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Burgundy to Provence 8-day Bike & Barge Tour
Bike and Barge Tour in the south of France. Guests enjoy the beautiful countryside of the Rhône valley and cities founded by the Romans more than 2.000 years ago. This part of France is home to some of the best and most expensive French wines, for example Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Designed specifically for the Rhône river, this custom-built ship has all outside cabins and provides an especially intimate cruising experience—carrying just 49 passengers.
Take time to relax after your biking day, in the bar and lounge, library, and Sun Deck. Your hotel style cabin features a flat-screen TV with CNN, radio, direct-dial telephone, individual heating and air-conditioning controls, twin beds, and private bathroom with shower and hair dryer. Plus, complimentary wireless internet access is available in all cabins, in additional to all common areas.
General on board:
Food and drinks on board:
Cultural:
On the bike:
Special diets may be catered for at a fee of 50 Euro (vegetarian, lactose free, gluten free - not vegan)
Suites on lower deck and main deck from 1649 euro. Enquire [email protected]
If you would like to rent a bike (80 Euro) or e-bike (185 Euro) please contact our office when booking [email protected]
After arrival on board you will be allocated a bike suitable to your height. This hybrid bike, is at your disposal during your trip. Your bike has 24 speeds, hand brakes, pannier bags and a lock. Beforeyour first to ur, the guide will give you instructions about the bike. We draw your attention to the fact that you will be held responsible for damage to or theft of the bike, as long as the bike is not on board. Never leave it unattended and unlocked. Please note that helmets are mandatory on this tour. We suggest you to bring your own, or buy one on board. Helmets are not available for rental.
E-bikes: are available on board, but be aware that these are booked early. Your E-bike has 8 speeds, hand brakes, a pannier bag and a lock.
Airport: Lyon - From here you can take a taxi or the Rhône express. The Rhône express is a tram shuttle service that goes between Lyon airport and Lyon Partdieu train station.
Train:
From almost al major cities in France you can reach Lyon as well as Arles with a TGV. Paris to Lyon by TGV is less than 2 hours; Paris to Arles by TGV is less than 4 hours.
Mooring places:
Lyon: Quai du Dr. Gailleton
Arles: rue Jean Gorodliche
Slow Tours offers a number of other Bike & Barge Tours in Europe
Embarkation at Lyon
You can check into your cabin around 6 p.m., but you can bring your luggage on board starting from 2 p.m. Around 7 p.m. the guide and crew welcome you to dinner with an aperitif to start the tour. After dinner there is time to explain some things about the tour and also the captain will tell you more about life on board.
Discover Lyon (bike) 40km (boat) 18km
To start your bike and barge tour, you will be exploring the 'green site' of Lyon today. In 1998 this city received the title of UNESCO world heritage for its cultural heritage that dates back over 2000 years. Lyon was once the capital of the Roman province Gallia and later the capital of Burgundy. It brings you history not only in words, but visually too. The second part of your bike trip today takes you to the land between the rivers Saône and Rhône, where you can find a nice balance between enjoying the parks and the history of this great city. To discover the oldest (cobblestone) streets we recommend that you take a stroll into the oldest part of town and park your bike near the riverside. During dinner the captain will be treating you to an evening cruise towards Vienne.
Vienne -Andance – Tournon sur Rhône (bike) 42km (boat) 22km
Today we can offer you a big variety of views, tastes and fragrances. Leaving Vienne you immediately bike into the nature reserve Île au Beurre, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. While the landscape slides along, it changes into a big vineyard, entering the famous home of the Côte Rôtie. Passing through vineyards, you will see the landscape changes again, this time into the green landscape of the Ardèche countryside, where you can find the boat moored in Andance. At dinner time the captain sails the barge to Tournon sur Rhône.
Tournon sur Rhône – Valence – Pouzin (bike) 35km (boat) 20km
This morning the captain and his crew start the day early to take you to the city of Valance, where the boat will arrive after breakfast. This city with its colourful markets and its historic “ Quartiers” is the starting point of your ride through typical small villages of the Ardèche and historic sites. You can enjoy the green meadows towards Pouzin in the Drôme area.
Pouzin – Viviers (bike) 42km
Today the tour brings you to the medieval abbey of Cruas and further along you will be crossing a memorable rope bridge in Rochemaure. This bridge can be seen as a symbolic passing from old to new, from history to the present. At the end of the day you will be parking your bike next to the boat where you can enjoy a stroll through the historic village of Viviers.
Viviers -Saint-Etienne-des-Sorts – Avignon (bike) 40km (boat) 38km
After a morning sail the bikes will be put ashore at Saint-Etienne- des-Sorts. From here you will cycle straight into the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where you can perhaps buy a tasty memory of this tour to take home. After passing the hilly landscape around Châteauneuf-du-Pape, you are rewarded with an almost completely flat part of the bike path along the river. From here, you will have a first glance of the panoramic view of Avignon, the home of the Popes in the 14th century. In this city you will find old streets, enjoy the French way of life on the squares with their terraces and just breathe the culture.
Avignon – Arles ( bike) 45km
Today you bike from the ancient city of Popes to the home of Van Gogh. Around halfway through the cycling tour today you will arrive in Beaucaire. It is here where the Languedoc region and Provence regions meet. To end our day, we suggest exploring Arles and all the cosy corners van Gogh used to paint here…
Disembarkation
Today we have to end the tour. The crew and staff will wish you good travels, wherever you may go. Check out after breakfast, no later than 9 a.m.
Tours marked with are special prices.
| Start | End | Max. No. Guests | Accommodation | Price p.p. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21 2020 | Mar 28 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,799€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,599€ | |||||
| Apr 04 2020 | Apr 11 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,799€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,599€ | |||||
| Apr 18 2020 | Apr 25 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,849€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,649€ | |||||
| May 02 2020 | May 09 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| May 16 2020 | May 23 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| May 30 2020 | Jun 06 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| Jun 13 2020 | Jun 20 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| Jun 27 2020 | Jul 04 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| Jul 11 2020 | Jul 18 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,849€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,649€ | |||||
| Jul 25 2020 | Aug 01 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,849€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,649€ | |||||
| Aug 08 2020 | Aug 15 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,849€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,649€ | |||||
| Aug 22 2020 | Aug 29 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,849€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,649€ | |||||
| Sep 05 2020 | Sep 12 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| Sep 19 2020 | Sep 26 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,899€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,699€ | |||||
| Oct 03 2020 | Oct 10 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,799€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,599€ | |||||
| Oct 17 2020 | Oct 24 2020 | 49 | Single rooms | 1,799€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,599€ |
If you would like to drive yourself before or after your tour, ask us for a quote on any brand new Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicle for driving in Europe.
Pick up your vehicle from most capital cities in Europe and return it to your drop off destination. Top insurance cover. Email [email protected] for a competitive quote
Shows in English in Paris: Paris offers a wide variety of shows accessible to English-speakers. One-man shows, classic & modern theatre, musicals, cabarets and more are all performed in the city every night. You can get the full programme of shows in Paris to fit your city break dates by emailing [email protected]
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