Provence

Endless bends in spectacular gorges!

In Europe we have our own Grand Canyon: the Gorges du Verdon. Not as gigantic as its big brother in Arizona, but absolutely spectacular, as you will see. We have a number of magnificent routes in store for you in the Verdon and Luberon mountains. It is obvious that nature loves bikers here. For it is wonderful riding with thousands of bends through an incredibly beautiful landscape of rugged mountain ranges, large vineyards, olive groves and lovely lavender fields. The hotel where you will stay during this trip has comfortable rooms and an outdoor pool where it is nice to relax after a day of touring. In the evening, a delicious dinner is served in the attractive restaurant. 

The outward journey (first day) and return journey (last day) you will drive on your own initiative.

After just a few kilometres you drive into Du Luberon national park and you soon get the ultimate 'Provence' feeling here. You are treated to varied scenery with mountains, valleys, forests, countless beautiful small villages and impressive chateaus. You drive through Viens after about 65 kilometres. A pretty, medieval village and as you drive out of here, you'll have great views over the wooded hills. If you drive the long day route, you pass the village of Saul and encounter the first Gorges la Nesque. This gorge goes up to 400m deep. The river that carved this gorge dries up in summer. Driving in this area is enjoyment. From this area you also have a view of the famous Mont Ventoux. The area you drive through next is more populated and the villages follow each other at a rapid pace. The village of Menerbes is already one of the most beautiful in France, this popular village is built on a mountain and gives a good view of the Luberon mountains. You will then drive up the next col: Col du Pointu (499m) and then drive back into the Luberon National Park to drive towards the hotel via the town of Manosque. If you have time to spare, it is definitely recommended to make a stop in Manosque, as there is a lot to do here. The town boasts several medieval town gates and cosy terraces.

Today, you can also choose to ride a long or short variant of the day's route. You'll soon see the mountains ahead of you and ride towards a large massif, which looks extraordinary: Les Pénitents des Mées. It has a length of 2.5 km and a height of 114m. With a total of 27 hectares of land. You then drive on lovely winding roads into the beautiful countryside and away from the crowds. You drive into the Du Verdon national park and follow Route de Temps. The P.N.R. de Verdon is perhaps the most famous in France. Known for its Grand Canyon-like gorges and typical blue-green colour of the Verdon water. You drive up several collen and after them you drive on tight tarmac through lavender fields. A typical sight in Provence. After about 40 kilometres, you are at the start of the mountains to drive into the Gorges de Verdon. You pass the famous Pont l'Artuby that is definitely worth a photo opportunity. The roads keep winding and you drive through the flowers and lavender fields slowly back to the hotel. You still pass through the small town of Oraison, where it is busier and you return to civilisation after all today's natural beauty.

The route you ride today contains mostly long collons through the beautiful countryside of Provence with mostly lovely steering roads. After about 100 kilometres, you can see Mont Ventoux from a distance here. The lavender fields are not lacking on this part of the route either. You pass Montbrun les Bains. A village where the houses are built in the city wall with old castle ruins behind. After this village you go up Mont Ventoux (1,912m), this particular mountain is well worth a climb. Also called the bare mountain, it is considerably higher than the other mountains in the region. Once on top of Mont Ventoux, you can see very far in clear weather for that reason. You continue the route parallel to the river Le Laye, which flows into the reservoir of the same name. Further along the route, you drive through the pretty village of Forcalquier with the Notre Dame de Provence as the real attraction. It towers over the village and once again provides great views. From Forcalquier, it's about a 20-kilometre drive back to the hotel. 

Today you will ride several cols that rise above 2,000 metres. You'll also ride through the P.N.R. du Mercator. One of France's seven national parks. At first, you follow the route Napoleon along river La Bléone. After about 70 kilometres, you arrive at 1,200m altitude in the cosy village of Seyne in the Valleé Seyne des Alpes. You now ride a few kilometres on a somewhat flatter section before climbing the two big collen. Then the fun begins with one or two cols above 2,000m. You ride into the P.N.R. du Mercator after about 110 kilometres and directly up Col d'Allos (2,250m), for both the short and long route. The Col des Champs (2,087m) is only in the long route. Both cols are very worthwhile! If you ride the XL route, you also take in the Col de la Bonette with an altitude of no less than (2,802m).

You continue the route and pass the 'Gorge de Daluis', a 6 km long gorge carved by the Var river and starting just after the village of Guilaumes. The red coloured sandstone in this gorge is striking. At the end of the gorge you will find a waterfall: Clue d'Amen. You will regularly find people canyoning here. After the gorge, you drive over another beautiful pass: the Col de la Saint Michel (1,421m). This one is named after the small village you pass on the col. After this col, you return to Digne les Bains and drive along the other side of river La Bléone back towards the hotel. A quiet rolling road.

If you want to stay an extra day or ride a shorter route one day, that is possible. For this purpose, we have included extra routes in the route set. This route combines roads and places that do not appear in the other routes with pieces that also appear in other routes. A dessert or variation for those who want to make use of it.