From Lyon to Arles Bike & Barge Tour

Lyon

Embarkation 5 p.m., but you can bring your luggage on board around 2 p.m.

Lyon - Tournon-sur-Rhone, approx. 42 km

Get ready for incredible scenery, 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. The landscape slowly changes into that of vineyards as you enter the land of the Côte Rôtie. The vineyards are unique because of the steep slopes facing the river and their stone walls. The landscape changes again, this time into the green landscape of the Ardèche countryside Here you can find the boat moored in Andance. During dinner, the ship will navigate to Tournon sur Rhône.

Tournon-sur-Rhone – Le Pouzin, approx. 33-73 km

On the short route this morning the captain and his crew start the day early to bring you to the city of Valence, where the boat will arrive after breakfast. This town with its colorful markets and it’s historic “Quartiers” is the starting point of your cycling day featuring the typical small villages of the Ardèche, historic sites, and the green meadows of a nature reserve towards Le Pouzin in the Drôme area. The long route takes you inland to the Drôme region and the ancient city of Crest with its imposing defense tower that overlooks both the river and the city. The third option is an exceptional one and needs pre-booking. From Tournon an old steam train takes you and your bike up to Lamastre, the starting place of the Dolce Via bike route. The next 73 kilometres you will ride along an old railway line that has been turned into a bike route. You ride through the imposing mountainous landscape of the Ardèche through tunnels and along ravines. The route is partly unpaved. A day for the good cyclists.

Le Pouzin – Viviers, approx. 42 km

Today the tour brings you past the medieval abbey of Cruas and further along you will be crossing a memorable rope bridge in Rochemaure. Though built by Marc Seguin in 1858, the architect was inspired by the castle ramparts. This bridge can be seen as a symbolic passing from old to new, from history to the future. At the end of the day you will be parking your bike next to the boat and you can enjoy a stroll through the historic village of Viviers.

Viviers – Avignon, approx. 40 km

After a morning sail, the bikes will be put ashore at Roquemaure. From here you will bike straight into the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. You might want to purchase a bottle of wine of the same name to take home! Once you pass the hilly landscape around Châteauneuf-du-Pape, you are rewarded with an almost completely flat bike path along the river. Soon you will enjoy a panoramic view of Avignon, the home of the Popes in the 14th century. In this city you can wander the old streets, enjoy the French way of life on the squares with their terraces and just breathe the culture

Avignon – Tarascon/Arles, approx. 50-58 km

Many choices today on the ride from the ancient city of Popes to the South. The longer and easier route takes you on a relaxed ride along the river on the Via Rhôna. The shorter but more strenuous route is a breathtaking stage, which brings you to the Alpilles, with the perched villages of Les-Baux-de-Provence and Saint Rémy de Provence. A landscape of limestone cliffs and olive trees will accompany the trip. For the very keen cyclists we have the option of a long ride inland (more than 70 km) that brings you to the best preserved Roman aqueduct in Europe: Pont du Gard.

Tarascon/Arles – Arles, approx. 21-50 km

For those who want to explore Arles and all the cozy corners Van Gogh once painted we have prepared a nice short route of only 21 kilometers. If you want to spend your last day cycling the longer option, we offer an interesting ride into the Camargue, the river delta of the Rhône. Here you will find salt marches and century old traces of human population. You might even see the famous Camargue wild horses.

Arles

Disembarkation at approx. 10 a.m.. Independent homeward travel.