J'avais posté il y a quelques semaines, pour des conseils dans le choix d'un vélo de randonnée.
Cela s'était soldé par l'achat d'un cadre Surly LHT, et par l'assemblage du vélo avec les composants de mon choix.
J'avais envisagé comme premièr voyage avec ce vélo l'itinéraire Tarbes Perpignan, mais al météo de la semaine passée m'a découragé, et j'ai préféré la Loire à Vélo, d'Orléans à Nantes, puis Pornic et la cote vendéenne jusqu'aux Sables d'Olonne.
Voilà donc un petit C.R. de rando, des fois que cle intéresse quelqu'un :
Etape 1 : Orléans - Montlouis/Loire (juste avant Tours) 120 km, avec en particulier l'itinéraire 'Beaugency Blois' qui est à souligner. le camping à Montlouis est sympathique, quoiqu'un peu bruyant car en bordure de route.
Etape 2 : Montlouis - Saumur : La traversée de Tours n'est pas très aisée, surtout le Sud, ou j'ai bifurqué trop tot et ai fini par devoir choisir entre un centre commercial et une quatre voies interdite aux vélos. Un petit détour par 'La Riche' et hop, c'était arrangé, mais j'ai un peu loupé les rives du Cher. Villandry est très joli. Détour par Chinon, traversée de la vienne, et là un joli chemin par la rive gauche de la Vienne jusqu'à 'La Chaussée'. Candes St Martin et Saumur, et hop. Mention particulière au camping de l'Ile d'Offard à Saumur, très bien, de prix correct.
Etape 3 : Saumur - Ancenis : Les ponts de Cé et l'Anjou. Maintenant je sais pourquoi le 'coteau du Layon' s'appelle ainsi et je n'en dégusterai plus jamais du meme oeil. Je n'ai pas pris le temps de visiter Angers, j'y reviendrai ensuite. Pas la plus belle des étapes, mais la météo a peut etre joué dans mon appréciation. Le camping d'Ancenis est 'moyen -', à mon gout, pour un tarif équivalent à Saumur.
Etape 4 : C'est encore loin la mer ? Ancenis Pornic. : Sous la pluie sérieuse jusqu'à Nantes, puis viste de nates sous le soleil, casse croute prévu au marché bio, et hop, sortie de Nantes (pas très intuitive non plus, merci les 4 voies...) Nantes Pornic par 'Le pelerin - Vue - Chauvé' Je déconseille la D206 Vue Chauvé ... présentée comme une 'blanche' par Michelin mais fréquentée par de nombreux semi pour cause de sablière et entreprise de travaux publics sur l'axe. Pornic est très joli. Camping de la Madrague, à Sainte marie sur Mer, très joli, tente plantée tout près de la mer, nuit CALME et réveil fabuleux...
Rencontre d'Octave et Annick, cyclos 'en vacances', vendéens d'origine, intarissables sur leur département et ses charmes, qui m'on donné de nombreux conseils.
Etape 5 : Pornic - St Jean de Monts par le marais breton : Rencontre fortuite d'Octave te d'Anncike qui partent en balade. On démarre par 'VeloCean, direction Moutiers en Retz. On se quitte, leurs randonneuses n'aimant pas trop les trous et bosses. On se retourve dans le marias breton, on se requitte, opis on se rejoint aux éoliennes du mrais breton... très sympa tout çà. On fait un petit crochet jusqu'au passage du Gois, à voir, mais malheureusement impraticable pour cause de marée haute... Déjeuner sur place et hop, on se quitte, bienvenue en Vendée
Là le fléchage des itinéraires est exceptionnel, on ne pet pas se perdre (d'ailleurs c'en est meme frustrant ;-) ) La descente sur St Jean de Monts est superbe, dans la foret via la piste, à recommander. Arrivée à St Jean de Monts... Euh, bref, no comment. Disons qu'il faut des villes comme çà pour en apprécier d'autres.
Etape 6 (dernière) : St Jean de Monts - Les Sables d'Olonne : Superbe. La corniche est splendide, le marais avant les sables très joli, météo au top, St Gilles Croix de Vie très joli... bref, à refaire. La vendée fait vraiment très fort coté aménagements cyclo touristiques. A cette saison, c'est très bien, maintenant, en Juillet Aout, cela doit etre trop chargé à mon gout.
La Morale de l'histoire : Partir moins chargé, j'avais TROP de vetements, par exemple, qui ne m'ont pas servi. Mieux préparer l'itinéraire, principalement pour s'éloigner des grandes agglomérations ou c'est souvent pénible. Aucun souci mécanique, et je suis très satisfait d'avoir opté pour un vélo plus orienté 'VTT' (26", cadre solide) car j'ai pu m'offrir quelques escapades hors du bitume qui me laissent d'excellents souvenirs. 640 km en tout, de chouettes rencontres, plein d'oiseaux vus, des castors, des lapins, des orchidées... Bref, quand est ce que je repars ?
Je n'ai pas encore fait la Loire à vélo en son intégralité, mais juste autours de Tours (mes parents y vivent). C'est un itinéraire vraiment bien aménagé. Je ne connais pas les campings. J'espère qu'il n'a pas trop souffert des derniers orages du week-end du 1er juin vu qu'en Indre-et-Loire, il y a eu des dégats.
Pour le littoral vendéen, c'est vraiment que du bonheur. J'ai fait deux grosses boucles depuis Saint-Gilles l'an dernier avec le grand cousin (Vers Noirmoutier par le gois et vers les Sables d'Olonne). C'était en Août. Le seul soucis en cette période, c'est que certains touristes ne savent pas faire la différence entre piste cyclable où ils se sont pas prioritaires et trottoirs où ils sont prioritaires... Les rosalies (voiture à pédale) peuvent aussi ralentir sur les pistes près de Saint-Jean de Mont. En plus, je ne sais pas si tu les as vu et utilisé, mais il y a des stations de gonflages gratuites le long de l'itinéraire en Vendée. Trop bien, surtout quand tu as une crevaison lente comme moi ;)
bonsoir et merci pour votre compte-rendu.
Si ce n'est cette année, ce sera la suivante, je compte aller de Bretagne au pays basque, aussi votre expérience m'intéresse-t-elle.
pourriez-vous me donner plus de renseignements sur les étapes parcourues. Je veux dire, alliez-vous au hasard ou suiviez-vous un itinéraire ? Dans ce cas, quels étaient vos critères de choix ? Choisissiez-vous des routes ou uniquement des chemins, balisés ou non ?
Et, surtout, surtout, ces itinéraires étaient-ils ou non principalement sur du terrain plat (!) ?
merci de votre réponse.
j'ai fait en 2006
Orléans - Saint Brévins le long de la Loire (voie verte voir le site) St Brévin - Arcachon le long de la côte (vélocéan)
Que du plat.
Surtout éviter Nantes c'est l'occasion de se perdre, l'entrée à l'époque était une énigme et une fois dedans pas facile de trouver la sortie qui est une voie rapide fréquentée, pas interdite au vélo mais pas faite pour le vélo, dangereuse (essaies de franchir les entrée et sortie de bretelle avec des bagnoles à 110 km/h), heureusement il y a la bande d'arrêt d'urgence. Fais un détour bien avant Nantes.
après Nantes la voie verte se termine et la route n'est pas très intéressante
peut-être un direct Pornic ?
Il m'est arrivé de tomber dans un bouchon, difficile de s'en sortir même à vélo. C'est le pb des villes de bord de mer lorsque les gens rentrent de la plage.
la route pénible c'est La Rochelle - Royan
tu ne peux pas éviter 2 jours de route fréquentée et dangereuse, je n'ai jamais été aussi vite tellement ça me dégoutte le bruit des voitures et des camions sans arrêt. J'ai rencontré d'autres cyclistes ayant vécu la même expérience ils m'ont dit que c'était comme un mauvais médicament à avaler.
J'ai fait connaissance avec les caravanes, c'est les pires des véhicules quand il te double, des amateurs dangereux !
A Royan tu prends le bac pour franchir la Gironde jusqu'à la Pointe de Grave.
A partir de là tu roule dans la forêt jusqu'au Cap Ferret (un peu monotone tout de même). la prochaine fois je ferai du camping sauvage ça a l'air possible.
A remarquer les premiers km se font sur une fausse piste cyclable en béton pas mal défoncée, 50 cm de large ! C'est l'ancienne voie construite par les allemands pour surveiller la côte et qu'empruntaient les estafette militaires à moto .
Au cap Ferret tu prends un petit bateau pour traverser le bassin d'Arcachon(faire le tour c'est pas très intéressant 80 km) jusqu'à Arcachon
de St Brévin à Arcachon beaucoup de camping en bord de mer vraiment cher 30 E la nuit mais toujours possibilité de trouver pas cher en s'éloignant un peu, en, demandant aux autochtones.
Règles générales :
je cherche des routes tranquilles, avec des beaux paysages(indiquées sur les cartes Michelin), plates ou vallonée mais pas plus quoique la prochaine randonnée c'est Béziers- Neussargues-Moissac je m'enhardi.
j'évite les villes le plus possible c'est l'occasion de se perdre et de perdre du temps.
si des itinéraires touristiques sont proposés comme vélocéan et que ça suit à peu près ma route je les suis.
sinon chaque matin je repère la route et hop c'est parti.
le camping en France c'est formidable il y en a partout. Pas cher dès que tu es à l'intérieur des terres genre 1 E à 8 E ( 4 étoiles si si), les moins chers sont les camping municipaux. J'emmène toujours avec moi "le guide officiel camping caravaning" de la FFCC.
Voyager à vélo › France › Ouest / Centre · 6 replies
Prépare mon prochain voyage de cyclo. J'apprécierais beaucoup de recevoir vos suggestions d'itinéraires. Je partirai de Nantes et ferai le "classique" Loire à…
Voyager à vélo › France › Provence-Côte d'Azur / Rhône-Alpes · 7 replies
Avec des amis on a décidé de partir dans le Sud en vélo. C'est la premiere fois qu'on fait ça et je suis sur qu'il y a plein de trucs qu'on ne sait pas. On…
Je souhaite faire une toute petite partie de la Loire à Vélo avec ma soeur, 2 jours de vélo!! c'est pas beaucoup mais c'est juste pour faire découvrir le…
L'été prochain, nous envisageons de faire la loire à vélo d'Orléans à Nantes ou St Nazaire, sur une durée d'environ 15 jours. Ce sera une grande première, car…
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!
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
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!
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
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!
🇷🇼 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?
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.
