Compare Cycle Provence by Intrepid Travel vs A Week In… The French Riviera, Provence and Paris 2021 by Tauck
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 2,224 | $ 4,790 |
| Price Per Day | $ 278 | $ 599 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Ride your way through neat rows of vineyards, beneath towering aqueducts and past verdant forests on an eight-day active cycling adventure through Provence. This journey through Southern France is the perfect blend of scenic trail riding, historical sightseeing and indulgent wine tasting. Visit the serene gardens of St Remy to see where Vincent van Gogh created his famous works, savour regional red wines at a vineyard outside Avignon and walk the cobbled streets of Les Baux to the top of the limestone cliffs. With a handful of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Roman history and serene landscapes where wild horses roam free – what more does a European cycling adventure need? |
Experience what makes southern France unforgettable: an adventure walk on the Pont du Gard, a chef's dinner with a wine pairing in Avignon, and exploring chic Nice, Monte-Carlo, Provence, and Paris. |
Day 1 Avignon
Bonjour! Welcome to France. Your adventure begins in Avignon with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the historic Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon or explore the leafy streets and the massive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) at your own pace. You could also flop down on the grass of the Jardin des Doms with a fresh fougasse (French bread often sculpted to resemble a head of wheat) and some cheese. Tonight, ask your new local leader for the best dinner spot.
Day 2 Orange
After breakfast today, there will be a bike fitting for the group followed by a short test ride to ensure everyone's equipment has been set up properly. Then, you’ll leave Avignon and cycle along quiet and flat country roads to Orange. Along the way, pass through the famous wine region of Chateauneuf du Pape and maybe make a stop at a local vineyard. Sample some of the red wine this region is famous for, then continue the road to Orange. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk of the town, visiting the Arc de Triomphe d'Orange and the outstanding Roman Theatre – one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Europe. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Day 3 Uzes
Leave Orange behind and ride the quiet roads south to the walled Provencal commune of Caderousse. Here, cross the mighty Rhone River passing the medieval village of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres and cycle past the vineyards that produce Lirac wines – the favourite wines of kings and the papal community in Avignon. Continue west through wine country to the legendary Pont du Gard – widely considered to be one of the world’s best-preserved examples of a Roman Aqueduct. Towering high above the Gardon River, this three-tiered stone masterpiece never fails to impress. On a quiet day, there may even be an opportunity to ride across it! After visiting the Pont du Gard, continue west to the small town of Uzes with its graceful circuit of boulevards and cute cafes.
Day 4 Saint Remy
Today is a long day in the saddle, but you’ll be rewarded with impressive sights along the way. Hopefully, the infamous mistral wind will be blowing from the northwest, providing a tailwind all the way to Saint Remy. Winding back across the Rhone, travel beneath the old city gate and into the small town of Tarascon. Take a short break from cycling to visit the imposing medieval castle, before sitting on the riverbank to learn about the legend of the Tarasque, the namesake of the town. After lunch, continue to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. In distinct contrast to the surrounding larger cities and towns, Saint Remy displays a typically Provencal way of life. Visit the serene gardens of Saint-Paul Asylum where Vincent van Gogh was a self-admitted patient and where he painted many works of art, including ‘Irises’ and the famous ‘The Starry Night’.
Day 5 Saint Remy (& optional Mont Ventoux ride)
Today is a free day off the bike to explore charming Saint Remy at your own pace. Indulge your inner Van Gogh and chill out in a Provencal cafe, or if you’re still keen for a ride, your crew can suggest the best route in the local area. You can also take on the legendary Mont Ventoux on a carbon road bike. Driving from Saint Remy to Bedoin early, you’ll be riding on the mountain as the sun rises to beat the infamous Ventoux winds and summer heat. The unguided ride should take about 4 hours, leaving enough time to grab a coffee and croissant before you rejoin your driver in Bedoin for the drive back in Saint Remy.
Day 6 Les Baux & Arles
Hit the road again after breakfast. Today, you start with a short ride to the hilltop commune of Les Baux-de-Provence. Although the distance is short, this is also one of the more difficult rides. For those not wanting to ride uphill, your support vehicle is always available. The first climb through the forest is rewarded with a short but beautiful descent on possibly the smoothest road in all of France. Carry on through olive groves and vineyards before arriving at Les Baux – declared ‘one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France’ thanks to its narrow, cobbled streets and surrounding countryside. Visit Chateau des Baux, which sits perched on a limestone cliff offering 360-degree views. After, ride through the Val d’Enfer’s (Valley of Hell) white limestone rock formations. From here, it is a downhill ride to Fontvieille, where you’ll follow the Canal d'Arles alongside the Rhone River all the way into Arles. Park the bikes and take a leader-led walk, passing the Place de la Republique, Van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Roman Amphitheatre.
Day 7 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer/Arles
Swap vineyards for waves on a ride south to the capital of the Camargue – Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which sits on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Set on the Rhone River delta, the lakes of Camargue are a bird spotters paradise, home to more than 400 species of birds. The area is also known for its famous white Camarguais horses, often seen running free around Camargue. After lunch, return to Arles by vehicle. You also have the option to ride back to Arles (but this optional ride will not be supported by either the leader or your vehicle). Tonight, maybe get the group together to enjoy a final dinner.
Day 8 Arles
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Day 1 Arrive Nice
Tour begins: 3:30 PM, Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. Join us this afternoon for a walking tour of Old Town Nice. Later, all gather for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening at your five-star luxury hotel, occupying a former Art Deco casino located on Nice’s legendary Promenade des Anglais.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
PORTOFCALL : Nice, France
Day 2 A Wealth of Color in Nice & Monaco
A marvelous day in southern France begins with a panoramic tour of seaside Nice, whose "Old Town" recalls the days when aristocrats and royals spent their winters here; see the Port and the Promenade des Anglais, Place Garibaldi and the Cimiez District, a leafy, upscale neighborhood in the north of the city known for its historic, elegant apartment buildings, expansive gardens and Roman ruins. Here, you'll enjoy a visit to Musée Marc Chagall, a national museum spotlighting religious-inspired works by the Russian-born painter who made France his home. Next, head for Monaco to get a taste of life in glamorous Monte-Carlo, including lunch on the terrace of the elegant Fairmont Monte Carlo. Then spend some free time in Monaco-Ville, the oldest part of the city (also known as Le Rocher, or “The Rock”), where you can visit either the Prince's Palace, home of Monaco's ruling Grimaldi family since the 13th century, or the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (Monaco Cathedral), completed early in the 20th century. Return to your hotel in Nice for an evening spent as you please.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
PORTOFCALL : Nice, France
Day 3 Where Impressionists Dreamed
From Nice, begin the day with a visit to the picturesque walled town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a Provençal hilltop town that was built in the 13th century, for an orientation tour and a walking tour led by your Tauck Director; you'll be taken with its medieval look and easily understand why it became an artists' enclave. After some free time to explore Saint-Paul-de-Vence on your own, continue on for an afternoon spent among the fountains, squares and medieval center of lovely Aix-en-Provence; imagine great artists like Paul Cézanne and others at work amidst the spectrum of colors found in "Aix" as you explore and enjoy lunch as you please in town, and join your local guide for a walking tour. Arrive late afternoon in St-Rémy-de-Provence to spend the next two nights at charming Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa, where you'll enjoy dinner this evening.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa
PORTOFCALL : Aix-en-Provence, France
Day 4 Van Gogh's Places & a Palace for Popes
No journey in Provence is complete without exploring the landscapes that inspired Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, where olive groves, cypress trees, and flowers the colors of the rainbow greet you. You'll do just that when you join your Tauck Director for a morning market visit and a walking tour of St-Rémy-de-Provence, where van Gogh spent a year of his life at a monastery that served as an asylum – a period of creativity that produced 150 of his most beloved paintings, including Starry Night, Wheat Field with Cypresses and Irises. After a free afternoon for lunch as you please and time spent as you wish in St-Rémy, head to Avignon, which has reigned as one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities since the 14th century, when it was briefly the capital of Christendom and the home of the Roman Catholic popes. Following an orientation tour of this well-preserved riverside city, a visit inside the four-towered, fortress-like Palais des Papes with a local guide reveals the treasures and lifestyles of the pontiffs who reigned here for almost 70 years. Join us this evening for a memorable private chef's dinner in Avignon including a wine tasting and cooking demonstration, before returning to your hotel in St-Rémy.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa
PORTOFCALL : St-Rémy-de-Provence, France
Day 5 An eternal Aqueduct & The TGV to Paris
Depart St-Rémy this morning and travel to the Pont du Gard – a three-level, 164-ft.-high “bridge” built by the Romans to carry fresh water over the River Gardon nearly 2,000 years ago – for an adventurous guided walk over the famous aqueduct and a visit to its museum. After a boxed lunch, board the high-speed TGV train in Avignon for a rapid rail journey in first class to inimitable Paris and a three-night stay at the newly renovated Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra; enjoy dinner at a local Parisian restaurant tonight.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera
PORTOFCALL : Paris, France
Day 6 The Joie de Vivre of Paris
A guided orientation tour today gives you a great overview of Paris and includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and more. Then, combine two Parisian pleasures as you feast on a sumptuous lunch from the kitchen of Chef Alain Ducasse while gliding along the River Seine aboard Ducasse sur Seine, a floating restaurant created by the famous chef. As the soul of Parisian cuisine comes to life on your plate, the city’s landmarks float by, each one a unique confection. Explore more of the amazing French capital as you wish for the rest of the day and evening.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera
PORTOFCALL : Paris, France
Day 7 Musée du Louvre & Paris Shimmering
Join our local guide this morning for a visit inside the legendary Musée du Louvre, where you'll view some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Spend the afternoon at leisure, then join us for our farewell dinner tonight at a venue affording memorable views of this remarkable city – and bid adieu to Paris in true Tauck style!
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera
PORTOFCALL : Paris, France
Day 8 Journey home
Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. Your transfer is included from Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Orly Airport or a Paris train station. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Paris, France
