Provence Highlights
Discover the highlights of Provence on this self-guided cycling tour. Ride through the famous wine town of Chateauneuf du Pape and enjoy a tipple in the wine tasting area of the Cote du Rhone.
Visit the lovely town of Avignon with its picturesque old town and papal palace and enjoy the scent of herbs as you ride through the Provencal countryside. Suitable for beginners and first time cycle-tourists, this is a popular trip for all the family.
Itinerary
Enjoy the city with the wonderful architectural monuments from Roman times. The great theatre and the triumph arch are historical witnesses from this epoch.
The old town attracts with Provençal charm as well as small pretty shops and cafés.
The first stage takes you into the world-famous wine town Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A stroll through the town should not be missed. You ride on to the city of Avignon along the Rhône cycle paths, without the bother of car traffic.
We recommend a stroll through the old town (guided options include a guided tour of the city) with a visit to the papal palace.
Without much ado and once again with hardly any traffic you leave the town and cycle directly to St. Rémy, probably the most beautiful and certainly the most typical town in the Provence.
Nothing surpasses the hustle and bustle, the blaze of colour and the richness of herb scents under the shadow-offering plane trees in the ancient alleys of the old town.
The effort of the ascent to the Alpilles is rewarded with great views of the Les Baux. Because of the harmonic location of the vil-lage and because of the fortress ruins, Les Baux is also known as the “city in rock”. Chosen small paths and tiny streets take you to Arles.
Roman culture and Romanesque heritage characterise the cityscape and the history of Arles. Arles was the second-biggest city of the Roman Empire; it is also the city of Vincent van Gogh. Your hotel accommodates you for the next two nights.
Half sea, half land – the Camargue is an unique natural landscape with Bračkish water lakes, vast salt steppes, wild horses and the famous pink flamingos.
Small paths take you into the unique nature reserve. In Mejanes with the Arena you have the opportunity of travelling with a small train through unspoilt nature and to admire, with some luck, flamingos and wild bulls.
The route takes you on almost traffic-free paths back to Arles (guided options include a guided tour of the city).
In the morning you cycle to the cities Tarascon and Beaucaire. Both cities are placed beside the Rhône River. There are a lot of nice places and castle of the 12th century. Visit a café in Beaucaire and enjoy a pause beside the riverbank.
The charm of the city Beaucaire invites you to stay and relax. In Nîmes numerous well-preserved buildings are evidence of the Romans. Visit the arena, the Maison Carrée or the Tour Magne. Or enjoy the modern part of the city the “Carré d´art” of Norman Foster.
The fortress of Tarascon, located high above the Rhône, accompanies you for a while through the vineyards of Costières-de-Nimes.
About noon you will already see Pont-du-Gard, the famous aqueduct from Roman times, world heritage as well.
Aromatic plants such as lavender, thyme and rosemary accompany you into the pretty Provençal town of Uzès, which attracts with its magical, medieval charm.
Among other places of interest, the unique market square, surrounded by arcades, is worthwhile.
Today the landscape changes once again. The last stage takes you through the hilly landscape of the Garrigue, with its oaks and Mediterranean herbs.
Later on, the vineyards and the lovely orchards of the Provence take over once again.
On the other side of the river you cycle through other famous wine regions of the Côte du Rhône (Lirac, Laudan) and reach the city of Orange again in the afternoon.
Depart after breakfast.
Route overview
Apart from a few small ascents in the hilly landscapes of the Garrigue and the Alpilles, the route is easy and varied, suitable even for inexperienced cyclists. You mostly bike on small streets with less traffic and on asphalted paths.
Route Map (For guidance only):
Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.
What’s included
The Provence Highlights cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.
- Accommodation as already mentioned
- Standard Bike Hire
- Breakfast buffet or extensive breakfast
- Welcome briefing
Not included
- Flights to/from the start and finish
- Evening meals (unless stated)
- Local daily taxes (Payable at the hotel)
- Helmets
- Water Bottles
- Travel Insurance
- Bike Insurance (unless stated)
- Welcome Meetings (unless stated)
- Transfers (unless included)
Check Availability
We have put a calendar of events together that will provide you with some inspiration of what you can expect on your holiday, and when the best time to jet off is. Now’s your chance to travel further than you can by foot and be part of a memorable and exciting two-wheel journey with us.