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May 28 - VENCE (NICE)
We’ll meet your flight at the Nice/Côte d’Azur airport and
transport you to our hotel in Vence. This ancient walled
village, only six miles from the beaches of the Côte d’Azur, is
high enough in the hills to be free of the crush of beach
cruising tourists that can ruin anyone's vacation. We’ll all be
busy assembling bikes, fighting fatigue, sightseeing, or just
relaxing from our travels, so we offer several suggestions for a
shakedown ride before our welcome dinner tonight. Most of this
trip will be on small country roads and we will seldom be in
dense tourist areas. Many of the following days show a fair
amount of elevation gain, though there are very few hard climbs,
most being gradual or rolling. Dinner will be at our hotel in,
or overlooking the pool and garden, depending on the weather.
May 29 - ST CÉZAIRE - 27mi, 1000ft -or- 42mi,
3000ft altitude gain
We’ll have a leisurely breakfast - no rush this morning. The
hustle of city life and responsibilities of home left far behind
us, we set out on a truly great adventure. We parallel the coast
as we wind our way toward Grasse, the world leader in the
distillation of perfumes. With continued views of the
Mediterranean along the way, we stop in St Cézaire for our first
of many French lunches. Whether it is a five course meal, a
picnic, or just a salad and baguette, lunch is always a grand
experience in Provence. The longer route departs early in the
day and climbs to the cliff hugging village of Gourdon, 1500 ft
above the road taken by the other cyclists. Still more climbing
to the Plateau de Caussols, and we have an exhilarating descent
all the way to St Cézaire where the others will just be
finishing lunch and preparing for an afternoon at the pool.
May 30 - CALLAS-Pennafort - 37mi, 1100ft or
47mi, 2550ft
Today we descend into and climb out of the first of many
beautiful gorges, passing through or near many typical Provençal
villages, all worth exploring. Along the way we pass an ancient
Roman aqueduct carved into the stone cliffs above the gorge. A
short detour allows for the exploration of the village of Mons
and an early lunch. A gradual descent brings us to Callian and
the possibility of a late lunch in the shaded plaza. Near
Seillans an old railroad bed provides us with a forested roadway
to Claviers. An easy climb to Bargemon rewards us with a long
descent to our beautifully situated hotel with its first rate
restaurant. If you didn't take a dip in the river earlier
today, a swim in the hotel pool is a must.
May 31 - MOISSAC-BELLEVUE - 34mi, 2700ft - or -
38mi, 3400ft
The inspiration for this bike tour of Provence is the many
small, beautiful hilltop villages that for centuries have given
safe haven to the inhabitants of this mountainous region of
France. Today we explore many of these gems, Châteaudouble,
Ampus, Tourtour and, Aups. A stop in Châteaudouble for lunch
with a sweeping view from the tree-shaded terrace of the village
restaurant is a must; it’s perhaps the best lunch of the trip,
the epitome of the long, relaxing ritual of a French lunch.
Tourtour is certainly one of the best villages in Provence with
its shaded central plaza, the old men playing boules, and the
interesting small shops. Of course the many outdoor bars and
restaurants make for a perfect afternoon break, or even lunch
for the faster riders. Aups is a lively, bustling village and a
good stop for an ice cream or beer before arriving at our hotel
just outside Moissac.
June 1 – AIX EN PROVENCE - 51mi, 3000ft
We start the day shopping for a grand picnic to be shared this
afternoon. Today’s ride has no special villages, but the
countryside is typically Provence and beautiful. How can a place
be so perfect for cycling?! Wonderful scenery, small winding
roads with very little traffic, fragrant scents from wild herbs
growing along the roadside, excellent weather, friendly people,
delicious food - what more can we ask for? This morning’s ride
is mostly rolling hills through scrub oak, from one small
village to the next. After our picnic lunch, we climb into the
hills around the famous Mont Ste. Victoire; and as we traverse
the moonscape-like southern side, we are not surprised that this
mountain has inspired so many artists - particularly Cézanne.
One is left wondering if this mountain was formed by the forces
of nature or by the paintbrush of Cézanne. A thrilling descent
off the flank of the mountain takes us into Aix-en-Provence, the
vital and cosmopolitan setting for our evening’s stay. Here is
the perfect sized Provençal town for a night out; dinner will be
on our own at any number of restaurants or cafes.
June 2 - LOURMARIN - 27mi, 2000ft
This morning we’ll take time to further explore
Aix-en-Provence’s wealth of charm and history which beckon to be
explored and appreciated. We can begin by wending our way up
the Cours Mirabeau. We’ll enjoy the tree lined avenue accented
by several fountains, and perhaps stop for a mid-morning
espresso at Les Deux Garçons before continuing our exploration.
After lunch we’ll head en masse out into the country, as we ride
toward the Montagne du Luberon, gateway to the Vaucluse. We’ll
pause on our way in Lourmarin for an afternoon ice cream, and
perhaps a visit to the 16th century château located just outside
town. A short ride past vineyards brings us to our beautiful
Provencal
hotel. One option for today is to head directly to the hotel
and spend much of the day lounging by the pool. The stone
buildings and 2 1/2 acre gardens surrounding the pool help
create a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere infused with that
famous Provençal mystique. If you feel you are not yet in
heaven, just wait for one of Provence's great meals, the gourmet
dinner served tonight on the terrace.
June 3 - JOUCAS - 20mi, 1200ft - or - 39mi,
2900ft
The hilltop villages of the Luberon with their warm colors and
exquisite fragrances will intoxicate our thoughts with visions
of a simpler and richer life. En route to Joucas, we'll explore
some of the towns made famous in Peter Mayle's books,
A Year in
Provence and
Hotel
Pastis; Bonnieux,
Lacoste, Saignon, and Roussillon. this area is known as the
Luberon; it really is a magical place, where the residents are
friendly and hospitable, the vineyards and gardens are lovely,
and lunch at just about any little bistro is worth writing home
about. One of our favorite villages is Roussillon, which
teeters on an ochre-colored hilltop, from which magnificent
views of the surrounding lowlands may be enjoyed.
June 4 - JOUCAS - 0 mi or up to 30mi and 3000ft
Continuing our exploration of the Luberon we’ll visit any
villages we missed yesterday. We’ll start with Goult, because if
we hurry, we might be able to purchase some of the famous
sourdough bread fresh from the oven of the tiny village bakery.
Then, on to Oppède-le-Vieux, Menerbe, and Gordes, then finally
back to Jouocs . Another possibility is to visit Fontaine de
Vaucluse. Here, a large river emerges from the ground beneath
towering limestone cliffs, its source probably from far away
Mont Ventoux. If the essence of Provence were to be distilled
down to a single day's bike ride, this valley would be it. Of
course, another way to experience this part of France is to do
as the French do: pick any one of these gemstone villages, find
a restaurant or boulangerie in the town square, order a café and
patisserie, relax and enjoy!
June 5 - VAISON LA ROMAINE - Route du Vin, 44mi,
2800ft
An easy mornig climb brings us to the Col de Murs After
descending a winding small gorge, the short climb to Venasque is
rewarded by one of Provences “most beautiful” villages. After a
delicious lunch in Bedoin, we circle the Dentellis de Montmirail,
tooth like mountains bordering the Rhone Valley. This is the
'Route du Vin' through some of the more famous Côte du Rhone
vineyards. As we pass through Beaumes-de-Venise, Vacqueras,
Gigondas, and Seguret, stop at any of the wineries for wine
tasting and be sure to make arrangements with van to help with
any purchases. Our hotel high above town in the old city is a
perfect setting for the end of a beautiful day. The restaurant
is well known for its excellent Provençal style menus.
June 6 – VAISON LA ROMAINE - Rest Day
A much-needed rest day is most appropriate for today is market
day in Vaison la Romaine. Vaison’s market is considered one of
the best in all of Provence. Market day is France’s answer to
the mall; it comes once a week, and offers an experience far
greater than just buying and selling – it is a happening, a
social event, ‘showtime’, and of course a visual feast.
Beautifully laid tables of fruits, vegetables, spices, olives
and tapenades, breads, honeys, stalls of meats and fish,
cheeses, pizzas, and other prepared foods, not to mention
clothes, fabrics, hardware, jewelry, and wines. A great
gastronomic adventure is to wander the market in a group, with
each person picking out a local specialty, and returning to the
hotel with a bottle of wine where you can arrange to have a
picnic.
June 7 - SAULT - 32mi, 2400ft - or - 36mi, 6000ft
An option for today, if you're up to a very serious challenge,
is to climb the nearby Mont Ventoux, a mere 5000 ft of altitude
gain - much of it at 8-11% grade. This is one of the hardest
climbs made famous by the Tour de France. The view from the
summit and the thrilling descent back into Sault, not to mention
the bragging rights, make this climb an experience of a
lifetime. The more intelligent choice, and a wonderful route on
its own, is the valley road around the northern face of Mont
Ventoux. This is a beautiful valley with lavender fields ready
to bloom. The short climb to the village of Brantes is worth it
for the views of Mont Ventoux looming high above this quiet,
picturesque village. After a late lunch in Sault, it is a short
ride out of town to our hotel, hidden in an oak grove. This is
a perfect setting in which to relax after a hard ride, and,
dinner on the patio will be...Provençal... and superb!
June 8 –
MANOSQUE
- 43MI, 3400ft,
Lavender grows in many environments around the world, perhaps
even in your own garden at home. But it produces a superior
essence when grown under harsh conditions. At 2000-4000ft, the
high, arid, sparsely populated Plateau de Vaucluse is just such
an environment; cold and dry during winter, hot and dry during
summer.
The fields of lavender will just be blooming, attracting
honeybees and butterflies. It’s hard to overlook these vast
fields with their tidy, rounded rows; yet we’ll see many other
wildflowers in bloom this time of year, as well as wild
herbs—thyme, rosemary, marjoram, basil, savory, and
sage—producing a heavenly medley of sweet smells. This will be
one of the loveliest, most fragrant days of cycling. The last
climb of the day will be hard on tired legs, but the descent to
Manosque will be fast and exhilarating. A dip in the pool will
renew us in preparation for one of our best evening meals yet.
June 9 - MOUSTIERS Ste. MARIE - 38mi,
2400ft-or-44mi, 3600ft
After a French buffet breakfast, we can coast into town, the
bustling city of Manosque. The ring road is quite busy but
pedal into the center, where no cars are allowed and meander
through the many small streets, visiting the myriad of shops,
and of course this is a must stop for pastry and a coffee.
Greoux is a good village to find picnic supplies for an
en pleine
aire
lunch. Another great lunch stop is in Riez with
its shaded streets and numerous restaurants. This area is one
of the largest lavender growing regions in all of Provence, the
evenly spaced rows stretching as far as the eye can see.
Moustiers, known for its delicately painted ceramics, sits at
the base of two sheer cliffs, whose summits serve as a
springboard for many colorful parapenters. This village,
designated one of the most beautiful in Provence, is well worth
exploring, including the hike up to the small chapel on the
cliffs above town. Dinner tonight is ‘no host’; choose from a
tantalizing selection of cozy restaurants in the village.
June 10 - CASTELLANE - 32 mi, 3000ft - or -
53mi,4000ft
The
Grand Canyon du Verdon is one of the most impressive natural
wonders of Europe, yet it was not discovered until 1905.
Although the locals knew it well, its remoteness kept it hidden
from the world. Agriculturally useless and almost
inaccessible, the 13 mile canyon has sheer limestone cliffs 1000
to 3000 feet high and less than one-half mile apart. As we begin
our climb at the beginning of the canyon, we see the first of
many spectacular views, the brilliant opaque blue-green of Lac
de Ste. Croix, formed by a dam at its western end. Far below
numerous breathtaking viewpoints is the Verdon river snaking its
way westward. From our favorite viewpoint we will enjoy a
leisurely picnic lunch while watching rock climbers honing their
skills on the vertical rock walls. We descend into the narrow
gorge at the east end of the Verdon on our way to the mountain
village of Castellane. Although there is plenty of climbing and
descending, the short route is fairly easy. The optional loop,
though steep, is highly recommended for its incredible
scenic beauty.
June 11 - VENCE - 47 mi, 2800 ft -or- 53 mi,
3800ft
We’ll make the most of today, our last day of cycling through
this wonderfully varied and amazing part of France, and choosing
a route is the hard part, with so much from which to choose! The
short route climbs up the Col du Luens, then turns off into a
series of sub-alpine valleys, and finally plummets toward the
village of Gourdon perched high on the cliffs above the Gorges
du Loup. A ‘must’ for lunch, Gourdon has a most impressive view
of the Côte d’Azur and Mediterranean beyond. The shorter route
avoids the climb to Gourdon by traversing a high valley until we
pass through the Clue de Greolières, where we start descending -
almost all the way to Vence. The tiny backroads and the uplifted
limestone slabs of the region create a route with immense views
for the entire day. Lunch is best taken in Greolières, or even
in Vence. After packing up, we'll enjoy our farewell dinner at
the hotel.
JUNE 12 – Departure
Van transportation is provided to the
Nice-Côte d'Azur airport (or train) in Nice.
COST $2995 per person based on Double Occupancy
$550 Single Supplement
INCLUDES
·2-3 star Hotel Accommodations ·
·Breakfast daily (except arrival day) ·Dinner daily (except one night and arrival/departure
days)
·Airport transfers from/to Nice airport
·Bike mechanic and van
support with cellular phone
·Ground transportation for all passengers, luggage & bikes
·Regional map plus detailed daily route maps & cue sheets
NOT INCLUDED
·International airfare
·Tips, gratuities, laundry, telephone, & items of a personal
nature
·Lunches and alcoholic beverages (a supplemental fee will be
charged for those who want wine with dinner, and can be prepaid
before departure)
PRE-TRIP PLANNING
A complete trip packet will be sent upon receipt of your final payment, including tour t-shirt, hotel lists, maps, and luggage tags. Our guidebook containing
information on what to bring, how to pack your bike for flying, equipment list, and changing currencies, will be sent upon receipt of your secondary deposit (due by March 1). All participants must possess a current passport.
TRAVEL
INSURANCE Erickson Cycle Tours strongly recommends purchasing insurance for trip cancellation, injury, illness, and loss of effects. A traveler's insurance brochure will be included in your confirmation letter.
AIRFARE
We offer the services of
our travel agent, Rogue Travel, in obtaining economical,
expedient air reservations, and we are happy to assist with pre-
and post-tour accommodations. Please contact Shannon or
Steven for flight information:
800.443.9216 or shannon@mind.net
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