Provence Family Bike + Adventure Tour

Meet your guides at the Avignon train station and be whisked to the Coquillade village, your five-star, family-friendly home for the week. Once we eat lunch, we’ll tackle the essentials during a safety talk and bike fitting. Then it’s time for our first ride to Roussillon, an artsy town with buildings painted in a palette of vibrant colors. Continue to Gargas, put on your miner’s helmet, and head into the underground ochre caves and tunnels for a guided walk. We’ll complete the loop back to Coquillade Provence, leaving you free to make a splash in two pools and get acquainted with the sprawling grounds before a casual dinner at the hotel’s ristorante.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Gargas, Roussillon
Accomplished: 12 miles / 19 km, elevation gain: 846 feet / 258 meters; 1 mile / 2 km hiking
Accommodations: Coquillade Provence

Today we follow a winding bike path that meanders through vineyards, past perched villages, and around the ruins of the Mur de la Peste—a historic wall built to stop the spread of ancient plagues! We’ll take our time riding to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse for lunch and then trade our bikes for a paddle and a canoe. Though the river is clear and inviting, only the bravest will want to take a swim—the water’s temperature is never higher than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Back on dry land, we explore the charming town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and treat ourselves to an ice cream break. Return to the hotel via a short transfer and spend some time together by the pool. Tonight, with views over the Luberon Valley, your family will be spoiled with the authentic flavors of a Provençal feast.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Accomplished: 16 miles / 25 km, elevation gain: 607 feet / 185 meters; 4 miles / 7 km canoeing
Accommodations: Coquillade Provence

After breakfast, hop in the van or ride your bike to the hilltop village of Gordes to experience the vibrant weekly market. Between stacks of rainbow baskets and colorful local delicacies, kids can pick out a few tempting snacks as we shop for our lunch. A quick transfer (or a nice downhill ride) brings us to meet our new mode of transportation: chevaux (horses)! You don’t have to be a cowboy to enjoy this ride along the quiet trails of Provence’s wild. Saunter past Croagnes, Lioux, and the foothills of the Plateau de Vaucluse to be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of Roussillon and the Luberon. Dismount and mosey on back to Coquillade Provence. Tonight’s dinner in Roussillon is on your own, but our guides can suggest a pizza place that’s a real crowd pleaser.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Gordes, Joucas, Croagnes, Lioux
Accomplished: 10 miles / 16 km, elevation gain: 666 feet / 203 meters
Longer Option: 25 miles / 40 km, elevation gain: 1,614 feet / 492 meters
Accommodations: Coquillade Provence

Greet the day with a mellow hike from Bonnieux to the magical medieval village of Lacoste, punctuated by fruit orchards and small hamlets. The looks of wonder on children’s faces as they look out over the Luberon Valley will be memorable forever. We’ll explore some château ruins after a well-deserved lunch, then return to our bikes for a downhill ride to Ménerbes and back to our hotel. This afternoon, play some tennis or a game of pétanque—or simply spend it by the hotel pool. Tonight, transfer to the village of Joucas and meet our dear friend Veronique. In her home kitchen, we’ll learn to cook classic Provençal dishes (and a dessert of course), then dig into our creations on Veronique’s charming terrace.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes, Gargas
Accomplished: 14 miles / 22 km, elevation gain: 833 feet / 254 meters; 3 miles / 5 km hiking
Shorter Option: 7 miles / 11 km, elevation gain: 308 feet / 94 meters; 3 miles / 5 km hiking
Accommodations: Coquillade Provence

It’s market day! We ride to Roussillon once again, this time to find it bustling with artisans selling giant bolts of fabric, heaps of fragrant dried flowers, bars of French-milled soap, and bright bunches of sunflowers. The excitement continues as we pedal on to Rustrel, the so-called “Colorado of Provence.” Along the way, pause for a picnic lunch featuring the local products of farms and orchards, then get ready to monkey around on a ropes course and zipline. Grab your harness, hook, rope, and pulley and go sailing over the landscape of Provence. Keep the exhilaration going with an optional ride or take tuckered-out family members back to the hotel for some downtime. Our final dinner celebrates our time together in the hotel’s laid-back bistro.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Roussillon, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Rustrel
Accomplished: 17 miles / 27 km, elevation gain: 1,502 feet / 458 meters
Longer Option: 29 miles / 47 km; elevation gain: 1,830 feet / 558 meters
Accommodations: Coquillade Provence

Breakfast is followed by a fond farewell to the Luberon however you see fit—take a last loop ride down to Roussillon, sip a traditional French café, browse for souvenirs in the village, or hit the hotel court for a family game of doubles tennis. Your guides will see you off at the Avignon train station.

Meals: Breakfast