Provence Self-Guided Bike Tour

Overview

Welcome to Provence! You've arrived to the French countryside of your dreams. You will meet your host at 10:00 AM at the Hôtel Sous les Figuiers in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, your home for the week. After a quick introduction, you'll get fitted to your Trek bike by your local host. You’ll set out on your first ride in Provence, pedaling through the Alpilles Regional Park and its distinctive landscape filled with limestone ridges, olive groves, and low, scrub-covered hills. The end of today's ride brings you back to the vibrant village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where you'll swap bucolic scenery for the delightful street-side cafés and restaurants. Tonight, take a stroll into town for an apéritif and dinner at one of your local host's favorite restaurants.

Overview

Waking in St-Rémy, linger over an extra pain au chocolat before the region’s history beckons. Today's route is mostly flat, leading you to the impressive Frigolet Abbey—founded in the 10th century and still an active monastery today. From there, the route is yours: follow the meandering Rhône River or push further to the triple-tiered Pont du Gard, one of the world's best-preserved aqueducts and a masterpiece of Roman engineering. A stop at a roadside bakery makes for an easy lunch before you find your own way back to St-Rémy. Tonight, dinner is on your own and a chance to explore the town at your own pace. La Cave aux Fromages is worth a detour: a cheese shop built around a 12th-century ripening cellar, with charcuterie plates and a selection that rewards the curious.

Overview

Market day in St-Rémy sets the tone for the morning. Stroll the stalls and take in the fresh produce, local cheese, and artisanal goods of a quintessentially Provençal scene. When you're ready, the ride heads out with a couple of early climbs before the Alpilles limestone range opens up around you on the approach to Eygalières, a village known for its fountains and hilltop fortress. Take time to explore and find a spot for lunch before setting off on a quiet route back. The afternoon is yours in St-Rémy. A visit to the ruins of Glanum and Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the asylum where Van Gogh spent a year and painted some of his most celebrated works, including the view that became Starry Night, is well worth the time. This evening, dinner at one of St-Rémy's restaurants rounds out the day with the flavors of Provençal cooking.

Overview

This morning, take your time over a leisurely breakfast and an extra café au lait. Once on the bike, the route begins with a climb across the Alpilles and their dramatic rocky massifs before descending to Les Baux-de-Provence, a historic town built directly into the limestone. Here you can choose to visit Carrières des Lumières, an immersive multimedia art exhibit set inside an old stone quarry, where large-scale projections bring the work of the world's greatest artists to life across the stone walls and floor. After the visit, roam Les Baux to find your ideal lunch spot and take in the incredible views across the valley. The return ride is largely downhill, and the afternoon is yours to relax at the hotel. As your time here draws to a close, walk into town for a celebratory drink and dinner—a fitting end to your time spent cycling and exploring Provence.

Overview

Bid adieu to the fragrant French countryside today with a loop ride to stretch your legs and take in the views one last time. Or, choose to relax in town over a longer breakfast and perhaps a morning walk. Your local host will arrive at the hotel to bid farewell and collect your bike at 11:00 AM.