If B&R were a Michelin-star restaurant, Bistro trips would be our spin-off bistro next door. Same brilliant kitchen, same renowned chefs—just a little more casual and pared down.

We’ve been pedalling through Provence for decades, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t still thrill to every well-trod trail and much-visited town. This trip reads like a what’s what of Provencale must-sees: the almost lunar landscapes of the Alpilles, the vineyards and villages of Peter Mayle’s Luberon Valley, the open spaces of the Vaucluse, along with teeming food markets, homespun bistros, fields of lavender, and a friendly game of boules with a pastis in hand.

Bistro trips offer more independence (more meals on your own), and the hotels tend to be 3 or 4-stars instead of off-the-chart. But the heart of every one is exactly the same as our marquee trips—same incredible routes, events, insider access and, of course, B&R guides.

Day 1 Pedal from an abbey overlooking the Rhone to Les Baux, one of France’s most picturesque villages.
Day 2 Loop through the Alpilles and into St-Remy for some shopping and an expert-led Van Gogh tour
Day 3 Catch the spectacular St-Remy weekly market, then head to our Luberon hotel for some downtime poolside
Day 4 Experience Peter Mayle’s Provence on two wheels, pedalling through Roussillon, Ménerbes, and Lacoste before a pre-dinner wine tasting
Day 5 Visit the lively town of Gordes and a nearby medieval monastery en route to a gourmet picnic in a beautiful gorge
Day 6 Breakfast in Mazan, then au revoir in Avignon