OVERVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION
GETTING THERE
PACKING LIST
FAQs
OVERVIEW
A 3-stage gravel cycling holiday from the Côte d’Azur, through Provence, to the summit of Mont Ventoux.
The journey begins in the seaside town of Saint-Raphaël, venturing through the iconic red cliffs of the Esterel coast before heading inland into the heart of Provence.
With each stage, the landscape evolves, from coastal views to the turquoise waters of the Gorges du Verdon, then on through vineyards, lavender fields, and timeless stone villages — all linked by smooth gravel, quiet backroads, and scenic trails.
The final stage takes us up a remote gravel route to the summit of Mont Ventoux — a wild, lesser-ridden way to reach one of cycling’s most iconic peaks.
Included in Ride Package
Accommodation
4 nights in a range of local and small hotels. Choose private single, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) rooms.
Airport Transfers
Fly into Nice (NCE), fly out from Marseille (MRS) where our team will be on hand to greet you.
3 Epic Stages
Fully supported rides with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stops with a warm up ride on arrival day.
Meals
Bring some money for drinks but our package includes 4 dinners, 3 lunches & 4 breakfasts.
Regular Stops
Regular feed stops approx every 30km with lunch stops in beautiful locations.
Luggage
We move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Insurance (mandatory), Bike rental, Drinks with lunch & evening meals
REAL RIDER REVIEWS
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ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrival in Nice, transfer to Saint Raphael (transfer takes approx. 1h10 min). Warm up evening ride of 47km to make sure legs & bike are in good condition for bigger rides to come.
DAY 2
Stage One: St Raphael to Gorges du Verdon - 122km, 2556m elevation, 52% off road
DAY 3
Stage Two: Gorges du Verdon to Forcalquier - 85km, 1351m elevation, 61% off road
DAY 4
Stage Three: Forcalquier to Bedoin - 118km, 2556m elevation, 55% off road
DAY 5
Departure day. Last morning ride to Ventoux before heading to Marseille airport (transfer takes approx. 1h20 min)
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS
esterel red rocks
Experience the striking contrasts of the red cliffs and deep blue Mediterranean sea view, as you ride along smooth gravel tracks through the Esterel.
Ride through Classic Provence
Ride through rolling vineyards and fragrant lavender fields, soaking up the colours, scents, and quiet beauty of Provence as you follow flowing gravel trails past timeless villages and open countryside.
MONT ventoux on gravel
Tackle a lesser-ridden gravel route up Mont Ventoux, just off the Tour de France climb you've seen on TV. A wild, remote ascent with breathtaking views from this legendary summit.
FLAVOURS OF PROVENCE: WINE & Herbs
Enjoy French cuisine shaped by Mediterranean and Italian influences, with Provençal herbs, fresh local produce, and regional wines. A vibrant culinary experience, deeply rooted in place, season, and tradition.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Accommodation
We’ll stay in a mixture of local hotels. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places.
Bike & Tyre Choice
The route is suitable for gravel bikes equipped with 40-40mm tyres suggested. We highly recommend you run tubeless to allow you to run lower tyre pressures and help reduce punctures.
Food
The South of France, especially Provence, serves up sun-drenched dishes with Provençal herbs, seasonal vegetables, and local olive oil, all shaped by Mediterranean and Italian traditions and perfectly paired with regional wines. We enjoy dinners at a mix of our hotels & local restaurants. On the ride there are regular feed stops & lunch at local restaurants and bakeries.
weather
We choose time of year for our trips to coincide with the best riding weather. Temperatures should be in the low to mid 20s during the day with cooler evenings.
Terrain
The route is a real mix of smooth backroads in the Provence countryside, some rougher broken roads, smooth gravel and some lumpier off road terrain. There are some technical sections each day but definitely easier than most UK gravel routes.
The Route
The route from the coast all the way to the summit of Ventoux is fairly challenging with plenty of long climbs. We have structured the route so after a warm up ride on arrival day, we have a big Stage One (120km, 2,500m elevation), an easier Stage Two (85km, 1,350m) before the Queen Stage up Ventoux (119km, 2,500m).
5 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS
NUMBER One
The Red Cliffs of the Estérel
Ride smooth gravel along the Côte d’Azur’s most dramatic coastline, where rust-red cliffs plunge into the Mediterranean. Pine forests, sweeping sea views, and golden light make this hidden corner of the Riviera a spectacular start.
NUMBER TWO
Gorges du Verdon
Stage one finishes at the Lac de Sainte-Croix. Towering limestone cliffs, deep gorges, and shimmering turquoise waters create a dramatic backdrop as you arrive at the peaceful shores of Lac de Sainte-Croix.
number three
Lavender Fields of Valensole
On Stage two we continue to venture deeper into Provence. Crossing the Valensole plateau on flowing gravel, riding between fragrant lavender fields, golden wheat, and quiet farmhouses. Small villages dot the route, offering timeless charm and classic Provençal views at every turn.
Number Four
Ride along vineyards of Provence
Ride winding white gravel tracks through sunlit vineyards, olive groves, and old stone villages. The landscape rolls gently under wide Provençal skies, offering a peaceful rhythm and the timeless beauty of rural southern France.
Number five
Mont Ventoux by Gravel
Tackle the mighty Ventoux via a wild, lesser-ridden gravel route. This remote ascent winds through forest and wide open slopes, offering a peaceful, challenging finale to your journey — and summit views you’ll never forget.
Number six
Quiet villages & Berber culture
Along the route we pass many small, traditional Berber villages that rarely see tourists.
Particularly on stage three, we ride through villages that were devastated by the earthquake in 2023 and through the ride we see how people live in the mountains, on the plains and by the coast.
Number seven
Tea!
A huge part of the riding ritual in Morocco is to drink tea before, during and after each stage.
The tea here is minty and incredibly sweet, you don't even want to know how much sugar goes into each small cup. But, nothing quite hits like a local cuppa and this is an essential part of breakfast & warming up when the sun sets and we are high in the mountains.
STAGE DETAILS
Route Summary:
A perfect introduction to the trip, this scenic loop takes us into the hidden gem of the French Riviera, the Estérel. Riding smooth gravel trails, we trace the fiery red cliffs above the deep blue Mediterranean, soaking in stunning coastal view.
Ride Distance: 47km Ride Elevation: 811m % Off Road: 51% Difficulty: 3/5
Route Summary:
We leave the Mediterranean behind and head inland into rural Provence. The route features rocky gravel sections, quiet backroads, and timeless villages — ending at the turquoise waters of Lac de Sainte-Croix, nestled in the stunning Gorges du Verdon.
Ride Distance: 122km Ride Elevation: 2556m % Off Road: 52% Difficulty: 4/5
Route Summary:
From the Gorges du Verdon, we ride towards the wide plateau of Valensole, famous for its endless lavender fields and open skies. White gravel tracks lead us past vineyards, hilltop villages, and golden farmland as we make our way toward the charming town of Forcalquier.
Ride Distance: 85km Ride Elevation: 1351m % Off Road: 61% Difficulty: 4/5
Route Summary:
The final day takes us from Forcalquier through rolling Provençal hills before tackling the mighty Mont Ventoux. We follow a lesser-ridden route, a remote gravel track winding through forest and across the mountain’s open southern flank of white gravel. A challenging, unforgettable ascent to the summit of one of cycling’s most iconic climbs.
Ride Distance: 118km Ride Elevation: 2556m % Off Road: 55% Difficulty: 5/5
ACCOMMODATION
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PACKING LIST
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GETTING THERE
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Flights
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Transfers
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Outbound
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Your Guides
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Rental Bikes
getting to Nice
Fly Into: Nice airport (NCE)
Fly Out: Marseille airport (MRS)
Flights From: There are regular direct flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet to Nice and out of Marseille airports.
Transfer Times:
On arrival day, transfers will be at 12.30.
On departure day, we will have 2 transfers:
-for flights departing after 16.00
-for flights departing after 18.00
Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation: We’ll stay in a mixture of hotels. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places.
We stay at:
Granada – Boutique Hotel Cerro del Sol
Guadix – YIT Abentofail (2 nights)
Granada – Boutique Hotel Cerro del Sol
Meals – 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches on the road, 4 dinners are included in the package. Drinks with lunch & dinner are excluded.
packing list
Cycling Kit
Bibs/shorts | Jerseys/tops (consider LS t-shirts for cooler temperatures)
Gilet | Waterproof jacket | Arm and leg warmers
Cycling shoes | Socks | Mitts Helmet | Sunglasses
2 bottles
GPS device with handle bar mount
Bike Spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
Spare tyre | Tyre levers | Small pump | Multitool
1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant)
Chain link specific for your bike chain | Lube | Brake pads | Spare rear mech hanger for your bike
Rear light | 2 Bottle cages
Spare batteries/charging cables for lights
Personal Medical Kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing Assorted plasters | Rubber gloves | Steri-Strips | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes)
Small set of scissors | Tweezers | Pain Killers (paracetamol) | Prescribed medication
Must Pack Items
Power bank | Flip flops | Swimming kit | Shower gel | Hydration & Personal energy bars | Chamois cream | Sun cream
Hotels & Meals
Accommodation: We’ll stay in a mixture of hotels. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places.
We stay at:
Saint Raphael – Hotel de Valescure
Gorges du Verdon – Hotel Ermitage
Forcalquier – Hotel de Charembeau
Bedoin – Hotel des Pins
Meals – 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches on the road, 4 dinners are included in the package. Drinks with lunch & dinner are excluded.
DATES & PRICES
START
FINISH
SINGLE ROOM
TWIN/
DOUBLE ROOM
DEPOSIT
DATES & PRICES
FAQs
There are two days with over 2,500m of elevation with some long climbs so a good level of fitness is required. The terrain is a real mix, lots of backroads and smooth gravel but some technical sections on each day so would suit more experienced off road riders.
There are regular direct flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet to Nice and out of Marseille airports.
On arrival day, Wednesday 1st of October, here will be one transfers at 12.30 from Nice airport to the start hotel.
On departure day, Sunday 5th of October, we will have 2 transfers, for flights departing after 16.00, and for flights departing after 18.00.
Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.
We collaborate with a local partner to provide bike rental. Contact us for more information.
We expect temperatures in the mid 20s, with cooler temperatures in the evenings.
British citizens do not require a visa to enter France.
Travel insurance is compulsory for our trips, and you are required to provide us with your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate cover for cycling abroad, any emergency medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and your bike. We also recommend it includes cancellation insurance, should you be unable to join the trip for specific reasons such as illness.