Two couples of friends want to explore the Drôme Provençale by bike. Velstana built a tailor-made 8-day trip between vineyards, historical monuments and high-perched villages.
The call
At the appointed time, Stanislas called us and we built our circuit together in a little over half an hour. He asked us the right questions while letting us express our desires, we already felt as if we were there!
We decided to leave at the end of June for a period of 8 days, with stages of around 50 to 60 km/day depending on the type of terrain: more or less hilly.
We asked Velstana to base our tour around two themes: historical monuments and wine discovery, culture and viticulture in short!
Stanislas recommended a loop circuit by staying two days in the same place twice to change the pace a little bit, which seemed like a very good idea.
For the accommodation, being very particular in that respect, we wanted top-of-the-range accommodation in guesthouses or charming hotels.
For dinner, all being pleasure-lovers who appreciate the local products, we gave priority to the quality and atmosphere of the tables d’hôtes while also imagining being able to dine in town on the recommendations of Velstana. And, as a bonus, we opted for an exceptional gourmet dinner at the end of the tour.
We also wanted a different, original day in the middle of the trip. So we let ourselves be tempted by half a day of via ferrata with a guide, something we had never done before!
The reservation
The following week, we received the description and the price by e-mail. This fitted our conversation exchange and after having got clarification on the gourmet restaurant, we validated the estimate and paid the deposit… and that was it!
The preparations
Two weeks before departure, we received a comprehensive Travel Book via e-mail with the complete itinerary and many other things, such as information on the route, travel advice and suggestions on typical restaurants and local cuisine.
A link received by e-mail enabled us to have the route on our smartphone, very easy and convenient to follow.
Vineyard in the Ventoux region, France
Trip details
Day
1
Arrival at Garde Adhémar
We arrived at La Garde Adhémar in the afternoon. We went to the 4* guest room directly and immediately took advantage of the pool to relax after the trip. Two bicycles were waiting for us on arrival (since two of us brought their own bicycles) and we could leave our car at the spot all week. In the late afternoon, we visited this superb high-perched village located 2 km away.
We took advantage of the table d'hôtes very good menu to dine well in a beautiful atmosphere.
Day
2
Cycling distance: 45 km; elevation gain: 620 m +
For this first day by bike, we made a loop tour to discover several high-perched villages, the Château de Suze-la-Rousse and its University of Wine, Saint-Paul -Trois-Châteaux, Saint-Restitut and its superb church, Clansayes and its keep.
We spent the night in the same guesthouse and table d'hôtes as the previous day.
Day
3
60 km 600 m +
We had a beautiful trip from La Garde Adhémar to Séguret, a day that combined historical visits with the pleasure of meeting winegrowers.
We appreciated the Tour de Chamaret, Valréas, Vinsobres, the ancient site of Vaison-la-Romaine and Séguret. Velstana organized a customized wine tasting session at a winegrower’s estate.
We spent the night and dined in a winery, in its very nice 3* hotel with swimming pool, with wine tasting on site to finish off a very busy day.
Day
4
63 km 640 m + (short variant: 55 km 600 m +)
This day took us to Buis-les-Baronnies crossing Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, with the enchanting site of Notre-Dame d'Aubune, and Malaucène.
The route was very untamed, we were dazzled by the landscape!
We stayed in town in a sumptuous 4* guesthouse with a small swimming pool. We dined in town in a restaurant with local cuisine recommended by Velstana.
Day
5
Adventure day
We stayed in Buis-les-Baronnies because we wanted to take a day mid-week to try out a new activity. Velstana organized a half-day of via ferrata for us, with a private guide: new sensations in a superb environment! We also strolled through the city following the historical circuit.
We stayed in the same guesthouse and tried out another restaurant.
Day
6
67 km 660 m +
Our goal on this day was to get to Dieulefit via Sainte-Jalle, Nyons, Venterol and Le Pègue. We still travelled along beautiful small roads, going through a pass (low 718 m). In Nyons, Velstana had organized a visit to a traditional brewery as well as a meeting with oil and vinegar producers.
We enjoyed our 4* guesthouse with a swimming pool and spa and dinner on site.
Day
7
61 km 630 m + (short variant: 45 km 580 m +)
We headed for Grignan and, as we felt good, we decided to stay on the "long road". We climbed up to the church of Comps in a very wild setting, then we went to La Bégude-de-Mazenc, Rochefort-en-Valdaine, l'Abbaye d'Aiguebelle to finally reach Grignan where we had a stroll to work up an appetite.
We had a sumptuous dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and spent the night in a 3* hotel in the heart of the city.
Day
8
The last day in the Drôme
We took a guided tour of the superb Château de Grignan.
Then we picked up the car at the guesthouse we had stayed at on the 1st day, the bicycles being picked up by the rental company. Velstana gave us two addresses of very different and very nice winegrowers and we took this opportunity to buy their wine since we had the car.
Pricing and services for this cycling journey in France: €1,050 per person (bike rental included), €930 otherwise.
Included:
Accommodation 7 nights in a double room: 3* superior hotel or 4* guesthouse (breakfast included)
Dinners except on days 4, 5 and 7 (excluding drinks on day 3)
Travel Book accessible anywhere, anytime, including a one-of-a-kind cycling itinerary available on an app
Excluded:
Meals other than those listed above
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
The abovementioned sample prices are for guidance only and are not binding. The total cost of your holiday will depend on a number of factors, including time of year of travel and choice of accommodation and transport. The actual cost of your holiday is as set out in the Booking Confirmation.
