E-Biking in Provence
7 Days & 6 Nights 5 Read 5 reviews- Experience the best of Provence by e-bike as you cycle from Avignon to Chateauneuf du Pape
- Discover the rolling lavender fields and vineyards of the Provençal countryside with ease
- Wander the winding streets of Avignon—a UNESCO-listed city—complete with Papal Palace
- Sample delicious local cheese and fresh cherries in L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue on market day
- Taste the rich red wines of Chateauneuf du Pape synonymous with the southern Rhône
Tour Type:
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Activity:
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 15 Years
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Accessible by Rail
Activity Level & Terrain
This trip is graded "easy to moderate" overall with the use of an e-bike. However, should you be travelling with someone who does not wish to ride an e-bike then the trip is graded "moderate" as the rolling terrain packs more of punch without the extra assistance provided by an e-bike motor. You should be in good physical fitness to fully enjoy the cycling on this tour. If you cycle a few times each month as part of an active lifestyle and enjoy actively seeking new sights, this trip should suit you.
Daily routes vary from 22-41 km (13-25 miles) each day with one optional loop ride from Gordes. The terrain is undulating, but not especially challenging with no technical descents, and with the assistance of an e-bike hills you may have considered intimidating suddenly seem very doable. Daily ascent varies between 105m and 601m on the toughest day from Gordes to Bedoin. Make sure to take plenty of breaks especially if cycling in the heat of the day and stay hydrated.
French traffic generally has respect for the "velo" and where there isn’t a cycle lane (or shoulder) you should be given plenty of space, but you should be comfortable sharing the road with vehicles, as the first and final days of riding include short sections on single carriageway roads with faster flowing traffic.
Navigation
The route is largely not signposted and follows a mixture of quiet country roads, cycle paths, and includes some short stretches on busier roads when there is normally a narrow cycle lane (or shoulder). We provide you with detailed turn-by-turn route notes, GPX tracks and maps in our GPS Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app. Simply download the routes to your phone for offline use and off you go!
Accommodations
Nights in hand-picked accommodations: a selection of guest houses and small hotels. Please note it is not possible to have a swimming pool on each night. When there isn't a restaurant at your accommodation you will have a choice of nearby eateries. We regularly use the listed properties but may accommodate you elsewhere if these are not available. However, they will be of a similar standard.
If you would like to add extra nights to your trip we recommend doing so in Avignon, and L'Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue. If you intend on taking a winery tour from Chateauneuf du Pape we can arrange an extra night's accommodation here also. If an extra touch of luxury will make the trip for you then take a look at Biking Provence In Style.
Meals
A continental breakfast will be provided by your accommodation every morning. Usually these are buffet or continental-style, consisting of yoghurt, cereal, breads, pastries, jams and fruit served alongside fresh coffee and tea. Dinners are not included, however some of the accommodations have their own restaurants, where your accommodation doesn't have its own restaurant you'll find there are a few dining options nearby.
Lunches are not included, but on each day you'll find small stores or cafes in which to purchase items for a picnic lunch. Your route notes give advice on where you can eat/pick-up lunch each day.
Wine Tastings & Vineyard Visits
The vineyards around Chateauneuf du Pape are part of the renowned AOC wine producing region of the Cotes du Rhone. On this trip you'll pedal past plenty of vineyards - for flexibility we haven't included any tours so you are free to pick and choose what wineries you'd like to visit. If an introduction is enough, then we recommend a tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape to whet your palate, otherwise it's best to book in advance for tours and tastings.
Solo Cyclists & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo cyclists, although there is a supplement due to the fact that some of the costs (such as transfers) are not shared. Smaller double rooms are available for a single person on request and a supplement is payable.
- 6 Nights in hand-picked B&B's and small hotels
- 6 Breakfasts
- Rental of an e-bike for each person on the trip
- Luggage transfers
- Transfer on day 7 from Chateauneuf du Pape to Avignon TGV train station
- Information pack
- Access to route notes, detailed maps, and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to / from Avignon
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights before, during or after the trip
When To Go
You can start on any day of the week from April to October, subject to availability. Peak holiday months in Provence are June, July and August so we suggest contacting us as soon as your plans are finalised if you wish to travel during this time. The lavender, that’s so iconic of region, normally blooms from mid-June until it’s harvested in mid-August.
Weather and Climate
July and August are the hottest months, with little to no rainfall, and temperatures frequently rise to well over 30 degrees Celcius. The months before and after are sunny and a little cooler, which could be preferable when cycling. Always make sure to stay hydrated, take plenty of water, and wear sunscreen and a sunhat.Getting to the Start
The trip begins and ends in Avignon—easily accessible from Marseille and Lyon airports via train and shuttle bus in under 2 hours. Alternatively, if you are combining the trip with a visit to Paris, or it’s simply easier to get a direct flight to Paris, it’s a 4 hour train journey (with changes) to Avignon. Marseille and Lyon are well connected across Europe with direct flights, but if you’re flying from further afield we recommend taking an internal flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport or taking the train.
The trip includes a private taxi transfer from Chateauneuf du Pape to Avignon TGV train station for ease on your onward travel day. This transfer can be amended to anytime before noon to suit your travel plans.
Luggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodations as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
The trip includes a private taxi transfer from Chateauneuf du Pape to Avignon TGV train station for ease on your onward travel day. This transfer can be amended to anytime in the morning to suit your travel plans.
General Information
The reviews for this trip, up until December 2019, are based on a previous similar itinerary. Since then we have relaunched the trip with improvements to accommodations and pedalled the route to make this trip even better!
Equipment
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to bring with you to Provence. You’ll need to wear a helmet, bringing your own is always more comfortable than hiring one. We also recommend a rechargeable battery pack and a light weight handlebar mount for navigation.
On this tour hire of an e-bike (9 speed Scott E-Sub) is included from the evening of day 1, or from the morning of day 2, until the evening of day 6 when the bike will be collected from your accommodation. Our local partner will drop your bike off at the first accommodation and provide a fitting service to make sure you are happy with everything before your trip begins.
We recommend that you have some prior experience riding e-bikes before beginning the trip—with the motor and battery they are likely to be heavier than your bike at home and will handle differently. However, you’ll soon be motoring along enjoying a little extra help on the hills allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenery. You can control the level of assistance depending on the steepness of the terrain and your energy levels. Please let us know your height, and the frame size you currently ride. We’re happy to answer any questions you have about the hire bike.
Please note that numbers of e-bikes are limited so to confirm your trip we must first confirm availability of the correct size e-bike.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Avignon Day 2 Cycle Avignon to L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue 18 miles / 29 km Day 3 Cycle L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue to Gordes 14 miles / 22.5 km Day 4 Loop ride via Goult and Roussillon 16.5 miles / 26.5 km Day 5 Cycle Gordes to Bedoin 23 miles / 37 km Day 6 Cycle Bedoin to Chateauneuf du Pape 25 miles / 41 km Day 7 Onward travelBlog Articles
You May Also Like
The Macs Way
-
Tried & Tested Adventures
-
Freedom
-
Book with Confidence
-
Expertise
-
Positive Impact
- Knowledgeable and helpful specialist trip planners
- Wide variety of tours to suit all interests and experience levels
- Start on any date that suits you
- Choose your ideal trip length and difficulty
- Range of accommodation comfort levels
- Choice of trip styles
- Choose your own travel companions
- Walk, cycle and explore at your own pace
- Make your own decisions
- Choose your own path
- Indulge your passions
- 15,000+ unbiased trip & service reviews
- Feefo Platinum Award 2022
- 25,000+ travelers trust us each year
- As featured in the Guardian, Times, Nat Geo Traveler
- Founder owned & operated since 2003
- 100+ passionate team members across the US, UK & Europe
- Carefully planned adventures
- Quality, hand-picked accommodations
- Seamless and reliable arrangements
- Comprehensive trip information & insider tips
- Detailed maps, route notes and mobile GPS app
- Helpful 24/7 support should you need it
- Travel responsibly
- Explore off the beaten track
- Support locally owned businesses
- Engage with local communities
- Minimize your impact
- Maximize the benefit of your travel
- Challenge yourself & grow