Join us for a cycling tour of Provence
Bike with us in France | September 12 to 19, 2026
Join us for a cycling tour of Provence
September 12 to 19, 2026
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 more 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 won’t be climbing Mt Ventoux on this trip, but we will enjoy the rolling hills, grape vines, and olive groves that flourish throughout this portion of northern Provence. We will ride Mountain e-Bikes that will serve us well on the back roads and bicycle paths that cross-cross this part of France.
Leslie Jorgensen and Ron Salerno are leading an artist workshop and a cycling tour in Provence.The trip dates coincide for couples where one person wants to bike and one wants to paint. (Read more about the painting workshop.)
About Vaison-la-Romain, our home base
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 vibrant and 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.
Cycling near Vaison-La-Romaine, Provence
Vaison-la-Romaine serves as a hub for cyclists looking to enjoy the beauty of Provence. For those seeking a somewhat relaxed cycling experience, Vaison-la-Romaine is an idyllic base camp. While the silhouette of Mont Ventoux looms large, the surrounding landscape is rich with tranquil country lanes and dedicated bike paths for pedaling through a classic Provençal landscape.
The area’s 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. While we won’t be peddling up Mt Ventoux, we will seek out loops, such as one 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.
Dates: September 12 to 19, 2026
Location: Vaison-la-Romaine, France
Cost: $4500 (see below for details)
Maximum group size: 14
More:
Cost includes e-Mountain Bike rental
Read about the corresponding artist workshop, same dates and location
Where you’ll bike
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. You 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 mountain bikes. We’ll plan for distances of 20 to 40 kilometres, which leaves ample time for long lunches, photo stops, and exploration of the villages you pass along the way.
Trip Details
(Click + to expand)
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May 17 to 25, 2026 (8 Nights - 9 Days)
Total cost of the tour: $4500
Supplement for single occupancy: $550Deposit required to reserve a place on the tour: $450
(Places in the tour are limited to 14 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you reserve your place early.)
Payment schedule
$450 deposit. The deposit is refundable through March 1, 2026.
$2025 initial payment (Due April 1, 2026)
$2025 final payment (Due June 1, 2026)
All payments are refundable if we need to cancel the trip due to government restrictions or unsafe travel conditions.
** Earn a $350 credit when you bring or refer a friend.
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Rental of a Mountain e-Bike
Pick up and drop off at designated airport, date, and time
Excursions and special activities throughout the week
7 nights lodging
7 dinners and breakfasts, with appropriate amounts of beer or wine
Local transportation by van and driver
What’s not included
Airfare & Travel Insurance
Lunches
Personal expenses
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Dinners will be at our hotel or in local restaurants. Breakfast is at our hotel. Lunches will be taken while out cycling.
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Your deposit is non-refundable after March 1, 2026, unless, of course, the trip is canceled for any reason by Travel Fever Tours. Natural disasters, political instability, or low enrollment would form the basis for canceling a trip. After that date, all payments made are nonrefundable.
You will be contacted once the trip reaches minimum enrollment so that you can proceed with purchase of your flights and make other travel arrangements. In all cases, review of enrollment numbers will not take place any later than the date of the First Installment payment.
“The trip of a lifetime with magnificent scenery, great company, and supportive leaders.”
“A well organized wonderful experience. All our needs were taken care of and if there was a concern the leaders were there to help.”
Your trip leader:
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.
Is this trip for me?
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 Mountain 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.
Need help planning your next trip?
Ask Bob Lawson, Co-founder of Travel Fever Tours
Where we’ll stay:
Tour participants will stay at the Hotel Burrhus in the center of Vaison-la-Romaine, providing convenient access to shopping, services, the Roman Ruins, and the medieval city and castle. The hotel’s large terrace looks over Vaison’s main plaza which is filled on Tuesdays, market day.
The hotel is known for its support of local artists.