I was lucky enough to recently travel through Provence by electric bike and I came up with this itinerary. It was tickling my creative neurons throughout my trip, and I came back so eager to try and build a great circuit, then share it with other future travelers! It has been tried and tested, but please note that it can be customized for your taste, fitness and budget. Check out this full comfort electric bike tour in Provence!
The special things I want to highlight in this article are:
· How to ride an E-bike
· An easy route; that still ticks off the ‘must see’ sites
· Peace of mind through consistent planning and implementation
· High standard and no let-downs, with guides who value service
The electric bikes that I have ridden, and are most common in the market are those with a Bosch motor, and 500watt hour battery. This gives loads of range, and could hypothetically see you doing 125km or more before a single charge! This journey will not need even close to that range. The bikes are heavier than normal bikes but the motor compensates for this extra weight. The controls are on your handlebars, and there will be four different settings: economic, touring, sport and active, or similar depending on your brand. In my experience you will mainly be using eco or touring, and sport or active are useful only for the steepest of hills, or carrying a load. Note, that all electric bikes in France are called Electrical Assistance bicycles, and the power comes on only when you pedal. Secondly they are limited to 25km p/h so there is no point using ‘sport’ or ‘active’ settings on the flat when in fact you may already be at that speed limit. The great thing about this itinerary is you will be lodging at hotels which care about you and your happiness, and they will charge your bike battery every evening.
This route is focused on the nicest villages and landscapes in Provence. You will start in Ile sur la Sorgue, just east of Avignon. There is a train station here, and transport is very easy to the large hub in Avignon. A start from Avignon could be made by bike, but the access routes are not (yet) that suitable for inexperienced cyclists. Ile sur la Sorgue has a number of top hotels, and deserves two nights at least. Until recently I presumed the town was dull and without life during the week outside the antique market on the Sunday. How wrong I was! The old village has a number of antique halls, open each day of the week, and catering to all tastes (bargain hunters, hipsters, and those with specific tastes). The baroque church is exquisite and the center of town has only boutique shops, echoing its past history of working with silk and wool. My excellent local guide told me that perhaps there were only two ‘franchise’ brand shops in the whole town. Everything is new, unique and a feast for weary eyes.
When it comes to activities, I would encourage first day – settle in, shop, and enjoy the café scene. We will organize a private visit to an eighth generation of blanket makers, and a private moment with the owner.
Day two you should cycle on an easy 35km loop around the town, linking village to village, with no gains in elevation. Like every other day, you will not need to wear Lycra, but we recommend a helmet. The joys are seeing the calm and clear waters of the Sorgue at many different spots. This will be on 100% marked trails, and have no need for a guide. We will produce a map for your roadbook, and program your GPS.
Day three pushes towards Fontaines de Vaucluse, and has you on mountain bikes with an electric battery of course. You will push up to the Château de Saumane-de-Vaucluse, and with a private guide, receive a tour of the grounds and interior. This was the childhood home of the Maquis de Sade and is now the jewel in the crown of this small community. The gardens are alive with exclusive concerts in summer. Lunch should be taken here, before the short ride to Fontaines de Vaucluse!
Renowned for the resurgence of water (scientists still don’t know where the beginning of the underwater cave system starts) the site is exceptional for the clarity and beauty of the river, and even more exciting during and after the regular floods, or resurgence from the cave below. There are idyllic spots to rest next to the river, and superb dining too.
Your guide will stick with you in the afternoon, for a real discovery of the countryside behind Fontaines. You will use the ‘sport’ and ‘active’ functions while exploring 25kms of dense forest behind town on electric mountain bikes. The key discoveries, are bories. These are iconic dry stone cabins that shepherds built around the fields in times gone by. In an area with little seismic activity, take the time to enter and explore while your guide explains the construction methods and history. There are adrenalin filled downhills on the offer, but also calm sections near canals and over bridges. You will finish in your hotel in Gordes. Arguably the scenic beauty of the Luberon’s hilltop villages, the village of Gordes sits edge of the sheer rock faces of the Vaucluse plateau. A jumble of rooftops, towers and lanes, it’s a living postcard – and best seen at sunset when the village looks at its most beautiful as its honey-colored stone glows like molten gold.
Day 4 is more relaxed, taking in the loop around Gordes; this is a splendid place to ride a bike, and you will be back on a road E-bike, not a mountain bike E-bike. A thousand and one wonders will be revealed to you along the way. Unmissable places that are the Abbey of Sénanque, charming typically Provençal villages and astonishing mills that rise up behind the dry stone walls … so much to discover by bike on the roads of the Luberon. The loop can extend out to 69km or longer, but you have the whole day to complete this, or you can take one of many shortcuts. The Lubberon is named after the mountain range running east–west between Cavaillon and Manosque, the Luberon is a Provençal patchwork of hilltop villages, vineyards, ancient abbeys and mile after mile of fragrant lavender fields. It’s a rural, traditional region that still makes time for the good things in life – particularly fine food and even finer wine. Nearly every village hosts its own weekly market, packed with stalls selling local specialities, especially olive oil, honey and lavender. They’re all worth exploring, but whatever you do, don’t rush – part of the fun of exploring here is getting lost on the back lanes, stopping for lunch at a quiet village cafe, and taking as much time as you possibly can to soak up the scenery.
Day 5 and you head east towards Lourmarin. The route is partially along an old train line, with the surface being asphalted and improved. You will link quaint village, to areas of old ruins all the while passing numerous scenic lookouts. Situated near Bonnieux, is one of the Luberon’s most impressive Roman landmarks. Dating from around 3 BC, the 85m-long Pont Julien was built to allow the region’s main Roman road, the Via Domitia, to traverse the Calavon River. Amazingly, the bridge’s three graceful tiers were still carrying cars as recently as 2005 – a testament to the ingenuity and skill of its engineers. It’s now off-limits to all traffic except bikes and sightseers. You will eventually pass through the Luberon massif via the deep, cliff-lined Combe de Lourmarin, the first village you’ll strike is Lourmarin. Once a quiet farming town, its streets lined with upmarket homewares shops and boutiques. The main sight of note is the Renaissance Château de Lourmarin.
Day 6 and well the trip takes you further through the Luberon towards Pertuis. I highly recommend the loop taking in an olive oil tasting on the same day. We know a great family owned local place that is super welcoming, and multilingual.
Day 7 will see you being picked up and driven on to your next destination. Be that home or elsewhere. This itinerary is a perfect way to link between Avignon to Aix en Provence, to show you have really ‘done’ Provence.
Starting with your hotels. We have chosen special places that reflect the region you are in. Sorgues will be the Grand Hotel Henri. Decorated in the style “: à la francaise” relying tradition and design, the Grand Hotel Henri is a true jewel of elegance and refinement; the hotel will seduce you by its cachet and its hospitality. Situated in the heart of Provence and at the gates of Luberon, the Grand Hotel Henri was created to offer you a parenthesis in an idyllic frame at the edge of the Sorgue. After your first day on the bike you will be tired, and thankfully there is a great restaurant in the hotel. Gordes takes you to a pampered luxury, Genuine sophistication, and spectacular views at the Bastide de Gordes. Lourmarin you will be at the Hotel Bastide de Lourmarin. This is a traditional Provencal house full of charm and character, that welcomes you in the heart of Provence. It has touches of design and decoration, that skillfully combines tradition and modernity.
The bikes are top –notch. We use rentals from two different agencies in Provence. They purchase new bikes each season, and take the time to get you sized right. The key to making a seamless journey comes from the links between us, the suppliers and the guide we choose. Sophie is one of our favorites, and along with her sister would be my pick to look after you. They are excellent at logistics and getting your bags to your hotel at the right time every time. If they were not available, that’s ok, we have a few others on the books. One last thing on the choice of our suppliers, is that they have each been chosen to take care of you on a bike trip. They know that this might be slightly outside your normal sphere of travel. Certain touches; like washing and drying clothes can be done on this trip and are the least that can be done to ensure you have an amazing experience.
We use a network of guides, drivers, local bike shops and trusted hotels to organize your trip. You will have one English speaking driver to link together all of the services and of course deliver your bags before time each day. The pickups are coordinated between them should there be any change of plan. Did I mention that the electric bikes will be charged each night and will be ready the next day? This is because the lodgings we choose, are part of a chain that is verified as bike friendly (or you will change bikes with the agency). Each day you will set off with a customized roadbook made just for you. These are detailed, and indicate the things to see and the places to eat. We will log your itinerary into your on bike GPS so you know where to go each day.
No matter if this is your first or fifth journey by bike in France, there is something for everyone. We are convinced that bicycle touring is fit for all types of travelers. This itinerary is built to encourage ALL sorts of travelers to experience the thrill of being in the outdoors with evening comforts of staying in top quality accommodation.
Please see our packages and don’t hesitate to request this trip, and receive a detailed and priced quote based on your season, and how many people are in your party. Contact us by email for special offers, adapted Covid-19 cancellation terms and detailed recommendations. We are tailor-made specialists so we can certainly make this trip longer, shorter or more or less luxurious to fit your budget.
