Detailed Trip Dossier

Landscapes-of-Luberon-Cycling2016.qxp_France 11/2/15 3:10 PM Page 44
bb
at a glance...
vineyards, olive groves and apple
orchards, punctuated by canals and
clear, flowing rivers
Perched villages; Medieval towns and
castles
Mountain backdrops and the region’s
famous lavender scent
country lanes and greenways in
tranquil, unspoiled countryside
Wine tasting opportunities galore
An excellent variety of hotels including a
c19 manor house and a charming
Provençal farmhouse
What’s included...
• 8 nights - hotel-to-hotel
• all continental breakfasts and evening
meals
• bb self-guided cycling with route
notes and maps
• High-quality bikes
• Luggage transfers between hotels
See pp8-9 & 50-51 for details of what the b
symbol means and how our holidays work
• 91% sustainability rating
This eight night holiday offers you a truly Provençal experience, taking in the lush
countryside and mountain landscapes of beautiful Provence – the inspiration for
many an artist and author, including van Gogh, cézanne and Picasso. Your cycle
route explores the region’s medieval towns and charming perched villages such as
Gordes and Bonnieux, along with sprawling vineyards, curious caves and castle
ruins, all against a vibrant backdrop of color – think rich ochre, delicate lavender and
even white cherry blossom in spring. With a number of small wine producers dotted
along your route, you can stop and taste some of the region’s local wine in between
cycles.
Your week starts in the mediaeval town of Pernes-les-Fontaines, before taking you
past pretty L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, at the foot of the vaucluse plateau. Surrounded by
the river Sorgue, this is a charming town to potter around, its narrow streets filled
with quaint cafés, little antique shops, old bridges and water wheels, not to mention
a bustling market every Sunday. You then move on to the town of Fontaine-devaucluse, overlooked by crumbling castle ruins and home to the source of the river
Sorgue. After following the ochre Trail to the famous colorado Provençal, you’ll
explore the narrow streets and pastel-painted houses of medieval Saint-Saturninlès-Apt, overlooked by sprawling castle remains and two c17 windmills. Your week
ends with a visit to Thouzon’s impressive cave with underground river, before you
head home from Pernes-les-Fontaines.
You stay in a wonderful mix of hotels this week. Hôtel l’Hermitage offers a relaxing
stay in a c19 manor house with lovely grounds and a swimming pool; Mas de la
Sénancole in Les Imberts is your next stop, offering Provençal-style rooms, a
heated outdoor pool and a spa with
sauna, hot tub and massage room; your
home in St-Saturnin-lès-Apt is Le Saint
Marseille
e
Nesqu
•
Pernes-les-Fontaines
Hubert, a small family-run hotel
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
boasting a restaurant with panoramic
Sor g
ue
views of the Luberon; and your final
Du
stop is Bastide du Bois Bréant in
r a nc
Les Imberts
e
Maubec, with its lovely pool and
Maubec
woodland setting.
call us on 1-800-567-6286 for a tailor-made quote
Ou v z e
$2,038 per person
8 nights from
© CC BY Ming-Yen Hsu / flickr
© CC BY Miguel Vikkunun Carvalho / flickr
France | Provence
NE
W
Landscapes of the Luberon cycling
Landscapes-of-Luberon-Cycling2016.qxp_France 11/3/15 5:16 PM Page 45
© CC BY francoise phillipp / flickr
Your accommodation
Wine service
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Pernes-les-Fontaines
Day 2
Pernes-les-Fontaines to Les Imberts
Hôtel l’Hermitage
Mas de la Sénancole
HHH
Le Saint Hubert
AAA
La Bastide du Bois Bréant
HHH
Pernes-les-Fontaines (Days 1+8)
Les Imberts (Days 2+3)
Arrive at your HHH hotel in Pernes-les-Fontaines. Relax with a dip in the pool or explore the
grounds before dinner.
30km/19mi or 35km/22mi
Cycle alongside the Canal de Carpentras, before heading, via quiet country lanes and verdant
vineyards, towards the ‘island city’ of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, surrounded by the clear waters of the
River Sorgue. This popular town offers many riverside cafés and is a great place to stop for lunch
before heading on to the charming, medieval village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Visit the largest
spring in France, or potter around the handful of quaint shops and cafés, before ascending to your
first, stunning view across the Luberon Valley. You then descend, amidst vineyards and olive groves,
to the village of Les Imberts, just below the famous perched village of Gordes.
Day 3
At Les Imberts
9km/6mi
Walk or cycle to the famous, medieval perched village of Gordes today, to experience one of the
best views there is over the Luberon – a patchwork of open plains, sprawling vineyards and olive
groves. Explore the village and its castle and perhaps take a taxi (payable locally) up to the beautiful
l’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. Guided tours are available in the afternoon, or pay an early
morning visit for the chance to explore at your leisure.
Day 4
Les Imberts to Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt 24km/15mi or 28km/17.5mi
Day 5
At Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
After breakfast, set out through the tranquil countryside and make the short climb up to Roussillon
and the start of the Ochre Trail. Enjoy the views, and perhaps a morning coffee, before pedalling on
to Gargas to visit the vast Ochre Mines of Bruoux, and enjoy a spot of lunch. You’ll then follow quiet
lanes past vineyards - perhaps stopping to taste and purchase some of the local wines - up to the
village of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, your home for the next two nights.
Follow a circular cycle route today, taking in the eastern section of the Ochre Trail, out towards the
village of Rustrel. Here you can visit one of the region’s most famous ochre sites, the Colorado
Provençal, before returning to Saint-Saturnin along the trail, passing the hilltop village of Villars with
its excellent views over the surrounding countryside.
Day 6
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt to Maubec 36km/22.5mi
Spin down from the perched village of Saint-Saturnin brings you to the medieval town of Apt,
famous for its crystallized fruits and traditional pottery, and a good spot to enjoy a coffee. Take time
to visit the Maison du Parc du Luberon here, and Ste-Anne's Cathedral (part of which dates back to
the C13). Your route then follows the greenway (once an old railway track) alongside the River
Calavon before crossing at Pont Julien, a stone bridge built in Roman times and an excellent picnic
spot. You then head through the centre of the Luberon with views up to the perched villages of
Lacoste and Bonnieux, as you wind your way to Maubec and your C18 hotel.
Day 7
At Maubec 28km/17.5mi
Take a circular ride past apple orchards and meadows to the pretty villages of Lagnes, Taillades (with
its beautiful watermill) and Robion. Alternatively cycle out to the picture-perfect Ménerbes (made
famous by the books of Peter Mayle) which Picasso, Nicolas de Staël and many other artists,
musicians, comedians and writers made their home. If you prefer a day away from your bikes then
take a 25 minute taxi ride (payable locally) to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to visit the old town,
impressive Roman site of Glanum and the monastery of Saint Paul de Mausole where van Gogh
lived during the period of such eternal masterpieces as The Starry Night.
Day 8
Leave Pernes-les-Fontaines
HHH
Maubec (Days 6+7)
Treat yourself...
To extend your stay we recommend extra nights in Pernesles-Fontaines. We can also arrange city break add-ons in Paris
or Avignon at the start, or end, of your holiday.
For hotel descriptions visit:
www.breakaway-adventures.com
Dates and prices (US$)
Departs every
two days
Tour
Only
2016 Departures
Sep 12-Oct 14
Jun 2-12, Sep 2-10
May 23-31, Jun 14-Jul 8
Aug 27-31
Jul 10-Aug 25
$2,038
$2,105
$2,225
$2,225
$2,290
Singles: Add $82 per night for sole occupancy of a double room.
Children: Please call for details and prices.
Group size: No minimum group size.
Tour only prices include a 40 minute transfer from/to Avignon
TGV train station (13:15 pick up, 11:20 return in time for a
12:12 train). Alternative transfers (for non-standard timings)
can be arranged. Prices on request.
Rail options: Marseille to Avignon TGV 12:42/13:15. Return:
Rail Avignon TGV to Marseille 12:12/12:46, then air Marseille
to Heathrow 16:45/17:40.
Second class French Rail: Add $56 per person, round trip.
First class French Rail: Add $85 per person, round trip.
Maubec to Pernes-les-Fontaines 35km/22mi
This morning you’ll cycle past apple orchards to the small, medieval town of Le Thor on the banks of
the River Sorgue before continuing to the hilltop town of Thouzon. Visit Castle Thouzon (an ancient
fortified monastery) and explore Les Grottes de Thouzon, a 320m-long cave carved out by an
underground river over 60 million years ago. After lunch, continue on to Pernes-les-Fontaines where
you’ll have time to explore the medieval old town and the numerous ancient stone fountains.
Day 9
St-Saturnin-lès-Apt (Days 4+5)
C08PL
For further details visit:www.breakaway-adventures.com