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Ventoux & Provence Cycle - NEW for 2025 6 days • France

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About the Challenge

This beautiful ride has it all! From the vineyards, gorges and lavender fields of Provence, to one of the toughest mountain climbs in Europe, this is a diverse challenge full of hilly, scenic cycling – even without the infamous mountain in the middle!

Mont Ventoux (1912m), known for equally good reasons as the ‘giant of Provence’ and ‘windy mountain,’ is one of the most famous climbs in Tour de France history. Its reputation as one of the toughest climbs in the sport is well-founded; the wind and heat on the barren, exposed upper slopes add to the relentlessness of the climb.

While Ventoux is undisputedly the main challenge, there is little flat along the whole route, and it’s the landscapes and variety that round out the experience. You will reach the finish in Aix-en-Provence with an unforgettable sense of achievement!

Dates & Prices

Itinerary

Ventoux & Provence Cycle


OPEN • 6 DAYS

  • We meet up at our airport-based hotel for dinner and a trip briefing, and ensure our kit and bikes are fully prepared for the start of our challenge tomorrow. Night hotel.

    (Lunch not included)

  • Our first day is relatively flat, allowing us to acclimatise to the challenge before the going gets tough! Our route takes us north, and it’s not long before we reach quiet tree-lined roads passing through farmland and green valleys. Hazy hills frame the horizon, and we ride through picturesque villages and small Provençal towns with cream-coloured buildings and terracotta-tiled roofs. As we reach Carpentras, our base for much of our adventure, our legs should be feeling nicely warmed-up and eager to increase the challenge! Night hotel.

    Cycle approx. 90km (55 miles)

  • Today’s circuit acts as a great acclimatisation ride for tomorrow’s big challenge, and is a magnificent ride in itself. We head out through small villages towards Sault, a lovely town nestled amongst vineyards near the base of Ventoux. This first half of the ride is almost entirely uphill, and fairly challenging, but we take our time, and there are plenty of viewpoints to take a breather whilst soaking in the awe-inspiring views. Our return route brings us downhill, through some of the most stunning scenery on the entire ride – the Gorges de la Nesque, a deeply cut ravine through the limestone mountains and part of the UNESCO Reserve de Biosphere du Mont Ventoux. Night hotel.

    Cycle approx. 100km (62 miles)

  • If you know much about cycling, Mont Ventoux needs little introduction. Isolated from other high peaks, it dominates the landscape for miles around. Its summit is barren limestone moon-scape, and known for being extremely windy. The Tour de France has taken in its summit regularly since 1951, and fans have come to expect drama played out on its slopes. In 1967 British cycling legend Tom Simpson died on the mountain; his memorial (approx. 1km before the summit) is a pilgrimage site for cycling fans from all over the world. Setting off from the hotel, our first 20 miles are relatively flat which gives us a great warm-up before we reach Bedoin and begin the climb itself. You may find the first part of the climb easier than anticipated, as the section that has sealed the mountain’s reputation doesn’t come until after emerging from the tree-line, when the temperature can suddenly increase by 10°C, the sun is reflected off the white rock around you, and the winds start to make themselves felt. The observatory at the top comes into sight from a long way off, but it can seem a long time before you reach it. We descend the same way, but now that the main challenge is behind us, we’ll be able to enjoy the views we may have suffered through on the way up! Night hotel.

    Cycle approx. 75km (46 miles)

    NB: In very high winds or other unsafe weather conditions, climbing Ventoux may not be possible. We may swap the Sault Circuit and Ventoux days, depending on weather conditions, to give you the best chance of completing both days.

  • The hills today will limber up any creaking muscles from yesterday! Leaving Carpentras and Ventoux behind, we head southeast, and take on the 10km-climb of the Col de Murs – this has featured in the Tour de France, but you should find the gradient relatively undemanding after yesterday’s efforts – before heading towards Roussillon and the hills of the Luberon. This area of central Provence is known for its beautiful landscapes dotted with vineyards, lavender fields, cherry trees, olive groves and hilltop villages, and cycling is one of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings – it’s a spectacular day of cycling to end our challenge. When we emerge from the hills, we descend towards the lovely town of Aix-en-Provence. Night hotel.

    Cycle approx. 75km (46 miles)

  • After breakfast, it’s time to head home or stay on under your own arrangements if you prefer.

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Dates & Prices

Prices may vary depending on date.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • 5 nights hotel accommodation on a twin-share basis
  • All meals except where specified
  • Snacks and water provision on cycle days
  • Discover Adventure crew (number dependant on group size)
  • Full vehicle support throughout the trip
  • Maps and route information

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

  • Flights and transport to/from start/finish point of ride
  • Any meals specified 'not included' in the itinerary
  • Travel insurance
  • Bicycle & cycle helmet (compulsory) and water bottles
  • Personal spending money, souvenirs and drinks
  • Fees for any optional sites, attractions or activities
  • Any applicable surcharges as per Terms and Conditions

On the Trip

  • Your trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure crew - selected for their knowledge and experience, friendliness and approachability, sense of humour and ability to safely and effectively deal with any situation that arises; they are also trained in first aid. The crew will have mobile phones and/or radios where appropriate, medical kit and other safety apparatus where necessary.

    The number of crew and support vehicles looking after you will depend on the final size of your group, but the team will be looking after every aspect of your trip whether that’s transporting your luggage, ensuring your route is clear, making you lunch and sorting out any mechanical problems. Support vehicles are with the group all of the time, and carry all luggage and spares.

  • Your safety, and that of the rest of the group, is our highest priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with communication devices (eg phones, radios and/or emergency satellite phones), medical kit and other safety apparatus appropriate to the destination. Our leaders always have access to our 24-hour emergency UK back-up. They are responsible for safety on the trip, and will make any changes to the itinerary they deem necessary, should local conditions dictate. Pre-trip administration - such as medical questionnaires and travel insurance as appropriate - is all done with your safety in mind.

  • We usually stay in hotels or lodges of a 2-3* standard or equivalent. Standards may vary between the hotels but they are generally comfortable and convenient for our route. Hotels are often on the outskirts of towns to minimise unnecessary extra mileage and avoid traffic.

  • Our trips are sold on a shared accommodation basis, usually twin-share, in hotels convenient to our route.
    You can tell us if you are travelling with someone else on the trip when you book or within your passenger portal, and we will do all we can to accommodate this request. It is important that both people complete the room share request on their bookings. For customers booking and travelling together, including same-sex couples, a double bed can be requested if available.
    If you're not familiar with anyone in the group, rest assured, we always pair you with someone of the same gender (as per the information you provided when booking, or passport markers), and a similar age where possible. We're actively working to improve our system's gender restrictions to be more inclusive, and we've recently made significant strides in this area. If you identify differently from the gender marker on your passport and would like to discuss this before booking, please feel free to reach out to us.

  • In most standard hotels, we can usually offer a limited number of single rooms. This is upon request, on a first-come, first-served basis, and additional charges apply. In more communal accommodation, single rooms are rarely an option.
    We do not charge a single supplement if you are a solo traveller in a shared room.

  • We like to support local businesses and will source food locally wherever we can. Lunches will be a mix of restaurants along the route or supplies will be purchased from local shops; dinners are usually eaten at the hotel. For larger sized groups we may opt to cater the lunches ourselves with a buffet style provision. Being vegetarian or having other dietary requirements is not usually a problem provided you let us know well in advance. Having said that, despite working very hard with the hotels, it doesn't always translate into what we'd like for you. If this is the case on your trip, please chat to the crew at the time and they will do their best to find a solution. If you know there are plenty of foods you cannot eat you may wish to bring extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply.

Preparing for the Challenge

  • This is designed to be a challenge, and it is vital that you train sufficiently for it. We will supply you with a thorough training guide once you have registered. We expect all participants to train hard in advance, but we respect everyone’s limits and do not expect everyone to maintain the same pace. Inadequate training is likely to have an impact not just on your chances of completing the challenge, but enjoying it too - and we want you to have the time of your life!

    Our challenges attract people of all levels of experience, fitness and ability as well as all ages and backgrounds. We design our challenges so that everyone can go at their own pace: this is not a race. If you have concerns about your fitness or if you have reduced mobility please do contact us for a confidential chat about whether this challenge is appropriate for you.

    For logistical and safety reasons we sometimes need to re-group, so the front-runners may find themselves waiting for the slower ones. Please relax, and remember that this is a team effort that enables people to achieve their personal goals and earn sponsorship.

  • We plan our trips around the optimal weather conditions, but could still be exposed to bad weather at any time. It is vital you are prepared for all conditions. We provide you with a detailed packing kit-list on registration, with plenty of information, and we are always available if you need advice.

  • Entry requirements vary depending on your destination and nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid, and any visas are obtained in good time. Check the FCO’s advice on entry requirements for your destination to be sure. Please ensure you allow plenty of time to apply for your visa; we will provide you will all necessary information 6 weeks prior to depature to assist with your application.

    Your routine UK schedule of vaccinations should be up-to-date (especially tetanus). We recommend you check Fit For Travel for further details. You should always check with a GP or travel clinic for up-to-date travel health advice as it does change.

  • For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

  • Travel Insurance is compulsory on all of our challenges outside of the UK; we strongly suggest that you arrange insurance cover as soon as your booking with us is confirmed, or as soon as you're able to purchase some, and at least 8 months prior to travel. Should you need to cancel prior to departure, you will need insurance to cover the costs involved (registration fee and any trip costs depending on cancellation date). 

    We all hope never to need it, and thankfully most of the time we don't, but on those rare occasions when you do, you want it to cover you as best it can. Whilst it's a fairly boring admin task relating to your trip of a lifetime, it is really important you ensure that you have adequate cover for the type of challenge you are taking part in as well as medical emergencies, evacuation and repatriation, so make sure you're happy with the level of cover. There are lots of suppliers out there, with a wide range in levels of cover; generally speaking, you get what you pay for! Get and pay for the right level of cover and then you can go on your adventure not having to worry about the what-if's. For more details click here.

    Once your travel insurance is arranged, just remember to let us know the policy number and 24-hr medical emergency phone number provided by your insurers.

     

  • In the unfortunate circumstance that you need to cancel your booking, we would ask that you notify us in writing either by email or post.  Your cancellation will be considered effective from the date the notice is received. Registration, administration and amendment fees are non refundable and, depending on your payment option and how close it is to your challenge departure date, you may be liable for a cancellation charge.

    Full details of all cancellation charges may be found in the Terms and Conditions of booking.

  • Your booking is part of a group challenge and the tour costs and fundraising targets listed on our website are based on a minimum number of participants which is shown on the challenge  Our typical London to Paris groups run with approximately 30-40 participants whilst all other Euro cycles run with approximately 15-20, however you may find your group is smaller or larger than this.

    We will confirm at least 12 weeks prior to departure that your challenge is guaranteed to run however occasionally it may be possible to still to run the challenge with less than the minimum numbers, subject to a small group supplement.  If we think a small group supplement may be necessary, we will discuss this with you as soon as possible, usually 5 months before your departure date. 

    Minimum numbers and groups sizes may vary on Bespoke Charity challenges.  If you are booked onto a bespoke challenge please contact your charity for full details.

  • We have a Passenger Portal which will give you more details of the challenge itself. It also enables you to see any outstanding information we need, the countdown to your challenge departure, see your outstanding balance, make payments and update your contact details. You can access this via the following link - Passenger Portal Log in.

The DA Ethos

  • We believe that travel is a force for good, and it should be safe and accessible for everyone to take on any of our adventures, regardless of sexuality, gender, race or religion. We are committed to ensuring our travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip we control. However, we operate in some parts of the world that are less accepting. We encourage customers to be aware of local laws and customs in their destinations for their safety and comfort.
    We don’t tolerate any form of discrimination, violence or harassment, either between travellers or involving our leaders, partners or local people. Any behaviour that disrespects our customers, leaders or local communities, makes others feel unsafe or breaks local laws may result in removal from a trip or denying their booking.

  • We are committed to an ethos of responsible travel here at Discover Adventure; this means sustainable tourism, ethical travel, community engagement, cultural respect, wildlife protection, fair trade practices, carbon footprint reduction and more. We have been on a 30-year journey with this as one of our core principles, and it continues to evolve; you can keep up to date with what we are up to and what all of this translates into on a DA trip here.
    From 2024, we will offset our entire carbon footprint, including the flights, via a carbon credit scheme (see more here). We must do all we can to be on the right side of history. Our offsetting brings peace of mind to many of our customers, but we think it is essential that our customers are aware of their impact; with this in mind, we encourage our participants to donate to World Land Trust’s Buy an Acre project when they book an adventure.

  • Our brilliant group dynamic is fundamental to us. We have become synonymous with it over our 30 years of adventure: the supportive nature and group camaraderie are always listed as one of the trip highlights in our feedback. You’ll meet people of widely varying backgrounds, motivations and experiences. Under these unique circumstances, you are more likely to open up about your story and form lifelong friendships. You’ll likely find something that resonates with everyone in the group. This is a unique way of travelling, after all, and that’s what brings you all together.
    We have travellers from 18 – 80 across all of our challenges, with the average age of our participants being in the mid-40s.
  • Many people opt to take on our adventures on their own – maybe they are keen to do something for themselves, love to travel this way or feel that this is an important part of the challenge. The great news is, you’re never really a ‘solo traveller’ when you travel with us as you’re travelling with a group of like-minded people, all ready to take on the adventure of a lifetime by your side.
    Unlike many travel companies, we do not apply a single supplement to your booking unless you request a single room. You will be placed into a room-share arrangement with someone of the same gender (as per the information you provided when booking, or passport markers), and a similar age where possible.

  • Over the years, people with wide-ranging abilities have achieved personal goals on our adventures that they may have previously assumed were out of their reach.
    We must be aware of any circumstances that may affect your ability to take on the trip, whether you have concerns about fitness, health conditions or disability. This way, we can ensure we are providing the best advice and support. You will be asked to sign a medical declaration upon booking.

    Whilst we will always try our best for you, by the nature of adventure, not all of our challenges are accessible, and we are not an operator specifically offering adapted adventures. If you would like to have a confidential chat with the team about anything before booking, please give us a call or an email; we will be more than happy to help.

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