Vineyard and lavender in Provence. Photo via Flickr:myhsu

Pont du Gard in Avignon. Photo via Flickr:Wolfgang Staudt
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Provence - Van Gogh

France Bike Tours

Bike in Provence - A Painter’s Paradise!!

This bike tour in Provence takes you through an amazing region in France- a place said to have been invented by painters, and who would argue with names like Monet, Matisse, Cézanne and of course, van Gogh. The never-ending beauty and colors of the Provence region that have been artistically depicted on so many canvases continues to inspire. Starting in Avignon, the route gently follows the flow of the Rhône River to historic Arles. Before reaching Arles, you will come across the famous Pont du Gard. This well-known Roman aqueduct is an official World Heritage Site. Built shortly before the Christian era, this bridge is both a technological and artistic masterpiece and stands almost 50m high. It is a marveled site.

In Arles, Van Gogh painted and sketched over 300 drawings and paintings. The city is said to have been founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, and later turned into a Roman colony by Julius Caesar. Its prosperity during the rule of the Romans is still evident in the many old Roman monuments, including the baths of Constantine and the very well-preserved amphitheater where bullfights are still held. Stretching from Arles to the sandy beaches of Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer and the aqua-blue waters of the Mediterranean is the national Parc de Camargue, which some 500 years before served as a gypsy campground. The creatures that now freely roam this land of dunes, marshes and lagoons are the famous white Camargue horses as well as striking black bulls and pink flamingos.

For other bicycle tours in Provence, check out our full list of bike tours in France.

Skill Level

This Provence bike tour is a self-guided hotel tour classified as moderate with flat land intermingled with rolling hills and some steep climbs. Average of 30 miles per day, with Day 5 serving as a day of rest on the Mediterranean in St.-Maries-de-la-Mer. Sometimes off road cycling is suggested in the itinerary but the paths are relatively short and easy. The dike "Digue a la Mer" consists of approximately 9 miles of dirt path that can be affected by weather conditions.

Where You’ll Stay

Two options possible:
Comfort: swimming pools (except in Avignon and Arles).
• 3 nights in 2 star hotels
• 4 night in 3 star hotel
Superior: swimming pools (except in Avignon). In Arles, spa is available.
• 2 nights in 4 star
• 5 nights in 3 star

What’s Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 7 nights
  • Breakfasts & some dinners (days 2, 4, and 6)
  • Route descriptions & maps (must be returned at end of tour)
  • Luggage transportation
  • 24-speed hybrid sports equipped with luggage rack, 1 big waterproof pannier, 1 handlebar bag, .water bottle and odometer
  • Helmet rental (must be reserved in advance)
  • Repair kit with pump
  • Bicycle lock

What’s Not Included

  • Remaining meals
  • Lunches
  • Drinks
  • Excursions
  • Bicycle protection
  • Trip insurance

Provence - Van Gogh Map

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillModerate
Length8 days
From€911 Rates
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Tour Dates

Starts any day from April 1 to October 25, 2016
Please note: Arrivals after 6 pm on Saturdays are not possible.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Provence - Van Gogh Map

Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Day 2: Avignon - Graveson, 40 mi. (66 km)
Day 3: Graveson - Arles, 30 mi. (51 km)
Day 4: Arles - Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, 36 mi. (59 km)
Day 5: Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, day of rest
Day 6: Les Saintes Maries de la Mer - Fontvieille, 42 mi. (68 km)
Day 7: Fontvieille - Avignon, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 8: Departure from Avignon

All distances are approximate.

DAY 1: Arrival in Avignon
Individual arrival in Avignon followed by a free afternoon in the city. In the evening, an introductory meeting and distribution of additional tour materials will take place. Meeting is possible every day from 3 - 6 pm (except on Sunday). In the event of late arrival on weeknights, the meeting is possible on Saturday at 9 am sharp. Do note that the office is closed on Sundays!

DAY 2: Avignon - Graveson, 40 mi. (66 km)
Leaving Avignon behind, you will cross the Gard vineyards via typical small Mediterranean villages to the famous Roman aqueduct "Pont du Gard". This aqueduct dominates the river from 50m high. Swimming possible. Before going to the hotel (with swimming pool), you will visit the village of Barbentane.

DAY 3: Graveson - Arles, 30 mi. (51 km)
Crossing the town of Tarascon, you'll discover one of the most beautiful French medieval castles and the famous "Souleiado" factory where Provencal fabrics are made. Along the way, you'll come across Daudet's Windmill as well as Montmajour Abbey. Next will be the town of Arles filled with monuments and small animated streets where one should surely enjoy a drink at one of the many terrace cafés. Night in Arles.

DAY 4: Arles - Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, 36 mi. (59 km)
Leaving Arles, you will slowly enter into the Camargue landscape with swamps, lagoons, and rice fields. Crossing the Rhône by boat, you will arrive in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer where you'll spend two nights in a hotel with a swimming pool.

DAY 5: Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, day of rest
Numerous activities are possible, including horseback riding, boating, canoeing, 4-wheel driving, sightseeing in the village or to the ornithological park.

DAY 6: Les Saintes Maries de la Mer - Fontvieille, 42 mi. (68 km)
Through the Digue à la Mer dike, which is forbidden to cars, you'll cycle up north towards the small Alpilles massif. Here you'll be greeted by a charming landscape with vestiges of the old Roman setting. Night in Fontvieille, a nice little village at the foot of the Alpilles. Hotel with swimming pool.

DAY 7: Fontvieille - Avignon, 30 mi. (48 km)
You'll start today crossing the Alpilles from south to north and pass through the famous villages of Baux de Provence and Saint Rémy de Provence. Then through scenic fields back to Avignon.

DAY 8: Departure from Avignon
Your Provence tour will end with individual departure from Avignon following breakfast.

Looking for more?  View all our featured bike trips, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.

Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064

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Customer Feedback

  • Arvo Luik 10 months ago

    The IBIS HOTEL we stayed at in AVIGNON did not meet our expectations. The maps were well laid out except there were too many descriptions that told us where NOT to go, poor directions in SAZE, got lost.. Eliminate that.
    The bikes were great for the trip. We will use you again.

     Reply

  • George Sled 10 months ago

    Everything about the company and the trip was first class. I would not hesitate to use Tripsite again.

     Reply

  • Cindy O'Connell 10 months ago

    We have enjoyed every trip we have taken and look forward to more in the future!

     Reply

  • Leslie Lami-Reed 10 months ago

    Staff was wonderful. Weather not so good but we had a great time.

     Reply

  • Alan Bartlett 11 months ago

    We found the map directions confusing at times--i.e. Cross bridge and 3 streets and turn right. Sounds easy enough, but actually it meant 2 major streets and a round about. We usually solved this by using Google maps. But it added stressful tens of minutes to resolve. It pretty much meant that we slightly dreaded arriving at even a little village, due to the almost guaranteed confusion. Having the route available as a google map path would have been much much much better.
    It's the service we pay for, not the specific route. It also made it feel like the route had not been retested for a while. Getting a bit lost wasn't all that bad, and we found some nice paths near Arles. The bikes were state of the art and high quality. None of our group liked the automatic transmission on the Bosch drive. It would frequently incorrectly shift in the middle of a climb and caused a bit of needless suffering. All in all it was a fun time. We couldn't have achieved the ride without the e-bikes.

     Reply

  • Bill Fleshman 4 years ago

    We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The accommodations and the dinners provided in the package were excellent. I can speak for all 9 of us that we would certainly use your company again and would recommend it to anyone in search of such a vacation. 

     

    Thanks for you excellent and prompt service. 

     Reply

  • Michele Wyman 5 years ago

    Wonderful trip and well organized. However, would not recommend the hotel or restaurant in Stes.Maries

    Everything else was great and would recommend and perhaps book another bike trip in the future.

     Reply

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