Ventoux to Avignon

Day 1 | Arrive in Mazan

Arrive at Avignon or Marseille and transfer to your hotel in Mazan. Relax by the pool, enjoy a glass (or bottle) from the hotels well-stocked cellar and relax, ready to start your cycling on day two.

Day 2 | Optional round trip Bedoin

Your first day on the bike takes you north to the market village of Bedoin, the most popular starting point for those avid cyclists looking to take on the climb of Mont Ventoux. Dont worry though, our route turns back towards Mazan before the climb! Youll spend most of the day riding through a vineyard covered landscape, with spectacular views all around. We love taking a long lunch in Bedoin and soaking up the atmosphere of this cycle-centric village.

Day 3 | Mazan to Chteauneuf-du-Pape

Today starts with a short ride into the town of Carpentras, a real treasure trove for lovers of history and architecture. As you pass through, keep an eye out for the Port dOrange, the fortress ruins and the Hotel Dieu in particular. From Carpentras you pick up the Via Venassia cycle path for an easy, traffic-free stretch taking you to the village of Jonquieres. A short spin further down the road lies Courthezon, where a quick stop for coffee and a cake will give keep you topped up for the last stretch through vineyards to your overnight hotel on the outskirts of Chteauneuf-du-Pape.

Day 4 | Round trip to Orange

Theres time today to explore this charming village, built at the base of its fortress remains, overlooking the plain of Comtat and endless vineyards. Most importantly, there are wine tastings offered on virtually every street corner. If youre itching for a ride, why not take the route up to the spectacular Roman ruins of Orange, once the Roman capital of the region.

Day 5 | Chteauneuf-du-Pape to Avignon

From the hillside, we drop down into the Rhne valley and take a flat route loosely following the rivers path, following the Euro Velo 17 long distance cycling route. After a short stretch in the countryside, passing yet more vineyards, we enter the town of Sorgues, where you can find a quaint old town area. However, the real attraction today is your arrival in Avignon, which is just 6km away at this point. We advise pushing on and making the most of an afternoon to start exploring Avignon, perhaps starting with a visit to the Papal palace.

Day 6 | Optional round tip to Seguret and Vaison-la-Romaine

For those looking to ride again today, we suggest an out and back route taking in the hilltop villages of Sablet and Seguret, the classy Roman town of Vaison-la-Romaine and the rich, red wines of the Gigondas appellation. Seguret, in particular,is one of this regions secret gems. Not only are the views on offer from the hillside spectacular, but the local wine is fantastic too. Vaison-la-Romaine, on the other hand, is one of the regions better-known destinations and for good reason. Its old town area is one of the most beautifully preserved medieval villages in France. As this is an out and back route, it can easily be shortened on the fly if you are looking for an easier cycle.

Day 7 | We say au revoir

Trip extensions are available upon request.