Provence and French riviera bike tour from Avignon to Cassis
Trip code : Cyclo 34
Trop activity
Seelf guided bike tourLocation
Aix en Provence - FranceDuration
7 daysDifficulty 
25 to 65 km per day
Departure
Capacity
Price per person
- 7 days - 6 nights : 895 €
- from April 24 to September 24 : + 135 €
Including services
- 6 nights & breakfast in 3 & 4* hotel (double / twin room)
- The road book
- The train ticket from Cassis to Marseille
- luggage transfers
- Phone call assistance 7/7
Extra charges
- Touring bike : 155 €
- Electric bike : 225 €
- Half board every night : 250 €
Tour description
Itinerary
Practical details
Information request
Booking request
Provence and French riviera bike tour from Avignon to Cassis.
During this Provence and French riviera bike tour, you will start from Avignon, the papal city and go for an extraordinary trip in the South of Provence to reach Mediterranean sea (Côte d’Azur) and the famous fishing port of Cassis near Marseille.
During this route, you will cross the Alpilles montain, an enchanting natural site which from the top of its 500m altitude offers a 360 ° panorama : from Mont Ventoux to the Cévennes, from the Sainte Victoire mountain to the Camargue ! At the heart of these limestone hills, discover the citadel of Baux de Provence and the “Carrière de Lumières”. Then head east through the olive groves to reach, by small roads and typical villages, Salon de Provence then Aix en Provence, the cultural capital of Provence. City of water, city of Art, Aix en Provence perfectly embodies this Provençal art of living so praised around the world. It is also the city of the painter Cézanne, whose Aix countryside inspired some of the greatest Impressionist masterpieces.
It is in the heart of this exceptional landscape that you will continue your cycling holiday along the steep cliffs of Sainte-Victoire mountain (a must!) towards Saint-Maximin and its Gothic basilica. You will endly cycle through the Regional Natural Park of Sainte-Beaume and along the Mediterranean coast to reach the village of Cassis, a charming traditional fishing port with typical small boats and surrounded by the famous creeks offering idyllic places for swimming in turquoise waters. You will have enough time to stroll in this postcard setting before taking the train for a final night in the old port of Marseille!
Day 1: Avignon
Arrival in Avignon. 4**** hotel with good cuisine on Barthelasse Island in a very quiet area (with swimming-pool and free car park,), approx. 5km/3 miles from Avignon Centre.
Day 2: From Avignon to Maussane les Alpilles, ~ 30 km
At around 9:30am welcome meeting, handover of maps and documents, pick up your bike if rented. Then 'on your bike' and off towards the medieval village of Les Baux de Provence, passing through the Little Crau countryside. The view from this charming little village perched on the cliffs above the Alpilles hills is quite stunning: Lake Vaccarès glimmering in the Camargue to the south, and windswept Mont Ventoux in the distance to the north. From here it's a short & gentle downhill roll to your hotel in Maussane les Alpilles.
Day 3: From Maussane to Aix-en-Provence, ~65 km (~30 km from Maussane to Salon de Provence)
Cycle along the southern side of the Alpilles through quaint Provençal villages, and their world famous olive groves, producing fine olive oils, and on through to Salon de Provence where Nostradamus lived and wrote for some time. From Salon you may either be accompanied overhead by the “Patrouille de France” the French Air force aerobatic team who are based there, as you cycle on to stylish Aix-en-Provence or you take the train to continue to Aix and so have more spare time to visit the town and its museums.
Day 4: From Aix-en-Provence to Saint Maximin, ~40 km
Today you will discover the artist Paul Cezanne's countryside around the chic university city of Aix en Provence, passing the Mont St Victoire Mountain which will accompany you on to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. This town has the largest Gothic basilica in Provence, in which you can admire one of the biggest baroque organs in France. Legend has it that Mary Magdalene is buried here, but it's quite a contested story!
Day 5: From Saint Maximin to Castellet, ~55 km
Today’s journey south, takes you on into different scenery, through heavenly scented Mediterranean pine forests.
Day 6: From Castellet to Cassis (night in Marseille), ~25 km
You'll ride in maybe the nicest scenery on a natural path in pine forest and have a breathtaking view on the whole meditarrenean coast before you'll arrive in Cassis early in the afternoon. Enjoy the last day of your holiday in one of the prettiest towns of the Cote d'Azur, doing as you please. We recommend however a boat trip out to the unique 'Calanques' sea fjords (see photo below), which actually run back west along the coast as far as Marseille. You then take the train (included in the price) to Marseille. We recommend visiting this town!
Day 7: End of the tour or extra nights
Departure after breakfast
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