France through the eyes of Van Gogh
On some days you will be cycling through a windy area; with distances to 50 kilometers per day.
An exciting bike and boat vacation in the South of France in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Cézanne. Pedal along enchanting routes in the peaceful Provençal countryside and be enveloped by the wild nature of the Camargue. Ride through beautiful villages with typical French character and discover as you go the history of this magnificent region. A comfortable riverboat welcomes you at night, with good food, wine and the pleasure of conviviality.
Beautiful bike and barge trip from the famous ‘pont d’Avignon’ to the Mediterranean sea. You will visit Avignon and Arles with their cultural and architectural highlights and cycle through the landscapes that inspired Van Gogh. Along the way you will discover picturesque Provencal villages and vineyards. You will start or end your tour in the stunning nature of the Camargue. Cane fields, salt lakes, horses and flamingos will be the background of the first or second part of your week.
Individual arrival and boarding from 5 p.m. onwards in Aigues Mortes, medieval town, ancient military and commercial port on the Mediterranean. Then regroup for the introductory briefing – at 6.30 p.m. – with your tour leader, skipper and crew, along with a first refreshing aperitivo.
As you cycle through the small country lanes of Camargue, passing by canals, lagoons, and small villages, you will come across La Cailar, Marsillargues, and Saint-Laurent-d’Aigouze, which are well-known for their ancient taurine tradition. In the afternoon, you will visit an organic vineyard and enjoy a special wine tasting experience. This will allow you to immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes of Camargue’s ponds, lagoons, reeds, and dunes while savoring the scents of warm sand, tamarisk, and pine forests. Free dinner in Aigues-Mortes.
You will sail for a couple of hours up to Saint Gilles and then cycle to today’s destination: Arles, known for the richness of its antique and Roman patrimony. The city fascinates you with its hidden treasures. Getting lost among its small alleys will be like entering a picture by Van Gogh. In the afternoon you will also have the opportunity to be welcomed by a professional guide, who will accompany you around the jewels of the town.
This is a breathtaking stage, which brings you to the Alpilles, with the perched village of Les-Baux-de-Provence and then to Saint Rémy de Provence. A landscape of limestone cliffs and olive trees will accompany the trip. In the evening you will moor in 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 Frigolet and afterwards down to the medieval village of Boulbon. In the afternoon navigation to Aramon for the overnight, with a beautiful view over the Mont Ventoux.
The stage today will bring you to the best preserved Roman aqueduct in Europe: Pont du Gard, a very spectacular work. Back to Aramon in the afternoon you will sail to Avignon, the city of the Popes. Your mooring place is in Quai de la Ligne, next to the famous Pont St. Bénezet.
Today you will cross the river Rhone taking the route that goes through Île de la Barthelasse, and you will ride through the typical garrigue landscape, passing by vineyards and orchards on your way to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. During the trip, you will have the opportunity to taste the famous Provençal wine. Later, you will cross the Rhône at Roquemaure and return to Villeneuve by following the river course.
After breakfast, end of services.
Cycling from Aigues Mortes to Avignon
Route profile
- Total length: 275 km
- Total vertical up: 620 m
- Terrain: 90% tarmac, 10% unpaved
Activity level
A week of cycling, suitable even for less experienced cyclists. The stages are mainly on back roads with little traffic, mostly flat, with a few ups and downs in northern Arles. There's only one more challenging stretch, to reach Les Baux de Provence, but the extraordinary scenery that you pass through certainly repays the effort. The rides are combined with boat rides to reach the starting points of the routes and to enjoy the views from the water
The barge, Caprice or L’Estello, will be assigned according to availability.
Tour programme variations: 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, as well as 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. These decisions are only taken by the barge’s captain.
We welcome you in Aigues Mortes, medieval town, ancient military and commercial port on the Mediterranean aboard your new home-from-home from 5.00 p.m. onwards, and then regroup for the introductory briefing – at 6.30 p.m. – with your tour leader, skipper and crew, along with a first refreshing aperitivo.
The barge is moored by the Quai des Bateliers in Avenue du Pont de Provence.
Aigues Mortes is connected with the following airports:
Montpellier: 40 Km, Nimes: 40 Km, Avignon: 90 Km, Marseille: 140 Km, Lyon: 300 Km
There are few train connections between Avignon and Aigues Mortes (it is necessary to change train in Nimes, transfer: approx. 2 hours, ticket from 16 €). In summer (July and August) there are more frequent train connections.
We suggest: from train station of Avignon to Lunel: direct train connections (transfer: approx.50 min; ticket from 16 €); from Lunel to Aigues Mortes you can take a taxi (16 km): transfer about 20-25 min; price about 40 €.
Aigues-Mortes is easily accessible by car. You can reach the barge directly by car to load and unload the luggage. There are several parkings where you can leave your car. Detailed information will be included in your travel documents.
You have to leave the boat after breakfast, no later than 9.00 a.m.
At the check-out you must return the keys of the cabin to the crew and pay the extra drinks. You can pay only by cash, not with credit cards. Large bills are not accepted. Please remember also to return the books and/or brochures you used for consultation. At the end of the tour the crew can organise (shared) taxis to the main airports and stations of the area, according to the participants’ requests. You can ask directly on board for further information
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
The Caprice is a beautiful Dutch boat that has been in use for a little over 10 years now. On the large sundeck you can enjoy the French landscape while sailing through the canals. Read more...
The L’Estello is a 1937 Dutch barge sailed over to France. She has been refurbished to offer a high level of comfort, without compromising any of her original charm. Read more....
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
By this tour you can rent the following bikes:
A low entry unisex frame, ideal for an upright but relaxed riding position.
Unisex low-entry frame. Bosch motor. Range: approx 90 km (flat terrain, average speed).
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.
All cabins are 2-person cabins. On the Caprice there is 1x single cabin. 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. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual.
Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a snack will be waiting for you.
If you have special meal requirements we ask you to mention this when booking. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus.
In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; vegan meals and lactose free diet, there is an additional charge.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, France and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays). Most groups are made up of 12 to 22 people.
Yes, but you must indicate this when booking. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus.
On some trips, in case of a gluten-free diet/lactose-free diet/ vegan meals, a surcharge applies. This is stated per tour.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (but that is almost never the case!), you can stay on board or your guide can organize an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours (at your own expense).
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.
No, the barge doesn’t take the same route as the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.