Overview
Our Provence and Camargue Bike and Boat Adventure is a wonderful tour starting in the wild Camargue nature with its bulls and horses; from the medieval fortress of Aigues Mortes, you’ll cycle gradually towards Arles. After that, you’ll enjoy the typical Provence landscape, including the Rhone Valley, Van Gogh’s Provence, and the Roman Pont du Gard.
This tour allows you to choose between pedalling on your own or with the whole group, following a tour leader. When booking the tour, you need to specify which option you prefer. If you want to cycle independently, you can do it by following our instructions and App, included in the package. In case of an emergency, you can contact the tour leader over the phone. If you change your mind during the week and want to join the guided tour, you just need to inform the tour leader the evening before. If you choose the guided option, the tour leader will always be present during breakfast and dinner and cycle every day.
The programme has been planned to feature navigation along the Rhone River and Rhone-Sète Canal. Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday. Issues with high and low water and logistic obstacles such as officially ordered (previously not announced) repair work on locks or bridges can modify some of the daily stretches or overnight stays and may even request a transfer by bus.
Click to view map
Itinerary
Note that, depending on the start date, the itinerary can also be in reverse. For additional info, please click the Dates & Prices button.
Day 1: Avignon
Individual arrival and boarding after 6 pm in Avignon. Upon arrival, you will meet the tour leader and the crew. Every evening after dinner, the guide will present you with the cycling program for the following day. Your mooring place is in Quai de la Ligne next to the famous Pont St. Bénezet.
Day 2: Avignon Round Tour | 30km
Today we’ll get to the other side of the river Rhone by crossing the island Île de la Barthelasse, and we’ll ride in the typical garrigue landscape, between vineyards and orchards. Before going back, we’ll visit Villeneuve Les Avignon, once known to be the town of the cardinals. In the afternoon time to discover the historic centre of Avignon.
Day 3: Avignon – Aramon | 40km
In the morning, the boat will depart to the town of Aramon, where you will start pedalling. The stage today will bring you to the best-preserved Roman aqueduct in Europe: Pont du Gard. Overnight in Aramon with a beautiful view over the Mont Ventoux.
Day 4: Aramon – Vallabrègues | 35 km
You start your day sailing to Vallabrègues, a pretty Provençal village on the banks of the Rhône. Along country roads, you will arrive at Barbentane with its castle at the confluence of the Rhone and Durance rivers. You will cycle to the magnificent Abbey of Saint Michel de Frigolet and afterwards down to the medieval village of Boulbon. Overnight in Vallabrègues.
Day 5: Vallabrègues – Arles | 55km
This stage brings you to Saint Remy de Provence, the birthplace of Nostradamus. This village is also famous for having hosted Van Gogh in the days of his mental illness. In the end, you move onto the Alpilles, with Les-Baux-de-Provence, a village lodged in the rock itself. A landscape of limestone cliffs and olive trees accompanies your journey.
Day 6: Arles – Aigues-Mortes | 25km
Today the whole morning is dedicated to visiting Arles, the ancient capital of Gaul with beautiful Roman ruins. You will also have the opportunity to be welcomed by a professional guide, who will accompany you around the town’s jewels. After lunch, you reach the lock of Saint Gilles, and from there, you will sail to Aigues Mortes for the overnight stay.
Day 7: Aigues Mortes Round Tour | 55km
Going through small country lanes of Camargue between canals, lagoons and small villages, you will reach in the afternoon the charming fishermen’s village Le Grau-du-Roi. Possibility of a refreshing bath on the beach.
Day 8: Departure
End of services after breakfast.
What to expect
Boat
The accommodation on our barges (Caprice and L’Estello) is in double and twin cabins, with an approximate size of 7-8 sq m. Each cabin has two fixed portholes, air conditioning, en-suite facilities and safety box; plus ample closet space, a power socket and a full-length mirror. Bed sizes: 1.90m x 0.80m (Singles) and 1.90m x 1.40m (Doubles). The living area measures 12.50 x 4.10m, is air-conditioned and is divided into two areas: the restaurant (up to 22 seats) and the lounge with an open bar. A total of 10 windows gives plenty of natural light.
Features and amenities:
- Free hot drinks machine
- Free wifi in the restaurant/bar area
- Large 55” screen in the lounge
- Dedicated bike storage
- Hair-dryers (one in each cabin)
- Complimentary courtesy kit: soap, shower gel, shampoo, shower cap
- Sundeck with seating accommodation and fixed awning
Click to view sample pictures of our boats
Meals
The package price includes full board meal plan: breakfast and dinner (all served on board) and a self-made takeaway packed lunch.
Difficulty and terrain
The easy to moderate cycling routes are totally flat in the lowlands of Camargue, while the stages north of Arles include some ups and downs, which are, however, easy to overcome. There is just one more demanding slope towards Les Baux de Provence, but you will be greatly rewarded with an extraordinary landscape. The itinerary is mostly on secondary roads with low traffic, some short stretches on busier roads are inevitable. Daily distances range between 30km and 55km (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
This trip is available from end-March until end-October. (for available departure dates click the Dates & Prices button above).
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Avignon is best connected with the following airports: Montpellier 80km, Marseille 90km, Lyon 280km
There are also train stations at both Avignon and Aigues Mortes if you want to do this trip without flying and travel by rail. For more details see SNCF Connect.
By train or bus
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnights on board
- Full board (breakfast, dinner (not included on day 6) and a self-made packed lunch)
- Coffee, tea and other hot drinks on board
- Sheets and towels
- Courtesy kit
- Mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
- Bike helmet
- App including maps, points of interest and GPS tracks
- Digital tour information
- English speaking tour leader within an international group
- Guided visit of Arles
- Port charges
Excluded
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Beverages onboard
- Dinner on Day 6
- Tips and extras in general
- Museums
- Anything not listed as ‘Included’
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to travellers who require a single cabin
- Special diet mal plan (gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan diets)
- Bike rental (standard or e-bike)
- Extra nights in Avignon/Aigues Mortes on request
Bike rental
We offer standard unisex bikes (27-gear Shimano Deore), and e-bikes (9-gear Shimano), equipped with:
- 1 cycle computer
- 1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
- 1 combination bike lock
- 1 helmet suitable for head circumferences from 54 to 61cm
For those who would like to go self-guided, included are also: 1 front bar bag, and 1 repair kit per cabin (1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, 2 allen keys and tyre levers). To cycle smoothly following our App, we suggest that you bring with you a holder for your mobile phone to be fixed on the handlebar, as well as a power bank.
We recommend that you bring your own reusable water bottle with you. All bikes have aluminium frame, mudguard, rear rack, comfort gel saddle, anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres, ergonomic bicycle grips, and Speed Lifter system.
Gallery
