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Cycling vacations in Provence Camargue

Price per person

From 895€

Type of stay

Voyage à vélo

Location

Avignon - France

Duration

8 days

Difficulty

Departures

Every Saturday from March 22 to Oct. 31 Other days with supplement (for less than 4 people)

Capacity

Minimum 2 persons

Reference

Cyclo 07

Your stay

Cycling in Provence and Camargue.

This cycling tour takes in one of Europe’s most culturally rich regions. Numerous monuments bear witness to a long and glorious past dating back to Greek and Roman times.

Avignon: the famous Palais des Papes (World Heritage site), the medieval town and its impressive ramparts; Glanum: Greek and Roman monuments; Les Baux: medieval town in the heart of the Alpilles; Tarascon: the largest fortified castle in the Rhône valley; Arles : The entire town has been declared a world heritage site for its many Roman and medieval monuments; Saintes-Maries de la Mer: a small village between sea, sky and Camargue; Saint-Gilles: with its beautiful Romanesque church and crypt (which has also been declared a world heritage site); Le Pont du Gard: aqueduct over the Gardon river, the best preserved of the Roman Empire…. world heritage. Finally, this cycling tour takes you to Uzès, one of Provence’s most beautiful villages.

Picturesque and timeless, the Camargue is a land of protected natural heritage. Your cycling tour in the heart of a wild and secret land, this region will also delight heritage lovers thanks to the towns of Arles, Saintes Maries de la Mer and Aigues-Mortes.

An integral part of your bike tour in Provence: Lovers of wide open spaces will discover the flora and fauna of the Camargue National Park and Nature Reserve. What’s more, the great Rhône delta, where water, wetlands and marshes attract thousands of birds, some of them endemic, will give you unforgettable memories. The Rhône delta has created a unique place, a salty mix of land and water, the Camargue. A wilderness protected for its natural riches, it’s a land of character, forged by a nature that’s not always easy. It’s a land dedicated to protecting nature and the environment. Numerous animal and plant species live side by side: pink flamingos, white horses and black bulls are its symbols. Trails wind along the dikes. They offer magnificent views of rice paddies and salt marshes, meadows and dunes.

Finally, the face of today’s Camargue has been shaped by man for over a century. In particular, the “Gardian”, bull breeders in their “manade” who tamed this natural environment by building dykes, rice fields, salt pans and huts. But also the many painters who have lived in Provence: Picasso, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Cézanne, Chagall…

You'll enjoy :

The papal city of Avignon and its famous “Pont d’Avignon” bridge
The olive groves and citadel of Baux de Provence in the Alpilles mountains
The Roman city of Arles at the gateway to the Camargue
The majestic Pont du Gard on the road to Uzès, a pure Provencal town

Back to travel

Daily program

Day 1 - Arrival

Arrive at the hotel **** with excellent cuisine on Barthelasse Island in a very quiet area (with swimming pool), about 5 km from Avignon Centre; free parking.

Day 2 - Avignon - Arles

Meet our local correspondent at the hotel reception around 09:30. He will provide you with further information about your stay and give you your bikes – if you wish to rent them.

A lovely walk awaits you around the spectacular Alpilles massif. You’ll pass through Saint-Rémy de Provence. Vincent Van Gogh spent 1 year here, painting over a hundred works. You can visit the Glanum archaeological site on the outskirts of town.

Then drive to the superb fortified village of Les Baux de Provence.

At the end of the day, you arrive in Arles. You can visit the spectacular Roman Amphitheatre, where Provençal bullfights are still regularly held (the bull is not put to death), or simply sit down in one of the many popular cafés on the Place du Forum. Arles is also the city where Van Gogh lived from 1853 to 1890, and where he painted many of his most famous works.

Day 3 - Arles - Saintes Maries

Free tour of Arles, followed by a stroll through the Camargue nature reserve, just south of the city. This natural river delta (the largest in Europe!) is home to hundreds of varieties of birds, pink flamingos and the famous “Crin Blanc” Camargue horses. Arrival at Saintes Maries de la Mer, on the beach. Hotel with swimming pool.

Day 4 - Saintes Maries - Saint-Gilles

Stroll through the Camargue and its rice fields to Saint-Gilles with its Romanesque church and World Heritage crypt.) Hotel with a very good restaurant.

Day 5 - Saint-Gilles - Pont du Gard

Stroll along back roads and through vineyards to the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct, World Heritage site). This three-level Roman aqueduct is 2000 years old and perfectly preserved. Arrive in Remoulins. Hotels with excellent restaurants.

Day 6 - Remoulins - Uzès - Remoulins. Approx.

You’ll drive along small roads through beautiful countryside until you reach Uzès, one of the most beautiful villages in Provence! Take time to stroll around and visit the Place aux Herbes, where the local market is held, admire the restored Renaissance facades and climb up to enjoy the view of the impressive Ducal Palace. Return to your hotel in the Remoulins area.

Day 7 - Remoulins - Avignon

Small roads through vineyards to Castillon du Gard, then Tavel du Rhône and finally Avignon.

Overnight at first night hotel.

rates

Price per person

March 22 to April 11 / October 04 to 31: €895
April 12 to May 30 / September 06 to October 03: €1035
May 31 to September 05: €1,085

Price includes

7 nights and breakfasts in 3- and 4-star hotels (double/twin room)
Meeting with our local correspondent
Route book with map and directions
GPS track files on request
Luggage transfer at each stage
7/7 technical support

Supplements

VTC bike rental (helmet not included): €110
Electric bike rental (helmet not included): €270
Half-board package: +€300
Departure other than Saturday (for less than 4 people): +90 € per person if 3 people. +135 € per person if 2 people. + 270 € for 1 person.

Further information

We take care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking.

Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure.

At the end of the afternoon, you’ll meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room.

Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kg) + 1 carry-on.

Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (generally one month before) and/or on arrival at your first accommodation.

It includes :

A welcome letter with key practical information:

Baggage transport times
Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
Any additional information

Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information

Any necessary vouchers to be given to the service provider(s)

On request and depending on the tour:

Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance. The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device

On this tour, we can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation:

A VTC bike adapted to the ride and the route

Velo Canal du Midi UNISEX

An electric bike adapted to the route

VAE Canal du Midi UNISEX

With equipment :

Bag 1

Repair kit

Anti-theft device

1 rear bag
1 repair kit
1 anti-theft device
1 charger (for electric bike)

For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer

Children's bikes

Bicycle follower

Trailer

Second trailer

A child’s bike
A baby seat
A trailer
A follower bike

The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation.

At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We’ll take care of collecting them.

This tour is offered in the “superior” category

Hotel categories :

Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent comfort level) and bed & breakfasts.
Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort) and charming bed & breakfasts.
Luxury: The tour features mainly 4- and 5-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort).

For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available: