Provence is a paradise for cyclists, with its authentic villages connected by quiet back roads. This cycling trip will give you a true insight into the life of the region's villages and take you through quiet, beautiful countryside, between fields of lavender and centuries-old olive trees. The sublime landscapes and pretty villages of Provence have been an inspiration for artists for centuries. To really appreciate the countryside the ideal means of travel through the region is by bike. Fields of lavender and poppies, old olive groves and vine covered hills, orchards brimming with fruit and crumbling farmhouses are characteristic of the landscape.
Your itinerary will allow you to discover historical remains - from prehistory to Roman times. You will start your trip in the historic city of Arles, where you can visit the Roman theater and the arena. Your route will take you along ancient roads, following the rivers and mountains of the region. Along the way, you will discover splendid churches, medieval castles and fascinating Roman sites.
You will discover the magnificent hilltop village of Les Baux-de-Provence, where you can visit the famous château; and the typical Provencal village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the birthplace of Nostradamus and the town where Van Gogh spent his last years painting some of his best works, are one of the many highlights of this inspiring cycling adventure.
Tapenade, bouillabaisse, pistou soup, olives, aioli, salade niçoise, herbs and, of course, olive oil. Enjoy the famous Provencal dishes!
Check out our video to discover the Lavender fields in Provence:
You individually travel to Arles, historic town which dates from the 7th century BC and was a major Gallo-Roman city. Here you should visit the Arena and the Roman Theatre, and you can cycle along its canal to the reconstructed Van Gogh bridge, the setting of the painter's famous “Pont de Langlois” works. Our first choice of hotel is in the old centre of Arles.
Today’s cycle is short, giving you time to explore the area and Les-Baux-de-Provence, a picturesque village with a royal history and high fortified ruins. There are some great museums in the village including the History Museum and the Olive Museum. Evening meal and accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Les-Baux-de-Provence.
Challenge: 21.2km, 223m ascent, 88m descent
From Les-Baux-de-Provence you return to Maussane along a back road, from which there are gorgeous views of the Alpilles, and continue to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The year before his death, Vincent Van Gogh spent time in an asylum in this town and also in nearby Arles. The colours and light were an inspiration in his paintings. Other well known artists that have been attracted to the area include Picasso, Gauguin, Matisse and Cézanne. There is ample opportunity to explore delightful Saint-Remy, including the house where Nostradamus was born.
Challenge: 27.4km, 320m ascent, 449m descent
Today you will cycle along back roads, between olive and fruit trees. You will cross the charming village of Eyragues, where you will see its splendid 18th century clock tower and the fortified, Romanesque-style Saint Maxime church dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Along the lanes, you will see the remains of the ramparts. After reaching the market garden plains of Châteaurenard, you will cycle to your hotel in Barbentane or Graveson. Evening meal supplied by a caterer at the hotel.
Challenge: 24.8km, 164m ascent, 203m descent
End of your trip after breakfast. A taxi driver can will pick you up at the pre-arranged time for your transfer to Avignon train station.
All accommodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathroom and every morning breakfast are included and 2 dinners during the trip.
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle from us. Our touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks.
The frame and saddle height are set to your length, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, breaks etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. And you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric engine and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric engine.
The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Tandem bike, suitable for two adults only. More details on request.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and on their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.
Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.
All our rental bikes come with lights.
All our rental bikes come with a lock.
All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and a front card holder to put the roadbook/maps.
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips.
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us knowprior to booking too.
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. In case a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.
Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you carry them with you.
French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
4 Nights included
2/3 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfasts and 2 Dinners (days 2 & 4) included during the trip
Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest
24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline
Luggage transport to your next accommodations. Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum)
For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure.
If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
Parking informations on request
We will supply the directions of this trip with a personalized code which gives you access to our travel App.
The international Marseille Airport is served by a large number of scheduled and low cost airlines. Almost all trains connecting Marseille-Provence Airport to Arles.
You can get to Arles by train (train station TGV). On the end of your trip you can take a taxi from Barbentane or Graveson, it's just a short taxi ride to Avignon train station (approx. 20 min).
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Barbentane / Graveson (approx. 7h10 - 745 km/463 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin
This trip was absolutely amazing. It was everything that we hoped it would be. A friend and I biked through the most beautiful country side, saw amazing Roman ruins, adorable little villages, and had fabulous food and wine the whole way. The route was a fun and surprising mix of small roads and paths that kept us out of traffic and seeing a great mix of pastoral, woodland, and village scenery.
Julia R.
We really enjoyed our cycling experience in the Alpilles. Beautiful countryside, cosy hotels with relaxing pools, breathtaking scenery and villages rich in culture. If you want to immerse yourself in the world of Van Gogh and cycle among olive trees, lavender fields and vineyards. This is your trip. We loved the Hotel Le Mas d'Aigret. It has a beautiful view, a relaxing pool, friendly staff and very good food.
Gian Giacomo S.
An amazing trip through beautiful landscapes filled with history and beauty. Most of the way we cycled on small paths through fields, olive grooves and forests, which we would never have been able to find on our own had we only used a normal map! We loved the hotels which all had a unique charm and personal touch!
Elisabeth E.
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0) 5 53 73 08 61
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