Mediterranean Provence Bike Tour Itinerary

Day One : The Vineyards of Bandol
Upon your arrival in Marseille mid-morning, your guides will happily greet you and transfer you to your hotel, the luxurious le Castellet, a 5 star hotel that is well connected in the Formula 1 world. The famous race track Paul Ricard is just across the street. A vast golf course, pine trees and a view of the sea in the distance will give you a glimpse of the place and what’s to come. With your guides you’ll toast to an exciting week followed by an overview of the week and bike fitting and safety review. Enjoy a light lunch with unforgettable views before the first bike ride of the week including perched villages and famous Bandol vineyards on the way to the Mediterranean sea. An introductory wine tasting in the medieval village of Castellet has been organized by your guides to familiarize yourself with the «mourvedre» grape variety. You may want to wander in the street of this beautiful place before climbing back the hill to the hotel or opt for a lift in the van. Tonight an overview of the tour will be presented, with glass of rose in hand, followed by dinner in the hotel’s own outstanding restaurant.
 
Meals: Light lunch & dinner
Destinations visited: Le Castellet, Bandol
Distance cycled: 32kms/ 20 miles

Day Two: Quality Time in les Calanques
After a breakfast of fresh local fruit and warm croissants you’ll leave by bike to visit one of the nicest wine domains that Bandol Appellation has to offer. The Domaine de la Begude presently owned by the Tari family is a jewel : 17 hectares of vineyards in addition to the wild garrigue totalling 5oo hectares. On the property also a very historical building with its XII century wine cellar and a XVII century manor house. Our hosts Soledad and Guillaume are great story tellers while they lead us through their cellar followed by a wine tasting with a scenic view of the Mediterranean. We’ll continue on and ride one of the most scenic roads you can imagine « la route des cretes », absolutely breathtaking. A road that meanders 300m up from the sea will allow you to admire the most beautiful Mediterranean coast in France. Many photo opportunities present themselves before we arrive in the charming town of Cassis ... a small, well known harbour that is the gateway to the natural and national coastal park of Les Calanques. Yes there are fjords in France, as well as white cliffs, crystal clear waters. A picnic will be organised by your guides today at Port Miou before you leave the bikes behind. This afternoon you will have the choice to explore the town of Cassis for some shopping time or do some sea kayaking with a local guide. This is one of the best ways to explore the majesty of this place, as it is restricted to motor vehicle traffic altogether. Transfer back to the hotel by van to relax at the SPA or try some golfing before your dinner tonight in the charming provencal town just below the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic lunch, Dinner
Destinations visited: Cassis, les Calanques
Distance cycled: 38 kms/ 24 miles, kayak 3 hours

Day 3: Hiking the Massif de St Baume
Today we’ll leave the coast behind and head for the hills! After a short transfer to the trailhead of the Massif St Baume your guide will lead you through the rugged scrubland that makes up most of this region. Legend has it that Mary Magdalene came to Marseille and converted the whole of Provence and then retired to a cave on the hill of La Sainte-Baume ("Holy Cave", baumo in Provencal), where she gave herself up to a life of penance for thirty years. In this wild national park you are likely to see wild boar, deer, foxes, weasels, hares and rare eagles of Bonelli.  After crossing small canyons and admiring the view from above, you’ll stop for an informal picnic or bite to eat along the way before heading down on the northern face of the plateau to head to your next hotel. The Domaine Chateauneuf (originally a private XVIII centuries  manor house), is located in the heart of the Massif of  St Baume. Once again if you want to practice golf this hotel also offers this option. Dinner will be at the hotel’s own excellent gastronomic restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Destinations visited: Massif de la Ste Baume, Nans les Pins
Distance hiked: 15 kms/ 9 miles

Day 4: Biking Through Cezanne’s Canvas
You will leave the Sainte Baume Plateau for yet another one painted hundreds of times by the famous Paul Cezanne. A run of paintings of the Mt Ste Victoire from 1880 to 1883 are known as "the Constructive Period.” Today you’ll be guided through vineyards and past the most charming of Provencal villages. We’ll stop along the way for a typical bistro lunch with the locals to taste the fresh tapenade and ratatouille that is so authentic here. The day’s ride ends Aix en Provence, one of the most beautiful and wealthiest cities of Southern France. Before reaching Aix we will have a wine tasting in Château Cremade, working on the smallest appellation in France, known as Palette. Only 3 wineries produce wines under this appellation name. A real treat for wine connoisseurs! Aix has a lot to offer: the old town is especially astonishing with a rich architecture from roman ruins to medieval cathedrals and private renaissance mansions, with fountains on every corner, etc. Our last hotel, Villa Gallici is without a doubt the greatest hotel of the city, chosen by Conde Naste amongst the 25 most best hôtel in europe, often hosting many VIP in the French celebrity world. You’ll be well situated only a short walk to the center of town to do some shopping and have dinner on your own. The choice of a restaurant is not an issue, from simple brasseries on Cours Mirabeau to Michelin starred restaurants. 

Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Destinations visited: St Zacharie, Trets, Puyloubier, Aix en Provence
Distance cycled: 55 kms/ 34 miles

Day 5: Provencal Markets, Picasso’s Inspiration, Beautiful Biking = Victory!
Get an early breakfast so that you’ll have plenty of time to visit Aix’s bustling market this morning. The sights and scents of this typical Provençal market will get you excited to buy those colorful fabrics, natural soaps, delicate olive oils you’ve been seeing throughout the week. You can also take this opportunity to shop for your own picnic if you so desire. Our last ride today will be in the northern part of the Montagne Ste Victoire, one of the loveliest landscapes and once home to the famous painter, Pablo Picasso. We will pass close to his Château de Vauvenargues, where he had a studio and spent endless hours painting. He occupied and remodeled the chateau from 1959 until 1962. He and his wife Jacqueline are buried in the grounds of the chateau, which is still the private property of the Picasso family. The ride continues into the Gorges de l’Infernet. Lunch is on your own in the village of Jouques before heading back to Aix-en-Provence for some more great riding.  Tonight our final dinner will take place in the very intimate Le Clos de la Violette, for your last memorable gastronomical delight.

Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Destinations visited: Vauvenargues, Jouques, Meyrargues
Distance cycled: 52 kms/33 miles

Day 6: Au Revoir à la Belle Provence
After breakfast, your guides will bring you to the Atelier des Chefs for a 1 hour cooking class on the a possibility of several different traditional recipes like Tarte Tatin or the spiced cake that is so popular here, le pain d’epice. The technique is not that complicated but you’ll be glad you learned this recipe so that you can relive the aromas and tastes of Provence home with family and friends. From here your guides will then bring you to the train station and see you off as you head to your next destination.

TRIP TOTAL: 177 KM/ 110 MILES averaging 44 kms/27 miles per day. 15 kms of hiking.  Optional longer rides available each day.