Cycle through pretty villages and shop for lavender in Provence | Kylie Martin
Earlier this year, Kylie completed our self guided Highlights of Provence by Bike trip. She was kind enough to put together a day-by-day account of the trip and shared some photos with us so that other travellers can gain some insight into what it's like to go cycling in Provence, a region that is blessed with the Mediterranean coast, medieval towns, fertile valleys and stunning and unique landscapes.
Cycling through the beautiful Provencal countryside was a wonderful way to explore the region, as we pedalled through quaint little villages, vineyards and cherry orchards. There were plenty of opportunities to stop and explore along the way, and to enjoy some of the local wines and delicious regional produce!
Watch a concert in Orange's Roman Theatre, which was built in the 1st century
Day 1: Arrival in Orange
Despite a train strike we managed to make it to Orange in time to explore this charming old town, and we were even able to catch a musical performance at the Roman Theatre. We were impressed by the detailed route maps and excellent condition of the bikes. We couldn’t wait to get started!
Cross the mighty the River Rhône on the famous Pont d’Avignon
Day 2: Orange to Avignon
Highlights of our first day of cycling included the gorgeous village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where we stopped for a stroll and enjoyed magnificent views from the castle. We continued to cycle through lovely vineyards and villages as we made our way to Avignon. I loved the walled city of Avignon, with the stunning Pont d’Avignon over the River Rhône, and the impressive Popes’ Palace.
Collect cherries as you cycle through beautiful cherry orchards
Day 3: Avignon to Arles
Today’s cycle took us through the lovely town of St Rėmy, where we stopped for lunch and a stroll around the beautiful old town. The post-lunch 4km ascent was well worth the effort, as we had stunning views of Les Baux, before free-wheeling down to explore this ancient town! We arrived in Arles in time for dinner, and enjoyed a 2 night stopover in this charming, historic town.
A horse in the Camargue on France's Mediterranean coast
Day 4: Camargue and Arles
On our third day of cycling, we enjoyed exploring the unique Camargue region and managed to spot some pink flamingos. After sampling the local pastis at lunch, we cycled back to Arles to explore and enjoy a lovely dinner.
Day 5: Arles to Nîmes
We left Arles en route to Tarascon, where we stopped for a delicious morning tea before crossing the Rhône to Beaucaire, another beautiful city. On our afternoon arrival in Nîmes, we could immediately understand why this impressive city is dubbed the most Roman city outside Italy! We enjoyed some refreshments overlooking the magnificent Nîmes Arena, before heading off to visit the stunning Maison Carrėe.
Take a break from cycling and arrive at the Pont du Gard by kayak
Day 6: Nîmes to Uzès
Just when we thought our trip couldn’t get any better, today we decided to take the ‘sporty’ option and combined some paddling with our cycling, arriving at the Pont du Gard by kayak! Paddling up to, and under this incredible structure was an absolute trip highlight, and it was good to exercise some different muscles. On arrival in Uzės, we were totally charmed by this laid back, beautiful town.
Day 7: Uzès to Orange
After a morning stroll around beautiful Uzės, our final day of cycling took us full circle back to Orange, through vineyards, cherry orchards and many pretty villages. We made it! After an amazing week of cycling through this stunning region of France we can’t wait to start planning our next trip.
Kylie and her friend exploring Provence on an 8-day self guided cycle
Want to know more about cycling in Provence? Browse our full range of cycling trips:
Prefer walking? Check out our walking holidays in Provence:
The region is famous for its lavender, which blooms from late June to the beginning of August