ROUTES OF LAVENDER

Day 1 - At the gates of Provence

Meeting at 2:30 p.m. at the railway station of Montelimar. Luggage deposit for a transfer to your accommodation of the evening. Provision of Electrically Assisted Bikes, explanations and first contacts with the material.
The first step of your stay at the gates of Provence takes place over 25km right in the heart of the Drôme Provençale, from Montelimar and its nougat up to Grignan and the castle of the Marquise de Sevigné. Your guide will take you to the most beautiful views, from passes and hilltop villages, for you to perceive the extent of the blue tide.
Arrival at the hotel in Grignan around 6 p.m. In the center of the hilltop village surrounded by lavender, your accommodation managed to keep its original charm while adding the comfort deserved after this first bicycle step. It is time to laying around the pool ... or read a correspondence of Madame de Sevigné!
Home cooking gives an important place to the southern flavors and fragrances, around vegetables, olive oil from Nyons, Lamb, Picodon (provencal cheese), with thyme, sage, rosemary, savory, oregano. Products are mainly organic and local.
Dinner and overnight at the accommodation.

Features:
• 25km of ride - 2 hours (without stops and visits)
• Ascending elevation: 489 m
• Negative elevation: 367 m
• Accommodation type: ***B&B

Day 2 - Immersion in Drôme Provençale

Breakfast at the restaurant of the accommodation.
9:00 a.m: Departure towards the mountains of the Baronnies Provençales. From Grignan you follow several steps on small roads away from the summery tourism flow. After the wild plateau of Clansayes and its famous lavender, you cross the "Enclave des Papes", a Vaucluse corner in Drôme county dating from the time when the popes were still living in Avignon.
The picnic lovingly prepared by your guide is offered in a beautiful corner of nature, with all the local specialties in one meal!
On the plateau of Vinsobres, among vineyards and lavender, the Mont Ventoux on the horizon becomes your new landmark. The Côtes-du-Rhône wine tasting comes timely and the taste buds inebriated, you are already almost at Nyons, a typical village of Drôme Provençale praised for the quality of its air and its local olive.
Arrival at the hotel around 4:00 p.m.. At the heart of Nyons, behind the plane trees of the main square, your 3* hotel of the nineteenth century hides secrets of happiness... A large terrace, a peaceful patio, spacious rooms, elegant lounges, and of course a table of Drome Provencale flavors.
Free time to visit the "Bleu de Provence" distillery in Nyons, which perpetuates the distillation of lavender and aromatic plants tradition since 1939.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Features:
• 50km of ride - 4h30 (without stops and visits)
• Ascending elevation: 621m
• Negative elevation: 549m
• Accommodation type: ***B&B

Day 3 - Lavender and Mountains

Breakfast at the restaurant of the accommodation.
Possibility of free visits in Nyons: Espace Vignolis (oil, olives, wine PDO), La Para Vinegar (vinegars flavored with flowers and plants of Drôme Provençale), mills and oil mills (tapenade, pesto, cream and regional products), etc.
10:30 The tour continues from Nyons between the mountain passes, each more easily crossable than the other, thanks to the electric assist! The area of the Baronnies Provençales is an invitation to discover nature. It is a preserved environment where people have kept a certain quality of life.
Your guide takes you next to meet a chef on the theme of the lamb of the Baronnies. There the animal is raised with thyme and accompanied by vegetable from the farm and local products: wine , olive, olive oil, goat cheese (not included in the price). The following step is carried out in the valleys between the olive trees, lime trees, walnuts, truffles, vineyards and of course lavender that spreads its colors on the mountain facades. The Baronnies unveil over the route extraordinary natural sites that you will discover at your own pace.
At Buis-les-Baronnies, a friendly Provencal village, you find out the customs and traditions of aromatic plants encountered in the Baronnies Provençales. Thyme, lavender, lime ... all will be highlighted.
Arrival at the hotel around 5:00 p.m.. The 3* charming hotel welcomes you in a unique setting overlooking Mont Ventoux and dominating the forest. After three days of cycling, no doubt you will enjoy the shaded terrace of ancient lime trees, the panoramic restaurant and the pool with wellness area and jacuzzi ...
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Features:
• 40km of ride - 4h (without stops and visits)
• Ascending elevation: 600m
• Negative elevation: 500m
• Accommodation type: ***B&B

Day 4 - At the bottom of Mont Ventoux

Breakfast at the restaurant of the accommodation.
9:30: This last short step of the circuit takes you along villages overlooking the vineyards, olive and apricot trees such as the village with the sweet name of Mérindol-les-Oliviers, or Mollans-sur-Ouvèze and its two feudal castles. The passage in the canyon of Entrechaux is preceded by a refreshing pause (almost essential during the hot months of June and July), since a bathing in the Three Rivers is proposed. The "local flavors" picnic with cicadas singing background should fill everyone's desires!
Arrival city of this last stage, you reach Vaison-la-Romaine known for its Gallo Romans vestiges and wines. It emphasizes the limits of our lavandicole region and also the end of your stay.
In the middle of the afternoon, return with luggage transportation from Vaison-la-Romaine at the train station of Montelimar in private minibus.

Features
• 25km of ride - 2h30 (without the stops and visits)
• Ascending elevation: 105m
• Negative elevation: 270m

Additional information:
The program is not fixed and situations beyond our control may alter the progress. On site, our guides may need to change the route depending on the weather or if the safety of the group requires.