Je compte partir deux semaine en vers octobre/novembre en Israel en velo.
J aimerais avoir des conseils sur une idée de parcours; pour l'instant je pensais faire une boucle en arrivant de Tel Aviv, contourner la bande de Gaza, longer le sinai (pourquoi pas jusque la mer rouge) ; remonter vers jerusalem, traverser la cisjordanie, remonter sur le Golan, et redescendre via Haifa.
C'est juste une idée et je reste ouvert aux autres suggestion des cyclos qui sont deja partis la haut.
Je me demande quel est l'etat des routes, le degré de psychopathologie des chauffeurs, le climat en octobre/novembre (chaud/froid, sec/humide ?), la possibilité de faire du camping sauvage.
Deux grosses questions egalement: au niveau des frontieres, je pensais initialement atterrir a Beyrouth ou Damas, mais j imagine que le passage de la frontiere à l'aller et auretour ne doit pas etre super facile en velo (avec le tampon sur le passeport en plus). Est ce envisageable?
niveau accessibilité: je ne sais pas si le plateau du Golan est accessible aux touristes, la meme question pour le sinai. Y a til des no mans land ?
niveau securité: je suis pas un casse cou, mais je pars sans a priori. Je compte eviter la bande de Gaza car j'imagine que ca doit pas etre l'endroit le plus reposant au monde. Par contre qu'en est il de la cisjordanie? quels sont les endroits a eviter? La je parle de violence politique j ai pas envie de slalomer en velo entre les balles.
Sur un point de vue plus general, est ce que ca craint (notemment dans les territoires occupés ou le niveau de vie est plus bas) d'arriver en tant que voyageur européen? j ai plutot l'air pouilleux et poussiereux en velo mais je ne sais pas, y a t il une hostilité particuliere a l'egard des occidentaux?
Plein de questions surement deja soulevées ailleurs, mais c est juste pour avoir l avis de cyclos ayant deja vadrouillé la haut.
Salut krankxerox(ça veut vraiment dire photocopieur fou ? 😉)
Je connais un peu ce coin de la sphère ( combien de coins compte une sphère ?) mais je n'ai plus trop les distances en tête et ton itinéraire me semble chargé pour deux semaines. Je peux me tromper et ce ne serait pas la première fois.
Si tu (je peux ?) arrives à Beyrouth ou Damas, tu devras obligatoirement passer par la Jordanie pour entrer en Israël. Ils ont l'habitude et sur demande (Au passage du pont Allenby que tu atteins via Aman par exemple), on laisse ton passeport vierge tant du côté jordanien qu'israëlien. Admettons que tu optes pour cette solution et que tu entre en Israël pour partir dans le Sinaï, les autorité israëliennes continuerons de laisser ton passeport vierge sur demande mais il n'en sera pas de même pour les postes frontières jordanien autre que le pont Allenby. Tu te retrouves avec un passeport exempt de tampons israëlien mais avec des tampon jordanien ou égyptien qui, si tu n'es pas un canard sauvage fuyant la grippe aviaire, prouve que tu es forcément passé par Israël. Donc, faut faire gaffe. Si tu n'arrives pas et ne repart à ou de Tel-Aviv, il sera nécessaire de la jouer finement.
Je ne connais pas de No Man's land au Sinaï hormis la zone frontière de Taba ou il n'y a rien d'autre à faire que d'y passer. Le Sinaï est éminemment touristique alors pas de problème. Pour le Golan, je n'ai plus l'heure juste. À l'époque, je l'ai parcouru comme si je découvrais le paradis: Forêt, rivière, cascade, ... Aujourd'hui, je ne sais pas trop. Je devais y retourner au printemps dernier mais cela ne s'est pas fait. Mon impression était que du côté Syrien, la visite était vachement restreinte alors que du côté israëlien, j'ignore si les choses ont changé.
Octobre et novembre te seront très agréable en journée. Le soir, la température peut chuter de manière à te surprendre. Le ciel bleu, contrairement aux couches nuageuses, retient moins bien la chaleur du jour (comme c'est le cas depuis des semaines dans le sud-ouest de la France). Pour le camping sauvage, je ne sais pas répondre.
Sinon, à lire ton message ou tu dis que tu n'a pas d' a priori, je te le dis en toute amitié, tu mens un peu. Tu en as et cela se sent. Mais la chose est normale et le plus bête, concernant les a prioris est d'y tenir plus que les avoir. Je ne peux que t'inviter à aller là où te mèneront les rencontres. Oublies les cartes et les journaux qui excellent trop souvent dans l'usage du faux (et ça c'est vrai 😎 )
Je n'ai jamais fait le tour complet d'Israël à vélo mais ton idée de parcours me parait pas mal. Néanmoins je garderais Jerusalem pour la fin. Je descendrais certainement jusqu'à Eilat (par Beer Sheva et Sde Boker) et remonterais par la Harava en espérant que la route du désert ne soit pas bloquée par des inondations soudaines et parfois violentes. Mais justement, si tu commences ton périple en octobre et par le sud tu devrais les éviter. Le mois d'octobre est le mois charnière entre l'été et l'hiver, l'époque des toutes premières pluies (attendues depuis 6 mois) et la fin des grosses chaleurs. Le mois de novembre serait trop froid je crois surtout quand tu arriveras dans le nord. Ensuite j'éviterais la Cisjordanie, à mon avis beaucoup trop risquée sauf si tu as des contacts là-bas, des locaux qui pourraient t'escorter. De plus, il n'est pas évident que l'on t'autorise à entrer en Cisjordanie. J'opterais pour la Mer Morte et la vallée du Jourdain (beaucoup plus sécurisée). Pas de problème pour le Golan, territoire annexé par l'Etat d'Israël, il est considéré comme partie intégrante du pays, donc aucun problème pour y circuler. Ensuite la Galilée: ne pas manquer Tsfat (Safed), le Lac de Tibériade et Rosh Hanikra au nord de Nahariya. Et puis je redescendrais par la côte Méditerranéenne et rejoindrais Jérusalem.
Le camping sauvage est à exclure totalement. C'est interdit et sans doute très dangereux. Les automobilistes comme ailleurs n'aiment pas beaucoup les cyclistes (surtout en ville) mais leur comportement n'est pas excessivement agressif et puis ils ont peur de la Police, très présente sur les routes d'Israël.
J'espère que tu nous raconteras ce voyage en détail.
Finalement, je pense arriver et repartir de Tel Aviv, afin de me concentrer sur Israel (en deux semaines, c'est deja court) et pas perdre de temps avec des douaniers tatillons.
Pour le camping sauvage, de quels dangers parles-tu ?
Pour la cisjordanie, non, je n'ai aucun contact et effectivement je me pose encore des questions, mais je trouve vraiment dommage de visiter un pays et de ne rencontrer qu'un partie de la population qui le peuple.
Histoire d'avoir un avis plus balancé sur la situation la-bas et la facon dont chacun la vit au quotidien. Et de sortir des caricatures que les medias (dans un sens comme dans l'autre) en font.
Le camping sauvage n'est absolument pas pratiqué en Israël. Il est évidemment interdit, la police qui aurait été avertie par des riverains te délogerait assez rapidement. De plus les campagnes la nuit ne sont pas sûres à cause des tensions communautaires entre juifs et arabes ou bédouins (ce qui explique que les villages israëliens possèdent tous un service de sécurité interne et sont toujours entourés de clôtures et de barbelés pour prévenir des attaques nationalistes ou criminelles). De plus il est assez difficile d'identifier les très nombreuses zones de manoeuvre militaire (notamment dans le désert), inutile de te préciser les risques encourus... Il n'y a pas une seule pierre du désert du neguev qui n'aurait pas été retournée par une jeep ou un engin blindé de l'armée israëlienne.
La taille du pays et les distances relativement réduites entre les différents centres urbains ne justifient pas le camping sauvage non plus. Mais c'est sans doute dommage...
Lukas
Ca me rappellera les champs de manoeuvre militaire en Chine avec moults soldats qui courent en beuglant derrière des chars...
Je crois que je vais faire une croix dessus; pas envie de me trimballer ma kalash et mes 100 metres de fil barbelé et de miner ma tente dans un rayon de 50m...
Well....et sinon le camping pas sauvage ca existe ?
Est il facile de loger chez l'habitant?
"
Pour la cisjordanie, non, je n'ai aucun contact et effectivement je me pose encore des questions, mais je trouve vraiment dommage de visiter un pays et de ne rencontrer qu'un partie de la population qui le peuple"
Juste pour info:la Cisjordanie, ce n'est pas Israel.Territoire occupé depuis 1967.Jerusalem-est incluse...
Ca, ça me pendait aux lèvres depuis plusieurs minutes...
Toujours bon de préciser ce genre de choses, au cas ou certains l'oublieraient un peu trop vite.
Reste ensuite la question de savoir dans quelle mesure il reste décent d'aller traïner ses roues chez des peuples qu'on assassine.
Juste pour info:la Cisjordanie, ce n'est pas Israel.Territoire occupé depuis 1967.Jerusalem-est incluse...
"Ca, ça me pendait aux lèvres depuis plusieurs minutes... "
Ca vous pendait plutôt aux doigts et quand c'est tombé, ça a explosé de bon sens🙂
Avis partagé en tous points.Ceci dit, je ne vois pas notre ami photocopieur cycliste aller faire le prologue Gaza-Ramallah.Du moins, s'il a un peu de bon sens lui aussi.Ce qui n'est pas dit...🙂
Bon je crois que vous m'avez convaincu, je reviens à la raison, je viens de me décider pour une tournée Kerbala-Mossoul déguisé en missionnaire born-again avec un stars and stripes en guise de pagne...
Alors effectivement, ca a l'air un poil chaud pour la cisjordanie, notemment avec l'odeur de guerre civile qui commence à souffler entre les barbus du Hamas et le Fatah...donc je pense zapper cette partie, même si je persiste à croire que c'est dommage de ne pas pouvoir y aller, que ce soit "indécent" ou non....dans ce cas, il est probablement "indécent" de trainer ses roues au Tibet, Xinjiang, et un paquet d'autres régions où des peuples ou des minorités sont opprimées...(le Liechtenstein, alors?).
Dsl pour la coquille sur la cisjordanie, je sais que les mots sont importants mais des fois, ils nous echappent.
++
Tibo
Ps: au fait, krankxerox renvoie plus à une excellente BD untergrund de Liberatore qu'au photocopieur.
Salut krankxerox,
Desolé de répondre aussi tardivement à tes dernières questions.
A propos des campings en Israël....il n'y en a pas à ma connaissance mais le logement chez l'habitant ça existe en revanche, surtout dans les kibboutzim et moshavim dispersés un peu partout dans le pays. Ce n'est pas la formule la moins chère mais ça peut être sympa.
Merci pour le tuyau.
Je pense malheureusement repousser ce voyage à l'année prochaine; l'amouuuuuuuuuuuuuuur a vaincu et il me porte en Sibérie pour tout l'automne.
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
Hi there, we’re a group of 4 cyclists looking to get from Treviso in Italy to Munich with our 4 non-folding bikes. It seems complicated! Are there any solutions? Thanks so much.