Cycling · 7 Days - Great Explorations

PROVENCE LUXE
VAISON LA ROMAINE, MAZAN &
GORDES
Cycling · 7 Days
Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com
Great Explorations |2
PROVENCE LUXE
With its quiet roads amidst fields of lavender, fine wines
to taste, and wonderful food to eat, the Provence region of
France is heaven on earth for the itinerant cyclist.
Beginning in the village of Vaison le
Romaine, we will cycle routes that will
include the region’s market towns,
wine-making villages and medieval
cities. We’ll taste wine in centuries
old caves, see Roman antiquities, visit
hill-top castles steeped in history and
stroll markets at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
and others. We’ve been coming here
for 30+ years and can say there are
few places as welcoming to those on
a bicycle as this enchanting area of
France.
Day 3 & 4
Mazan
We meet at the Avignon TGV Station
Tuesday is market day in Vaison (one
of the largest and oldest in France).
After Vaison, wind your way among
the wine villages of the Dentelles
de Montmirail, stopping to explore
Sablet, Gigondas, and Vacqueyras.
Séguret is an artists’ colony with
charming shops and galleries. Spend
the night in Mazan at a charming
chateau with extensive grounds
and large pool. Dinner will be at a
restaurant that is one of our favourites
in the region. Next day, ride across
the flank of Mont Ventoux (climbing
the summit is an option), a loop to
Bedoin and Monieux and back via an
extraordinary descent of the Gorge du
Nesque. It is one of our favorite rides
in all of France
Vaison le Romaine
Our guides will greet you at the
Avignon TGV train station at 11:20
upon your arrival from Paris. From
there our guides will whisk you away
to Vaison la Romaine where a picinic
lunch awaits. Afterwards, we will hit
the bikes and ride a warm up loop
of some nearby vineyards ,arriving
back in Vaison in the late afternoon.
There we can visit the Roman ruins
and then enjoy a welcome wine
reception at the hotel before dinner
at a local restaurant. Next day, we will
set off on bikes on a delightful ride to
Entrechaux which nestles around a
hilltop castle in ruins and Mollans-surOuvèze clusters around a high-arched
bridge marked on each side by a
tower and a tiny chapel.
· Cooking course with a chef who
apprenticed with Alain Ducasse
· Distinctive, charming hotels too
small for larger groups.
Avignon is easily reached from Paris.
Day 1 & 2
· A ride you will never forget: the
ride from Gordes to Rousillon,
Lacoste and Menerbes; rewarding
climbs with glorious descents.
· Order off the menu at restaurants
you won’t find in guidebooks.
ITINERARY
Getting there
Only Great Explorations
· Small groups, extraordinary
guides, and authentic experiences.
· We design and operate our own
trips so there are only good surprises.
Trip Dates
2017
May 7 - 13
May 26 - June 1
Aug 27 - Sep 2
Sep 17 - 23
Sep 24 - 30
Self-guided and custom / private
trips also available and can start
any day. Call or email for details.
Trip Size
8-16 participants
Total Days
7 days/ 6 nights with 6 days cycling
Arrive/Depart
Avignon - Vaison la Romaine /
Avignon
Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com
Great Explorations |3
Temperature in Avignon, France
Day 5 & 6
Gordes
From Mazan, ride south trhough the pretty villages of Saint-Didier and La
Roque-sur-Pernes to exquisite Fontaine de Vaucluse, then to the beautiful
Luberon Valley. Next day, ride a magnificent loop to Gordes, a stunning
perched town with artists’ studios, cozy cafés and arcaded medieval lanes.
Discover the red shades of Roussillon and find the ruins of the castle of the
Marquis de Sade at Lacoste. We’ll finish the trip with a celebratory cooking
course and dinner at our charming hotel. It may be an evening you may never
forget.
(Avg. Daily High)
°C
°F
April18
64
May23
73
June27
81
July30
86
August30
86
September
25 77
October 2068
Day 7
Transfer to Avignon by 10:00 for onward travel.
Le Beffroi
HOTELS
Le Beffroi
Vaison-La-Romaine
Located in the medieval
village, this chateau features lovely
gardens and a pool. It is in one of
the most beautiful 16th century
mansions in the Old City of Vaison;
you can enjoy a panoramic view of
the surrounding countryside from the
gardens.
Chateau de Mazan
Mazan
Located in a small village, this 18th
century chateau and 4 star hotel
boasts large guest rooms, a gourmet
restaurant and large outdoor
swimming pool and garden.
Vuolonne
Gordes
In the heart of the Luberon, this
welcoming hotel is our idea of
luxury. With a large outdoor
heated swimming pool and a
superb restaurant, enjoy the peace
and tranquilty of this property.
Recommended by Guide de Charme.
Bastide de
Bastide de Voulonne
Chateau de
Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com
Mazan
Great Explorations |4
Activity Level
Montelimar
Le Poet Laval
Moderate
20-40+ miles daily
Van supported
Terrain
Nyons
2 days gently rolling, 3 days are
moderately rolling
Buis
les Baronnies
Vaison la Romaine
ER
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What’s included in cost?
U
YG
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Gigondas
Mont Ventoux
·S
ervices of one or more experienced Great Explorations
guides and support vehicle
· 6 nights lodging
· All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and all
dinners but 1
· Entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums
· Setailed map and route instructions
· All baggage transportation
· All transportation from initial
meeting point to final drop-off
(see arrive/depart cities)
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Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com
Great Explorations |5
OUR GUIDES
Our guests tell us time and time again that our guides are
what set us apart from other companies. Caring, knowledgeable, athletic, articulate and fun-loving,
each one is a natural leader…
Here at Great Explorations, we are
tremendously proud of our guides.
A diverse group of passionate and
charismatic professionals, they have
the local know-how and expertise
to make your vacation incredibly
rewarding. Whether it’s fitting your
bike, arranging a one-of-a-kind
activity or being your personal
interpreter, our guides wear many hats
with ease. They are intimately familiar
with their travel regions, having either
lived or traveled there extensively.
Comfortable speaking the local
language and knowing all of the
off-the-beaten track secrets, our
guides ensure you’ll have the journey
of a lifetime. Our website features
detailed bios on some of the more
than sixty guides who lead trips for us
worldwide.
OUR BICYCLES
The majority of our bicycle fleet are Cannondale bikes; Cannondale is the
premier bicycle manufacturer in North America and Europe. Our Cannondale
hybrid bikes in the Provence are new Quick Speed 2 performance hybrids with
components as follows:
Cost
Land Cost (current year):
US $2950 Includes 6B/2L/5D
Single Supplement:
US $600
Bike Rental:
US $180 - hybrid
Ready to reserve?
·C
all or email Travel Advisor with
any remaining questions and to
reserve your space 1.800.242.1925
· Reserve your flights to and from
the region
· Book your night before hotel, if necessary
· Consider travel insurance
Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any
changes made are done so in an attempt to provide
the best possible trip given route conditions and
available services. Due to the nature of our business
and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All
prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept
payment in Canadian dollars also. Due to cancellations
and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you
have any questions or would like to confirm space
on this trip before making your reservation, please
contact us at info@great-explorations.com or by
telephone at 604.730.1247
Cannondale Quick Speed, hybrid bike with flat handlebar (size avail. XS to XL)
components:
•
Frame: aluminum; carbon fork
•
Transmission: Shimano 105; Gearing: 2x10
•
Crank: 50/34; Cassette: 11-34
•
Tire: 700 x 28C
•
Saddle: Cannondale Quick Speed Ergo
Cannondale Supersix 5 105, road bike with dropped handlebar (size avail. 54, 56, 58)
components:
•
Frame: carbon; carbon fork
•
Transmission: Shimano 105; Gearing: 2x10
•
Crank: 50/34; Cassette: 11-34
•
Tire: 700 x 23C
•
Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro
Cannondale Synapse Al 5 105, road bike with dropped handlebar (size avail. 51)
components:
•
Frame: aluminum; carbon fork
•
Transmission: Shimano 105; Gearing: 3x10
•
Crank: 50/39/30; Cassette: 12-28
•
Tire: 700 x 25C
•
Seat: Cannondale Stage Ergo
Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com
Great Explorations |6
OUR CONNECTION
In 1983, I flew to Europe with a
bicycle and spent 6 months cycling
through France. After several weeks,
I remember arriving to Provence and
thinking I had found nirvana; cycling
from St. Remy to Les Baux and over
to Gordes and the hill-towns that
make up the Luberon on a day in late
fall, with the wine harvest on,
I made a note to self- come
back here. Two years later,
I did and began guiding trips
(full disclosure- I guided for B&R
for 18 years before starting Great
Explorations). In 1989 Peter Mayle’s
best-selling novel about his ‘Year in
Provence’ was published and the
region suddenly (and deservedly)
became a favourite place to sojourn
, if not for a year, at least for a week.
Cyclists love the region because there
are so many options for riding- from
gently rolling roads through vineyards,
to moderate climbs to charming
villages. We have three different trips
in the region (people often want to
return!) - Provence, Provence South,
and Haute Provence. The differences
between these are subtle.
The Provence trip starts from Vaison le
Romaine (northwest of Avignon) with
overnights also in Pernes les Fontaine,
and Gordes. All cycling levels can be
accommodated here (Mt. Ventoux is
an option on one day), but generally,
the riding is easy-going/moderate
The Provence South trip starts from
Avignon and is rated moderate, but
would be slightly hillier and stays in
villages of Uzes, St. Remy and Gordes.
Haute Provence is for those that want
to challenge themselves- the rides are
longer with more climbing and this
region, to the north of Mt. Ventoux is
a more remote (un-touristed) part of
Provence. I have guided many trips in
the region and I enjoy them
all equally.
In 2010, with my wife and two
children, we decided to live for 6
months in France and it was an easy
decision to choose Provence (we lived
in Bedoin, at the foot of Mt. Ventoux).
We’ve made countless friends over
the years from guiding and traveling
here, but during our latest sojourn,
our immediate neighbours included
an opera singer, artists, wine makers
and chefs. You just might meet some
of these folks if you join us on an
upcoming trip!
Robbin McKinney,
Founder and owner of Great
Explorations
Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com
Great Explorations |7
ACCOLADES
“We arrived back rested and very happy with our vacation
in France. I have to say that seeing Provence on a bike is
the only way to do it! The sights and smells were, at times,
overwhelming. The weather was perfect and the group
meshed well together. As for our guides, they were, in a
word, excellent. They were knowledgeable and incredibly
professional I have already recommended your company to
several people. Whatever you are doing, keep it up!”
Norma L. - Edmonton, AB
“Compared to other trips we have been on, we appreciated the
fact that your group sizes are smaller. It is obvious that you
go to great lengths to create amazing moments on these trips.
From the first night’s reception, to the final day it was a week
in heaven. Thank you.” John & Tina W. - New York, NY
“Great maps and route instructions. I appreciated the quiet
roads without traffic. Celine (professional wine sommelier
and guide extraordinaire) and Adrien were both fabulous,
very attentive and pleasant. The hotels were all unique and
lovely. “Janice B. - Seattle, WA
For additional testimonials, please visit
www.great-explorations.com/testimonials.
Tel: 604.730.1247 | 1.800.242.1825 | Email: info@great-explorations.com | Website: www.great-explorations.com