Cotes Du Ventoux Self-Guided Cycling - Short Break
Cotes Du Ventoux Self-Guided Cycling - Short Break
Cotes Du Ventoux Self-Guided Cycling - Short Break
5 Days Starting in France and ending in Provence
Visiting: France
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C04PV
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Physical rating:
Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
8 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
With a history dating back to Roman times, today the Vaucluse is a patchwork of vineyards punctuated by olive groves and watched over by the silent majesty of Mt Ventoux - a Mecca for cyclists who come to challenge themselves in emulation of their Tour de France heroes. Our gentle 4 night cycling holiday, however, offers you a much more relaxed way to take in this fabulous region, one of the most fertile plains in southern France and home to such wine appellations as Gigondas, Vacqueyras and, further afield, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It's also home to the Ventoux appellation which, although not as well-known as its cousins from the Rhone Valley, offers some fantastic wines at equally impressive prices.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Meals Included: dinner
Arrive at your 3-star hotel in time to relax before dinner. *(Staying at
Hotel l'Hermitage)*
Day 2 : Pernes-Les-Fontaines To Vacqueyras
Meals Included: breakfast, dinner
Setting out from Pernes-les-Fontaines you immediately find yourself
surrounded by a sea of swaying vines and spectacular views of the 'Giant of
Provence', Mt Ventoux, and the Dentelles de Montmirail. Heading towards the
mountains takes you around Carpentras into the sleepy village of
Loriol-du-Comtat. It's then on to Aubignan, a small market town with ramparts
dating back to the C14 and a pretty old quarter to explore - it's a perfect
lunch spot. In the afternoon you'll come to the wine village of Vacqueyras,
home to one of the Southern Rhone's bigger names, and from here make the
short climb up to your beautiful hotel in Les Dentelles. *(Staying at Hotel
Montmirail)*
Day 3 : Vacqueyras To Mazan
Meals Included: breakfast
Today you leave Les Dentelles behind as you head for the village of
Beaumes-de-Venise with its muscat wines and olive oil museum. Then it's a
gentle ride along quiet lanes, past olive groves at the foot of Mt Ventoux,
to the ancient, fortified village of Caromb. Home to an impressive church, a
C16 watchtower and 14 fountains, it makes a nice option for lunch. With Mt
Ventoux at your back now, head south through the vineyards to the mediaeval
village of Mazan with its church wall made up of more than 60 Roman
sarcophagi. *(Staying at Chateau de Mazan)*
Day 4 : Mazan To Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Meals Included: breakfast, dinner
This morning follow empty lanes and vineyard tracks to Malemort-du-Comtat
before coming to the foot of the hill on which the wonderful mediaeval
village of Venasque sits perched, still surrounded by the remains of its
ramparts and three Saracen towers. Listed as one of the 'Most Beautiful
Villages of France', there is also a lovely C11 baptistery right in the heart
of the village. Heading back down leads you to the popular village of
St-Didier with its great variety of lunch options. It's then a fairly short
distance to the old town of Pernes-les- Fontaines where you should have time
to explore before heading back to your hotel for a swim in the pool before
dinner. *(Staying at Hotel l'Hermitage)*
Optional shorter ride: 21km/13.5mi
Day 5 : Leave Pernes-Les-Fontaines
Meals Included: breakfast
LEAVE PERNES-LES-FONTAINES
What's Included
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Luggage transfers between hotels
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Meals
4 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 3 dinners.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Visas and vaccinations
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Single supplements
Food
All continental breakfasts and 3 evening meals included. Whilst not the most sophisticated of the French cuisines, most dishes use the excellent tasting local fresh produce. Cooking à la Provencale uses local olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and wild herbs, all ripened by the sun to give an intensity of flavour. You can browse among the colours and smells, and make picnic purchases at the lively local markets.The proximity of the sea makes fish and seafood an important element of the local cuisine. Regional dishes include the famous bouillabaisse, a rich fish stew served with aioli and rouille; the bourride – a lighter version of the bouillabaisse; pistou soupe (summer vegetable soup with a blend of garlic, basil and olive oil); authentic ratatouille, large colourful salads an delicious courgette flower fritters. Tapenade and anchoïade are savoury dips made with local olives and anchovies; pissaladière is an onion tart with olives and anchovies and is very likely to have come from the Romans. Making wine, particularly rosé, has been Provence’s specialty for a long time. The grapes and soil throughout the region vary a lot, but the hot, sunny and dry climate is ideal for the local wines. The local red grape varieties are used because they cope well with strong sun exposure and poor soils: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Tibouren and Calitor. The rosés are made out of the same varieties but the musts only macerate for a few hours so the fruits’ skin don’t darken the juice or release too many tannins.
Accommodation
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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