info@french-biketours.com
Inland Provence is a cycling paradise of tiny villages linked by quiet backroads, all calling your name! On this cycling tour you will explore historical remains - from prehistoric to Roman times. You will discover wonderful architectural monuments such as the Roman theatre and the triumphal arch in Orange, but also the arenas in Arles and Nîmes.
You will pass through Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, perhaps the most beautiful and certainly the most typical of the towns in Provence, where you can take a break in the shady square or stroll through the historic centre. Your itinerary will take you along country lanes, ancient Roman roads and you will be able to admire the sublime view of the high village of Les Baux-de-Provence and spend a day in the Camargue. Splendid churches, medieval castles and fascinating Roman sites will tempt you to make many stops. And there's plenty of time to sample the wines of the Côtes du Rhône and the products of Provence.
Tapenade, bouillabaisse, pistou soup, olives, aioli, salade niçoise, herbs and, of course, olive oil. Enjoy the famous Provencal dishes!
Your first cycling day takes you into the world-famous wine town Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where a stroll through the town should not be missed. Continue to the city of Avignon along the Rhône Cycle path, a relaxed way to cycle into the city. On arrival in Avignon we recommend a stroll through the old town and a visit to the Palais des Papes (Pope's Palace).
Challenge: 37 km, 146m ascent, 167m descent
or
Challenge: 52 km, 295m ascent, 316m descent
Taking a quiet cycle route, you leave Avignon and pedal directly to St Rémy, possibly the most beautiful and certainly the most typical town in Provence. Take a break in the shaded square or wander the old centre with its shops and cafes. A visit to the monastery Saint Paul de Mausole, where van Gogh spent a year, is highly recommended. Leaving St Remy, you can admire the Roman Arch as you head to the Alpilles. Enjoy great views of Les Baux, the “city in rock” with its stunning location and fortress ruins. Continue to Arles, once the second largest city of the Roman Empire. Today, Roman culture and Romanesque heritage characterize the historic centre of Arles. It is also the city of Vincent van Gogh. Make your way to your hotel, where you stay for two nights.
Challenge: 57km, 128m ascent, 126m descent
Today you cycle a loop through the Camargue. It's a unique natural landscape - half sea and half land, with brackish water lakes, vast salt steppes, wild horses and if you are lucky pink flamingos. Cycle along small paths exploring the nature reserve. In Mejanes you can take a small train through unspoilt nature, with the chance to see flamingos and wild bulls. The route today is almost always on cycleways. Return to Arles and your hotel.
Challenge: 45.8km, 19m ascent, 20m descent
In the morning the route takes you to the towns of Tarascon and Beaucaire, located on the banks of the Rhône River. There are many lovely viewpoints and a castle dating from the 12 century en route. You can visit a café and enjoy a break besides the river, or visit the castle of King Remy in Tarascon. Nîmes has numerous well-preserved Roman buildings: The Amphitheatre, the Maison Carrée and the Tour Magne are impressive, or you can enjoy the modern part of the city and the “Carré d'Art” designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster. Overnight in Nimes.
Challenge: 46.4km, 102m ascent, 60m descent
The fortress of Tarascon accompanies you for a while as you cycle through the vineyards of Costières de Nimes, the area's southern-most wine growing area. After a few hours you'll see and visit the Pont du Gard, the famous World Heritage listed Roman aqueduct. Aromatic plants such as lavender, thyme and rosemary accompany you into the pretty Provençal town of Uzès, with its magical, medieval charm. Uzès is a maze of small streets and shady squares, along with a bell tower and 17th and 18th century mansions. Saturday is market day, and this is one of the best in the south of France.
Challenge: 45.7km, 239m ascent, 165m descent
The last cycling day takes you initially through the hilly landscape of the Garrigue, with its low growing holm oaks, juniper and wild Mediterranean herbs. Then the vineyards and lovely orchards of Provence take over once again, and you cycle through the Rhone valley's famous wine regions of Lirac and Laudun on the other side of the river, before returning to Orange.
Challenge: 48.9km, 246m ascent, 339m descent
All accommodations are carefully selected because for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable 2*/3* hotels or B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and every morning breakfasts are included during the trip.
If you would like to find out more about the star rating system in France, please check out this page.
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. 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 height, 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, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.
Please note: Depending on 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 motor 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 motor.
The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending on the trip, different models 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 at 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 with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.
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 know prior 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. If 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 bring 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.
7 Nights included
2/3 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfasts 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 information 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. There are easy train connections from Marseille-Provence Airport to Orange.
Orange can easily be reached by train (TGV). Then it's just a short taxi ride to Orange.
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Orange (approx. 6h30 - 660km). Check recommended driving itineraries at ViaMichelin.
The tour around this part of Provence took us to some wonderful villages and towns, and through some delightful countryside, mostly on quieter roads and lanes. The weather was perfect for cycling. And the chance to sample the local food and wines was an added bonus.
See Google review.
What a great trip! Cycling through fields and small villages was everything I hoped for. We used e-bikes, which helped with the hills. The route map was easy to use and though we took a few wrong turns we were never lost. I would recommend to anyone, and can’t wait to book another trip.
What a great trip! Cycling through fields and small villages was everything I hoped for. We used e-bikes, which helped with the hills. The route map was easy to use and though we took a few wrong turns we were never lost. I would recommend to anyone, and can’t wait to book another trip.
Carolyn D.
Seamless fun as FBT arrangements were spot-on. All we had to do was pedal and enjoy.
Seamless fun as FBT arrangements were spot-on. All we had to do was pedal and enjoy. The whole trip was lovely, especially Nimes and Uzes, cities we had not previously visited.
Louis G.
I have been very pleased with your services, it has made biking holidays so much more easier.
This was my second bike tour with French Bike Tours, and I am yet again very pleased with their service. The length of each day was just right, the hotels were all very nice, and the bikes very good. We particularly enjoyed a swim in Pont du Gard and Codolet, on this “Highlights of Provence” trip. On the Camargue roundtrip, we passed this gorgeous sunflower field, we just had to stop for pictures. On the very last day, we encountered lavender fields, where we also needed a photo stop.
The staff at the hotels were always very friendly, and our luggage was always in our room. Perfect! I want to particularly thank Melanie for very quick and helpful replies on email. I am looking forward to my next bike trip in August, from Geneva to Lyon.
I think day 3, the Camargue roundtrip didn’t live up to the description. The fauna was pretty much the same the entire day, so a bit boring. But lengthwise it was fine. It was a bit hard to find the password for the GUIBO. The best was the swimming in Pont Du Gard and Codolet (the last two days). These should have been mentioned in the route/trip description.
Heidi O.
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0)5 53 24 22 10
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