Backroad cycling France

Cycling from Avignon to Arles through iconic Provencal landscapes accompanied by a professionnal English-speaking guideRef CN21

We embark on a guided bike tour of Provence, from Avignon to Arles, accompanied by a professionnal English-speaking French guide. We cycle through the major natural and historical sites: lavender fields, olive groves and distinctive medieval villages. From bustling Avignon and its impressive Pope's Palace, we ride our bikes through lush orchards and prestigious vineyards : Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Beaumes de Venise... Our backdrop is breathtaking : the views of the Dentelles de Montmirail and majestic Mont Ventoux are unforgettable. We follow our guide through a carefully selected network of secondary roads to discover the local architecture and cultural heritage dating back to Roman and medieval times. Further South, we reach Saint Rémy de Provence at the foothills of the Alpilles natural park. We continue on to the stunning Baux de Provence, a medieval perched village appearing to emerge from the rock. We end our tour of Provence on a high note in the Roman city of Arles, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Guided tour: from 1595€ - Details Duration : 6 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
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+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • The assistance of a professional English-speaking French bike guide
  • A complete overview of Provence in 6 cycling days
  • Typical towns and villages of Provence, with their exceptional cultural, historical and architectural heritage
  • The incredible local gastronomy : goat cheese, olives, truffles, herbes de Provence, nougat...
  • Small groups from 5 to 12 participants
  • We welcome solo travellers!

Description

Comments

  • Special offers for private groups! Contact us for a quote.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Avignon - Châteauneuf du Pape - Orange

Itinerary start: Meeting with your guide on Day 1 at 10m close to Avignon Centre railway station. Departure directly by bike; please arrive in your cycle clothing. Possibility of booking extra nights in Avignon upon request.

The moment you reach Avignon, you know you are in Provence. As a former Christian capital of the Middle Ages, Avignon has retained an exceptional heritage from its past, much of which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Palais des Papes, the Pont d’Avignon, the Place des Palais with its baroque Hôtel des Monnaies, the Petit Palais museum, and the Doms Cathedral. We will visit the battlements, from the Doms garden to the famous Pont d’Avignon, before heading north along the Rhône River on peaceful backroads. The village of Châteauneuf du Pape, with its vineyards and prestigious wines, offers a mandatory stop! We then reach Orange, the City of Princes. Roman city and gateway to Provence, Orange has many historic buildings, including the famous Théâtre Antique (seating up to 9000 people!) and Arc de Triomphe, which we can take the time to visit in late afternoon.

Distance: approx. 40 km / Elevation gain: approx. 200 m

Day 2: Orange - Vaison-la-Romaine

Today's journey will take us to the authentic provencal village of Piolenc, where growing garlic has been one of the village's traditions for generations. We continue cycling along the foot of the wooded Uchaux hills, before heading north-east across vineyards of the Plan de Dieu and towards charming Cairanne. Perched on a hilltop, this fortified village offers breathtaking views of the surroundings: the Dentelles de Montmirail, Mont Ventoux, and the Aygues and Ouvèze valleys. Our cycling journey then follows in the footsteps of the Templars to Vaison-la-Romaine. Ranked amongst the Most Beautiful Detours of France, 'La Cité des Voconces' boasts a rich heritage and hides numerous treasures...

Distance: approx. 50 km / Elevation gain: approx. 450 m

Day 3: Vaison-la-Romaine - Mormoiron (at the foot of Mont Ventoux)

Day 3 ride heads south towards and follows the foothills of the picturesque Dentelles de Montmirail. On the way, the most beautiful villages of France of Séguret and Gigondas are awaiting for us. Our bike ride continues through winecountry to Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise, provencal villages with evocative names in the world of wine with their distinctive AOCs. With the Dentelles de Montmirail as a backdrop, we ride through vineyards, charming stone villages, terraced landscapes typical of the Ventoux area. We are at the foothills of majestic Mont Ventoux! We reach the village of Mormoiron, our stopover for the night, where the Salettes lake awaits us for a relaxing swim.

Distance: approx. 45 km / Elevation gain: approx. 550 m

Day 4: Mormoiron - Isle sur Sorgue

This morning we cross the agricultural Comtat plain. Early in the day we discover the small village of Mazan, with its many chapels and its 64 early Christian sarcophagi! Our itinerary then joins the perched villages of the Monts de Vaucluse: Venasque, another village listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", Le Beaucet and its fortified castle, the old village of Roque-sur-Pernes and its "calades" (pebble arrangements). The ride uphill is worthwhile the effort, with rewarding panoramic views of the Ventoux and the surrounding countryside. A great descent awaits us to join the various sites of the Sorgue: Saumane de Vaucluse and the castle of the famous Marquis de Sade, the enchanting Fontaine de Vaucluse, source of the Sorgue and its abyss... Plenty to see! The day's route ends at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, nicknamed the "Venise comtadine" with its canals, paddle wheels, the Notre-Dame des Anges church... and its celebrated flea markets.

Distance: approx. 40 km / Elevation gain: approx. 450 m

Day 5: Isle sur Sorgue - St Rémy de Provence

We leave the Sorgue country behind us and join the Petit Luberon and the village of Robion. Nestled between the Alpes de Haute Provence and the Plaine de Vaucluse, between the Calavon Valley to the north and the Durance to the south, is the imposing Luberon range. We could spend a whole week discovering the Luberon by bike, and for now we’ll make the most of its capital, Cavaillon, its delicious melons and stroll through its picturesque streets and alleys. Back on the bikes once again we head west to reach the Alpilles, the last range of hills before the plains of the Camargue. Saint Rémy de Provence, to the north of the Alpilles range is another of the region's must-see towns. Built on one of the oldest archaeological sites in Europe, in a setting of lush green, scented valleys, it’s easy to fall under its charm. Its many fine period homes have been restored with taste and its pretty streets offer the perfect setting for a late afternoon stroll...

Distance: approx. 45 km / Elevation gain: negligible

Day 6: St Rémy de Provence - Arles

Home of the writer Alphonse Daudet and a favoured painting destination of Van Gogh, the Alpilles offer the perfect end to this Provençal bike tour. We cycle through some magnificent Provençal scenery of “garrigue”, pine and oak forests, along shaded tracks and small back roads leading to some beautiful local bastides (country houses). The listed village of Les Baux-de-Provence offers us another superb stop, with an exceptional architectural and historical heritage. The range offers great views of the surrounding olive groves, and further south, the Camargue. The Alpilles, Camargue and Crau area make up what is known as the “Golden Triangle of Biodiversity”, a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. Gateway to this beautiful region and the final point of our stay is the city of Arles. A few gentle pedal strokes lead us to the Arènes, an important venue for bullfighting, but above all an imposing and charismatic emblem of the town's glorious past.

Distance: approx. 30 km / Elevation gain: approx. 200 m

Itinerary end: the guided tour ends at Arles SNCF railway station at around 3:30pm. On request we can book the following night(s)' accommodation for you in Arles. 

In order to return to Avignon we highly recommend to choose the direct TER train service (journey time approx. 20 mins, bicycles accepted). Please contact the SNCF directly for train times and further information.

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Dates and price

Dates
From   09/05/2026    to   14/05/20266 days1595 €Available
From   12/09/2026    to   17/09/20266 days1595 €First bookings

Costs and services guided tour

The price includes:
  • The assistance of a professional English-speaking French bike guide
  • 5 nights in 3* hotels and comfortable guest houses in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
  • 5 hearty breakfasts
  • 6 picnic lunches, daily prepared by the guide with fresh, regional products: high-energy salad (pasta, rice, lentil), cheese, cold cuts, fruit 
  • 5 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily luggage transfers
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • Bike rental
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Extra services

Single room accommodation, 6 days (5 nights): 3* hotels and chambres d'hôtes 350 € / 

Extra nights in Avignon:

Extra night in Avignon in 2* hotel, double/twin room, including breakfast 80 € / 

Extra night in Avignon in 2* hotel, single room, including breakfast 130 € / 

Extra night in Avignon in 3* hotel, double/twin room, including breakfast 90 € / 

Extra night in Avignon in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast 140 € / 

Extra nights in Arles:

Extra night in Arles in 2* hotel, double/twin room, including breakfast 80 € / 

Extra night in Arles in 2* hotel, single room, including breakfast 130 € / 

Extra night in Arles in 3* hotel, double/twin room, including breakfast 95 € / 

Extra night in Arles in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast 160 € / 

Bike rental

Bikes and e-bikes are available for rent:

Standard bike (6 days) 150 € / 

E-Bike (6 days) 345 € / 

Delivery to Avignon and pick-up in Arles or Avignon
Mandatory delivery/pick-up fee to be added to the bike rental (flat rate payable once from 1 to 5 bikes).
195 €

Helmet & bike lock 15 € / 

All bicycles are equipped with mudguards, a puncture repair kit, a smartphone holder, a rear rack with two rear panniers (saddlebags). Helmets and bike locks available upon request (extra 15 € per person).

Make sure to indicate your height on the booking form.

E-bikes offer electric pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance. They provide the "extra push" when tackling the hills, more or less frequent on our trips. They offer an interesting alternative to the regular, "human-powered" bikes in two cases: 

  • You are hesitant to complete level 1 trip (the easiest out of 3 levels). With an e-bike, it becomes possible. You wish to cycle comfortably with another person who is fitter, and you are worried about keeping up..
  • You would like to complete a circuit with a person who is fitter than you and you are worried that you will be unable to keep up, or that the other person will find your pace too slow.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Getting there

Avignon can be easily reached by train from any major city in France (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier). There are two train stations in Avignon: Avignon Gare Centre for regional trains (situated in the city centre) and Avignon TGV for high-speed trains (6 km from the city centre). A frequent regional train line (TER) links both stations (every 30 min, 6 min journey). 

By plane

Fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Lyon (LYS), or Marseille (Vitrolles Marseille Provence- MRS) airports. 
Airport transfers from Marseille are available upon request. Contact us for a quote.

By train

From any major French city or airport, take the high-speed train (TGV) to Avignon TGV, then the regional train (TER) to Avignon Gare Centre. As an example, the approximate journey from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Avignon Centre is 4 hours. For more information and tickets: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By car

Route planner: en.mappy.com.Parking: If you travel by car, ask us for parking possibilities in both cities.

Return to Avignon from Arles

You can return to Avignon Centre by taking the regional train (TER) from Arles (approx. 15min)

Group size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Your equipment

Equipment provided by France Bike Trips on guided tours:
  • A group first-aid kit
  • A bike repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Baggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack/pannier and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack or pannier

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, etc.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

Please note: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack in your bag the day of departure:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A bike helmet
For your upper body
  • Two base layers (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit
For your feet
  • Comfortable sports shoes 
  • Sports socks
  • Sandals (not obligatory, but nice during breaks and in the evening...)
For your bike

If you rent a bike from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • 2 spare tubes and a puncture repair kit
  • Lubricant for chain and derailleur
  • A pump
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • Water bottles (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)