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Provence Multisport Tour - 2009 National Geographic Award Winner!
6 Nights / 7 Days
Dates 2009
April-Oct: This tour starts any Monday through Saturday. Note; in July-Aug, some hiking and mountain bike routes are closed to prevent fires; so alternatives will be offered.
Price
1315 euros per person, double occupancy; SELF GUIDED. 2 person minimum.
GUIDED OPTION: minimum 6 pax, any date, priced at 1695 euros/person; dbl occup.
Single supplement: TBD euros. Triples/quads not available. (convert)
Bike Rentals
Included (click to view) Scott Sportster P3 hybrids; see link for full details and picture. Helmets and add on materials included. Scott MTB.
Scott Sportster P3 hybrid rentals - the best rental bike available in the region for 2009, certainly so for self-guided travelers.
Level
Level 2,moderate. This is neither a challenging tour nor an easy tour, but it does require experience/skill in different activities and overall good fitness. Participants must know how to swim, be able to hike 20 km, and bike on varied terrain on either hybrid or mountain bike.
The trip includes
6 nights very charming lodging and some with swimming pool, all breakfasts, 4 dinners, baggage transfers, detailed road book with maps and guide book with tourist information, arrival orientation, all equipment and delivery, local support available throughout the tour for emergency support. We also include free travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more.
UPGRADES: This tour can be upgraded to 4 star hotels in Villeneuve and St Remy; please inquire for a rate.
Additional Night in Villeneuve les Avignon: TBA euros for double room.
Book this Tour
Book a Hotel in Provence
What
is self-guided touring?
Details
Arrival city is Avignon, which accessible via train from Paris
or Paris CDG airport. 3 hours. Taxi to hotel upon arrival
is approx. 15 euros.
Misc Info
Triple rooms are rarely available as double plus single, but quads
are not available.
Pedals with or without straps available for the hybrid. Clients can bring their own Clipless pedals to be changed over.
NOT recommended for Children under 12 years of age.
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!
BEST TRIP OF 2009 - AWARDED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE! See Link... This Provence multip sport tour is a great way to discover Provence - and NOT like any other tour! This itinerary starts in Villeneuve-les-Avignon and visits the culturally rich countryside from Avignon, to the Alpilles and into the Luberon. An “off the beaten path” active trip, you will cycle through the vineyards and forests of the region, hop on a canoe and paddle down the Gardon river, hike through the Provençal mountains, lavender fields and olive-yards, ride a high quality mountain bike on the trails of the Luberon and climb in the trees & zip-line in the adventure park of the Vaucluse… This tour combines several activities to provide you with a unique way to discover this beautiful part of France! Enjoy! |
"We had a fabulous time. We are talking to all our friends about how well the entire trip, arrangements, accommodations, your service, etc. went!" -S. Schmidt, Provence |
Click on a day to see that days itinerary.
DAY 1
Day 1 is arrival day and meeting day, which also gives the opportunity to explore Villeneuve-les-Avignon, an historical village 3km from Avignon. An English speaking team-member will welcome you at the hotel at 3 pm for orientation and bike delivery. After, you can go to visit Avignon in a unique way with our cultural treasure hunt in the historical center! Avignon is a culturally and historically rich city with much to see and much to learn. Our Treasure Hunt will introduce you to the most important sites and give you a fun way to pass a couple hours after arrival. We strongly encourage a little time in Avignon, and history buffs could arrive a day early and pass an extra night exploring both Avignon and Villenuve! Dinner is included out in a very charming local restaurant tonight. Late arrivals are ok, but no time for treasure hunt. Optional orientation at 8:30 am next morning. (D) Hotel Atelier
Villeneuve Les Avignon
This charming XVIth Century residence offers 23 rooms, all different. A stone stairway, bathed in li...
Day 2 this first active day is by bike, a route that moves out of Villeneuve-les-Avignon through the Gard forests and vineyards and to visit the famous roman aqueduct Pont du Gard which dominates the river at over 165 feet high. Swimming is possible in the river. You will cycle on to Uzes, a beautiful Provencal village with plane tree lined streets. 52 km route. Night in Uzes in a very charming 3 star hotel, Les Entraigues, with swimming pool. .Dinner included. Night in Uzes. (B, D) Adventurers: an option to do Via Ferrata is possible today! Via Ferrata (see Wikipedia)is like rock climbing with the help of steps and security line on fixed cables. To add this option, you must book at least 1 month in advance, price is 90 euros/person - guided activity with local professional.
Uzes
In town, situated in front of the Eveche, the cathedral and the "windowed" bell-tower, the Hotel d...
Day 3 Today, you will hop on a canoe and paddle down the Gardon river, through the Gorges du Gardon! You will start with a short and flat warm up bike ride from your hotel to Collias for the canoe put in. Your bikes are transferred to meet you at the pull out at the Pont du Gard. You then cycle on from there to St Remy de Provence and your excellent hotel in this charming town. There is no experience required to canoe this stretch on your own, just know how to swim! The water is flat. The canoe is trip is about 2 hours over 8 km. The cycling that follows is 38 km and is mostly flat to rolling. Another 3 hours maximum should cover that. In all, a complete and rewarding day! Dinner included.(B,D)
St Remy de Provence
An oasis of calm and cool, located a few minutes walk from the center of Saint-Remy, once home to Va...
Day 4 Put your hiking shoes on and get on the GR 6 trail that will lead you to the nearby hills above St Remy known as the Alpilles. This hike will take you along to the Citadel of Les Baux de Provence. After your visit of the village we suggest you walk to the Val d’Enfer and its rock formations, then make your way back to Saint Rémy. Dinner included, night in St Remy, same hotel. 20 km hiking with hills at Les Baux. (B,D)
St Remy de Provence
An oasis of calm and cool, located a few minutes walk from the center of Saint-Remy, once home to Va...
Day 5 In the morning, we recommend a fairly early start as well for today is also adventure filled! You will ride your hybrid bike to Isle sur la Sorgue where you can visit, have lunch, and then after ride on to the Adventure Park in a nearby village. At the adventure park you will find lots of fun and possibly challenging activities in the tree tops including zip lines, rope bridges, and the like. (not recommend for those with vertigo). Park employees (French speaking) will assist you. After all this you have a short cycle ride back to Fontaine de Vaucluse and very charming hotel with dinner out on your own. (B)
Fontaine de Vaucluse
Bordering the Luberon, in the heart of Fountain de Vaucluse, this hotel gives a warm welcome. Charm...
Day 6 For your last active day, we have planned for you to do a nice 'balade' on mountain bikes. You will ride a short distance on paved roads to meet the trail and after you will have a nice quiet trail to follow that makes a loop and brings you back to the road. The trail is a mix of wide trail and sand/gravel to sections of single track. None of it is technical or requires advance mountain bike skill. Return to the same hotel in Fontaine de Vaucluse, dinner on your own. Approximately 30 km cycling and 3 hours. (B)
Fontaine de Vaucluse
Bordering the Luberon, in the heart of Fountain de Vaucluse, this hotel gives a warm welcome. Charm...
Day 7 is departure day. You can take your time with breakfast and then transfer back to the rail station in Avignon is included. Additional nights can be arranged. (B)
See more of this region by clicking below for the virtual tour

Bicycle Tour Regions |
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| Alsace | Burgundy | Dordogne/SW | Loire Valley | Poitou-Charentes | Rhone-Alpes |
| Brittany | Champagne | Languedoc | Normandy | Provence | |