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Provence Van Gogh cycling: an Impressionist's dream
    • France - Provence
    • 5 days
    • Cycling
    • Self-guided
      • From March to November
    • 2 - 10 travellers
      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior
      • Trip code : A1206
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About the Provence Van Gogh cycling: an Impressionist's dream trip

About the trip in Provence

Your self guided Provence cycling trip: Your cycling tour links the towns of Avignon, Saint Rémy and Arles – towns of art and light. Along seldom-used roads and accompanied by the scents of thyme and rosemary, you’ll ride along the traces of Van Gogh in the plains and hillsides of Provence, through olive groves and vineyards.

During this cycling holiday in France, you will pass hidden stone farmhouses and Romanesque chapels, Roman ruins and perched medieval villages. Under the jagged limestone ridges of blue hues, and in the valleys of pine forests and aromatic herbs, we invite you to savour the local art de vivre thanks to our Provence cycling tour!

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 cafés and restaurants of Saint Remy de Provence
  • The vineyards and olive groves blanketing the plains




    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From the blog

Provence cycling, an Impressionist's dream: day by day

Day 1 - Avignon and the Pope's palace

pont Avignon pope palace provence

  • Your 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.
  • Night in Avignon

  • We recommend : 
    . Have an extra night in Avignon and take the time to discover this beautiful medieval town, with the famous Pope's palace !

  • Access: 
    . Regular train lines from Paris and Marseille city/airport > Avignon on the SNCF train website. Access information here

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

Van gogh olives groves monastery frigolet

  • Ride - Avignon > Barbentane > Saint Rémy 
    35km / 21.8 miles - Ascent: +250 m / Descent: -200 m
  • You 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, an artists' town where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life.
  • Night in Saint Rémy de Provence.
  • MEALS included: Breakfast 

  • We recommend : 
    . Add an extra cycling loop to the charming village of Eygalieres: great market on Friday !
    > See the section book / extension

  • Small market on Friday morning in Barbentane

Day 3 - Cycling towards the Chateau of les Baux de Provence

cycling van gogh les baux de provence saint remy fontvieille estoublon

  • Ride - St Rémy > Fontvieille > Les Baux > Maussane  
    28km / 17.4 miles - Ascent: +250 m / Descent: -300 m
  • Your continue towards St. Etienne-du-Grès, and the Romanesque chapel of Saint Gabriel. From here you follow alongside the imposing silhouette of the Alpilles, among olive groves and almond trees. After lunch or 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”.
  • Night in the charming village of Maussane
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

  • Big market on Wednesday & Saturday mornings in St Remy de Provence
  • Small market on Monday & Friday morning in Fontvieille

Day 4 - Biking to Roman Arles

cafe van gogh wine drinking arles saint remy

  • Ride - Maussane > Paradou > Arles   
    20km / 12.4 miles - Ascent: +100 m / Descent: -100 m
  • Today you trade in the jagged limestone mountains for the plains, as you bike southward to Arles. Here you get a glimpse of the famed Camargue region–vast flatlands covered in rice fields, and ranches with white horses and bulls. You will pass an interesting set of Roman ruins along the way: a flour mill serviced by a 2000 year-old aqueduct. Arrive in Arles, capital of the Camargue, with its Roman amphitheater. 
  •  Night in Arles
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

  • Market on Thursday morning in Maussane

    Day 5 - Arles, the Rome of Provence

    arles roman city coliseum

      • End of trip in Arles after breakfast. Bye Bye Provence ..
        Take the time to stroll in Arles - on the banks of the Rhône River - that harbours a remarkable wealth of Roman monuments, including its majestic coliseum, and emits a warm and authentic charm.
      • MEALS included: Breakfast

      • We recommend : 
        . Enjoy a half-day safari in Camargue ! Pick up in Arles at 9am or 2pm 
        4 hours excursion in a 4x4 car through the Camargue with an english-speaking guide. You drive through the flat lands of the Camargue and observe wild horses, native bulls, pink flamingoes and birds.  You stop in a "manade" (a typical bull farm), and have a  free half hour in Saintes Maries de la mer. Saintes Maries is a charming little town located by the Med sea, with whitewashed homes, a beautiful fortified church, and is renowned in the  gypsy community with the yearly pilgrimage. See all details in the Book - Extension section
        . Continue onwards your Provenec cycling holiday to the Luberon perched villages, or to the wild Camargue ! 

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

      • Return : Regular train lines from Arles > Avignon - Marseille city/airport - Paris on the SNCF train website. Access information here

    - Add an extra ride to the wild Camargue !

    • We recommend an extra night in Arles to enjoy an extra cycling day to the wild Camargue ! 
    • Ride - Arles > Vaccares > Arles
      46km/28,5 miles - flat
    • You leave Arles and head south towards the vast expanses of the Camargue. Horses, ponds, bulls, rice fields and reeds: the landscapes do not deceive, you are here in the middle of the Camargue! You will discover the great wilderness of the Camargue with its large lagoons, its pink flamingos, and its ponds as far as the eye can see.
      The Vaccarès - from the Latin "vaccarum regio" (country of cows) - vast pond of water covers to him only one third of the extents occupied by the ponds of Camargue. The National Reserve of Camargue was created in 1927 to protect animal and plant species.

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    • The vast olive groves at the foot of the perched medieval village of Les Baux
    • The charming small villages of Maillane, Maussane and Graveson
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      Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

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    Trip details
    Provence Van Gogh cycling: an Impressionist's dream
        • France - Provence
        • 2 adults (2x730€)
        • 0 children (0x730€)
      • 5 days
      • Simple
    Total 1460€
    Deposit 500€
    Book now !