France Bike & Boat / Provence

2024 Tour Dates: Saturday Departures, March 30 to October 26

Please book early! These trips fill quickly.

You can do this tour as either a Guided Tour and ride with the group and a leader, or as a Self-Guided Tour and ride at your own pace with a map and detailed route book.

On our Provence Bike & Boat Tour, your accommodation is a very comfortable live-aboard Barge. This France bike tour offers the chance to choose if pedaling alone (taking advantage of a very detailed route description) or with the whole group, following the tour leader. When booking the tour you need to specify which option is chosen (i.e. if Guided or Self guided). Daily you can look forward to typical dishes of the simple traditional French cuisine with local influences.

A wonderful tour through the wild Camargue nature with its bulls and horses: from the medieval fortress of Aigues Mortes to Saintes Maries de la Mer and then gradually by boat towards Arles. After that you visit the most typical Provence landscape, including the Rhone Valley, Van Gogh’s Provence, the Roman France of Pont du Gard and finally toast with the precious wines of Chateauneuf du Pape.

Tour Difficulty

This is considered an easy tour and is totally in the lowlands during the three stages in Camargue. While the stages north of Arles present some rolling terrain. There is just one longer hill towards Baux de Provence. Most of the route is on bike paths and low traffic roads in rural and city areas. Short stretches are on unpaved roads. If some day you decide not to cycle, please be aware that between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. it is not possible to stay in the boat to enable staff to perform their duties quietly on board and respect their rest periods. If the boat is moving to a new destination, you are welcome to stay on the boat.

  • Difficulty: Relatively Flat
  • Road Conditions: Smooth & Paved
  • Recommended Bike: Hybrid or Electric

Tour Highlights

  • See medieval fortress of Aigues Mortes
  • Rhone Valley
  • Van Gogh’s Provence
  • Traditional French cuisine
  • Roman France of Pont du Gard
  • Wines of Chateauneuf du Pape

2024 Price: from €1120 Euros per person, Value Season


based on double occupancy

Cruise aboard the L'Estello or Caprice barges (capacity approx. 25 people)

Value Season: Departure on March 30 - April 13

Season 2 Supplement: €400 Departure on April 20-27 and June 29 - August 8

Season 3 Supplement: €500 Departure on May 4-June 22 and Oct 19 - 26

Season 4 Supplement: €600 Departure on Aug 24-Oct 12

Single Supplement: €350 Euros when a single cabin is available

Special Diet Supplement: €50 (gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan diets) **please note that you will charged this supplement if you write in gluten-free or vegan on your personal information form.

Guided or Self Guided Option: The price remains the same for both options. This tour offers the chance to choose if pedaling alone (taking advantage of a very detailed route description) or with the whole group, following the tour leader. When booking the tour you need to specify which option is chosen (i.e. if Guided or Self guided).

Bike Rental: €120 Euros/hybrid bike, €280 Euros/Electric bike (bringing your own bike is not allowed on this tour)

Price Includes:
  • 7 overnights
  • All breakfasts & self-made packed lunches
  • 6 dinners
  • sheets and towels
  • Daily short cleaning and mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
  • App including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks
  • Digital tour information
  • English Speaking Cycling Tour Guide
  • harbor charges
  • coffee and tea on board
  • Guided visit of Arles
  • Courtesy kit
  • Bike helmet
  • Harbour charges
  • welcome drink
Price Does Not Include:

1 dinner on night 6, International flights, Gratuities, beverages on board, museums and everything which is not mentioned above.

“We got home from France on Tuesday and had a great time on the barge/bike trip! It completely exceeded my expectations. I went into it concerned about food allergies and whether we’d booked something that was physically beyond us. It turned out fine on all counts.”

~ Dan B. (Bike & Boat Tour of Provence, France)

Itinerary

Day 1 – Avignon

Individual arrival at 6 p.m. and boarding in Avignon. Your mooring place is in Quai de la Ligne next to the famous Pont St. Bénezet.

Day 2 – Avignon Tour (40 km)

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 (40 km)

In the morning navigation till the town of Aramon, where you will start pedaling. The stage today will bring you to the best preserved Roman aqueduct in Europe: Pont du Gard, a very spectacular work. Overnight in Aramon with a beautiful view over the Mont Ventoux.

Day 4 – Aramon-Vallabrègues (35 km)

You start your day sailing to Vallabrègues, pretty Provençal village on the banks of the Rhône. Along country roads you will arrive to Barbentane with its castle at the confluence of the Rhone and Durance rivers. You will cycle to the magnificent Abbey of Saint Michel de Frigulet and afterwards down to the medieval village of Boulbon. Overnight in Vallabrègues.

Day 5 – Vallabreguès–Arles (60 km)

This stage brings you to Saint Remy de Provence, 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 (25 km)

Today the whole morning is dedicated to visit 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 jewels of the town. 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 (55 km)

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 dip on the beach.

Day 8 – Aigues Mortes

After breakfast, depart the barge and end of tour services.