Self-Guided Provence & Drôme Vineyards Bike Tour

Welcome to Avignon, one of Provence's most captivating medieval cities and the perfect starting point for your cycling holiday. Spend the day wandering its charming old town, lively cafés and historic squares before checking into your boutique hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you'll meet your local host for a trip briefing and bike fitting to ensure you're ready for the adventure ahead.

Journey from Avignon to Châteauneuf du Pape, first cycling to l'Ile de la Barthelasse, an island nestled between two branches of the Rhône River. Pass through farmers' fields and small country roads, old farmhouses and orchards of all kinds. The landscape slopes gently upward as you enter the famous vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape. Along the way, expect 2-3 short stretches of unpaved track. Once there, choose from two cycling loops. Wine lovers can add a half-day wine tour led by a local expert (max 6 people) to visit handpicked estates, explore cellars, and taste 4-5 wines while learning about terroir and winemaking.

Optional loops:

Orange Loop – 52 km (+400 m / -640 m) Oiselet Island Loop – 17 km (+30 m / -30 m)

From Châteauneuf, head westward to Tavel, France's capital of rosé wines. Beyond Tavel, cycle through rolling hills of pine forest and shrub vegetation with easy hills to warm up your legs. Arrive at the majestic town of Uzès, featuring regal stone mansions, the castle of the Dukes, and the charming Places des Herbes square. Your hotel is set in the very heart of town.

Head southbound to the Gardon River and its famous Pont du Gard, part of a Roman aqueduct built 2,000 years ago. Incredibly intact after 2 millennia, marvel at how the Romans hoisted 6-8 ton blocks almost 50m above the river and conducted water from near Uzès to Nîmes—only 17m elevation drop over 50km. Continue southward to Saint Rémy, an artists' town where Vincent Van Gogh spent the last year of his life.

Cross the Alpilles massif to reach the Lubéron. First stop is Eygalières, surrounded by vast olive groves and beautiful stone houses—climb to the castle ruins for a magnificent view. Continue through farmlands and endless orchards, crossing the Durance river to reach Cavaillon, famous for its delicious melons. Bursting with restaurants, cafés, and grocers filled with local produce, it's perfect for picking up a picnic. Finish in Isle sur la Sorgue, the 'Provencal Venice' with its many water wheels and canals.

Optional Loop: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse – 22 km (+230 m / -230 m)

Cycle through pretty Lubéron villages, starting with Pernes les Fontaines, a village with 40 fountains dotted around town. Venasque is listed among France's most beautiful villages—don't miss the 6th-century baptistery. Follow the foothills of the Ventoux and its picturesque villages. In Villes sur Auzon, make a wonderful detour to climb the road to the Gorges de la Nesque. At only 3% average, the climb is easy on a road overlooking the gorges.

Optional Detour: Gorges de la Nesque (+40 km)

Today is all about wine! Cycle through vineyards and past wine estates with the jagged peaks of the Dentelle de Montmirail and majestic Mont Ventoux as your constant backdrop. Gigondas and Séguret, two villages clinging to the mountainside, are well worth visiting. The former is known for its wines, while the latter is criss-crossed by old cobbled streets and listed as one of France's most beautiful villages. End your day in Vaison la Romaine, a lively town with an old medieval quarter and the largest Gallo-Roman archaeological site in France.

Leave Vaison where vineyards stretch across gentle plains with Mont Ventoux as a constant backdrop, and head north to Nyons, the capital of the black olive AOP. The terrain becomes more rolling and hillier, and the air often smells of thyme, rosemary, and lavender. Cycle through authentic Provençal villages including Puyméras and Mirabel-aux-Baronnies with their narrow streets and clusters of old stone houses. Approaching Nyons, enter the Baronnies Provençales where the scenery becomes more rugged and dramatic, with limestone hills covered in pine forest, scrubland, and terraced olives.

The ride from Nyons up to the Grignan plateau is more spacious, more austere, and beautifully cultivated. Weave between groves and small farms as you gain altitude. Fields of lavender and scrubland are laid out before you. As you approach Grignan, the castle appears perched above the plain. Grignan captivates visitors with its timeless charm, boasting picturesque narrow streets, sunny terraces, and breathtaking views of the Drôme Provençale. Enjoy the quiet country roads as you make your way back to Nyons.

After breakfast, your cycling holiday comes to an end. A scheduled transfer takes you to Orange railway station, where you continue your onward journey with wonderful memories of Provence, the Rhône vineyards and the beautiful Drôme Provençale.