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Provence and Côte d’Azur by bike, Avignon, Aix en Provence and Cassis

Price per person

From 1180€

Type of stay

Voyage à vélo

Location

Avignon, Aix en Provence, Marseille - France

Duration

8 days

Difficulty

Departures

Daily from April to mid-October

Capacity

2 people minimum

Reference

Cyclo 36

Your stay

Provence and Côte d’Azur by bike: from the Massif des Alpilles to the Calanques de Cassis!

Leaving from Avignon, papal city, set off on an extraordinary bike trip through the south of Provence and reach the Côte d’Azur by bike.

On this route, you’ll head due south through the Alpilles massif, an enchanting natural site which, at 500m altitude, offers a 360° panorama from Mont Ventoux to the Cévennes, from Mont Sainte Victoire to the Camargue (quite a program!). In the heart of these limestone hills, discover the citadel of Les Baux de Provence and the Carrière de Lumières.

Then head east through olive groves to reach Salon de Provence, then Aix-en-Provence, the cultural capital of Provence. A city of water, a city of art, Aix-en-Provence is the perfect embodiment of the Provençal art de vivre so highly praised the world over. It is also the city of the painter Cézanne, whose Aix countryside inspired some of the greatest Impressionist masterpieces.

And it’s in the heart of this exceptional environment that you’ll continue your cycling tour, against the backdrop of the steep peaks of Mont Sainte-Victoire (a must!), to Saint-Maximin and its Gothic basilica. Finally, through the Parc Naturel Régional de la Sainte-Beaume and the garrigue, then along the Mediterranean coast, you’ll reach the village of Cassis, a charming traditional fishing port with its typical small boats, surrounded by the famous Calanques offering idyllic sites for bathing in turquoise waters. You’ll have plenty of time to wander around this picture-postcard setting!

You'll enjoy :

Crossing the Massif des Alpilles, between white limestone rocks and olive groves
The city of water, art and history of Aix en Provence.
Cézanne’s paintings (the Saint-Victoire and many others) under the open sky!
The lovely fishing port of Cassis and its steep limestone cliffs in the calanques

Back to travel

Daily program

Day 1 - Arrival in Avignon

Arrive in Avignon at the time of your choice. After checking into your room, take advantage of your hotel’s central location to stroll around this magnificent city and discover some of its treasures.

Weather permitting, visit the Palais des Papes, which also houses temporary exhibitions and events, and the famous Pont Saint-Bénézet, the “Pont d’Avignon” where everyone dances in circles!

Day 2 - Avignon to Maussane les Alpilles

You’ll cycle south through orchards and farmland, before reaching the Alpilles mountain range. The Alpilles have been a magnet for visitors since Roman times, and the many ancient remains in this part of Provence bear witness to its longstanding appeal. Maussane is a commune whose vegetation and architecture are typical of the Alpilles.

Day 3 - Maussane to Aix-en-Provence

Olive trees and cicadas?! Yes, there’s no doubt about it, you’re in Provence! Don’t expect to keep to your average speed, as you’ll be stopping again and again to take photos. Of course, you can organize your day as you wish. Among other things, today you can choose to visit a Marseille soap factory, a family business that started in 1900 and hasn’t stopped since. Your journey will then take you to Aix-en-Provence, one of Provence’s most beautiful and lively cities.

Day 4 - Rest day in Aix-en-Provence or optional loop

Organize your day as you see fit. Whatever your interests, you’ll have a wide choice of things to do, taste, smell and explore! Strolling through the narrow streets and beautiful squares of Aix is a real treat. You’re sure to come across one of the colorful local markets. Art lovers can visit Cézanne’s studio.

Day 5 - Aix-en-Provence to Saint-Maximin

Following the “route de Cézanne”, you’ll soon discover the beauty that drew him and so many others to this fascinating region. You’ll be pedaling on an artist’s canvas… the white of the limestone, the red of the clay, the blue of the sky and the green of the pines form a veritable festival of colors. Your destination is Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, a very special place in Christianity – the impressive Gothic basilica was built where the relics of Mary Magdalene were found.

Day 6 - Saint-Maximin to Cassis

If you’ve read Marcel Pagnol’s delightful stories such as Le château de ma mère and La gloire de mon père, you’ll already know the landscape of the day. Along the way, you’ll discover the magnificent Sainte-Baume mountain range, before gravity pushes you all the way to Cassis.

Day 7 - Rest day in Cassis

After 5 days of cycling in Provence, relaxed and immersed in the Provencal spirit, you’ll be “in condition” to discover Cassis! Hiking along the coast, canoeing around the calanques or taking a boat trip are just some of the activities you can enjoy. Even after an unforgettable cycling itinerary, this day in Cassis will remain engraved in your memory.

Day 8 - Departure

Departure from Cassis, regular trains from Cassis to Marseille.

rates

Price per person

Comfort version: €1,180
Superior version: €1,490

Price includes

7 nights and pdj in a 2, 3 or 4-star hotel (double/twin room)
Roadbook with route and directions in the form of an app
Tourist information (included in app)
Luggage transfer at each stage
7/7 technical support

Supplements

VTC bike rental: €150
Electric bike rental: € 290
Carbon racing bike rental: €240

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 “comfort” or “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: