Teachers' Travel        Barging and Cycling

Provence, France   
Avignon to Aigues Mortes     2024
(2023 is sold out)
 

A wonderful bike and boat tour along the Rhone River with cycling to explore Provence. Stay on board a comfortable river barge and each day enjoy guided cycling on quiet country roads. Start at magnificent Avignon with its Papal Palace and medieval walls. Cycle amid vineyards and through the nature reserve of the Camargue. Stop to see the ancient Roman theatre at Arles and have a glass of wine at the cafe where Van Gogh painted his masterpieces.

Highlights:

  • Cycle through Provencal countryside
  • Visit Avignon - a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • See the famous Pont du Gard
  • Taste great wines like Chateauneuf du Papes 
  • Explore Arles with its Roman history
  • Marvel at the medieval fortress at Aigues Mortes
Two different barges run regularly between Avignon and Aigues Mortes The trip takes seven nights from Saturday to Saturday - then the barges return the following week from Aigues Mortes to Avignon. You can take the barge in either direction.  There is a guide and you can choose to cycle with the guide or you can cycle on your own.

Guests stay on the barge for seven nights and enjoy ycling along quiet cycle paths and country roads.
An English-speaking leader cycles the route with the group, however, for those who prefer to cycle independently route descriptions are provided. We strongly recommend that anyone choosing the self-guided option carry a cell-phone.

There are two barges following the same itinerary. They are similar in category

 Caprice    11 cabins     (two doubles, eight twins, one single) 
 Estello    10 cabins     (one double and nine twin bedded)

All cabins have private ensuite toilet and shower and are non smoking. All are air conditioned.

About the cycling:
Total distance  240 km
Total vertical  620 m
Terrain 95% asphalt  5% unpaved

The tour is flat in the lowlands during the two days in Camargue, while the stages north of Arles present some ups and downs, which are however easy to overcome. There is just one more demanding slope towards Les Baux de Provence. The itinerary is mostly on secondary roads with little traffic; some short stretches on more busy roads are however inevitable.

Bikes are available in various sizes in unisex models. City bike 27-gear Shimano Deore bikes feature aluminium frame, mudguard, rear rack, comfort gel saddle, anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres, ergonomic bicycle grips, 1 cycle computer, 1 Ortlieb saddlebag, 1 water bottle, 1 combination bike lock.
E bikes are available (book in advance)


Bike and Barge Provence
Dates and Prices
Itinerary 1 Contact us and Booking
Itinerary 2 About the Barges
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