Avignon to Cassis

France Bike Tour

Cassis! Imagine… a little fishing harbor huddled against the coast with multicolored boats slowly bobbing up and down on the water, colorful houses tightly squeezed together and a beautiful beach lapped by gentle waves....

Cap Canaille! Here a beautiful 399m cliff overlooking the village and Mediterranean Sea. The rich red of the sandstone blends beautifully with the deep blue of the sea and paints a very pretty picture.
The “Calanques”! Imagine… small inlets like miniature fjords, where the emerald water meets shiny white cliffs. Discover the Ste Baume Mountain, a small ridge that hides in its midst, almost at the top is a cave, now a landmark of the Christian world. Many Popes went there to pray, another forty kings made the pilgrimage and the legend even says that Mary Magdalene lived there.

Imagine strolling round aimlessly in Aix en Provence’s winding old streets, stumbling upon a multitude of fresh fountains or gazing at the beautiful façades of aristocratic buildings. Many artists come here to perform during the Lyrical Festival. Cezanne himself found the inspiration for some of his best paintings whilst staying in Aix - for example he painted the “Mont St Victoire”, which stands majestically at the city gates.

On a bicycle, you can make the journey at your own pace, hear the cicadas singing in the trees, breathing in the familiar Provencal scents: thyme, rosemary, and conifers. This is Provence and at the very end of the road, the Mediterranean Sea awaits you.

Skill Level

Moderate to difficult, self-guided hotel tour. Daily cycling distances range from 19 to 44 mi. (30 to 70 km), over some flat, rolling, and very hilly terrain. Some ascents can be up to 750 m. Routes take place on good, asphalted bike paths and country roads with as little traffic as possible. However, on day 6 there is about 20 km of cycling on a more trafficked road.

Where You’ll Stay

Option A: 5 nights in 2 star hotels - 1 with swimming pool, 2 nights by the sea, and 2 nights in 3 star hotel. Private bathrooms always.
Option B: 1 night in 4 star hotel, 6 nights in 3 star hotels (2 nights w/ pool & 2 nights w/ pool and by the sea). Private bathrooms always.

What’s Included

• 7 nights accommodations
• Breakfast buffets
• Luggage transportation
• Detailed route descriptions
• 1 Dinner (excl. drinks) in Maussane les Alpîlles (Option A)
• 24-speed hybrid bicycle

What’s Not Included

• Individual arrival to Avignon
• Remaining meals

Tour Dates

• Daily from March 31 to October 20, 2012.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Avignon.
2. Avignon - Maussane les Alpîlles, 32 mi. (50 km)
3. Maussane les Alpîlles - Aix, 44 mi. (69 km)
4. Aix, day of rest or roundtrip, 41 mi. (65 km)
5. Aix - Maximin la Sainte Baune, 30 mi. (47 km)
6. Maximin la Sainte Baune - Cassis, 38 or 44 mi. (60 to 70 km)
7. Cassis, day of rest or roundtrip, 19 mi. (30 km)
8. Departure.

Distances are approximate.

DAY 1: Arrival in Avignon.
Arrival in Avignon. Check in to your hotel and enjoy some free time in Avignon. A meeting with our representative will take place in the evening.

DAY 2: Avignon - Maussane les Alpîlles, 32 mi. (50 km)
Your journey will take you south via a network of quiet little country roads! You will ride in the middle of orchards and fields of cultivated fruit and vegetables, here and there crossing a little village nestled around its church. Finally, you will reach the Alpilles! They are a picturesque range of limestone hills - only 493m high at their peak – with scenes that are reminiscent of Greece. You will be lead there by one of its prettiest routes, discovering superb view points along the way.
Enjoy a night in the foothills.

DAY 3: Maussane les Alpîlles - Aix, 44 mi. (69 km)
This morning you will head in the direction of Aix on peaceful lanes lined with olive trees. In the 1900's, with the availability of these trees and their oil, a family had the idea of using it to make soap… in their back garden! The family business still perpetuates the tradition and you will be able to learn more about the making of the famous “Savon de Marseille” along the way. Once you reach the gates of Aix, take a delicious break to taste the unforgettable local delicacy: the “Calisson”!

DAY 4: Aix, day of rest or roundtrip, 41 mi. (65 km)
Rest day in Aix en Provence. It is a beautiful city scattered with old town houses, streaming fountains, grand avenues and charming little squares. The heart of the old town is cris-crossed with lively pedestrian streets full of little boutiques, cafes, restaurants – a true maze where it is pleasant to get lost. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to visit Cezanne’s old workshop or even discover the Cathedral and the St Sauveur Cloister!
Cycling option: reasonable level of fitness required! A 65 km loop in very hilly country (difference in height : approximately 750m) that will take you round the Sainte Victoire Mountain, via the (private) Chateau de Vauvernargues, where Pablo Picasso lived and is now buried.

DAY 5: Aix - Maximin la Sainte Baune, 30 mi. (47 km)
Leave the beautiful Aix behind on the “route Cezanne”, as it is known since the painter often set his easel up along it, and it will take you to the foothills of the Montagne Sainte Victoire. The scenery is magnificent and will reveal to you the light and colors that the artist craved for: the striking contrasts between the dazzling white of the limestone cliffs, the sandy red loam, the green of the pine trees and the blue sky. Towards the end of the day, you will reach Maximin la Sainte Baume and its Basilica, the biggest gothic building in the southeast of France. It was built in the exact place where Mary Magdelene’s relic was found and is recognized as the third shrine of the Christian world, after Jerusalem and Saint Peter’s of Rome.

DAY 6: Maximin la Sainte Baune - Cassis, 38 or 44 mi. (60 to 70 km)
On this day, you will discover the countryside as described in Marcel Pagnol’s novels Le Château de ma mère and La Gloire de mon père. His books rendered Provence famous because of the way he sang the praises of the Provencal culture, describing the landscapes that meant so much to him. Of course, time has changed them but the route will lead you through quiet side roads with gorgeous views. At the end of the day, after a 6 km descent, you will finally glimpse Cassis and the sea!
2 options : for both options, there are approximately 20 km of roads with more traffic.
1 – Via the plains. Approximately 60 km gentle rolling hills (including 2 descents, one of them 10 km).
2 – Via the Ste Baume Mountain. Reasonable level of fitness required! Approximately 70 km (with 2 descents, one of them 16 breathtaking kilometers), difference in height : approximately 650m.

DAY 7: Cassis, day of rest or roundtrip, 19 mi. (30 km)
Rest day in Cassis. Enjoy relaxing around in the heart of the village, go swimming, touring in a sea kayak or hiking on the Cap Canaille ridge track or in the rugged rocky Calanques. But the “must-do” of the day is the discovery of the sumptuous views of the Calanques from the sea: clear water, white limestone cliffs plunging into the sea, & miniature fjords. Around here, everything is spectacular and wild. Boat trips (from 45 minutes to 2 hours) will allow you to enjoy this unforgettable experience. (These activities are not included in the price of the holiday). In the evening our representative will come from Avignon to retrieve all equipments.
Cycling option: reasonable fitness level required! A 30 km loop (difference in height : approximately 394m with a 15% ascent) that will take you up the Cap Canaille to a breathtaking view point!

DAY 8: Departure.
Departure from Cassis after breakfast, or extend your stay.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us