numbers, itineraries, sites to see and information about sites and culture of the region. We include road signs, packing lists, travel tips, language phrases, holiday info, tour details, culture and customs tips, and much, much more!

Bike Rentals: 105 euros (click to view) Scott Sportster P3 hybrids; see link for full details and picture. Helmets and add on materials included. Merckx racing bikes available also see Cycling Classics for specs under Rental Bikes. LaPierre tandems also available for rent on this tour for 205 euros. See link.
Scott Sportster P3 hybrid rentals - the best rental bike available in the region for 2008, certainly so for self-guided travelers!
Child Trailers - $TBD

Additional Night in Avignon: 113-189 euros for double room depending on 2 or 4 star.

GPS available for rent at 50 euros.

Optional Services:
Travel insurance, Paris museum & metro passes, Paris day tours, Lido shows, and other services. Cell phone rental and luggage storage services.

Note: prices subject to change based upon currency fluctuations. See Booking Terms and Conditions.