Provence - Van Gogh
France Bike Tours
Bike in Provence - A Painter’s Paradise!!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1312 Rates
- Book This Trip
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 $ 2224 £ 1154 $ 1,963 € 1312 kr 201549 ₪ 5367 ¥ 220634 Mex$ 24401 NZ$ 2423 NOK 15721 zł 5771 S$ 1942 kr 15573 $ 1,427 $ 2439 £ 1265 $ 2,153 € 1439 kr 221059 ₪ 5886 ¥ 241991 Mex$ 26763 NZ$ 2658 NOK 17243 zł 6330 S$ 2130 kr 17080 $ 1,565 Single supplement $ 559 £ 290 $ 494 € 330 kr 50695 ₪ 1350 ¥ 55495 Mex$ 6137 NZ$ 610 NOK 3954 zł 1452 S$ 489 kr 3917 $ 359 $ 583 £ 302 $ 515 € 344 kr 52845 ₪ 1407 ¥ 57849 Mex$ 6398 NZ$ 635 NOK 4122 zł 1513 S$ 509 kr 4083 $ 374 Solo traveler supplement $ 924 £ 479 $ 815 € 545 kr 83723 ₪ 2229 ¥ 91651 Mex$ 10136 NZ$ 1007 NOK 6531 zł 2397 S$ 807 kr 6469 $ 593 $ 948 £ 492 $ 836 € 559 kr 85874 ₪ 2287 ¥ 94005 Mex$ 10396 NZ$ 1033 NOK 6698 zł 2459 S$ 828 kr 6635 $ 608 July and August $ 2332 £ 1210 $ 2,058 € 1376 kr 211381 ₪ 5629 ¥ 231397 Mex$ 25591 NZ$ 2542 NOK 16488 zł 6053 S$ 2037 kr 16332 $ 1,497 $ 2548 £ 1322 $ 2,248 € 1503 kr 230891 ₪ 6148 ¥ 252754 Mex$ 27953 NZ$ 2776 NOK 18010 zł 6611 S$ 2225 kr 17840 $ 1,635 Single supplement $ 663 £ 344 $ 585 € 391 kr 60065 ₪ 1599 ¥ 65753 Mex$ 7272 NZ$ 722 NOK 4685 zł 1720 S$ 579 kr 4641 $ 425 $ 688 £ 357 $ 607 € 406 kr 62370 ₪ 1661 ¥ 68276 Mex$ 7551 NZ$ 750 NOK 4865 zł 1786 S$ 601 kr 4819 $ 442 Solo traveler supplement $ 1027 £ 533 $ 907 € 606 kr 93094 ₪ 2479 ¥ 101909 Mex$ 11270 NZ$ 1119 NOK 7262 zł 2666 S$ 897 kr 7193 $ 659 $ 1053 £ 546 $ 929 € 621 kr 95398 ₪ 2540 ¥ 104431 Mex$ 11549 NZ$ 1147 NOK 7441 zł 2732 S$ 919 kr 7371 $ 675 Extra Options
Bike rental options
Electric bike rental $ 186 £ 97 $ 165 € 110 kr 16898 ₪ 450 ¥ 18498 Mex$ 2046 NZ$ 203 NOK 1318 zł 484 S$ 163 kr 1306 $ 120 Tandem bike rental $ 100 £ 52 $ 88 € 59 kr 9064 ₪ 241 ¥ 9922 Mex$ 1097 NZ$ 109 NOK 707 zł 260 S$ 87 kr 700 $ 64 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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