Provence - Van Gogh
France Bike Tours
Bike in Provence - A Painter’s Paradise!!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1312 Rates
Overview
This bike tour in Provence takes you through an amazing region in France. The never-ending beauty and colors of the Provence region that have been artistically depicted on so many canvases (Monet, Matisse, Cézanne and of course, van Gogh) continues to inspire.
Starting in Avignon, the route gently follows the flow of the Rhône River to historic Arles. Here, Van Gogh painted and sketched over 300 drawings and paintings.
Highlights
- Arles, the city of Van Gogh
- The sandy beaches of Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer
- The beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean
- Parc de Camargue, which 500 years agos served as a gypsy campground
- White Camargue horses that freely roam the land of dunes
- Black bulls and pink flamingos
For other bicycle tours in Provence, check out our full list of bike tours in France.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Avignon
Day 2: Avignon - Barbentane, 43 mi. (69 km)
Day 3: Barbentane - Arles, 32 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 AvignonAll 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 - 5:30 pm (except on Sunday). In the event of late arrival on weeknights, the meeting is possible the next day in the morning at 9 am. Do note that the office is closed on Sundays so arrival on Sundays will have the meeting on Monday morning at 9 am sharp. If you are planning on a Saturday arrival, be sure that you are able to arrive in time for a meeting that day!During the check-in at the hotel in Avignon, you will receive a tour packet including a map indicating how to reach Provence Bike. The receptionist will phone our local partner so that the time of welcome meeting can then be fixed.
DAY 2: Avignon - Barbentane, 43 mi. (69 km) +/- 625 meters of climbing
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, you will visit the Provencal village of Barbentane.DAY 3: Barbentane - Arles, 30 mi. (51 km). =/- 278 meters of climbing
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, 35 mi. (57 km) +/- 121 meters of climbing
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.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) +/- 219 meters of climbing
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) +/- 413 meters of climbing
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.
Map
Hotels & Bikes
Two options possible:
Comfort: swimming pools (except in Avignon and Arles).
• 7 nights in 3 star hotels
Superior: swimming pools (except in Avignon). In Arles, spa is available.
• 5 nights in 3 star
• 2 nights in 4 starBicycles
Standard bicycle
The rental bikes are 24 gear Cannondale standard with Shimano components
- Standard pedals
- Bottle cage
- Mineral water bottle
- Lock
- Rear rack
- Pannier (20 l)
- Odometer
- Lights
- Klickfix
- Pump
- Repair kit including spare tube
On request, the following can also be provided for free:
- Pedals with toe clips
- SPD pedals
- LOOK pedal
- Mounting and removal of personal saddle
- Mounting and removal of personal pedals
- Helmet
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodation for 7 nights
- Breakfasts
- Dinners on days 2, 4, and 6
- VTC Standard Course lightweight (13 kg) 24 gear standard bicycle equipped with luggage rack, rear pannier bag, water bottle, and lock
- Accessories including odometer, repair kit with pump, road book, handlebar bags (one set per booking)
- Helmet rental (must be reserved in advance)
- Luggage transfer between the hours of 9:30 am and 5 pm. It cannot be guaranteed that luggage will arrive before 5 pm. If you need your luggage at a specific time, please specify at time of booking. Supplement will apply
- Local taxes
What’s Not Included
- Remaining meals
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Excursions
- GPS is not possible for this tour
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Daily arrivals from April 1 to October 25, 2023
Arrivals after 6 pm on Saturdays are not possible. If you arrive on Sunday, the bike distribution and welcome meeting will take place on Monday.
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2023
Comfort Superior Apr, May, June, Sept. and Oct $ 2184 £ 1142 $ 1,959 € 1312 kr 201134 ₪ 5399 ¥ 223984 Mex$ 24430 NZ$ 2399 NOK 15763 zł 5776 S$ 1950 kr 15673 $ 1,435 $ 2396 £ 1253 $ 2,149 € 1439 kr 220604 ₪ 5921 ¥ 245665 Mex$ 26795 NZ$ 2632 NOK 17289 zł 6335 S$ 2139 kr 17190 $ 1,574 Single supplement $ 549 £ 287 $ 493 € 330 kr 50590 ₪ 1358 ¥ 56337 Mex$ 6145 NZ$ 603 NOK 3965 zł 1453 S$ 490 kr 3942 $ 361 $ 573 £ 299 $ 514 € 344 kr 52736 ₪ 1416 ¥ 58727 Mex$ 6405 NZ$ 629 NOK 4133 zł 1514 S$ 511 kr 4109 $ 376 Solo traveler supplement $ 907 £ 474 $ 814 € 545 kr 83550 ₪ 2243 ¥ 93042 Mex$ 10148 NZ$ 997 NOK 6548 zł 2399 S$ 810 kr 6511 $ 596 $ 931 £ 487 $ 835 € 559 kr 85697 ₪ 2300 ¥ 95432 Mex$ 10409 NZ$ 1022 NOK 6716 zł 2461 S$ 831 kr 6678 $ 611 July and August $ 2291 £ 1198 $ 2,055 € 1376 kr 210946 ₪ 5662 ¥ 234910 Mex$ 25622 NZ$ 2516 NOK 16532 zł 6058 S$ 2045 kr 16438 $ 1,505 $ 2502 £ 1309 $ 2,245 € 1503 kr 230415 ₪ 6185 ¥ 256591 Mex$ 27987 NZ$ 2749 NOK 18057 zł 6617 S$ 2234 kr 17955 $ 1,644 Single supplement $ 651 £ 340 $ 584 € 391 kr 59942 ₪ 1609 ¥ 66751 Mex$ 7281 NZ$ 715 NOK 4698 zł 1721 S$ 581 kr 4671 $ 428 $ 676 £ 353 $ 606 € 406 kr 62241 ₪ 1671 ¥ 69312 Mex$ 7560 NZ$ 742 NOK 4878 zł 1787 S$ 603 kr 4850 $ 444 Solo traveler supplement $ 1009 £ 528 $ 905 € 606 kr 92902 ₪ 2494 ¥ 103456 Mex$ 11284 NZ$ 1108 NOK 7281 zł 2668 S$ 901 kr 7239 $ 663 $ 1034 £ 541 $ 927 € 621 kr 95201 ₪ 2555 ¥ 106017 Mex$ 11563 NZ$ 1136 NOK 7461 zł 2734 S$ 923 kr 7418 $ 679 Extra Options
Bike rental options
Electric bike rental $ 183 £ 96 $ 164 € 110 kr 16863 ₪ 453 ¥ 18779 Mex$ 2048 NZ$ 201 NOK 1322 zł 484 S$ 163 kr 1314 $ 120 Tandem bike rental $ 98 £ 51 $ 88 € 59 kr 9045 ₪ 243 ¥ 10072 Mex$ 1099 NZ$ 108 NOK 709 zł 260 S$ 88 kr 705 $ 65 Recumbent bike On request Extra nights
Available in each accommodation of the tour. Prices on request.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
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.
Airport Info
Fly to Avignon or Paris.
Local Travel
All trains depart the CDG train station located directly beneath terminal 2. To get to Gare de Lyon, you must first catch the B line which departs every 15-20 minutes and then change to the RER A line at Chatelet – Les Halles.The whole journey takes 42 minutes. Trains run between 5 am and midnight and different tickets are available depending on your requirements. Intercity trains such as TGV and TER do not operate direct services, utilizing these services is overly complex between these 2 destinations and not recommended.
Climate
The Provence region has Mediterranean climate with the months of May, June, September, and October being more mild. July and August are typically the hottest months.
Day of Rest
Day 5 can be used as a day of rest
Remarks
Tandem bicycle available upon request.
Extra Stay
Extra nights possible by request in Avignon.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Provence Bike.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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Arvo Luik
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