Following your arrival into Marseille, we will transfer to our accommodation in the Luberon National Park in the centre of Provence, famous for its lavender production.

There will be time to have a wander around as well as time to prepare ourselves and our bikes for the forthcoming road journey before dining together this evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,320 Metres Approx.

We’ll begin the day with a short descent, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, it really isn’t all downhill from here!

We arrive at some flat riding sections with small rises along quiet lanes, through vineyards and lavender fields until we reach the village of Gordes from where we will begin to climb. It’s a challenging, yet thoroughly manageable, ascent which takes us over our first col, just shy of 600m above sea level.

From the summit the views of the mighty Mont Ventoux are unnervingly clear. The Giant of Provence — Geant de Provence; watches over us ominously for much of the day. A tricky little descent is waiting for us on the other side of the col as we drop down in the direction of Villes sur Auzon, the gateway to the Gorges de la Nesque.

We’ll spend the rest of the day riding through this impressively beautiful gorge before settling down in Sault, the centre of the ancient Provencal lavender trade where we will spend the next 2 nights.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,360 Metres Approx.

Today we have a date with one of the most famous and notorious mountains in the world and one which has featured heavily in the Tour de France since 1951.

There are 3 ways up Ventoux and you’ll be happy to learn that we will be taking the easiest (ok, least challenging!) route. Sault is already at nearly 700m above sea level, so we have less climbing over a greater distance, making the lower slopes at least, much more friendly gradients. We begin winding our way up through fields of lavender before entering a pine forest. 6 kilometres before the top two of the routes converge at Chalet Reynard and from this point onwards we are in the dry, barren, exposed moonscape that makes Ventoux both feared and respected.

We pass the Tom Simpson Memorial to Britain’s most famous cyclist who tragically died on the slopes of the mountain during the 1967 Tour de France, and soon after here the road steepens one final time. The final kilometres of the climb are atmospheric, with views across the whole of Provence, although your eyes will be focused on the distinct red and white tower of the summit.

After reaching the summit, we’ll be descending back to Sault where we will spend our second evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 700 Metres Approx.

Leaving Sault, we begin our day by tracing minor and virtually traffic-free roads through a series of small Provencal villages and towns as we make our way to Forcalquier. It’s a very pretty route in a region virtually untouched by tourism, the roads are quiet and the air full of the scent of lavender and pine.

Our route takes us past the villages of Banon and Saint-Etienne-les-Orges through an area where Alpine and Mediterranean influences meet, and here you will see both olive trees and lavender growing. It forms the apex of a triangle of the Luberon, Lure Mountain and Ventoux and their different landscapes, a major stop on the road of lavender, perfume and aromatic plants.

The roads are generally undulating but do have the occasional challenging climb to keep us dancing on the pedals. Intentionally a shorter than average day to allow a little recuperation from yesterday’s climbing challenge!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,060 Metres Approx.

Moving out of Forcalquier we drop into the Plateau de Valensole, as the name suggests it’s a (relatively!) flat start to the day as we wind our way through the primary lavender growing region of Provence. The plateau itself is dramatic, especially when the lavender is in full bloom, an ocean of purple set against the sky and occasional jagged peaks of the mountain range behind. With the light that Provence is so renowned for this area is popular with artists and photographers.

The morning is spiced up with a climb or two as we make our way through the almond woods that grow in the area. Of course, what goes up…must come down and we’re soon enjoying a thrilling descent toward the charming and picturesque village of Moustiers Saint Marie. Perched precariously on a cliff edge, we can see the village above us as we approach and our final few kilometres take us up through its narrow streets. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is situated just a few km from the shores of Lac de Sainte Croix and the gateway village to tomorrow’s challenge; the Gorge du Verdon.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,600 Metres Approx.

Today is for many the most memorable ride of the tour. Leaving Moustiers we head for the lake, riding the shoreline for a few km to the mouth of the gorge where we have a chance to view the brilliant aquamarine waters spilling out into the lake from between the steep sided rocks. The southern rim of the gorge, which we will be riding, isn’t the more challenging option but it is certainly the most dramatic and the most rewarding way to experience this area of outstanding natural beauty. It is also the least visited side of the Verdon Gorge and has considerably less traffic. We’ll climb steadily for an hour or so on roads that cling to the rock edges with occasional viewpoints where we can stop and peer down into the gorge and the river far below.

As we follow the edge of the gorge the road drops down dramatically in a roller coaster of a descent before we finally rise again, emerging onto a plateau and leave the gorge behind. For the final part of our day we head north on a minor road, following the river, as we approach our destination of Castellane, and we will be able to see its famous church perched dramatically high above the town on its own rock plinth. If you have energy to spare then you can walk to the top of this vertiginous view point. Alternatively Castellane is a pretty and busy market town with lots of narrow streets filled with bars and cafes for a post-ride drink.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,240 Metres Approx.

Castellane itself is at the bottom of a hill so the day begins with a couple of climbs but the gradients are friendly and the views are spectacular. So despite ticking of another col of just over 1,000m the riding does not feel too arduous. Soon enough things level out and our journey down to the coast starts to really take shape. However, we don’t have to put all the climbing behind us, an optional extra for the brave is the Col de Vence which overlooks our destination and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, a picturesque way to complete a stunningly beautiful week of riding.

If we decide to ride the col we’ll be approaching it from the easier of the two sides and will end the day with a superb and thrillingly fast descent into Vence, a fitting finish to both the days ride and our tour of Provence. Vence is a 12th century medieval city which was once home to the artist Henri Matisse, who drew his inspiration from the colours and light of this region. The stunningly beautiful Rosaire Chapel, with its vivid blue roof tiles and luminescent stained glass windows is a monument to his talents. Vence is very beautiful, its narrow streets littered with galleries and arty cafes. We should arrive with enough time to explore and enjoy it to the full before relaxing together for our final celebratory meal.

• Meals: Breakfast

After a buffet breakfast we will begin our transfer to Nice for our onward journeys.