Provence Bike and Barge Tour
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- A 7-day guided bike and barge tour of the Provence-Camargue region of France, from Sète to Arles.
- Choose between longer or shorter bike routes on most days.
- Savor gourmet meals and a comfortable room aboard our “floating hotel.”
- Visit historic monuments and beautifully preserved medieval towns at Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Aigues-Mortes, and Arles.
- Join us for an olive oil tasting as well as informative tours of some of the region’s highlights, including an afternoon on a local ranch.
- Kayak beneath the world-famous Roman aqueduct at Pont-du-Gard.
- Finish with a day at Mont Ventoux – an icon of the Tour de France.
From Sète to Arles, join us on a cruise through breathtaking scenery of Provence! Discover the Camargue and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of the jewels of the Languedoc known as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Visit Aigues-Mortes, a medieval fortified town with a prestigious heritage in the heart of one of the most beautiful natural sites of Provence. Kayak beneath the world-famous Roman aqueduct at Pont-du-Gard. Explore 2,500 years of history in Arles, including an olive oil tasting. Join us for informative tours of some of the region’s highlights and historic monuments. Spend an afternoon on a local ranch (“manade”) with a surprising tradition. Sample delectable cuisine and local olive oils. Cap off the week with a trip to the legendary Mont Ventoux!
CYCLE, WALK & CRUISE! Our bike and barge tours are the ideal choice for couples or groups with divergent interests. You can travel together as well as choose your own adventure each day. Cyclists can pedal through picturesque French countryside, choosing from easier or harder routes. Non-riding participants can walk portions of the canal, explore historic towns, hop back on the barge at designated points throughout the day, or simply cruise and relax on the deck. Meals (except for a couple) are served on the boat, meaning everyone will enjoy lunch together whether you’ve been exploring by foot or bike. Excursions throughout the day are reachable by bike or shuttle and you’ll finish each day with a fabulous dinner with your fellow travelers – complete with an open bar. “Santé!” (Cheers!)
Itinerary
Day 01
Cycle to Roman aqueducts, ancient villages, and a Benedictine Abbey dating back 1000 years.
Lodging
MS Anne-Marie
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Distance / Elevation
Short route: 18.2 mi +659 ft / -659 ft
Long route: 32.7 mi +1,890 ft / -1,891 ft
After meeting at the boat dock in the morning, we will get bikes set up and head out on our first ride. Stop to see one of the earliest utilizations of hydropower on an industrial scale on a visit to the aqueducts and mills of Barbegal. After lunch in Fontvielle, cycle or shuttle through the ancient hilltop village of Les Baux-de-Provence to the Abbaye de Montmajour for a walking tour of this Benedictine Abbey dating back more than a thousand years. Shuttle (~1hr) from Arles to Sete where we greet the crew and settle in for our first night on our boat, the MS Anne-Marie.
Day 02
Spend a day in the Central Massif touring Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and exploring the Hérault Gorge.
Lodging
MS Anne-Marie
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Distance / Elevation
35 miles · +3,783 ft / -3,620 ft (or less)
After breakfast on board the boat we shuttle (~1hr) to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert for a tour of a medieval town set amidst the dramatic cliffs of the Hérault Gorge. The village is listed as “one of the most beautiful in France” for its setting as well as the charming homes and narrow streets. After lunch, explore more of the area on a ride following rivers and ridges on low-traffic roads through small villages with wonderful views and diverse scenery in every direction.
Day 03
Pedal along the Mediterranean to a fortress cathedral, sort some bulls, and conclude the day with beachfront dining.
Lodging
MS Anne-Marie
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Distance / Elevation
AM route: 30.6 miles · +1,212 ft / -1,241 ft
From Sète, cycle beachfronts along the Mediterranean Sea, sampling a crêpe or some ice cream (or both!). Marvel at Maguelone Cathedral, a 1,000-year-old fortress of a cathedral set on the sands between the sea and a lagoon. After lunch we will tour a traditional Camargue ranch (or “manade”) to learn about the life of its herders. Travel by wagon, take part in a bull sorting, and cap it off with some snacks made with products coming from the farm. Those who want more cycling can enjoy another ride that heads into the hills for some great views (20% gravel, 25 miles, +1,274 ft gain). Tonight we give the boat crew a break and have dinner at a chic beachfront dining spot.
Day 04
Continue along the coast to the salt pans of Aigues Mortes and pay a visit to Montpellier en route.
Lodging
MS Anne-Marie
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Distance / Elevation
AM route: 35.3 miles · +1,008 ft / -994 ft
[Optional PM ride: 35.8 miles · +913 ft / -913 ft]Continue pedaling east along the coast from Maguelone where you left off yesterday as we head to the fortified city of Aigues Mortes today. Veer inland along the way on (mostly) handy bike paths and lanes to keep you off the city streets to see some sights in the famous city of Montpellier. In the afternoon we board a tourist train for a tour of the Salins d’Aigues-Mortes (Pink Salt Marshes) and visit the salt museum to learn more about how microscopic algae create the vivid hues of pink and purple in the salt pans. Those wishing to skip the salt tour can opt for another relatively easy flat ride through local vineyards.
Day 05
Enjoy a day off the bike to kayak the Rive Gauche under magnificent Pont du Gard – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lodging
MS Anne-Marie
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
We leave the bikes on the barge today and venture forth aboard kayaks instead. Simply put, Pont du Gard defies superlatives. The facts about this bridge – once part of a 30-mile-long aqueduct carrying water from Uzès to Nîmes – tend to speak for themselves. It’s over 150 feet high (a world record), has three levels of arches which span over 900 feet in length at the top, and was constructed 2000 years ago! Kayak the river below the bridge, have a picnic under the olive trees and visit the museum to learn more about this amazing feat of engineering that took a team of 5000 men five years to build. Shuttle back to the boat afterward, now docked in Gallician, famous for its viticulture and marshland wildlife preserve.
Day 06
Explore the riches of the Camargue delta and the long history of Arles.
Lodging
MS Anne-Marie
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Distance / Elevation
Shorter option: 25.6 miles · +423 ft / -416 ft
Longer option: 62.3 miles · +886 ft / -880 ft (20% gravel surface)
Choose between two virtually flat cycling routes today (longer or shorter) to explore the Camargue delta – Europe’s largest – where the River Rhône meets the Mediterranean Sea. This vast wetland encompasses over 500 square miles and provides habitat for over 400 species of birds as well as 1500 flowering plants. In the afternoon, we will join an olive oil tasting and a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Arles to learn more about its past, from Roman times to its influence on the legendary French artist Vincent Van Gogh.
Day 07
Finish the tour on a literal high on legendary Mont Ventoux – the “Giant of Provence!”
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance / Elevation
Variable.
Few of the famous routes used by the Tour de France are more iconic than climbing the slopes of Mont Ventoux. We will choose how we pay our homage here according to the weather and season as well as the interests of the group. Aside from tackling the entire summit climb there’s a scenic valley route to explore as well. Or we may choose to ride (or shuttle) just the last part of the climb to admire the view from the summit.
