Your guides will greet you at the Aix en Provence TGV train station, and the adventure begins! Transfer to the Couvent des Minimes, a luxury hotel and former convent with a new L’Occitane spa. After an essential safety talk and bike fitting, we set out on a warm-up ride and stop in the medieval town of Forcalquier for a fresh, local lunch. After, pedal on rolling roads lined with grazing deer, lavender fields, and pre-alpine forest. Back at the hotel, take advantage of the spa before we reunite for a pre-dinner cocktail. Our first dinner is an introduction to traditional Provençal gastronomie at the Brasserie Pampérigouste. Bon appétit!
Begin the day with a gourmet breakfast, followed by a quick transfer that brings us deeper into the Luberon Valley. This morning’s ride travels through peaceful landscapes of pine trees and lavender fields against a backdrop of brilliant blue sky. It’s a real-life representation of the scenery that inspired artists and attracted them to communities all around Provence. A picnic lunch awaits at a local lavender distillery where we’ll discover the secrets of the region’s prized “purple gold” amid endless fragrant fields. From there it’s just a short ride to our final hotel, a chic country estate where we’ll spend the next two nights. Get settled and unwind by the pool with a glass of chilled rosé. Later we’ll regather for a seasonal feast at the hotel’s open-air bistro.
Today’s ride begins with a gentle descent into Goult, where we’ll stop for coffee in the charming town center. From there, a gradual climb brings us to the picturesque hilltop village of Gordes. Explore the vibrant outdoor market—a perfect place to shop for lavender souvenirs and fragrant Provençal herbs—then enjoy an exhilarating downhill through a patchwork of lavender fields, vineyards, and Provençal garrigues (shrubland). We’ll pause to admire the iconic Abbeye de Senanque, its lavender fields in full bloom, before continuing to the quaint village of Murs for a well-deserved lunch. Afterward, choose to ride back to the hotel or transfer by van for a bit more downtime. The afternoon is yours—take a refreshing swim or treat yourself to a massage at the hotel spa. Tonight we’ll head to a delightful family-run restaurant with a secret garden terrace, where we’ll raise a glass to our time in Provence before a special farewell dinner.
Bid farewell to Provence with one last spin, taking in your fill of countryside scenery: olive groves, vineyards, and long stretches of lavender fields. After, your guides will transfer you to Avignon and see you off to your next adventure.