France Bike & Boat / Provence

2027 Tour Dates: Weekly Saturday Departures, March – October

Reservations
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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

Deposit & Cancellation

This tour requires a deposit payment equal to 50% of your tour cost. Your deposit payment will be 50% refundable up until 90 days before your tour’s start date. At this time the final payment will be due, and the full amount becomes non-refundable.

“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)

2027 Price: €1280 euros per person


based on double occupancy

Cruise aboard the L'Estello or Caprice barges (capacity approx. 20 guests)
Value Season: no supplement, Departure on March 27

Season 2 Supplement: +€500 Departure on April 3, 10, 17 & 24

Season 3 Supplement: +€600 Departure on May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

Season 4 Supplement: +€500 Departure on June 5, 12, 19 & 26

Season 5 Supplement: +€400 Departure on July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Aug 7, 14 & 21

Season 6 Supplement: +€700 Departure on Aug 28, Sept 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct 2, 9 & 16

Season 7 Supplement: +€500 Departure on Oct 23

Special Diet Supplement: €80 (gluten-free, dairy-free, lactose-free and vegan diets) **please note that you will charged this supplement if you note a dietary restriction 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: €130 Euros/hybrid bike, €310 Euros/Electric bike (bringing your own bike is not allowed on this tour)

Price Includes:
  • 7 nights accommodation
  • All breakfasts & 6 self-made packed lunches
  • 6 dinners
  • Afternoon snack
  • Welcome drink
  • Coffee, tea and other hot drinks on board
  • Still and sparkling water dispenser (room temperature or cold water)
  • Ice dispenser
  • App including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks
  • Digital tour information
  • English Speaking Cycling Tour Guide within an international group
  • Welcome briefing
  • Guided tour of Arles
  • Visit and wine tasting at a typical vineyard
  • Oil tasting
  • Some short walking tours
  • Bike helmet
  • Harbour charges
Price Does Not Include:

1 dinner on night 2, International flights, beverages on board, museums and everything which is not mentioned above, Gratuities – The amount is up to your discretion, we suggest 5-7 % of the cost of the trip

Caprice Barge

A small and cozy river boat that sails through the heart of Provence and Camargue. “Caprice“ has it all: custom designed furnishings, freshly varnished wood and bright colors, excellent on-board cuisine, and well-kept cabins and common areas make you feel at home.
  • Barge Capacity: 21 guests in low beds
  • air conditioning in the whole barge
  • WiFi available in common areas

CABINS – 11 total cabins
• 8 lower deck twin cabins 7-8 sq.m
• 2 lower deck double cabins 7-8 sq.m
• 1 lower deck single cabin 7-8 sq.m

Each Cabin Features:
• comfortable low beds (single: 1.90 m x 0.80 m | double: 1.90 m x 1.40 m)
• en-suite bathroom facilities
• fixed portholes (forced ventilation)
• individually controlled air conditioning
• safe deposit box
• ample closet space in the cabin for storing luggage
• sheets and towels
• hair dryers (one in each cabin)
• courtesy kit with solid soap and shampoo
• mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
• Schuko bipolar sockets (220V – 50Hz)

L'Estello Barge

“L’Estello” sails between Avignon and Aigues Mortes, with the Provençal landscape and the protected wilderness of the Camargue providing the backdrop. This river boat is a classic Dutch barge built in 1937 and then renewed in 2018. It is the ideal accommodation to spend a pleasant bike and boat vacation in nature and relaxation.
  • Barge Capacity: 20 guests in low beds
  • air conditioning in the whole barge
  • WiFi available in common areas

CABINS – 10 total cabins
• 9 lower deck twin cabins 7-8 sq.m
• 1 lower deck double cabin 7-8 sq.m

Each Cabin Features:
• comfortable low beds (single: 1.90 m x 0.80 m | double: 1.90 m x 1.40 m)
• en-suite bathroom facilities
• fixed portholes (forced ventilation)
• individually controlled air conditioning
• safe deposit box
• ample closet space in the cabin for storing luggage
• sheets and towels
• hair dryers (one in each cabin)
• courtesy kit with solid soap and shampoo
• mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
• Schuko bipolar sockets (220V – 50Hz)

Itinerary

Day 1 – Avignon

We welcome you aboard your new home-from-home from 5.00 p.m. onwards, and then regroup for the introductory briefing – at 6.30 – with your tour leader, skipper and crew, along with a first refreshing aperitivo. Your mooring place is in Quai de la Ligne next to the famous Pont St. Bénezet.

Day 2 – Avignon Tour (BIKE 45 km / ELEVATION GAIN (M) + 285 – 285)

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. Dinner in Avignon not included.

Day 3 – Avignon–Aramon (BIKE KM 45 / ELEVATION GAIN (M) + 240 – 240)

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 (BIKE KM 35 / ELEVATION GAIN (M) + 200 – 200)

You start from Vallabrègues, the village of wicker basket makers, and cross the fertile countryside dotted with orchards to reach the ancient village of Boulbon, where the ruins of a mighty 15th-century castle offer magnificent views over the Rhône valley. From here, you continue to Tarascon, where Provence’s most beautiful castle stands on the banks of the Rhône. At Beaucaire you find another castle with sections of the rampart walk still accessible. The cycle path on the old railway line to Remoulins leads you then to the foot of the troglodyte abbey of St. Romain, an impressive fortified convent entirely carved into the rock. Overnight in Vallabrègues.

Day 5 – Vallabreguès–Arles (BIKE KM 65 / ELEVATION GAIN (M) + 380 – 390)

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 (GUIDED VISIT 1 hour / BIKE KM 30 /ELEVATION GAIN (M) + 100 – 105)

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 Franquevaux and from there you will sail to Aigues Mortes for the overnight stay.

Day 7 – Aigues Mortes, round tour (BIKE KM 45 / ELEVATION GAIN (M) + 160 – 160)

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.

Day 8 – Aigues Mortes

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