ALPS DE PROVENCE, FRANCE BICYCLE TOUR
Nice to Nice.
Provence is rated as the premier cycling destination in France. Good wines, lavender hills, vibrant outdoor markets, Roman ruins, great food, small quaint villages, and of course, lots of quiet rural roads. This will be our second tour in this region of France, hope you can join us.
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Alpes view, Courtesy Ch. Cheffins
Downhill Alps France 2009, Courtesy Ch. Cheffins
Le Verdon, France Courtesy Ch. Cheffins
France 2009, Courtesy Ch. Cheffins
France 2009, Courtesy Ch. Cheffins
Le Verdon, Courtesy D. Hinchcliffe
Getting There & Back
Our trip starts and finishes in Nice. There are numerous flights daily from Paris (CDG) Air France, Easy Jet, etc. (1 hr 20 min flight), and more out of Paris, Orly (ORY). The Airport is 7 km from Nice. Many trains arrive from Paris to Nice and other northern cities. Info at SNCF and here. Montpellier train station is right downtown and 3 kms from our hotel.
We will rendezvous at a hotel in the city of Nice near the airport. First day of riding is ---; we rendezvous the day before (---). The tour finishes back in Nice on June 16th. We are not intimate with any airlines or travel agencies, best to check the web or with a travel agent re air flights.
The Riding
Provence is a vast region, and we have chosen to ride part of the Alpes de Haute-Provence and a smaller section of the Alpes Maritimes. It is well noted for its historic citadels and fortresses, breathtaking Gorges with crystal clear lakes, great lavender growing centers, and beautiful rural roads. The majority of the riding will be on quiet, paved, back roads and it is guaranteed spectacular “cols” will be conquered. There will be several route options you can ride each day. The terrain is rolling. You’ll cycle through small towns with bakeries and outdoor cafes to visit. During the trip, we will stay in some towns for two nights each, allowing cyclists the freedom of the extra day to ride extensive miles or have a short day. We provide each rider with a set of road maps and route logs. A mountain bike or hybrid bike with slick tires is a good choice, a road bike would be better, if you are used to it. Note: cyclists are expected to ride the distances. Our support vehicle carries luggage from hotel to hotel, but it is not a shuttle van unless riders are injured or sick.
Bike rentals are available, if interested; let us know your preferences on the application form.
Accommodations
Rooms are booked with double occupancy; we will stay in quaint two and
three star hotels. Most accommodations are very nice, some are quite basic.
Private bathrooms will be the norm. Some rooms, by North American standards
in France, are small. Nights from ---- through ---- (10 nights) are covered
in the price.
Meals
All continental style breakfasts and 3 dinners are included in the package. Cyclists are on their own for other meals. France of course is famous for its fine dining. Dining late will be the norm (typically after 7:30pm). For those of you, whom have traveled with us in Spain, expect prices to be a little higher. We do not orchestrate a lot of group dinners or activities, we prefer to allow people to explore and spend their holiday time as they see fit.
Tap water at hotels is good drinking water, bottled water available everywhere; you’ll find town fountains with drinking water as well. Your bike should have the capacity to carry a minimum of two water bottles.
Climate
Daytime highs will be 19-23C. The region typically receives about 30 mm of rain in June, though normal weather patterns are no longer as predictable as they once were. The area is noted for its Mistral winds, which can come up quickly, so cyclists are advised to carry a wind breaker at all times.
Cost
$tba Cdn. Per person on double occupancy. Add $455Cdn
if you prefer single occupancy.
$100 non-refundable deposit reserves a spot. Full payment is due 90 days before the tour start. (March 20th). We are not required to collect GST on this trip (tour is outside Canada). Please make cheques payable to GABRIOLA CYCLE & KAYAK. We are not able to process credit cards. Thank you.
Cancellation fee 31-90 days prior to the start: Full deposit + 20% final payment.
Cancellation fee 1-30 days prior to the start: Full deposit + 40% final payment.
We Provide
- 10 hotels nights
- support vehicle to carry luggage
- some snacks
- 9 breakfasts
- 3 dinners
- 2 guides
Not Included
- Airfare to and from the trip
- Airport pick-up/drop-off
- Accomodations before and after the trip
- bicycle rental
- alcoholic bevrages (we keep a cooler full, everyone chips in)
- incidentals during the trip.
Note: Minimum 10 to run the trip. Please check for availability.
Tour Dates
To Be Announced
9 riding days / 10 nights
COST: $tba cdn (based on double occupancy), + $455 for single occupancy.
There is no GST charged on trips outside Canada.
.
Please check for availability and make sure to send in your deposit to secure your reservation.
