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 $ 2172 £ 1146 $ 1,983 € 1312 kr 201344 ₪ 5394 ¥ 226612 Mex$ 24181 NZ$ 2374 NOK 15638 zł 5708 S$ 1960 kr 15603 $ 1,456 $ 2383 £ 1257 $ 2,175 € 1439 kr 220834 ₪ 5916 ¥ 248548 Mex$ 26522 NZ$ 2604 NOK 17152 zł 6261 S$ 2149 kr 17114 $ 1,597 Single supplement $ 546 £ 288 $ 499 € 330 kr 50643 ₪ 1357 ¥ 56998 Mex$ 6082 NZ$ 597 NOK 3933 zł 1436 S$ 493 kr 3925 $ 366 $ 570 £ 300 $ 520 € 344 kr 52791 ₪ 1414 ¥ 59417 Mex$ 6340 NZ$ 622 NOK 4100 zł 1497 S$ 514 kr 4091 $ 382 Solo traveler supplement $ 902 £ 476 $ 824 € 545 kr 83638 ₪ 2241 ¥ 94134 Mex$ 10045 NZ$ 986 NOK 6496 zł 2371 S$ 814 kr 6482 $ 605 $ 926 £ 488 $ 845 € 559 kr 85786 ₪ 2298 ¥ 96552 Mex$ 10303 NZ$ 1011 NOK 6663 zł 2432 S$ 835 kr 6648 $ 620 July and August $ 2278 £ 1202 $ 2,079 € 1376 kr 211166 ₪ 5657 ¥ 237666 Mex$ 25361 NZ$ 2490 NOK 16401 zł 5987 S$ 2055 kr 16365 $ 1,527 $ 2489 £ 1313 $ 2,271 € 1503 kr 230655 ₪ 6179 ¥ 259602 Mex$ 27702 NZ$ 2719 NOK 17914 zł 6539 S$ 2245 kr 17875 $ 1,668 Single supplement $ 647 £ 342 $ 591 € 391 kr 60004 ₪ 1607 ¥ 67534 Mex$ 7206 NZ$ 707 NOK 4660 zł 1701 S$ 584 kr 4650 $ 434 $ 672 £ 355 $ 614 € 406 kr 62306 ₪ 1669 ¥ 70125 Mex$ 7483 NZ$ 735 NOK 4839 zł 1766 S$ 606 kr 4829 $ 451 Solo traveler supplement $ 1003 £ 529 $ 916 € 606 kr 92999 ₪ 2491 ¥ 104670 Mex$ 11169 NZ$ 1096 NOK 7223 zł 2637 S$ 905 kr 7207 $ 672 $ 1028 £ 542 $ 938 € 621 kr 95301 ₪ 2553 ¥ 107261 Mex$ 11446 NZ$ 1124 NOK 7402 zł 2702 S$ 928 kr 7385 $ 689 Extra Options
Bike rental options
Electric bike rental $ 182 £ 96 $ 166 € 110 kr 16881 ₪ 452 ¥ 18999 Mex$ 2027 NZ$ 199 NOK 1311 zł 479 S$ 164 kr 1308 $ 122 Tandem bike rental $ 98 £ 52 $ 89 € 59 kr 9054 ₪ 243 ¥ 10191 Mex$ 1087 NZ$ 107 NOK 703 zł 257 S$ 88 kr 702 $ 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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