Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling - Short Break
Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling - Short Break
Hilltop Villages of Provence Cycling - Short Break
5 Days Starting and ending in Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Visiting: Pernes-les-Fontaines, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Ménerbes, Oppède le Vieux, Le Thor
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C04PL
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Physical rating:
Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
From:
$2090 (USD)Tour Overview
On this four night holiday you'll discover the beauty of Provence - a region where refinement and tradition blend beautifully, and whose natural light and landscapes have served as inspiration to the likes of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dumas, not to mention Peter Mayle! You'll look out over a patchwork blanket of fields, olive groves, vineyards and, in the south east, apple orchards which cover the floor between the mountains on either side. While the vineyards here may not be as well-known as those of the Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux, some superb wines are produced here - so be sure to stop off for a tasting or two.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel l'Hermitage
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive at your 3 star hotel, just north of the town of Pernes-les-Fontaines.
There's plenty of time to relax and explore the hotel grounds before
dinner.
Day 2 : Pernes-Les-Fontaines To Roussillon
Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Roussillon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Les Sables D'Ocre
Meals Included: Breakfast
Pass by Pernes-les-Fontaines before setting off alongside the Canal de
Carpentras and on through the beautiful scenery of the Vaucluse down to the
popular town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The old town here is entirely
surrounded by the clear waters of the River Sorgue. There are lots of lunch
options in the town, or you could stop a little further on in the pretty
village of Fontaine-de- Vaucluse. In the afternoon you climb to enjoy your
first spectacular views of the Luberon before descending past vineyards,
olive groves and windmills, and on to the ochre-painted village of
Roussillon, the starting point of the Ochre Trail.
Day 3 : Roussillon To Maubec
Location: Roussillon, Bonnieux, Ménerbes, Oppède le Vieux
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Bastide du Bois Breant
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, set out along the Ochre Trail to the village of Gargas where
you have the opportunity to visit the Ochre Mines of Bruoux. A greenway cycle
path takes you on to the medieval town of Apt to explore the old town, or
simply enjoy a coffee, before heading south along country lanes where a
mixture of climbs and freewheeling takes you through some of the most
beautiful villages in Provence. First there's Bonnieux, from where nearby
Chateau la Connorgue (made famous by Ridley Scott's A Good Year) can be
visited for tastings - if you choose to climb higher up, simply incredible
views unfold. Then it's on to Lacoste to explore the ruined castle, once a
mighty fortification and now a spectacular viewpoint. From here you'll
freewheel down before another short climb to Menerbes, made famous by the
books of Peter Mayle, and a great place to stop for lunch. The last leg takes
you to Maubec where your hotel awaits - a 18th century farmhouse, restored in
the Provencal style, set amongst its own woodland with a lovely swimming pool
to relax beside before dinner
Day 4 : Maubec To Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Location: Le Thor, Pernes-les-Fontaines
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel l'Hermitage
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning you ride through apple country where you'll see orchards
aplenty. Following the lanes brings you to the medieval town of Le Thor,
after which you pass the ruins of the fortified monastery at Thouzon, along
with the Grotte de Thouzon; a network of caves carved out by an underground
river. Then it's back to Pernes-les-Fontaines where you have time to explore
the mediaeval old town and the numerous ancient stone fountains and
lavoirs.Â
Day 5 : Leave Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Location: Pernes-les-Fontaines
Meals Included: Breakfast
LEAVE PERNES-LES-FONTAINES
What's Included
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Meals
4 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 2 dinners.
* All accommodation
* All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals
* Services of your local Headwater Representative
* GPS route directions and mapsÂ
* /RideWithGPS/Â navigation app
* High quality hybrid bikesÂ
* Luggage transfers between ho
What's Not Included
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OPTIONAL UPGRADES
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Other flights, including regional departures
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Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels
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Business/club/first class fares on request
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Flights from Heathrow to Marseille with British Airways, including onward rail and station transfers
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First class rail
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City break add-ons in Marseille and Nic
Food
All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals included.
Provencale cuisine is a blend of many influences from the plentiful sea, to
neighbour Italy and the early Roman occupation. The soil is rich and the
climate is conducive to producing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.
Whilst not the most sophisticated of the French cuisines, most dishes use the
excellent tasting local fresh produce. Cooking à la Provencale uses local
olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and wild herbs,
all ripened by the sun to give an intensity of flavour. You can browse among
the colours and smells, and make picnic purchases at the lively local
markets.
The proximity of the sea makes fish and seafood an important element of the
local cuisine. Regional dishes include the famous bouillabaisse, a rich fish
stew served with aioli and rouille; the bourride – a lighter version of the
bouillabaisse; pistou soupe (summer vegetable soup with a blend of garlic,
basil and olive oil); authentic ratatouille, large colourful salads and
delicious courgette flower fritters. Tapenade and anchoïade are savoury dips
made with local olives and anchovies; pissaladière is an onion tart with
olives and anchovies and is very likely to have come from the Romans.
Accommodation
We've hand-picked a lovely selection of hotels for your holiday. The Hotel l'Hermitage in Pernes-les-Fontaines is set in 2 hectares of grounds with a swimming pool and its own orangery; the Hotel les Sables d'Ocre in Roussillon sits amidst landscaped lawns with a relaxing pool area; while La Bastide du Bois Breant in Maubec provides a typically Provencal feel, sitting in its own woodland and boasting a lovely pool.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Luggage transfers between hotels
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Age 8+ can go on this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this Operator
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.