Day 1. Arrival in Aigues-Mortes.
Individual arrival in Aigues-Mortes, a medieval port town on the Rhône river where the river flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Boarding starts at 18.00h.
Day 2. Around Aigues-Mortes. Cycling distance approx. 55 km.
The boat stays in Aigues-Mortes. Today's cycling route goes through Camargue's unique nature area with lagoons, dams and canals, to the village of Le Grau-du-Roi. Formerly a small fishing village, today the town has grown into a charming seaside resort town with lovely white sandy beaches where you can take a dip.
Day 3. Aigues-Mortes – Arles. Cycling distance approx. 25 km.
The day starts with a short boat trip up to Saint Gilles, where you'll jump on your bikes and head out on the day's stage to Arles, an exciting city with winding streets, beautiful squares and handsome old buildings. The Romans' early arrival in Arles has put an inevitable mark on the city, including with the little atmospheric arena, which no longer has feeding of lions on their summer programme, but now instead offers up the non-violent French style of bullfighting with bulls bred in the Camargue. This type of bullfighting, called Course Camarguaise, involves men trying to pull ribbons and rosettes off the bull's horns. The bull tires during the chases but is never killed, and the men are rarely injured.
Arles is also Van Gogh's city. He arrived here in 1888 and immortalized this beautiful region with his dramatic and expressive paintings. The region is beautiful with down-to-earth landscapes, soft colours, clear views and warm winds – and all naturally coloured by yellow sunflowers, green shading fruit gardens, flowering ditches and golden corn fields.
A short bike ride brings us to the old wooden bridge, which Van Gogh immortalized in one of his paintings. The boat moors on the banks of the Rhône river in the city centre of Arles.
Day 4. Arles – Vallabreguès. Cycling distance approx. 55 km.
Today, we cycle to the small mountain range, Alpilles, and the fortified picturesque city of Baux-de-Provence, located on a hill-top. Later, we continue to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, another delightful Provençal town with plane trees, winding streets, shaded squares and its own triumphal arch. Van Gogh lived in Saint-Remy for a period, and many of his colourful painting are inspired by the beautiful scenery with rugged and rocky landscapes, lavender fields and olive groves. The boat moors on the banks of the Rhône river in the small Provençal town of Vallabreguès.
Day 5. Vallabreguès – Aramon. Cycling distance approx. 35 km.
On small roads, you cycle to Berbentane with the castle located close to where the Rhône and Durance rivers meet. You continue to the impressive Saint Michel de Frigulet Abbey and on to the medieval village of Boulbon. In the afternoon, you sail to Aramon, from where there is a beautiful view of "the bald mountain", Mont Ventoux.
Day 6. Aramon – Avignon. Cycling distance approx. 40 km.
The destination of today's stage is the magnificent Pont du Gard Aqueduct, built by the Romans around the beginning of our Common Era. The bridge was part of a 48 km long water channel, which provided Nîmes with clean drinking water and water to the fountains. The Pont du Gard is 275 m long, 49 m high and 6 m wide, so that it could also be used as a bridge over the river. When Nîmes was struck by an earthquake in 1448, large parts of the city were destroyed, except for the Roman buildings and the aqueduct.
You return to the boat in Aramon and sail to Avignon, known as the City of Popes, where the boat moors by the Quai de la Ligne next to the famous bridge, Pont Saint-Bénézet, which has inspired the song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon".
Day 7. Around Avignon. Cycling distance approx. 30 km.
The day starts on the other side of the River Rhône, and to get to the other bank, you cross the island, Île de la Barthelasse. From here, you'll start the day's stage, cycling through beautiful scenery, between vineyards and orchards. In the afternoon, there will be a guided tour of the historic city of Avignon.
Day 8. Checkout.
Departure after breakfast at 09.00h.
The week-long itinerary described here is with start from Aigues-Mortes. With start from Avignon, the itinerary is read in reverse order.
Reservations: High tide and low tide conditions as well as logistical obstacles may lead to changes in the day stages and mooring points described in the itinerary.