Provence and French riviera bike tour from Avignon to Cassis
Pricing informations
Tour description
Provence and French riviera bike tour from Avignon to Cassis.
During this Provence and French riviera bike tour, you will start from Avignon, the papal city and go for an extraordinary trip in the South of Provence to reach Mediterranean sea (Côte d’Azur) and the famous fishing port of Cassis near Marseille.During this route, you will cross the Alpilles montain, an enchanting natural site which from the top of its 500m altitude offers a 360 ° panorama : from Mont Ventoux to the Cévennes, from the Sainte Victoire mountain to the Camargue ! At the heart of these limestone hills, discover the citadel of Baux de Provence and the “Carrière de Lumières”. Then head east through the olive groves to reach, by small roads and typical villages, Salon de Provence then Aix en Provence, the cultural capital of Provence. City of water, city of Art, Aix en Provence perfectly embodies this Provençal art of living so praised around the world. It is also the city of the painter Cézanne, whose Aix countryside inspired some of the greatest Impressionist masterpieces.It is in the heart of this exceptional landscape that you will continue your cycling holiday along the steep cliffs of Sainte-Victoire mountain (a must!) towards Saint-Maximin and its Gothic basilica. You will endly cycle through the Regional Natural Park of Sainte-Beaume and along the Mediterranean coast to reach the village of Cassis, a charming traditional fishing port with typical small boats and surrounded by the famous creeks offering idyllic places for swimming in turquoise waters. You will have enough time to stroll in this postcard setting before taking the train for a final night in the old port of Marseille!
- Crossing of the Massif des Alpilles, between white limestone rocks and olive groves
- The city of water, art and history of Aix en Provence.
- Cézanne’s paintings (Saint-Victoire and many others) in the open sky!
- The adorable fishing port of Cassis and its creeks with steep limestone cliffs
- A last evening in the “Vieux Port” of Marseille
Program
Arrival in Avignon. 4**** hotel with good cuisine on Barthelasse Island in a very quiet area (with swimming-pool and free car park,), approx. 5km/3 miles from Avignon Centre.
At around 9:30am welcome meeting, handover of maps and documents, pick up your bike if rented. Then ‘on your bike’ and off towards the medieval village of Les Baux de Provence, passing through the Little Crau countryside. The view from this charming little village perched on the cliffs above the Alpilles hills is quite stunning: Lake Vaccarès glimmering in the Camargue to the south, and windswept Mont Ventoux in the distance to the north. From here it’s a short and gentle downhill roll to your hotel in Maussane les Alpilles.
Cycle along the southern side of the Alpilles through quaint Provençal villages, and their world famous olive groves, producing fine olive oils, and on through to Salon de Provence where Nostradamus lived and wrote for some time. From Salon you may either be accompanied overhead by the “Patrouille de France” the French Air force aerobatic team who are based there, as you cycle on to stylish Aix-en-Provence or you take the train to continue to Aix and so have more spare time to visit the town and its museums.
Today you will discover the artist Paul Cezanne’s countryside around the chic university city of Aix en Provence, passing the Mont St Victoire Mountain which will accompany you on to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. This town has the largest Gothic basilica in Provence, in which you can admire one of the biggest baroque organs in France. Legend has it that Mary Magdalene is buried here, but it’s quite a contested story!
Today’s journey south, takes you on into different scenery, through heavenly scented Mediterranean pine forests.
You’ll ride in maybe the nicest scenery on a natural path in pine forest and have a breathtaking view on the whole meditarrenean coast before you’ll arrive in Cassis early in the afternoon. Enjoy the last day of your holiday in one of the prettiest towns of the Cote d’Azur, doing as you please. We recommend however a boat trip out to the unique ‘Calanques’ sea fjords (see photo below), which actually run back west along the coast as far as Marseille. You then take the train (not included in the price) to Marseille. We recommend visiting this town!
Departure after breakfast
Practical details
Luggages
Documents
Bikes
Accomodations
Support
We take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike.
You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure .
At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.
We remind you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day
Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes:
- A welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for baggage transport
- Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from rental if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
- The logbook travel package including map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical indications
- The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the circuits:
- The “Evazio” application to download from smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on the your smartphone) and / or oral.
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
- The loan of a GPS device with the pre-recorded tracks
- Sends GPX tracks of each stage to be used with your own navigation support
On this circuit, we suggest that you provide you with the choice and by reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 set of repair
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, we can offer depending on age and size
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follow-up bike
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We will take care of their recovery.
This tour is available in a “superior” version :
The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:
Comfort : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars (or equivalent) and rooms of host.
Superior : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 3 and 4 stars (or equivalent) and charming guest rooms.
Luxury : The circuit mainly presents 4 and 5 star hotels or equivalent
Our support team remains available for the duration of your trip.
