Bike with us in Provence, France

September 12 to 19, 2026

Ride Level: Intermediate | Bikes: Electric Gravel bikes

We’re doing something new in September 2026 as we coordinate a painting trip for artists with a cycling trip for spouses, siblings, and anyone else who would like to bike in southern France. The trips run on the same dates and we’ll stay at the same hotel, so we can all socialize and share meals and other adventures.

The cycling portion of the trip is led by Ron Salerno who has previously organized informal cycling for Travel Fever Tours in Austria and Italy. Ron is married to Leslie Jorgensen who is the instructor for the artist workshop. (Read More about the Artist Workshop.)

The area around our home base in Vaison-la-Romaine is known for its biking, and the Tour de France often climbs the imposing Mt Ventoux, 6,000-foot mountain that dominates most views in this area.

We will enjoy the rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves that flourish throughout this portion of northern Provence. We will ride Gravel e-Bikes that will serve us well in this part of France, with a mix of paved and unpaved roads

Located in the northern reaches of Provence, Vaison-la-Romaine offers a journey through 2,000 years of history, uniquely divided by the Ouvèze river. The lower, more modern town is home to one of France's largest archaeological sites where you can wander through the excavated Roman city of Vasio. Here, the ruins of opulent villas with intricate mosaics, a street of ancient shops, and a Roman theatre bring the ancient world to life.

Spanning the river is a remarkably preserved Roman bridge, which serves as the timeless link to the second half of the town's identity: the medieval "Haute-Ville." This fortified upper town is a labyrinth of cobbled lanes, ancient fountains, and stone houses, all spiraling up a rocky cliff towards the ruins of a 12th-century castle that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and Mont Ventoux.

Beyond its rich history, Vaison-la-Romaine is a bustling Provençal town. The highlight of the week is the Tuesday morning market, one of the largest and most famous in the region, where hundreds of stalls fill the squares and streets with local produce, cheeses, crafts, and textiles.

The town's main square, Place Montfort, is lined with cafés and restaurants, providing the perfect spot to soak in the lively atmosphere. This is where our hotel lies, with a lovely second-floor terrace for breakfast or to relax.

Vaison-la-Romaine serves as an ideal hub for cyclists looking to enjoy the beauty of Provence. The surrounding landscape is rich with quiet, well-maintained roads, breathtaking landscapes featuring medieval villages, and a sun-drenched climate for most of the year makes this a truly premier cycling destination.

The undisputed main attraction in the area is, of course, the ascent of Mont Ventoux, the "Giant of Provence." This is an ascent often included in the Tour de France. For those who dream of the challenge of this climb, this is an option, but not mandatory.

Our routes will mostly include touring through the wine-making villages such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Séguret. There are rewarding views at every turn.

After a long day in the saddle, the town of Vaison itself offers the perfect reward, with its vibrant market, ancient Roman ruins, and welcoming cafés to relax and refuel.

Imagine gentle routes that trace the banks of the Ouvèze river, wind through seas of grapevines, and lead to small villages where you can stop for a coffee or browse a local market. This region is perfectly suited for cyclists who want to immerse themselves in the scenery at a comfortable pace, making the journey itself the destination.

One of the routes we may travel is the Via Venaissia, a greenway built on a former railway line. Being almost entirely flat and completely free of car traffic, it offers a safe and serene way to explore the countryside. One can join the path a short ride from Vaison and pedal south towards Carpentras, passing through orchards and vineyards along the way.

Another fantastic choice is to explore the wine routes of the Côtes du Rhône just west of Vaison. A gentle loop through villages like Cairanne and Rasteau offers mildly rolling hills with immense scenic rewards, providing panoramic views. These routes are perfect for incorporating a stop at a local cave for wine tasting.

To make your cycling holiday as enjoyable as possible, we’ll provide you with electric-assist gravel bikes. We’ll plan for distances of 20 to 40 kilometres a day, which leaves ample time for long lunches, photo stops, and exploration of the villages you pass along the way.

Ron Salerno

Ron grew up in the biking town of Salida, Colorado. When he’s not renovating his circa 1900 gallery building in Salida or building canvases for his artist wife Leslie Jorgensen, Ron enjoys biking and skiing (especially with friends).

His bike adventures have taken him across much of Colorado, and to places like Utah, Iowa, Italy and Austria. Over the last two years, Ron has planned and led informal rides in Austria and Tuscany while joining Leslie as she instructed Travel Fever Tours Art Workshops in those areas.

Ron has competed in the Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike race and leads a team of riders at the annual 18 Hrs of Fruita all-night Mountain bike race. He’s been on many self-supported bike tours including a traverse of Colorado from Nederland to Durango over 7 days and several mountain passes.

Ron brings a a sense of fun and adventure along with a combination of mechanical and technological savvy that make him an ideal ride leader. And his enthusiasm for biking is contagious.

Ride Level: Intermediate | Bikes: Electric Gravel bikes

Whether or not you have a connection to the corresponding artist workshop, this trip is for you if you enjoy recreational cycling and appreciate views, villages, and French cuisine.

We will bike mostly on back roads, both on dirt and asphalt. We will ride Gravel e-Bikes which we will provide you. While we’ll offer some optional, more difficult, routes for those who are interested, this trip is for bicycle enthusiasts. It is not for thrill seekers or those who wish to swoop down rocky, single-track hillsides.

You should be well familiar with cycling, have a reasonable level of fitness, and be willing to do some training in advance of this trip.