
Highlights
- Cycling through the Camargue – famous for flamingos and wild horses
- Winding your way through Provencal villages
- Visiting Pont du Gard, the highest Roman aqueduct and a UNESCO Heritage site
- Exploring scenic Avignon, city of the Popes
- Cycling past the magnificent abbey of Saint Michel de Frigolet
- Staying on board a charming, comfortable barge
Itinerary
- Meals: Dinner
Today you will arrive into Avignon where you’ll board your barge (from 18.00), close to the famous Pont St Bénézet.
Dinner on board is the perfect opportunity to get to know the other members of the group and chat about the week to come.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today we’ll cycle to the opposite bank of the Rhone river, crossing the Ile de la Bathelasse and riding between vineyards and orchards.
We’ll follow the course of the river, and spend some time in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (once known as the town of the cardinals), before returning to our barge in Avignon.
This afternoon can be spent exploring the historic centre of Avignon, known as the heart of Provence. For 70 or so years of the early 1300s, Avignon was the centre of the Roman Catholic world, and although it’s position as the seat of papal power only lasted a few decades, it’s been left with an impressive range of architecture, the most famous being the World Heritage–listed fortress/palace, known as the Palais des Papes.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
In the morning we’ll set sail and will travel by barge to the town of Aramon, from where we’ll start today’s ride.
The route today will bring us to the spectacular Pont du Gard. The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. The impressive aqueduct, with 3 sets of archways, was designed to bring water to the city of Nîmes, and is the highest, and one of the best preserved, of all elevated Roman aqueducts.
We’ll stay overnight in Aramon; with beautiful views of Mont Ventoux.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Riding along country roads, we’ll make our way to Barbentane and its castle, situated at the confluence of the Rhone and Durance rivers. We’ll then cycle to the magnificent Abbey of Saint Michel de Frigulet. The abbey takes its name from the Provençal word for thyme, the “ferigoule” which grows in the surrounding hills.
Afterwards we’ll make our way down to the medieval village of Boulbon, and on to Vallabrègues, a pretty Provençal village on the banks of the Rhône, where we’ll spend the night.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today’s stage brings us to Saint Remy de Provence, the birthplace of Nostradamus. Van Gogh also spent a year in an asylum here where he painted many of his most famous works. In the afternoon we’ll move onto the Alpilles, an enchanting natural site in the northwest of the Bouches du Rhône department. A highlight will be Les-Baux-de-Provence, a medieval village lodged in the rock itself. A landscape of limestone cliffs and olive trees will accompany us throughout the day.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
This morning is dedicated to exploring Arles, the ancient capital of Gaul with beautiful Roman ruins. You will also have the opportunity to be shown around by a professional tour guide, who will accompany you and show you the jewels of the town.
After lunch we’ll be back on our bikes and heading towards the lock of Saint Gilles and from there we’ll sail to Aigues-Mortes for our overnight stay.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today’s circular ride will take us along the small country lanes of the Camargue; we’ll be cycling along canals, past lagoons and through small villages to the charming fisherman’s village of Le Grau-du-Roi. With 12 miles of beach, it’s the perfect place to have a sunbathe and relax in the sunshine!
Alternatively, you‘re welcome to spend some time exploring the lovely Aigues-Mortes. Rising from the marshes of the Camargue, Aigues-Mortes’ walled town is the perfect place to escape to for a cold drink after a hot day spent lazing on the beach.
- Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast it’s time to disembark and start your journey home. The itinerary has been planned to feature navigation along the Rhone River and Rhone-Sète Canal. Occasionally, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the tour. Issues with high and low water, as well as logistical obstacles such as those officially ordered – and previously not announced (e.g. repair work on locks or bridges) can modify some of the daily stretches or overnight stays and may even request a transfer by bus. These decisions will be taken by the boat’s captain.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The terrain is 95% asphalt and on 5% unpaved roads. The tour is in the lowlands during the three stages in the Camargue, while the stages north of Arles do present some ups and downs, but all manageable when taking it at your own pace. The 5 km/ 3 mile uphill climb towards Les Baux will pose the biggest challenge of the week, but you will be fully repaid with an extraordinary landscape. The itinerary is mostly (around 80%) on secondary roads with low levels of traffic, with some short stretches on busier roads. There is a short 1 km stretch on a gravel / dirt road between Arles and Saint Gilles. We recommend a hybrid bike for this tour. (We don’t recommend bringing your own bikes).

Leisure Cycling Grade
Aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 trips
Suitable for those looking for some cycle friendly routes
Some modest climbs
Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc)
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Trips that are graded as a 2-3, will have aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 rides. These tours are still suitable for those perhaps who have recently got into cycling, and offer an array of accessible, cycle friendly routes, cycle paths and quiet roads, however there will be some days / sections where you may have to tackle some ups and downs, the occasional steeper climb and perhaps some varying terrain (forest tracks, gravel paths etc). Suitable for those with a decent level of physical fitness, looking for some leisurely rides with occasional (achievable!) challenges along the way.
Dates & Prices

Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
Whats Included 
A) Barge accommodation (shared twin / double en suite cabins)
B) Meals as per the itinerary
C) English speaking local leader, within an international group
D) Travel guide, maps and roadbook
E) Mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
F) Coffee and tea on board the barge
G) Emergency van in the area
H) Guided visit of Arles
I) Harbour charges
What's not Included 
A) Bike hire (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Single cabin (available if required, on request)
D) Travel insurance
E) Personal clothing and equipment
F) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills on board, etc)
G) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
H) Travel to barge on arrival day
I) Travel from barge on departure day
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Reviews
The Telegraph (2018), On tour in FranceAs seen in the press...The highlights of Provence are in pedalling range of a 21-berth Dutch barge: Arles, Les Baux, St Remy, the Pont du Gard and Avignon itself, where the 14th-century Popes lived in magnificent style. To all these treasures, the boat and bike formula adds 15 to 35 miles a day of cycling through the changing landscapes of the Alpilles and the Camargue, with its wild horses and clouds of pink flamingos.