Backroad cycling France

A wonderful cycling trip through the Camargue and its unique natural landscapesRef CN70

Pink flamingos, wild horses and black bulls. Lagoons, salt marshes, rice paddies, vast swamps and miles of sandy beaches. The vast wetlands of the Camargue offer the cyclist all this, between the sky and the sea. The Rhône estuary, which extends over 150,000 hectares in the southwest of Provence, is a unique natural landscape with a rich fauna and flora and a strong character. On this 6-day cycling trip we discover the Camargue with all its facets in a gentle and quiet way. We will glide sometimes over dikes, sometimes along miles of sandy beaches. The shimmering pink flamingos are the most emblematic representatives of the rich natural world: Between April and September, 15,000 pairs gather here. From the old Roman city of Arles, we first explore the eastern part of the Camargue and then close the circle via Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Aigues Mortes. Regional culture is also on the agenda: horse breeding, the extraction of the fleur de sel or the Camargue bullfight. And of course, the culinary delights of a mix of land and sea food. Bon appétit!

Self-guided tour: from 845€ - 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

  • A carefully designed route between sky and sea, through the heart of the Camargue
  • The natural beauty and intensity of a unique coastal landscape and its inhabitants
  • The Mediterranean climate, which is particularly pleasant in the low season

Description

Comments

  • This trip exists in 3 versions : V1=1 wheel, V2=2 wheels, V3=3 wheels
  • Special offers for private groups. Please ask us for a quote
  • Special version for families available
  • E-bike rental available for this tour. See details in "Useful information" tab
  • Also bookable as a 3 or 4 day tour

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arles - Salin de Giraud

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 10am at Arles SNCF railway station.

Our bike tour starts in Arles, the picturesque Roman city of the south par excellence. A few pedal turns are enough to reach the bullring: Mecca of bullfighting and architectural testimony to the city's glorious past. We leave the city via narrow streets and soon find ourselves in rural surroundings. We head south to the Etang de Vaccarès, one of the largest salt marshes in the Camargue Regional Natural Park. Here the Centre de la Capelière offers us the first opportunity for a break. We will discover the typical sansouires (wetlands) and reed belts of the area on narrow paths. A few kilometres further on we come across the ruins of the former royal saltworks of Badon. The last part of the day finally leads us to the sea! And for those who still don't have enough kilometres in their legs, we offer a loop from Salin de Giraud to the Domaine de la Palissade. The meanders of the Rhône and the sea have made this piece of land the largest river delta in Western Europe. Made up of fresh and brackish water, wetlands, lagoons and salt marshes, it is a privileged habitat for no fewer than 67 protected bird species.

Distance: approx. 45 km
Option Domaine de la Palissade: approx. 15 km

Day 2: Salin de Giraud - Saintes Maries de la Mer

We start this day by riding further into the heart of the salt marshes. Today the dikes will guide us through the day. The water will change colour depending on the salt concentration, from blue to black to pink. The Fangassier Etang is of particular interest to us: It's the only breeding ground of flamingos in France. For the fittest among us, the day begins with the old lighthouse of Faraman and its beach. Its difficult access gives it a very special charm, a feeling you would likely expect at the end of the world. Today, one salt marsh follows the next, and the further we go, the more we are captured by the Mediterranean atmosphere. For those who choose the level 2 and 3, you can make a loop of 20 km from the tourist office of Salin de Giraud to visit the heart of the private domain. Depending on the season, we have the opportunity to enjoy the cool water or simply relax on the beaches. For kite lovers, the famous beach of Beauduc offers its windy show and perfect conditions! Our last stop is the lighthouse of Gacholle, the starting point for hiking trails to discover the Sansouires and some protected lagoons. We end the day in Saintes Maries, where our hotel is waiting for us.

Distance :
Level 1 : approx. 30 km (without the visit of the Salin de Giraud)
Level 2 and 3 : approx. 50 km (30 km of level 1 + 20 km loop to visit the Salin de Giraud, registration in advance at the tourist office of Salin de Giraud)

Day 3: Saintes Maries de la Mer - Sylvéréal

Today the wild horses of the Camargue are in the spotlight! We cycle north from Saintes Marie, on a narrow road that borders the Etang impérial. Rather quickly we come into sight of Mas de Cacharel, the starting point for riding tours in the purest Camargue style. This beautiful residence was used in 1952 as the location for the unforgettable film "Crin Blanc". Here we leave the road and take the path of the five gorges (cinq gorges), a wide tourist trail that gently leads us to another remarkable place: the Méjanes estate. The park was a fortified residence of the Templars in the 13th century and covers 150 hectares of land entirely devoted to rice growing in the Camargue. This is enough to learn a little more about one of the symbols of the Camargue's terroir. Horses live in semi-freedom on certain parts of the estate, as do the bulls, whose horns inspire a certain amount of respect. We then set off in the direction of the Petit Rhône, along which we drive for a while to the Château d'Avignon. This centre of contemporary art opens its doors for a simple visit to the park or to see its collection. Overnight in our accommodation near the Petit Rhône.

Distance:
Level 1: approx. 20 km
Level 2 and 3: approx. 40 km

Day 4: Sylvéréal - Aigues Mortes

A day full of rural and wild beauty awaits us today. We start it on a small road lined with herds of bulls grazing quietly. Seeing these majestic animals helps us understand the passion and place bullfighting occupies in the Camargue culture. Continuing along our route, the highlight of the day awaits us: the Scamandre nature reserve. This is a vast wetland on the edge of the estuary of the same name, where cranes and ibis have taken refuge, but we might also come across some cistudes (turtles). We will discover the area via laid out nature trails and wooden bridges. The last part of the day takes us to the Rhone Canal close to Sète. We will use its dikes to reach the walls of Aigues, whose love story with salt dates back to the Neolithic period.

Distance: approx. 30 km

Day 5: Aigues Mortes - Franquevaux

After the mandatory visit of the old town of Aigues Mortes and its towers, we start with a tour to the old fortress of Peccais (for the fittest among us)! Probably built on an older building from the 14th century, the present fortress, of which only ruins remain, was commissioned around 1560. It served to control the neighbouring salt works and canals and thus to protect the salt production. Back in Aigues Mortes, we now head towards another tower: the Carbonnière tower, whose tolls emptied the wallets of many medieval travellers. We now enter the Camargue Gardoise (Département du Gard). Along the narrow roads and paths we discover the rural idyll of the Camargue. The avenues and shady canals invite us to take a walk. Here is also a wine-growing region, whose speciality is vin des sables, or vin gris. Finally we reach the hamlet of Franquevaux and its old abbey, where we will spend the night. Overnight stay in Saint Gilles in case of availability problems.

Distance:
Level 1 and 2: approx. 25 km
Level 3: approx. 50 km

Day 6: Franquevaux - Arles

After a good monastic night's rest, we leave Franquevaux Abbey via a dike path along the canal that connects Sète with the Rhone. A narrow asphalt road leads us further past the Château d'Espeyran. Little by little we leave the world of marshes, pine forests and salt marshes and return to a more arid environment. A short stop in the small town of Saint Gilles, which will seduce us with its medieval centre. A visit to its abbey church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must. Saint Gilles was indeed one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Christianity in the 12th century, right after Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela. We cross the Petit Rhone for the last time and leave Saint Gilles. On the last part of our cycling tour we follow a country road towards Arles. One last bridge and, voilà, we are back to Arles, where we can end our tour on one of the many café terraces of the old town.

Distance: approx. 35 km

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end at Arles SNCF railway station at around 5pm on the last day. On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you in Arles.

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

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime from April to October.**

A supplement of €45 per person applies to all departures (D1) scheduled on a Friday or Saturday.

*We advise to avoid the hottest months (July and August), as the water points are scarce along the way, and the mosquitoes are the most active.

**Please note that in October the visit to the Salin de Giraud is not possible on Mondays and Tuesdays, as the Tourist Office, where prior registration is required, is closed.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of:

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

The price includes:
  • 5 nights in guest houses and  2* or 3* hotels in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
  • 5 breakfasts
  • 3 dinners (3 to 4 course menu) on days 1, 3 and 5 in your accommodation or nearby restaurants
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • A carefully designed itinerary with routes for 3 physical levels
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
Reductions for children

France Bike Trips offers reductions for children aged 12 or under (applicable only if children share same rooms as parents). Please contact us for more details.

What is not included:
  • All lunches and dinners on days 2 and 4.
  • Bike rental
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • Entrance to the Salin de Giraud on day 2 (registration is necessary at the tourist office: 12€ per adult and 8€ per child from 8 to 13 years old).*
    *Only levels 2 and 3 are concerned. If you choose the level 1 itinerary that day, you are not concerned.
  • 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".

Supplementary services:

Single room accommodation, 6 days (5 nights) 265 € / 

Extra night in Arles in 2* hotel, double room, including breakfast 70 € / 

Extra night in Arles in 2* hotel, twin room, including breakfast 70 € / 

Extra night in Arles in 2* hotel, single room, including breakfast 115 € / 

Bike rental: see below

Bike rental

Standard bike (6 days) 160 € / 

E-Bike (6 Days) 380 € / 

Delivery and collection fee (from 1 to 5 rental bikes) 260 €

Delivery and collection fee (from 6 to 10 rental bikes) 395 €

Helmet & lock 15 € / 

All bicycles are equipped with mudguards, a puncture repair kit, a smartphone holder, a rear rack with two rear panniers (saddlebags).

Please confirm your height on your booking form.

Electric bikes offer pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance compared to a classic "human-powered" bicycle. They offer an alternative solution in two cases: 

  • You do not feel able to complete a level 1 wheel (lowest level) circuit. With electric assistance, this trip becomes accessible. 
  • 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.

Equipment for family trip:

Child seat 50 € / 

Child trailer 95 € / 

Child Bike 95 € / 

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

By train: From Paris Gare de Lyon train station to Arles train station (about 4h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Lyon airport: join the Lyon train station and head to Arles train station.
  • From Marseille airport : join the Marseille train station and head to Arles train station.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com

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.

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.

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.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

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.

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.

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.

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 and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

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.

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

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.

IMPORTANT: 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
  • A spare derailleur hanger
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

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)