We start at the rooftop bar in the Spanish coastal seaport of Bilbao overlooking the city skyline at twilight. You may make some time on your arrival to visit the 2nd of the famous Guggenheim Museums. From Bilbao, we begin our journey to France along the rugged Basque coastline through small fishing villages to arrive at the iconic seaside town of San Sebastian for Tapas and Sangria in the old town. Our green route inland toward the Pyrenees is carefully chosen for smooth quiet roads all the way with the option to bag the trophy climb of Col d’Aubisque on arrival to Lourdes.
This route was chosen to offer exceptional landscape and cultural experiences on a route that is not too challenging.
Highlights
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Guggenheim Museum
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San Sebastian Old Town
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Basque Culture
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Col d’Aubisque, Col du Soulour
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Coastal Roads and views
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Basque Hinterland
Arrival Details
5th June 2020
Fly into Madrid or Barcelona then fly or fast train to Bilbao. We suggest arriving a day early to recover and to visit the Museum.
Departure Details
11th June 2020
if not continuing: Fly from Pau or Tarbes or train from Lourdes to Toulouse or Paris airport.
The tour from Provence north into Rhone Alpes is the road less travelled and a route that will be hard to find on any organised tour. For those familiar with the Victorian high country, this is comparable to Mount Beauty to Lakes Entrance ride. If you are a Tour de France enthusiast, this will be familiar country. Our transition route from Provence to the iconic Tour de France village of Gap and then Alpe d’Huez region. No big mountains on the tick list, just beautiful countryside and rolling hills for a few days. This is a perfect roll after the challenge of Mont Ventoux and heading toward the really big stuff of the Alpes.
* We also recommend arriving on the 4th a few days early to relax and or ride Ventoux
*We suggest you stay with us an additional day to conquer Alpe d’Huez and the Balcony rides or stay until Annecy through the Savoy region.
Our tours include
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Small groups maximum of 12 guests travelling as a boutique tour
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Qualified guide with you on the road
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On-route vehicle support van
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Ride options for beginners and advanced riders
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Rider tracking, we know where you are on the road
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Our mechanics maintain and make any repairs to your bike
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bikeNOW bikes available (see below)
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Airport / Rail station pick-up included * conditions apply
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GPS maps and mapping plus device management included
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Non-rider activities, we have a fun program if you are not riding
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Adapting the program to suit the conditions and group
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Assembling and repacking your bike if you bring your own
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A Flight bag is provided to borrow free and includes us preparing your bike for travel
The Tour Price Excludes
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Airfares and extra accommodation
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Travel Insurance – you must travel with insurance
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Any Meals, or alcohol not indicated in the itinerary
Accommodation
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Carefully chosen 3-4* quality hotels
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Twin-share or room to yourself *POA
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See below day descriptions for hotels lis
Meals and snacks
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Breakfast Included
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Some Dinners included on some trips *TBA
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We provide during the day electrolytes, drinks, fresh fruit, muesli bars
Bike Hire
Specialized Tarmac disk low gear ration Carbon Road Bike / Ultegra; $65 AUD per day
Specialized Roubaix disk low gear ration Carbon Road Bike / Ultegra; $65 AUD per day
Specialized e-bike SL (superlight); $120 AUD per day
Payment details.
The initial deposit is $1000 120 days before travel, with free cancellation and a full refund. Full payment is required 60 days prior to departure.
*We suggest that you have comprehensive travel insurance in place before your payment to protect your trip
Arrival Details
10am 6th July 2023
Fly into Paris (CDG) Nice (NCE), then train Avignon via TGV
Departure Details
10am 11th July 2023
If not continuing, depart Grenoble TGV to Lyon and continue to either Nice (NCE) or Paris (CDG) airports
Highlights
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Gorges de la Nesque
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Mt Ventoux the back way
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Gorges de la Méouge
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The backcountry between Provence and Alpes
Day 1 - 06/07/2023
Hotel: Hôtel L'Hermitage,
Pernes les Fontain.
3 Star accommodation
Swimming Pool (1 night)
Activity-MONT VENTOUX - REST
105km 2435m LEVEL 9 - CHALLENGE
55km 278m LEVEL 3 - EASY
*interactive route maps below
We will pick you up at Avignon TGV for a 30-minute drive to our accommodation, You will have time to relax however, we suggest you arrive a day or two earlier to ride Ventoux.
The Luberon and Avignon are home to the 'Mistrale' winds. The northerly and westerly valley winds sometimes collide giving us the perfect summer wind storm resulting in Ventoux closures.
If you want the best chance of a great day on the mountain, come a day earlier and you will have 2 days at this stunning location.
Today we offer the reverse side of Ventoux. The northern side from Malucene is not used for the race route but with a bigger open road for Tour de France logistics access it makes for a great descent but it is also considered by many to be the better experience.
If you can join us 2 days earlier, our plan presents you with a few options. You can ride Ventoux either day in either direction offering you a free day to relax by the pool off the bike, a shorter ride day or if you are here to ride! DO BOTH days on Ventoux to finish off your Provence holiday with a challenge.
Day 2 - 07/07/2023
Hotel: Hotel D'Albion, SAULT.
Star 8.4/10 Rating.
1 Night
Activity- Gorges de la Nesque to Sault
49km 1065m LEVEL 4 - INTERMEDIATE
69km 1990m LEVEL 7 - CHALLENGE
*interactive route maps below
We have been saving this day throughout the Provence tour, waiting for a chance to ride Gorges de la Nesque. We will take our time to enjoy our garden deluxe breakfast at HOtel L'Hermitage and a swim for a late start. We usually ride Ventoux to Sault then down the Gorge. This year we start our gentle backcountry ride up through the gorge to Sault with a great backdrop of Mont Ventoux and Le Luberon. If you are keen on an additional challenge, there is an option of riding the Mont Ventoux race route from Bedoin and then descending back to Sault.
The ride from Provence to the Alpes is not a common touristic route and in the backcountry sometimes we have to find the best hotel in the right spot. Tonight we break the 3+ plus rule with 2 Star accommodation. our family-owned Hotel d'Albion is highly rated 8.4/10 approval rating and we are looking forward to a rural authentic treat.
Day 3 - 08/07/2023
Hotel: HAVVAH HOTEL, GAP.
3 Star.
1 Night
Backroads to Road to Gap
98km 1331m LEVEL 7 - CHALLENGE
121km 1879m LEVEL 8 - CHALLENGE
*interactive route maps below
After years of watching the Tour de France and the le Criterium du Dauphine races find their way through the backcountry toward the town of Gap, we ride the countryside that has put France on the tourism map but today including the Gorges de la Méouge. Again for those who don’t want it to finish, we have an option for a more touristic route into Gap surrounded by mountains steeped with Tour de France history. As always, we have vehicle support all the way
Day 4 - 09/07/2023
Hotel: Hôtel Logis La Crémaillère,
Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur.
8.4/10 rating
1 Night
Activity-Lac de Serre-Ponçone
24km 621m LEVEL 1 - EASY
71km 1707m LEVEL 7 - CHALLENGE
*interactive route maps below
Today is a rest day, well… sort of. We ALWAYS offer a ride on rest days because some of you travel all the way to Europe to ride, not rest. Sometimes our rest day rides mean you want more and we deliver. Today can have a touristic start in Gap with an optional 25km ride to help bring us within range of the Alpes. But the ride we can’t leave behind is a touristic bumpy ride along the edge of Lac de Serre-Ponçone. We are in Tour de France Country and will follow the route and learn the history.
Tonight we break the 3+ plus rule again with 2 Star accommodation. Our hotel in St Bonet also offers a highly rated 8.4/10 approval rating and we are looking forward to another rural authentic treat.
Day 5 - 10/07/2023
Hotel: Hotel Les Lutins,
Les Deux ALpes.
2 Star. 8.8 Rating
Activity-Col d'Ornonto Les Deux Alpes
91km 2140m LEVEL 9 – CHALLENGE
*interactive route maps below
The last day in our transition from Provence to the big mountains. The route has been hovering on our planning schedule for a few years and this year we indulge. There are 2 significant climbs but not steep. We are sneaking into Borg d’Osains (below Alpe d'Huez,) the back way through the mountains curtaining your peripheral vision with terrain towering over 1km above you on each side. We pass the base of Alpe d’Huez but we are not climbing it today. We celebrate the arrival with a Telecabin to Venosce for a stop on Les Deux Alpes.
Our accommodation again is not our usual 3+ star as it does not have a restaurant, elevator or pool but, we choose this hotel as one of our favourites! 8.8/10 approval, log cabin feel, mountain views, surrounded by great restaurants.
Day 6 - 11/07/2023
Today is your pack-up day for Grenoble TGV, however, we hope you add one more day to your tour for a small additional cost and depart am 12 July. You will not want to miss Alpe d'Huez.
***OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL DAY***
Hotel: Hotel Les Lutins,
Les Deux ALpes.
2 Star. 8.8 Rating
Alpe d'Huez
80km 1800m LEVEL 7 – CHALLENGE
85km 2660m LEVEL 10 - CHALLENGE
*interactive route maps below
This is the prize at the end of our transition, Alpe d’Huez. It is okay if you are unsure if you are up to the challenge. We are leaving from Les Deux Alpes with a big downhill ride to Borg d’Osains, then we have all day to ride 13km of Alpe d’Huez. Then the end of the climb we could descend and then take the Venosc Telecabin back to the accommodation for an easy finish but, if you are keen for a big day out, our ‘Red’ ride offers the premium balcony ride and Cole du Searenne.
Below is your complete interactive guide to each ride day by day.
You can change the type of map in the top right-hand corner.
You can zoom in or out with the +/- button bottom right,
Drag the little yellow man to see the street view (depending type on the map selected)
Navigate the selection along the bottom to find the day you want to review.
You can open or download the interactive map to view all info including climbs.
*You may need to wait for the interactive map to load depending on the speed of your connection or device.
*If the interactive map below does not load, please try a different browser or visit bikenoweurope.com on desktop, we suggest for best compatibility use Chrome, Safari, Edge ect.