Adventure and luxury are not mutually exclusive. Enjoy a cycling holiday of in the heart of the mountains, based for two nights in the 5* Les Bories Hotel, perched high above the Luberon valley. The hotel boasts a luxurious indoor and outdoor pool, impeccable service, sumptuous meals, and is nestled in possibly the best vantage point over the Luberon mountains. And you’ll be just a short walk from the village of Gordes, recently crowned by Travel and Leisure as the world’s most beautiful village. A hard label to live up to? Certainly. But when you come to Gordes, you’ll see why.
We’ll set you up with several daily riding options to explore the region and its magnificent perched villages. Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence was set in the Luberon, and you can meander through the villages that starred in his novel: Lacoste, Bonnieux, Ménerbes, to name a few. You’ll cycle across cherry orchards, vineyards, and elusive truffle oak plantations along the way.
Above Gordes you can cycle to remote passes and visit 12th century Sénanque Abbey, surrounded by its lavender fields, and still hosting monks after 875 years. The hills hide lost Provençal villages, off the beaten track, where you can enjoy a café lunch among locals, in a picturesque square.
Itinerary:
Several options are available for every ride.
Day 1: Arrival in Gordes, Sénanque Abbey
Distance: 15km to 50km
Climbing: +250m to 800m
We’ll meet you in the comfort of your hotel for a briefing and bike fitting. An optional first day’s ride takes you above the village of Gordes, where the views of the Luberon range become wide-sweeping. Reach the hidden village of Murs, surrounded by cherry orchards and lavender fields, the tiny village center the perfect spot for a mid-morning café. Ride to Sénanque Abbey, built in a remote valley, where you can choose to partake in a guided tour of the medieval buildings. Optional longer routes head to isolated passes separating the Luberon from the Ventoux range, including stunning canyon roads.
Day 2: The perched villages of the Luberon
Distance: 35km to 55km
Climbing: +500m to +850m
The Luberon chain rises dramatically from the plains, while stunning villages are tucked in the foothills. A short but steep climb leads to the lost medieval village of Oppède-le-Vieux, its cobbled streets and haunting ruins setting you back centuries in time. Visit Ménerbes, set on a knife-edge ridge, its regal homes in a neat line, towering above the vines. And don’t forget the village of Lacoste, a compact set of medieval streets topped by the ruins of its castle, once occupied by the infamous Marquis de Sade. The longest of the three itineraries then continues to the charming village of Bonnieux, a lively set of streets and squares, restaurants and cafés, with an awe-inspiring viewpoint atop the village, under the shade of giant cedars.
Day 3: Roussillon and Ocher fields
Distance: 25 to 50 km
Climbing: from +400m to +500m
Head eastbound from Gordes, riding through orchards, vines and lavender fields. Reach the perched village of Roussillon, a storybook village of homes painted in every imaginable color. Meander through the colorful streets by foot, exploring hidden stairways, art galleries, and artisanal shops. Below the village, an otherworldly landscape of ocher sands and cliffs lent its palette to the town homes. Longer options for the day’s ride head off the beaten track, to the Provençal villages of Rustrel and Saint Saturnin les Apt, where picturesque village squares are the perfect setting for a bistro lunch.
Luxury category
What is included in the price of your stay
- Nights and breakfasts in your hotel(s) for the duration of your stay.
- Transfer of your luggage between hotels.
- Welcome and end-of-stay briefing.
- Concierge service for advice and reservations for restaurants or activities.
- Bike rental (including bags, water bottles, locks, energy bars). If you come with your personal bike, a deduction will be made from the price of the stay.
- Your cycling routes loaded onto a GPS application.
- Assistance in case of problems 24/7.
What is not included in the price of your stay
- Transfer to reach the starting point of your stay.
- Transfer at the end of your stay.
- Lunches and dinners.
- Activities during your stay (wine tasting, visit to a wine estate, etc.)..
