Dive into a 3 day adventure at the foot of Mont Ventoux, the “Giant of Provence” that has tantalised cyclists the world over. Are you ready to get away from the well ridden routes in search of unknown gravel trails?
3 days / 3 nights - take advantage of the special launch offer valid until january 31, 2024 - Eur 990 instead of Eur 1190 (promo code VENTOUX2024)
Mont Ventoux. Well known for road cycling but an emerging giant on the gravel scene, you’ll find plenty of trails in the area to explore. Over 3 days you’ll be immersed in all things Provençale from our Basecamp in the village of Sault, at the base of Mt Ventoux.
You’ll discover the incredible landscapes of the area with our local guide, on a traditional or electric gravel bike - you choose! The riding is ever-changing - vineyards, pine forests, lavender fields, picture perfect villages, winding gorges…
From wide gravel tracks to rocky trails, with narrow backroads in between, Ventoux makes for an incredible adventure!
Groups are limited to 12 cyclists, and there’s the option to create your own private group from 8 people. Contact us to find out more.
By booking with us, you also do good for our planet!
Exemplary hospitality meaning you can really relax and discover Ventoux from a different slant.
What to expect on the bike? 3 days of fixed-base gravel riding from our basecamp in Sault with around 160km and 2500m+ in total. An adventure that’s ideal for experienced cyclists and beginners a-like. If you’d like a new challenge and to improve your bike handling across all types of terrain, it’s for you. We ride for fun, our mantra is “start together, finish together”.
Total immersion in Provence - an incredibly diverse landscape that’s unique every season. You’ll find winding roads and trails connecting tiny hamlets perched high above gorges, taking you through vineyards, lavender fields and olive groves. You won’t know where to look!
Downtime - make the most of our whole holistic experience, both on and off the bike. Local healthy cuisine, yoga sessions, wine tastings… your enjoyment is our priority!
Optional gravel bike rental - bring your bike or rent one of ours. Our fleet of bikes, from French brand Origine, boasts the pedal powered Graxx ll and Help ebike, recently voted gravel bike of the year. Our guides will be on hand for all things mechanical so you don’t need to worry. You can be sure that you’ll be on a bike perfectly adapted to the varied terrain.
All our guides are super passionate about all things Gravel. Just as comfortable on the bike as off it in the workshop, they are best placed to show you all the sights of their local area and more. Stories and shared experiences, in a fabulous location, with great company. They are on hand to ensure your trip is everything you want it to be, and more.
Languages spoken - French and English.
Safety is our priority, and our guides will help with technique and tips to ensure you can ride the (sometimes rough!) trails with confidence.
Your home for the trip will be our Basecamp, a beautifully renovated 18th century building in Sault, nestled at the foot of Mt Ventoux and surrounded by lavender fields. It’s run by a cycling fan too! An ideal location for getting straight out into nature and exploring the best the area has to offer on two wheels.
You will be welcomed by our Destination Manager whom, along with our guide, will ensure you have everything you need. They deal with all things logistics so you can relax and enjoy the adventure!
We have both traditional and electric high end gravel bikes available to rent in Ventoux from our bike partner Origine.
Repeatedly voted Gravel Bikes of the Year, you can choose between the carbon framed Graxx (weighing only 8.1kg) or the Help eBike (not much more at 12kg). Both combine performance and versatility in a lightweight frame so that you can have faith your steed throughout the trip.
Price: €60/day for a non eBike, €80/day for an eBike.
(Free bike hire until 31st December 2023!)
Find out more about our bikes
The territories we cross offer an environment that can sometimes be demanding depending on the weather conditions. We evolve in a mountainous landscape where the cumulative difference in altitude can quickly be important.
To fully enjoy this expedition, we recommend that you practice an endurance sport such as jogging, swimming or cycling, at least once a week. Having already done at least 3 hours of cycling will allow you to feel more comfortable and to better enjoy the breathtaking landscapes you will cross.
By train or plane: Our meet up points are Avignon TGV station or Marseille Airport at 6pm on arrival day, where one of our team will welcome you. We’ll then take you in the minibus to Basecamp. You’ll return to the station or airport for 5pm on the last day of your trip for onward travel.
By car: you can come straight to our Basecamp in Sault if you prefer - we’ll let you know the address once you are booked on. Please plan to arrive by 8pm to start your adventure, and to leave after 3pm on the last day.
However you arrive, once at Basecamp our team will take care of everything so you can fully relax. Your total break can begin!
Equipment
Yes, our expeditions will go on paths and small roads where neither road bikes nor mountain bikes will be suitable.
You can bring your own gravel bike or hire one from ours. Our well specced bikes with tubeless tires means a much lower risk of punctures and mechanical problems during your trip.
2024
Vous ne trouverez pas chez GravelUp de programme jour par jour. Nous adaptons chaque voyage au profil du groupe, aux conditions du terrain (qui peuvent dépendre de la saison et de la météo) et nous préférons ainsi rester flexibles sur le choix des parcours tout en gardant une bonne dose d’aventure !
Level
We have 3 levels of expeditions - you can find them on this page HERE by clicking on the "Compare the levels" link. These levels have been designed to enable as many people as possible to join one of our trips. Our expeditions are adventures, not races. We start together and we finish together, it's the GravelUp speed.
If, however, you are still unsure, you can write to us at bonjour@gravelup.earth and we will contact you to help you assess your level. We can also help you prepare for your adventure, just ask us.
Safety
Our guides are carefully chosen based on their experience and local knowledge of each region to guarantee you an unforgettable adventure. All our guides have French State validated bike qualifications. They are also French levels 1 and 2 first aid trained as you would expect.
Logistic
You can cancel at any time before the start of the trip subject to payment of a cancellation fee. If the cancellation occurs:
More than 90 days prior to Departure => Receive a Refund of 75% of all payments already made (including deposits) OR a Trip Credit of 100%
Between 61 and 90 days prior to Departure => Receive a Refund of 50% of all payments already made (including deposits) OR a Trip Credit of 75%
Between 31 and 60 days prior to Departure => Receive a Refund of 25% of all payments already made (including deposits) OR a Trip Credit of 75%
30 days or less prior to Departure => No Refund OR Trip Credit of 50%
Please note that a Trip Credit cannot be converted to a refund at a later date.
To protect yourself against last minute cancellation, we advise you to subscribe to our cancellation insurance through our partner Chapka insurance, with a guarantee which also covers you in case of contracting the Covid-19. Please note that such insurance can only be subscribed within 48 hours following the order of your trip. Subscription link available here.
Important: the realisation of the trip is conditional on the registration of a minimum number of participants to guarantee the departure. We commit ourselves to confirm a trip at the latest 30 days before the departure date. In the event that the trip cannot take place because the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will be reimbursed for any sums paid but will not be entitled to any compensation. You will be informed by email whether or not a trip is confirmed.
We had a lovely time with the Gravel Up team. Really nice people, fun, strong....!!!! The riding was great, bikes too, food and wine was always top. Meeting like minded bike people was also superb and everyone thoroughly enjoyed, laughed, complained at the hills and always smiling each day. Highly recommended.
Alex B.
Everything is perfectly organized and orchestrated! Bravo and thank you :)
Alice. G
Many thanks to JB and the team for this fantastic adventure. Perfectly organized in a dream setting and a holiday that combines sporting effort and fine cuisine. An absolute must!
Aymeric M.
Sublime experience with GravelUp: equipment, team, instructor. An opportunity to discover France and other continents in a new way. The icing on the cake: the team is always ready to help. Don't hesitate to discover Gravel or use your Gravel with them.
Julie D.
An exciting stay with the discovery of varied and intense sporting routes through magnificent landscapes. Quality and friendly staff who were able to help us discover the local cuisine at the same time.
Jacques P.
Women's gravel weekend organized by the GravelUp team. A simply brilliant excursion with a team that listens, ultra-cool bikes, and a route suited to beginners and more experienced riders alike. I loved it and recommend you try it if you want to try the gravel adventure! An experience I will be repeating!
Fiona C.
Super setting with a team that takes care of everything. An exceptional guide with a lot of attention and care. Real Gravel on beautiful trails and stunning roads! Hotel, lodging and incredible restaurants were all perfect!
A superb breath of fresh air.
Jacques R.
Our team has designed routes to satisfy all types of riders, from sporty riders to bikepacking enthusiasts.
Join us for a 3-day escapade, exploring the Ventoux massif by gravel and admiring breathtaking landscapes. During your adventure, GravelUp takes care of everything for an unforgettable gravel experience: comfortable accommodations, breakfasts, meals and snacks adapted to the effort of cycling.
But not only that: our guides will introduce you to some of the local figures for some authentic and picturesque gourmet breaks. All you have to do is choose your formula and prepare your gravel for this memorable expedition.
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