Cycle Provence

8 Days | Cycle through Provence’s vineyards, villages and UNESCO World Heritage sites

4.5 out of 5 based on 40 reviews submitted.
Cycling
From
ZAR  48,400
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Ride your way through neat rows of vineyards, beneath towering aqueducts and past verdant forests on an eight-day active cycling adventure through Provence. This journey through Southern France is the perfect blend of scenic trail riding, historical sightseeing and indulgent wine tasting. Visit the serene gardens of St Remy to see where Vincent van Gogh created his famous works, savour regional red wines at a vineyard outside Avignon and walk the cobbled streets of Les Baux to the top of the limestone cliffs. With a handful of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Roman history and serene landscapes where wild horses roam free – what more does a European cycling adventure need?

Trip overview

Map of Cycle Provence including France
Start
Avignon, France
Finish
Arles, France
Theme
Cycling
Destinations
France
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 14
Group size
Min 1 - Max 15
Trip code
AMXC
This trip generates 11 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Cycle through the same landscapes that inspired some of Vincent van Gogh's greatest masterpieces, like ‘Irises’ and the iconic ‘Starry Night’.
  • Pass by fragrant fields on the way to the spectacular three-tiered city of Pont du Gard – this Roman aqueduct is a UNESCO World Heritage site and if it’s quiet, you’ll even get to ride the bridge!
  • Search for wild white horses outside Camargue as you cycle to the Mediterranean Sea. The lakes of Camargue are also a bird spotters paradise, home to more than 400 species of birds.
  • Encounter rich Roman history and architecture in the historic towns of Arles and Orange. You’ll see Van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Roman Amphitheatre and one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in Europe.
  • Stop in at famous vineyards outside Avignon and savour the delicious, regional French wines of the area. You deserve a reward after days of riding, don’t you?
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip covers quite some distance and you’ll be cycling up to 60 km a day on varied terrain with a few hills. As well as the ability to confidently ride a bike, you'll need a moderate level of fitness to enjoy all activities.
  • On this trip, you have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
  • There’s the possibility of a few hiccups along the way – a puncture here and there – but there’s no doubt this is an incredibly rewarding adventure.
  • If you feel like doing all the riding but with less effort, we have the option of hiring an electric bike (e-bike) on this trip.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2026.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Map of Cycle Provence including France

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts

Transport

Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Activities
  • Orange Roman Theatre
  • Pont du Gard Entrance
  • Saint Remy - Van Gogh Asylum visit
  • Arles Amphitheatre
  • Castle Visit - Les Baux de Provence
Add on activities
  • Avignon - Pont d'Avignon (Bridge of Avignon) - EUR5
  • Avignon - Palais des Papes - EUR15
  • Avignon - Museum of the Petit Palace - EUR6
  • Avignon - Museum Calvet - EUR6
  • Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Wine tasting - Free
  • Orange Triumphal Roman Arch - Free
  • Orange Art and History Museum - EUR6
  • Uzes - Cathedral - Free
  • Saint Remy - Glanum Archaelogical Site - EUR8
  • Saint Remy - St Paul de Mausole Monastery - EUR8
  • Mont Ventoux Cycling Extension (Including road bike hire & transport)) - EUR100
  • Arles - Musee de Arles Antique - EUR8
  • Arles - Reattu Museum - EUR8
  • Arles - Vincent Van Gogh Foundation - EUR10
  • Les Baux de Provence - Carriere des Lumieres - EUR14
  • Les Baux de Provence - St Vincent Church - Free
  • Saintes Maries de la Mer - Boat Tour 90 minutes - EUR16
  • Saintes Maries de la Mer - Ornitology Park - Flamingos - EUR8
  • Saintes Maries de la Mer - Cathedral Rooftop Climb - EUR2

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information.
2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organise a suitable sized bike.
3. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.
4. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
5. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
6. We are unable to offer private transfers from/to Nice Airport. Please refer to the Joining/Finishing Point Instructions for further information about arriving/departing for this tour.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Reviews

4.5 out of 5 based on 40 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Adrienne · Traveled August 2024
The trip met all of my expectations, I loved riding through the country roads and villages stopping for coffee/lunch. Experiencing the history. Visiting small family wineries and local markets. It was everything I imagined it would be. We had outstanding guilds which I feel made the experience even better.
Review submitted 27 Aug 2024

Aileen · Traveled August 2024
The intrepid cycling trip in Provence is a fantastic experience with fantastic guide and driver
Review submitted 24 Aug 2024

Ellen · Traveled August 2024
My husband and I took this trip to celebrate our 32nd anniversary and as a challenge to myself before an upcoming milestone birthday. I'm thrilled to have been able to accomplish 25-30+ miles each day while enjoying the best wine in the world, decadent cuisine, and like-minded traveling companions. Our group got along great- 7 Kiwis, an Aussie, and 4 Americans. Cycling is a unique way to enjoy the beauty of Provence. We had never taken a group cycling trip and this turned out to be highly rewarding. I recommend training for a few hill climbs, sun and wind. We used regular bikes, but the e-bikes seemed to be a good alternative. The trip leader, driver, and trainee- Alice, Tommaso, and Ivan, worked well together and made this a very special, safe and fun experience. A bonus was the unplanned stop at a winery in the Tavel region due to the cafe being closed. If you enjoy wines from Provence and can ride a bike, this is the trip for you!
Review submitted 25 Aug 2024

Rob · Traveled July 2024
Our Intrepid tour through Provence was nothing short of magnificent. Our guide Alice and driver Tommaso were great company and were extremely organised. Three of us on the trip rode up Mont Ventoux which was well organised. We had a group of like minded individuals who loved the cycling and amazing food I can’t wait for my next Intrepid trip
Review submitted 06 Aug 2024

Anne · Traveled July 2024
Our cycling trip through Provence with Alice and Tommaso was amazing.I absolutely loved the cycling ,the history, the food and the charming villages It was evident from the outset that Alice and Tommaso had a passion for France and this transpired throughout our trip. Their warmth, care and attention to detail was exceptional. Our small group of fellow travellers were a lot of fun.I would highly recommend
Review submitted 06 Aug 2024
Cycle Provence
From
ZAR  48,400