Ventoux & the Verdon Gorge
- A wonderful holiday cycling the best parts of Provence
- Experience 'Europe's Grand Canyon': the Verdon Gorge
- Climb Mont Ventoux - the infamous Giant of Provence
- Stay in charming 3* and 4* hotels in picturesque surroundings
- Flexible itinerary with daily route choices including challenging optional extras
- Opportunity to attempt the 'Club des Cinglés de Mont Ventoux' challenge: three ascents in one day
- Exceptional support from two skilled, fun guides in our highly customised support vehicles
- Included transfers from and to Marseille airport
Days on the bike
Quote
Seamless. I got the sense early that I was dealing with a really professional, ethical and good company who were very experienced and well organised.
Introduction
Cycling in Provence is a dream! With its extensive network of quiet roads, pretty villages, fields of lavender, deep gorges and turquoise reservoirs, it's a glorious destination for a cycling holiday. Throw in Mont Ventoux, one of the most well-known mountains in the world of cycling, and this tour really does have it all! Whilst typically popular with touring cyclists, this hidden gem of a region boasts some of the best cycling roads in all of France, peppered with smaller cols and rolling hills set in unique scenery. It's stunning at worst and jaw-dropping at best.
For the first half of the week, you'll explore the area around the river Verdon that runs east to west between the departments of the Var and the Alpes de Haute Provence. Its sun-baked limestone hills have been cut through by rivers running down from the Alps, creating magnificently deep canyons, most notably the Verdon Gorge. At over 20 km long and 300 metres deep it is the deepest gorge in Europe and provides as dramatic a backdrop as you could wish for. Ticking off cols as you go, you then head towards Mont Ventoux, which you have the chance to conquer! After a day in the saddle, the beautiful hotel in Malaucene awaits. You're based here for the remainder of your holiday, enjoying dinner in the centre of town, before retreating back to the calm ambience of the hotel's private grounds.
The climate is perfect for cycling during the spring and autumn when the hoards of tourists that visit Provence won't be competing with you for space on the tarmac. With two route choices each day, this holiday offers the same flexibility as our other Marmot Classic tours. Despite the terrain being more undulating than mountainous (the Ventoux ascent being an obvious exception!), on the daily Challenge route, there are plenty of tougher options if that's what you're after. Our two skilled guides with fully customised support vehicles are there to provide you with exceptional support on the road. While this is a group holiday, they are adept at treating you as an individual and helping you achieve your personal goals.
For more inspiration, you can head over to our YouTube channel to watch our video of this truly remarkable French cycling tour in Provence.
For the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
✓ Included in your Holiday cost:
- 6 days of stunning cycling with route options daily
- Detailed GPS route files provided for all route options
- On-the-road support from two friendly and knowledgable guides both in customised support vehicles
- Water and unlimited snacks (fruit, cake, nuts, snack bars etc) at support stops
- 7 nights twin-share hotel accommodation including breakfasts
- 6 three-course evening meals, with wine, beer or soft drinks included (evening meals on all nights for 2026)
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days at specified times
- Our photos of you and your holiday, shared with you after the trip
- Tips paid to evening meal restaurant staff on behalf of the group
- Your money financially protected by ABTOT
- Added consumer confidence and support via our ABTA membership
+ Optional extras subject to availability for a supplementary cost:
- BOOKED IN ADVANCE: Your own single-occupancy hotel room for the whole trip
- BOOKED IN ADVANCE: Hire bike - titanium frame with hi spec components, safety checked by your guides each day
- ON-TRIP: Spare bike tyres, tubes and components in case you need them in an emergency
- ON-TRIP: CO2 canisters to borrow (and pay for if you use them)
- Marmot Tours x Stolen Goat cycling kit available exclusively from our online shop
×Not included in your Holiday cost:
- Flights to and from the destination airport
- Insurance for you and your own bike. See FAQs for details
- Spending money for lunches and cafe drinks during the day. We encourage you to support local businesses
- Dinner on one night in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (from 2027), so that you are free to explore the local restaurants
- Tips for your guides
- Energy gels, powders, or recovery drinks/snacks (please bring your personal favourites with you)
- Spare parts specific to your own bike, definitely bring your own spare hanger! See Essential Info
- GPS navigation device and handlebar mount
- Bike lights (whether hiring or bringing your own bike)
- HIRING A BIKE: Bring your own pedals (saddles are provided but we recommend you bring your own to be comfortable)
Weather
We hope you’ll have sunshine and perfect cycling temperatures during your holiday, but obviously it’s the one aspect of your trip over which we have no control! The weather is likely to vary during your trip, and even during fine weather it can be cold in the morning and on descents. The weather on Mont Ventoux can be changeable and sometimes extreme. You should bring warm and waterproof layers to protect you from cold and rain.
Fitness
This Classic, flexible-pace holiday itinerary offers a lot of flexibility, with a Classic and a Challenge route available each day (and sometimes an additional easier route too - see the trip description on the webpage for details of the route options available each day). Have a look at the daily stats of distance and climbing on the trip webpage. Although we move on most days, the distance and altitude gain between hotels are manageable for most people who road-cycle regularly. Please get in touch if you’d like further guidance.
Hotels
We stay in comfortable 3* hotels with ensuite facilities. We have selected the hotels for their location and for their customer service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender) unless you book a single room for a supplement (contact [email protected] for availability). Each hotel has a garage/locked room to ensure that your bike has a comfortable night too.
All the hotels have WiFi but it is not always reliable! Some only have WiFi in reception as opposed to in individual rooms. Also, WiFi can be slower in the evenings when many riders choose to upload their routes to Strava, stretching the bandwidth.
Dietary requirements
The hotels and restaurants we use can cater for most dietary needs and allergies if we know what these are well in advance. Each day, your guides will also double-check with the kitchen, to ensure they have something suitable planned for you.
You can let us know about any special dietary requirements on the booking form or via email. Please note that we request you stick to your dietary preference for the entire trip, as it’s very complicated for the hotels (and guides) if an individual has dietary requirements for some meals and not for others.
Timings
Your day will usually start with breakfast from around 08:00 with set off time at around 09:00 to 09:30 (those attempting the Cingles challenge on Ventoux day will have breakfast at 07:00 and set off soon after). Lunch is typically served in restaurants and cafes from 12:00 to 14:00. Depending on which route you choose each day, you’ll be back at the hotel any time between 14:00 and 18:00. Dinner is usually served at 19:30. Your guides may occasionally need to adjust these timings depending on the needs of the group or the weather conditions.
Lifts in the van
Our holidays are cycling holidays (with an emphasis on cycling!), but you are welcome to have a lift in our vans during the day if you need one, for example if you’re injured, exhausted, or unsure about riding in challenging weather conditions. If you become ill or injured and are not planning to ride for the whole day (or if you would just like a day off the bike!) on a day when we move on to the next hotel, then we will normally recommend that you take a taxi directly to the next hotel. This will give you the maximum possible time to rest and recover at the hotel, or to enjoy other activities off the bike.
Carbon wheels
If you have rim brakes on your carbon wheels then we definitely do NOT recommend you bring them on this holiday - this is because we have witnessed several cases of sudden and catastrophic delamination of these wheels on descents. Take a look at our blog about this issue.
Bike spares
If you’re bringing your own bike, then please also bring:
-
bike lights
-
a pump
-
tyre levers
-
inner tubes
-
brake pads
-
a chain link
-
a spare rear derailleur hanger.
Tools for bike assembly are not required as Marmot Tours has them available for you to use on arrival (including a torque wrench). See FAQS for more detail.
Travel documents
If you are a non-EU national, to enter the EU you will need a passport issued within the last 10 years, that is also valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU.
Residents of many countries can enter the EU for short stays without a visa. From 2027, all non-EU visitors to the EU will require an ETIAS electronic travel authorisation.
Travel insurance is essential for all Marmot Tours holidays and anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the tour.
Departure Dates & Prices
We are pleased to offer some tempting discounts off the basic trip cost (not including extras such as single rooms or bike hire):
- Book & pay your deposit more than 6 months in advance of the start of your holiday for our 5% early bookers discount
- Get a group of 10+ people together for a 7.5% group discount and, as the group organiser, receive a £150 voucher for your next holiday
- Be rewarded for your loyalty by receiving a 10% discount from your third Marmot Tours road cycling holiday onwards
Please note that there is a maximum 10% discount on any holiday.
Map
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival day
We offer included transfers from Marseille Airport (MRS) and Aix-en-Provence TGV train station to our hotel in Meyreuil (just to the east of Aix-en-Provence). This is a journey of about 30 min.
Meet your guides, transfer to the hotel, assemble your bikes and perhaps go for a pre-dinner spin to loosen your legs ahead of the next day's ride.
Day 1: Meyreuil to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Today’s ride offers you an introduction to the range of scenery the area has to offer - from charming, unspoilt villages to diverse forests, gorges and turquoise reservoirs.
Looking northwards from the hotel, the horizon is dominated by the magnificent Montagne Saint-Victoire with its sheer limestone cliffs. Our route climbs to its base on a great road with ever-increasing views. From the Collet Blanc de Suberroque (500m) we enjoy a sweeping descent and start undulating our way through beautiful countryside towards our hotel in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie on the edge of the Verdon National Park.
As always on a Marmot Tours Classic tour, you have daily options depending on how much you want to push yourself. Early in the day, you can detour over the Col des Portes (631m) and the Col du Grand-Sambuc (615m) via the Gorges Vauvenargues. Later, there is the option of a wonderful little road that undulates its way up the Verdon River linking its many lakes. The ride can also be made easier with a tactical transfer in one of the vans after lunch.
Classic : 108 KM with 1450m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 115 KM with 1750m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 143 KM with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 2: Day ride into the Verdon Gorge
Considered by many to be the most beautiful canyon in Europe, the Verdon Gorge is genuinely breathtaking. The road that hugs the cliffs of the gorge is an amazing feat of engineering and today you get to appreciate every km of it! With sheer drops of over 500m to the side of the ride, big views, and some sneaky climbs, today is set to be one of the most memorable rides of your life!
Warming up on the gentle slopes of the Source de Vaumale (1202m), you enter the gorge proper for some stunning pedalling. Road cycling really doesn’t get any better than this! You leave the gorge for a short while, but only to take in some of the surrounding highlights such as the forgiving slopes of Col d'Ayen (1031m), before returning to enjoy the magnificent gorge scenery and a fabulous descent.
Those choosing the Challenge option today head on to the incredible Route des Crêtes du Verdon (1320m), for yet more spectacular views.
**NEW FOR 2027 TOURS:** Tonight's dinner is not included, giving you the opportunity to explore the restaurants in town and choose for yourself.
Classic : 89 KM with 1900m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 109 KM with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 3: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to Sisteron
You start today with a couple of minor undulations and a swift descent before the landscape eventually opens out to reveal wide-open plains of never-ending fields of lavender and sunflowers. For those chasing the Challenge options, a visit to the region wouldn't be complete without conquering Mt Ventoux’s ‘little sister' - the Montagne de Lure at 1745m, offering spectacular views to the north into the Hautes-Alpes region.
Tonight we stay in the majestic pre-Roman town of Sisteron with its narrow cobbled streets and magnificent Vauban fortifications. With a somewhat ‘flatter’ day of cycling behind you, you will probably return to the hotel with plenty of time to spare, allowing you to stretch your legs and experience some local culture in the pretty town.
Classic : 102 KM with 1100m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 127 KM with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 4: Sisteron to Malaucene via the Gorges de la Nesque
Leaving Sisteron, you get a great view of the contorted rock strata that resulted in the town becoming so important. You soon pick up the La Méouge river, which we follow, through a spectacular gorge to Séderon. After a welcome coffee stop, you climb to the Col de Macuègne (1068m) for your first view of Mont Ventoux.
Here, there is the option of taking a loop over the Col de l'Homme Mort (1212m) for some more exquisite views, but all roads lead to Montbrun-les-Bains and on to Sault for a welcome lunch.
You leave Sault to join a narrow winding road that hugs the cliffs of the stunning Gorges de la Nesque, descending gently through a series of short tunnels hewn out of the rock. This road is one of the highlights of the region and attracts cyclists and photographers from miles around for its magnificent riding and views of the valley below. Once through the gorge, a few undulations take you via Bédoin to your hotel in Malaucène. There is no escaping the tough decisions you face now: to relax by the pool, meander into the centre of town, or tag on an additional 52km in the hills to the west on the 'Gigondas' loop - taking in some beautiful vineyards and rural villages and adding 700m of ascent. It's your holiday and so the choice is yours!
The Hotel Ventoux Provence is one of our firm favourites and we will stay here for the next three nights.
Classic : 125 KM with 1600m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 134 KM with 1800m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 181 KM with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 5: Day ride from Malaucène - Parc regional des Baronnies Provencales
The routes we've crafted and outlined for days 5 & 6 are interchangeable, depending on the weather forecast. However, one thing is guaranteed - you're going to have an amazing final two days out on your bike! The mountains to the north of Ventoux are often overlooked, but as you'll discover, they are stunningly beautiful and offer exceptional cycling opportunities.
Our excursion into the Parc Regional des Baronnies Provencales takes you over the Côte de Bluye (578m), whilst the Challenge route detours to take on the Col du Perty (1302m) and the Col St-Jean (1158m).
Classic : 97 KM with 1300m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 145 KM with 2500m ascent [ride profile]
Day 6: Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux has featured heavily in the Tour de France since it was first included over 60 years ago. It became infamous when it claimed the life of the British rider Tom Simpson in 1967 and has since become a mecca for cyclists from all over the world wanting to pitch body and mind against its iconic, arid, and rocky moonscape.
We'll focus our attention today on the most popular sides of this iconic cycling climb, the ascents from Bédoin and Sault, before descending to Malaucène from the summit.
The Classic route takes on the ascent from Bédoin via the Col de Madeleine (451m). The Challenge route also climbs the Bédoin side via Col de Madeleine, before descending from the summit for a second ascent up from Sault.
For tours between June and October, it's possible to sign up for the ‘Club des Cinglés de Mont Ventoux' challenge - climbing Mont Ventoux three times in one day on all three roads! Please get in touch at least 30 days before your trip departs, if you're interested. This is an official route so there's a registration fee of £55 and successful finishers will be rewarded with not only major kudos but also a certificate and medal.
Classic : 55 KM with 1730m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 106 KM with 3000m ascent [ride profile]
Club des Cinglés Challenge : 136 KM with 4443m ascent [ride profile]
Day 7: Departure day
Sadly, that's the end of your week cycling in Provence. We'll transfer you back to Marseille Airport (MRS) or Aix-en-Provence TGV railway station, a journey of about 1 hr 40 min.
✓ Included in your Holiday cost:
- 6 days of stunning cycling with route options daily
- Detailed GPS route files provided for all route options
- On-the-road support from two friendly and knowledgable guides both in customised support vehicles
- Water and unlimited snacks (fruit, cake, nuts, snack bars etc) at support stops
- 7 nights twin-share hotel accommodation including breakfasts
- 6 three-course evening meals, with wine, beer or soft drinks included (evening meals on all nights for 2026)
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days at specified times
- Our photos of you and your holiday, shared with you after the trip
- Tips paid to evening meal restaurant staff on behalf of the group
- Your money financially protected by ABTOT
- Added consumer confidence and support via our ABTA membership
+ Optional extras subject to availability for a supplementary cost:
- BOOKED IN ADVANCE: Your own single-occupancy hotel room for the whole trip
- BOOKED IN ADVANCE: Hire bike - titanium frame with hi spec components, safety checked by your guides each day
- ON-TRIP: Spare bike tyres, tubes and components in case you need them in an emergency
- ON-TRIP: CO2 canisters to borrow (and pay for if you use them)
- Marmot Tours x Stolen Goat cycling kit available exclusively from our online shop
×Not included in your Holiday cost:
- Flights to and from the destination airport
- Insurance for you and your own bike. See FAQs for details
- Spending money for lunches and cafe drinks during the day. We encourage you to support local businesses
- Dinner on one night in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (from 2027), so that you are free to explore the local restaurants
- Tips for your guides
- Energy gels, powders, or recovery drinks/snacks (please bring your personal favourites with you)
- Spare parts specific to your own bike, definitely bring your own spare hanger! See Essential Info
- GPS navigation device and handlebar mount
- Bike lights (whether hiring or bringing your own bike)
- HIRING A BIKE: Bring your own pedals (saddles are provided but we recommend you bring your own to be comfortable)
Weather
We hope you’ll have sunshine and perfect cycling temperatures during your holiday, but obviously it’s the one aspect of your trip over which we have no control! The weather is likely to vary during your trip, and even during fine weather it can be cold in the morning and on descents. The weather on Mont Ventoux can be changeable and sometimes extreme. You should bring warm and waterproof layers to protect you from cold and rain.
Fitness
This Classic, flexible-pace holiday itinerary offers a lot of flexibility, with a Classic and a Challenge route available each day (and sometimes an additional easier route too - see the trip description on the webpage for details of the route options available each day). Have a look at the daily stats of distance and climbing on the trip webpage. Although we move on most days, the distance and altitude gain between hotels are manageable for most people who road-cycle regularly. Please get in touch if you’d like further guidance.
Hotels
We stay in comfortable 3* hotels with ensuite facilities. We have selected the hotels for their location and for their customer service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender) unless you book a single room for a supplement (contact [email protected] for availability). Each hotel has a garage/locked room to ensure that your bike has a comfortable night too.
All the hotels have WiFi but it is not always reliable! Some only have WiFi in reception as opposed to in individual rooms. Also, WiFi can be slower in the evenings when many riders choose to upload their routes to Strava, stretching the bandwidth.
Dietary requirements
The hotels and restaurants we use can cater for most dietary needs and allergies if we know what these are well in advance. Each day, your guides will also double-check with the kitchen, to ensure they have something suitable planned for you.
You can let us know about any special dietary requirements on the booking form or via email. Please note that we request you stick to your dietary preference for the entire trip, as it’s very complicated for the hotels (and guides) if an individual has dietary requirements for some meals and not for others.
Timings
Your day will usually start with breakfast from around 08:00 with set off time at around 09:00 to 09:30 (those attempting the Cingles challenge on Ventoux day will have breakfast at 07:00 and set off soon after). Lunch is typically served in restaurants and cafes from 12:00 to 14:00. Depending on which route you choose each day, you’ll be back at the hotel any time between 14:00 and 18:00. Dinner is usually served at 19:30. Your guides may occasionally need to adjust these timings depending on the needs of the group or the weather conditions.
Lifts in the van
Our holidays are cycling holidays (with an emphasis on cycling!), but you are welcome to have a lift in our vans during the day if you need one, for example if you’re injured, exhausted, or unsure about riding in challenging weather conditions. If you become ill or injured and are not planning to ride for the whole day (or if you would just like a day off the bike!) on a day when we move on to the next hotel, then we will normally recommend that you take a taxi directly to the next hotel. This will give you the maximum possible time to rest and recover at the hotel, or to enjoy other activities off the bike.
Carbon wheels
If you have rim brakes on your carbon wheels then we definitely do NOT recommend you bring them on this holiday - this is because we have witnessed several cases of sudden and catastrophic delamination of these wheels on descents. Take a look at our blog about this issue.
Bike spares
If you’re bringing your own bike, then please also bring:
-
bike lights
-
a pump
-
tyre levers
-
inner tubes
-
brake pads
-
a chain link
-
a spare rear derailleur hanger.
Tools for bike assembly are not required as Marmot Tours has them available for you to use on arrival (including a torque wrench). See FAQS for more detail.
Travel documents
If you are a non-EU national, to enter the EU you will need a passport issued within the last 10 years, that is also valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU.
Residents of many countries can enter the EU for short stays without a visa. From 2027, all non-EU visitors to the EU will require an ETIAS electronic travel authorisation.
Travel insurance is essential for all Marmot Tours holidays and anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the tour.
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