£2,875.00 per person*
($3,651.25 USD or $5,692.50 AUD)
£250.00 deposit
£595.00 single room supplement
27th Apr to 3rd May 2025
21st Sep to 27th Sep 2025
“It was an excellent week, great guides, great food, good group size and great value for money. The picnics were awesome! Thank you for making our 27th wedding anniversary so memorable.”
-- Ian and Lorraine, Ontario, Canada
Join us for this cycling tour. All you have to do is pedal
Avignon TGV or Avignon Centre
Avignon TGV or Avignon Centre
Collections and drop-offs are from and to Avignon TGV station and Avignon Centre rail station.
Anyone who is in good physical condition will be happy on this cycling tour. Mostly flat terrain a few rolling hills. Cyclists should be comfortable with riding 3 to 5 hours a day on a bike.
View GalleryProvence, deriving is name from the Roman Provincia Gallia, is the region between the Côte d’Azur and the Rhone delta, stretching inland to the foothills of the Alps in the East and to the plateau of the Ardèche in the West. It has been said that Provence is more a state of mind than a distinct geographical area — the olive trees, fields of lavender and sunflowers, and the sunshine give a mediterranean feeling.
The landscape is wonderfully varied, from the rugged hinterland with terraced vineyards, to the mini-mountain range of the Alpilles near Arles, to the flat marshes of the Camargue where the Rhone flows to the sea. And everywhere there is the evidence of the area’s Roman past, with some of the best preserved examples of Roman building anywhere. There is no greater way to explore the Roman Heritage than our Provence cycling tour.
The unique quality of the light in Provence has attracted artists for the last two centuries, notably Van Gogh and Gauguin who lived in Arles and Cézanne who immortalised the area with his many studies of Mont Ste-Victoire.
The cuisine of the region is as distinctive as the light, with emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, seafood and the herbs de provence — rosemary, thyme, lavender — which grow wild on the hillsides. Wines there are too, for example roses from Bandol and Mont Ventoux, and reds from Nimes in the west, but above all, grands crus like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas in the Rhone Valley above Avignon.
The Roman Heritage cycling tour follows in the traces of the civilisation that gave the region its name. You will discover hidden treasures in Arles, Orange, Uzès, at the Pont du Gard and in Avignon, and taste liquid treasure in the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The landscapes shift from the green fruit-growing pastures of the Rhone valley to the dry garrigue of the inland hills to the pan-flat expanses of rice paddies and pastures that make up the Camargue National Park.
We can pick up from either of the Avignon train stations (the TGV or the centre ville), any of the hotels in Avignon, or from other nearby locations (eg Nîmes airport) by arrangement. We arrive at our hotel near the market town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where bikes are fitted and adjusted to your individual requirements. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, or take a short trip into the village, which is famous for its antiques and bric-a-brac market and stores. Early arrivals may wish to ride to the Fontaine de Vaucluse to see the famous resurgent spring of the river Sorgue.
In the evening, after a briefing on the week’s ride, we will sit down to the first of many gourmet meals, washed down with one of the excellent wines from the slopes of Mont Ventoux, whose imposing profile dominates the region.
An easy start to our week’s cycling tour as we cruise along tiny lanes in the shadow of Mont Ventoux towards Orange. A stop for coffee in the village of Bedarrides alongside the River Sorgues, then on to the highlight of the trip for wine-lovers - a tasting at a vineyard of the celebrated Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe. After picnicking amongst the vines, it's a short hop to Orange for our overnight stop. Here we will see some superb examples of triumphal Roman architecture, including the Theatre Antique, built around 10AD. The theatre, which is still used for concerts, is wonderfully preserved and seats over 10,000. A fascinating audio-visual tour is included in the trip.
Our hotel is in the heart of the pedestrianised centre of the town, so there is plenty of opportunity for exploring before dinner - or you can take a dip in the rooftop swimming pool!
Total distance: 49km
Today we set out across the flatlands of the Rhône River, which we cross at Coustellet. We are now entering the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône Villages, where every hamlet has its own take on how wine should be made. Our route brings us to the bustling town of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, where the town hall houses early Picassos, and works by Monet , Renoir and Gauguin in its low-key art gallery.
Back on the bikes, we trace our way through a landscape of vineyards and cherry trees, then after climbing a low ridge (with a fantastic picnic spot!), descend to St-Quentin-la-Poterie, which as the name suggests is a historic centre for ceramics, with artisan workshops selling their beautiful work direct to the public.
Our final stretch of the day takes us west of the magnificent medieval city of Uzès, to the village of Arpaillargues and the outstanding Chateau d’Arpaillargues, now a beautiful hotel where we stay for two nights. We should arrive in time to relax in the garden or swim in the large pool.
Total distance: 50km
Boasting a beautiful cathedral with its "Tour Fenestrelle" or windowed tower, and the Chateau of the Duchy of Uzès, the town of Uzès has a wealth of medieval sites to visit, as well as plenty of boutiques to satisfy any shopping urges! We cycle up the short hill into town first thing in order to make the most of the produce market (a great source for the makings of a picnic lunch!), before rolling downhill out of town to the Pont du Gard, an aqueduct built by the Romans as part of a system to carry water from Uzès to Nîmes. It is an awe-inspiring feat of engineering, and its harmony with its setting over the River Gard is remarkable. Rather than cycling the whole way to the bridge, we complete the final part of the journey by canoe, taking in the splendour of the Gard gorges - and the Pont itself - from the water.
We have lunch within sight of the bridge, before making our along back roads to Uzès through the garrigue, the rugged, beautiful country of the départment of Gard, taking in the scent of wild thyme and basil, and maybe spotting a wild boar in the undergrowth or a red kite wheeling overhead.
Total distance: 32km (+ canoe trip to Pont du Gard 10km)
Heading south from Arpaillargues and skirting the city of Nimes, there is more dramatic, rugged scenery before we sweep out into the plains which reach to the Camargue and the Mediterranean. On the way we cross the Pont du Gard, this time on two wheels. From here it is easy cycling through a series of villages, each with a church showing the wrought ironwork belfries so characteristic of the area. A picnic lunch is followed by a wine tasting at the Chateau Morgues du Grès, a prestigious winery of the Costières de Nîmes appellation. After lunch, we ride through the northern fringes of the Camargue, through paddies growing the red rice of the region, and fields of the black bulls which are bred for the bullrings of Arles and Nîmes. We then cross the Rhône to our hotel in the heart of ancient Arles.
We arrive early in the afternoon, so there should be plenty of time before dinner to have a look around the immaculately-preserved Roman Amphitheatre - or next door's equally-impressive Roman Theatre, or to take a short walk to the Alyscamps Roman cemetery or the 15th century St-Trophîme Cathedral, with its shaded cloister. Elsewhere in Arles is the Van Gogh museum – you are guaranteed not to run short of things to see in Arles!.
Total distance: 56km
Our last day of the Provence cycling tour takes us east towards the Alpilles massif. Although there are no high peaks, the jagged ridge gives the impression of being higher than it is. Riding out of Arles along tiny back roads - where meeting a car is an event in itself - we tackle a short stiff climb to the hilltop village of Les Baux. The bottom-gear effort is richly rewarded by the sublime views and the town itself, which is dramatically perched on a rocky outcrop.
From Les Baux, we go over the massif known as the Val d’Enfer (Valley of Hell, although it honestly isn’t that tough a ride!), stopping at the stunning Carrière de Lumière, a sound and light show in a converted quarry which has to be seen to be believed. Then it is on via a gloriously twisty descent to the pretty little town of St-Rémy-de-Provence for lunch. St Rémy, the birthplace of Nostradamus, is also celebrated as the subject for many of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings. After lunch, we can stroll round the Roman arch and monuments known as les Antiques, or visit the hospital of St-Paul-de-la-Mauseole, the sanitorium where Van Gogh committed himself after his argument with his best friend Paul Gauguin. Our final stretch of riding takes flat, quiet lanes through orchards and melon fields, a short ride to the Domaine de Bournissac at Palud de Noves for our final night’s celebration dinner.
Total distance: 58km
After breakfast, taking the opportunity to exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with newly-made friends, and maybe popping into the village for the amazing Saturday morning market, we transfer back to Avignon for our onward journeys.
****It is sometimes necessary to change accommodation for reasons of room availability, which may mean adjustments to the route or itinerary. We will always endeavour to use hotels of an equal or higher level of comfort/facilities to those shown – please contact us to check for the most up-to-date information regarding your particular tour. ****
Not all cycle vacations are the same. Compare what is included in a French Cycling Holidays bike tour:
We try to include as much as we can within the price, while keeping things as flexible as possible. With the explosion of low cost airlines and the easy access to the TGV rail system from the UK, we believe that it is more economical and convenient for customers to arrange their own travel to the region. Links to the airlines and railway companies can be found in frequently asked questions.
We provide the transfers to and from the local airports and the nearest TGV stations, and other locations by arrangement. If you have driven down, we arrange secure parking for your car and return you to it after the tour.
We stay in very comfortable hotels, mostly 3*, occasionally 4*, and very occasionally superior 2* hotels which we choose if they have charm and comfort above their rating. All rooms have en-suite shower or bath facilities.
We select our hotels for their character as well as their facilities, and avoid chains in favour of independent privately run hotels.
Prices are based on two sharing in twin or double rooms. Singles are available on request. Where possible, we choose hotels with swimming pools as there is nothing quite like a dip after a day in the saddle!
It is sometimes necessary to change accommodation for reasons of room availability, minor adjustments to the route or upgrading the hotels. We will always endeavour to use hotels of an equal or higher level of comfort/facilities to those shown – please contact us to check for the most up-to-date information regarding your particular tour.
All evening meals are included, and we carefully select the restaurants for cuisine and ambience, and favour those with a strong regional flavour.
All meals include a starter, main course and dessert, some will have an additional cheese course. We are happy to arrange for our restaurants to cater for specific dietary requirements and allergies etc. Fine wine (or soft drink alternative) with all evening meals and coffee to follow.
We do not include lunch, as the costing of these is beyond our control, but where route and weather allow we organise picnics; these feature copious salads, cold meats, cheeses, crusty bread, fruits, etc, and a choice of drinks; we ask for a contribution for the costs of the consumables, which usually works out at 10 or 11 euros per person per picnic. Where route or weather does not allow a picnic, we recommend suitable cafés and bistros.
We provide lightweight alloy framed Trek ‘hybrid’ touring bicycles with 27 indexed gears, our guides will generally be on hand to fix punctures and minor mechanical problems and carry pump, tubes etc.
For carrying the items you might need during the day (camera, wallet, windbreaker etc.) we fit a capacious handlebar bag which also features a large map pocket. These clip on and off the bike in a flash so that you can always take your valuables with you when off the bike.
The bikes are meticulously maintained and we keep a wide range of sizes; female specific saddles are also available. We do not provide helmets automatically, as we find people prefer their own if they want to wear one, and sizing and fit is quite personal; however we always have helmets available for use. We also carry rain-capes should they be required (but hopefully not!).
For nearly all of our tours an e-bike - electrically assisted bicycle - is an extra-cost option. These bikes apply a 'multiplier' to the level of input provided by the rider, the level of assistance can be adjusted for the terrain. This can be useful if members of your party have very different levels of bike-fitness and experience, as hills that look daunting suddenly become easy with an e-bike.
Please contact us for details.
There will be two guides on every tour; one cycling with the group and one in the minibus which will follow the group. The bus carries all luggage not required for the day's ride and will always be available for anyone at any point during the day. If for instance you want to take a day off the bike, or if a particular day seems a little hard, the bus will take you for as long or as little as you wish it to.
Everybody is provided with detailed route maps for each day, and both guides are easily contactable by mobile phone. The guides are enthusiastic experts on the local area and will be able to sort out any problems or special requests that you might have.
The Mas de Cure Bourse has been converted into a charming 3* hotel with a noted restaurant, and a superb swimming pool in the extensive grounds. Located in the countryside outside the village for complete peace and quiet, it is a short bike ride to the bustling village centre of Isle Sur la Sorgue with its canals and markets.
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When you picture a Provençal home, the Hotel L'hermitage is the image that comes to mind. With an avenue of Plein trees, beautiful gardens, and an idyllic pool it is the perfect place to unwind and relax from your travels
The 3* hotel is superbly sited in the pedestrianised centre of Orange, making it ideal for strolling in the old town and visiting the Roman Antiquities. The recently refurbished rooms are spacious and comfortable with large and luxurious bathrooms, and the hotel also boasts a rooftop swimming pool, a rare feature in city centre hotels.
Ideally situated on the edge of the old town with its cobbled streets, the 4* Entraigues is a converted 15th C coaching house, and character and history oozes out of every pore. The Hotel has a fabulous rooftop restaurant, and a swimming pool with views to the Cathedral and its distinctive tower. The rooms have been recently refurbished and style and comfort is everything and more that you would expect from a 4 star hotel.
Splendidly situated next to the Roman Amphitheatre, where the bullfights gave Hemingway inspiration for 'Death in the Afternoon' and a short stroll from where Van Gogh painted the Café du Nuit, the Calendal is set around a delightful courtyard garden. The 3* hotel also has an indoor swimming pool and spa to wash off dust from a day in the saddle and a massage to ease the aches! Refurbished in beautiful Provencal style in 2017, we have been staying here since 2003.
A 14th C Farmhouse, the Domaine de Bournnissac was built while the Popes were still resident in Avignon. With views across the Provençal plain to the Alpilles mountain chain in one direction, the Luberon and Mont Ventoux in the other, it is another great spot to finish the week’s tour. Christian Peyre, the Michelin-starred Chef proprietor, will make sure the last meal is equally unforgettable!
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A modern hotel whilst maintaining the charm of Provence. Hotel Gounod is another addition to our hotels for 2019. Featuring an internal courtyard with an outdoor pool , Gounod is a hotel set in the heart of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence a minute walk into town. The hotel is famous for being where the composer Charles Gounod wrote his Mireille opera in 1863.
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Tired after the week of cycling? Just outside the town centre, the Hotel Le Vallon de Valruges is in a tranquil spot to allow you to relax on your last afternoon with a cocktail by the pool or a massage at the spa. The Hotels gourmet restaurant is a happy to welcome us in the dining room or on the terrace in the shade of plane trees.
It is sometimes necessary to change accommodation for reasons of room availability, minor adjustments to the route or upgrading the hotels. We will always endeavour to use hotels of an equal or higher level of comfort/facilities to those shown – please contact us to check for the most up-to-date information regarding your particular tour.
Below we answer all the most common questions that you might ask before choosing a French Cycling Holidays cycling tour. If you have any further questions then please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.
Anybody who is reasonably active should be able to take part and enjoy our cycling tours in France.
The tours have different levels of physical exertion — whilst the Loire Valley tours and Bordeaux tour are easy going; the Normandy, Provence Roman Heritage, and Burgundy tours are a little more strenuous, whilst the Provence Lubéron, Dordogne and Languedoc tours require a reasonable level of fitness.
For nearly all of our cycling tours an e-bike - electrically assisted bicycle - is an extra-cost option. These bikes apply a 'multiplier' to the level of input provided by the rider, the level of assistance can be adjusted for the terrain. This can be useful if there are members of your party who have very different levels of bike-fitness and experience, as hills that look daunting suddenly become easy with an e-bike. Contact us via the contact page if you would like more details.
The Sports tours are aimed at enthusiast cyclists who might want to bring their own road bikes. However, the rides are not races and there is no time limit - and there is always the minibus if things get too tough!
We would nevertheless recommend that anyone who has not taken any regular exercise for some time consult their doctor before considering any activity-based holiday. Bear in mind that a little regular riding before coming on a cycling vacation will always be a benefit to the experience.
We pick up and drop off from the nearest TGV/railway stations to the start of each tour. (We may be able to drop at a nearer airport or station by arrangement if more convenient for you and logistically possible). This gives everyone the option of making their way by the most economical or convenient means. The major options are:
Ryanair flies into the following airports:
Nimes (for the Provence tours and Languedoc tours; Ryanair also fly out of Beziers and Montpellier for the Languedoc tour); Bergerac (for the Bordeaux tour), Dinard for the Normandy tour, Grenoble for Alpine trips and Pau (for the Classic Cols tour)
Ryanair operates out of Liverpool, London Stansted and London Luton Airports amongst others.
Easyjet flies into Montpellier (for the Provence tours) and out of Bordeaux (for the Bordeaux tour); it flys into Geneva and Lyon for Alpine tours and also out of Nice for the Alpine Raid.
British Airways prices can be reasonable if booked in advance — BA fly into Bordeaux for train transfers to Bergerac (Bordeaux tour), and Marseilles (Provence tours).
If we do not pick up from the airport itself, we will advise on rail connections from the airport to our pick-up points.
The TGV can be an exceptionally quick way of reaching many French destinations from the UK and from Paris for those flying from overseas or UK regions.
The Eurostar SNCF (French National Railways) TGV websites may be useful. As a guide, London St Pancras to Avignon via TGV takes approximately 6½ hours; Tours takes 4 hours. From Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, the point of arrival for most intercontinental flights, Tours is 1½ hours by TGV, Avignon (for Provence) just over 3 hours.
Brive-la-Gaillarde is 4 hours from Paris by rail for the Dordogne tour. We are more than happy to advise on rail options — please contact us. Internet sales from the French SNCF site ( www.voyages-sncf.com sites are possible but are in French; the approved agency for the US and Canada is RailEurope ; however we are happy to advise and help with the French website.
This may be a good choice if your French Cycling Holiday is part of a longer stay. We may be able to arrange parking for your car at or near our first hotel, and return you to your car at the end of the trip. (Note - this service may not be available on certain long-distance tours - please check with us). The major ferry and crossing companies from the UK are Eurotunnel, P&O, Brittany Ferries, LD Lines, Speedferries and SeaFrance.
If it is more convenient for you to hire a car Europcar in our experience has the best rates for rentals where the drop-off is at a different location to the pickup.
However you choose to travel, we are very happy to help you sort out your itinerary.
Pedals are obviously fairly important on a cycling tour! We stock the following kinds:
Flat – i.e. no special cleats or grips, these pedals can be used with any kind of footwear. If you do not regularly use special pedals or cycling shoes, we recommend standard trainers/sneakers to wear while riding.
SPD/flat – we also have pedals with one side flat and one side an SPD cleat. This is the standard Shimano SPD compatible system; two bolts and the small cleat pictured on the shoe with the yellow sole. These cleats are ideal for cycling tours as the cleat is usually recessed into the bottom of the shoe.
Flats with cages – we have a small number of flat pedals with cages & straps – again if you are not used to this, we wouldn’t recommend starting a tour with them!
Other – we do NOT stock any other pedal systems. If you use any other kind of pedal, you are very welcome to bring your own and our guides can fit them to your bike for the week. However, we would advise against racing-style pedals such as the Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL or similar, as these tend to have a large, protruding cleat on the sole of the shoe which makes walking around visits or lunch stops (or even nipping into a public toilet!) quite uncomfortable and dangerous. Sports tours are a little different as there are much longer days and less off-the-bike walking – a choice is ultimately up to you though!
We are happy for anyone to bring their own bikes. However, the budget airlines charge around £50 each way and packing and carriage can be a hassle. Our Trek bikes are of a high standard, and our customers usually express pleasant surprise at the quality of the machines, so it might be a better option to bring your saddle and/or pedals which we will be very happy to fit. In any case there will always be a backup bike should you have a mechanical problem. Please feel free to call us for advice on bike transportation.
The main thing that people who are not regular distance cyclists worry about is a sore behind. This is not as is popularly thought due to too-hard saddles, but friction between skin and garments. This is why professional cyclists wear skin-tight lycra shorts with padded inserts. Many people feel a bit self-conscious in this sort of gear and your local cycle shop will have a range of padded undershorts which can be worn under normal clothing, or regularly styled shorts with sewn-in padded liners. Otherwise, lightweight comfortable clothing (tee-shirts, shorts, trainers) is ideal, with something warmer like a fleece just in case. As we will be dining well, you might like to take something presentable (but not formal — no-one on a French Cycling Holiday stands on ceremony!) for the evening meal.
As well as being an active holiday, sampling the best that France has to offer, we believe that our trips should be an opportunity to meet people and make new friends. Our groups are limited to a maximum of 16, which is the largest number that we can give a personal service to, and a minimum of 6 people, which we feel is the number needed to achieve a group spirit. If we cannot achieve this number, we may cancel the tour giving a minimum of five weeks notice.
We time our tours so that the weather should be ideal for cycling for each tour. For that reason we have our Provence and Languedoc tours in the late spring and early autumn, rather than in high summer when it can be too hot to cycle comfortably after 10 a.m. The Loire Valley, Dordogne, Bordeaux and Burgundy tours are more temperate, which is why we concentrate these tours in July and August. We cannot guarantee the weather, but it would be very unlucky to have more than one wet day on any of the tours.
There is no specific upper age limit — the only constraint is a reasonable level of fitness. Children between 10 and 16 are welcome as part of family groups. We do not recommend these tours for children under 10.
We require all participants to have travel insurance with full medical cover. It is part of the conditions of our tours that participant should provide evidence of suitable cover. If you have any questions about the cover required please contact us for advice.
In accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 1992” customers of French Cycling Holidays Limited will be indemnified in respect of their net ascertained financial loss sustained arising from the cancellation or curtailment of the declared trip travel arrangements arising solely from the event of the financial failure of French Cycling Holidays Limited.
This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through Hiscox Insurance Company Limited.
“Dear Ruth,
I would like to thank you and the staff at French Cycling Holidays for a wonderful vacation in the south of France. We could not ask for a more perfect combination of great weather, excellent guides (David and Jeremy) and a lively group of cyclists. I will certainly recommend your company to friends here in the states who might be interested in this kind of holiday. I think this is the only way to see such beautiful towns and countryside. Hopefully I can talk my wife into the Villages of Luberon tour. I have no doubt that we will return for a future tour.
Thanks again for a great holiday.”
Jeffrey and Valerie, Florida, USA
“Amazing – loved every part of the countryside, information, company and towns. David & Susan were a magic combination of encouragement, support, great humour & sensitivity.”
Vivien, Sydney, New South Wales
“Excellent. Relaxing and interesting; excellent guides with good people skills + organisation. Met expectations ++!”
Philip & Lynn, Metcham, New South Wales, Australia
“Great trip. Good food & wine and excellent guides & overview.”
Kathy Royer, Fort Orange, Florida
“I loved it! The guides were very friendly and informative and worked incredibly hard. The food and wine were delicious and the settings and hotels were lovely. The hotel the last night was particularly charming and the view was beautiful.”
Elizabeth, Redwood City, California
“I had a fantastic time. As far as the cycling itself is concerned it's exactly what I wanted. I really felt looked after and Susan & David and the whole group made sure I had a memorable birthday!”
Anna, Reading, UK
