Guided cycling holiday : from Van Gogh to wild Camargue

Highlights of the trip

  • Easy cycling in the heart of the countryside through Van Gogh landscapes
  • The vast olive groves of the perched medieval village of Les Baux
  • Untamed wilderness under the flight of flamingoes
  • The wild sandy beaches & gypsy pilgrimage in Saintes Maries de la Mer 

    Customize your holiday here 

  • From 2420€ /pers
    • Guided Cycling
    • Easy
      • 7 days
      • From March to November
      • Simple -
      • Comfort -
      • Charming -
      • Superior
      • Ref : A1202

Itinerary 

Day 1 - Avignon and the Pope's palace

cafe saint remy de provence van gogh great market of provence great light of provenceYour trip begins in the heart of Avignon. A medieval town on the banks of the mighty Rhône River, Avignon hides many treasures: the Pope’s palace, the 12th century bridge, the 14th century ramparts still intact, and many museums and churches. Meander through a labyrinth of cobbled streets and discover cafés in open squares, shaded by plane trees. You meet your guide at the end of the day and enjoy dinner together.

Meals included : dinner
Night : Avignon

    Day 2 - Frigolet abbey hidden in the thyme-laden hills

    van gogh olives groves of provenceYou start your biking itinerary between the Durance and Rhône Rivers, through a mosaic of orchards and cypress trees. You cycle into the quaint village of Barbentane before climbing up on the “Montagnette” – literally “little mountain” – where your wide-sweeping views of the plains are accompanied by the scent of roasting pine needles and aromatic herbs.  At the back of the Montagnette lies the monastery of St. Michel de Frigolet, built over eight centuries. You cycle through the charming villages of Graveson and Maillane before reaching Saint Rémy de Provence, a charming artists' town where Van Gogh spent his final year.

    Ride : Avignon > St Rémy | 35 km - 22 miles | Elevation: +250m/-200m
    Meals included : breakfast & lunch
    Night : Saint Rémy 

    Market on Wednesday & Saturday morning in St Remy

    Day 3 - Cycling at the foot of the Alpilles

    best guided cycling holiday in provence Your cycling trip follows the base of the Alpilles mountains to the east, first on small roads and then on a track leading into the vines. You reach the picture-perfect Provençal village of Eygalières, off the beaten tourist path, whose main square offers a few restaurants and cafés for a midday break. Heading northbound on tiny roads you reach the sleepy village of Mollégès before returning to St. Rémy through the heart of the countryside.

    Loop Ride : St Rémy > Eygalieres > St Rémy | 29 km - 18 miles | Elevation: +50m/-50m
    Meals included : breakfast & lunch
    Night : Saint Rémy

    Day 4 - Biking towards the perched village of Les Baux de Provence

    cycling van gogh les baux de provence saint remy fontvieille estoublonYou continue towards St. Etienne-du-Grès and the Romanesque chapel of Saint Gabriel. From here you follow  the imposing silhouette of the Alpilles, among olive groves and almond trees. After lunch or a picnic in Fontvieille, you will visit the elegant Château d’Estoublon estate and sample their olive oils and fine wines. Riding into the heart of the Alpilles, you reach Les Baux de Provence, a medieval village built atop a vertiginous rocky spur and listed as "one of the most beautiful villages in France". You continue onwards to Maussane, an "olive mill" village in the heart of the olive groves.

    Ride : St Rémy > Les Baux > Maussane | 28 km - 17 miles | Elevation: +250m/-300m
    Meals included : breakfast & lunch
    Night : Maussane

    Day 5 - Cycling to Roman Arles

    arles roman city coliseumIt’s a short and easy morning ride. Following the contours of the Alpilles mountains on quiet, narrow roads, you reach the ruins of a Roman aqueduct. From there you have a short climb before a picturesque and leisurely descent to Arles. Enjoy a free afternoon and stroll through Arles, the "Rome" of Provence with its lively streets  and remarkable wealth of Roman monuments, including its majestic coliseum. This small city emits a warm and authentic charm. 

    Ride : Maussane > Arles | 20 km - 13 miles | Elevation: +100m/-100m
    Meals included : breakfast & lunch
    Night : Arles

    Great market on Wednesday & Saturday (big one) mornings in Arles

    Day 6 - Pink Flamingoes and the Sea Wall

    cycling through wild horses of the camargue and flamingoesYour day’s journey  takes you due south, through vast expanses of rice paddies and marshlands, where you enter the heart of the Camargue Nature Park. The lagoons are untamed and carry on as far as the eyes can see, harbouring clumps of the precious few plant species that can survive the salt-rich waters. The salt crystals on the cracked earth shine like diamonds in the Mediterranean sun. You then veer right along the sea wall, a thin strip of land in between nowhere and the Mediterranean Sea. Soon you’ll catch a glimpse of the bell tower of Saintes-Maries de la Mer, and the white washed homes of the town. You part with your guide at the end of the cycling day. 

    Ride : Arles > Saintes Maries | 54 km - 31 miles | Elevation: +100m/-100m
    Meals included : breakfast & lunch
    Night : Saintes Maries de la Mer

    Day 7 - Saintes Maries de la mer

    arles roman rome of provence heart of the camargue and provence famous for bullfightsEnd of your trip after breakfast. Enjoy Saintes Maries de la Mer and the wild beaches on the Med Sea.

    Meals included : breakfast

    - Add an extra night and stay in a traditional horse & bull farm for a true cowboy experience!

    You can split the cycling ride in two between Arles and Saintes Maries de la Mer and book an extra night in a prestigious 5* "manade"  -  a traditional horse & bull farm of the Camargue : a unique experience and a real insight into the life of the Camargue cowboys who give the area a Wild West aura ! 

    . Ride 1 - Arles > Le Sambuc
    Biking across the Rhône River, the flatlands extend as far as the eye can see: wheat fields, rice paddies, orchards and vineyards, country roads lined with small canals bordered by bamboo, poplar and willow trees. You cycle past traditional bull and horse farms (manade) that line the huge marshlands of the Vaccarès. At the Mas de Capelière, an interesting nature path presents the different natural environments of the Camargue. 
    Ride : 33 km - 21 miles | Elevation: +100m/-100m

    . Ride 2 - Le Sambuc > sea wall > Saintes Maries
    You continue due south, through vast expanses of rice paddies and salt marshes and enter the heart of the Camargue Nature Park. The wild lagoons harbour clumps of the precious few plant species that can survive the salt-rich waters. You then bike along the sea wall, a thin strip of land in between the wilderness and the Med Sea, where you can enjoy the sight of thousands of flamingoes that nest in the region. Soon you will catch a glimpse of the bell tower of Saintes-Maries de la Mer and the white-washed homes of the town whose gypsy spirit lies in the patron saint Sara: her raft drifted to these shores 2000 years ago from Palestine and her remains are said to be in the church that dwarfs the rest of the town. 
    Ride : 35 km - 22 miles | Elevation: +50m/-50m

    . Enjoy a day horse-riding with a real Camargue cowboy "gardian". You will ride over 500 hectares (1235 acres) of land, between rice paddies and pastures. The famous white Camargue horses will take you  off the beaten track, galloping close to the Camargue bulls.
    If you are a good horse rider, you can participate in the sorting of the bulls with the cowboys, happy to share their work and passion with you. A great experience! 

    . Enjoy a day bird watching. Our guide, a native of the region, will reveal the secrets of the wild Camargue and share his passion with you in the heart of a preserved environment, home to 350 species of sedentary or migratory birds.

    - Enjoy an extra ride in Camargue !

    self guided cycling in camargue and provence famous for bullfights25 km of easy pedaling up the Petit Rhône riverbank: watch out for the lovely typical Camargue houses with their reed and thatch roofs. Through the marsh flatlands, you cycle to the Pioch Badet Estate from where you head south between the expansive ponds to the Saintes-Maries: here you will find flocks of birds, grazing black  bulls and native white horses trotting through the sands. 
    Ride : Saintes Maries > Pioch Badet > Saintes Maries | 26 km - 16 miles | Elevation: +50m/-50m

    • From 2420€ /pers
      • Guided Cycling
      • Easy
        • 7 days
        • From March to November
        • Simple -
        • Comfort -
        • Charming -
        • Superior
        • Ref : A1202
    YOUR TRIP

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    From the blog

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      Customize your holiday here 

      • 5 days
      • Challenging
      • Self-guided Cycling
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
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        • Comfort
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        • Charming
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    • Full circle cycling around the Alpilles - Luberon - Ventoux mountains 
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    • Cycling The Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence
    • Exhilarating descent through the Nesque Gorge
    • The Roman town of Arles and the artists' town of Saint Rémy



      Customize your holiday here 

      • 4 days
      • Easy
      • Self-guided Cycling
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
        • /
        • Charming
        • /
        • Superior

    Highlights of the trip

    • Easy cycling in the heart of the countryside through Van Gogh landscapes
    • The vast olive groves of the perched medieval village of Les Baux
    • The Roman city of Arles
    • Small charming villages of Eygalières and Maussane
    • The vineyards and olive groves blanketing the plains

      Customize your holiday here 

      • 5 days
      • Easy
      • Self-guided Cycling
        • From March to November
    •   Accommodation choice :
        • Simple
        • /
        • Charming
        • /
        • Superior

    Highlights of the trip

    • Easy cycling in the heart of the Van Gogh countryside and landscapes 
    • The vast olive groves at the foot of the perched medieval village of Les Baux
    • The charming small villages of Maillane, Maussane and Graveson
    • The Roman city of Arles & the artsy little town of St Remy
    • The vineyards and olive groves blanketing the plains

      Customize your holiday here