The Provence Camargue Route Aigues-Mortes to Avignon – Bike Barge Tour Along the rice fields and Mediterranean waterways of the Camargue and the landscapes that were so dear to Vincent van Gogh, this tour will lead you through quaint Provencal villages, vineyards, and dramatic landscapes. Our tour includes visits to one of the Seven World Wonders, the Roman Pont du Gard. You’ll experience wonderful Saint-Rémy where Van Gogh stayed for a year, and Les Baux de Provence spectacularly set atop a rocky outcrop and crowned with a ruined castle. You’ll stay in Arles and explore its Gallo-Roman treasures, sampling the ambiance that attracted Van Gogh and Gauguin to its cobblestones and cafes. You’ll visit the Camargue National Park where you’ll find wading flamingos, wild bulls, and white horses in the expansive marshland. Many art and music festivals also take place in Provence during the summer months.This delightful cycling vacation includes the best bike routes of the region that you can enjoy at your own pace or with our helpful, multilingual guide. Included • 7 nights on board the ship (sheets, blankets, and two towels) • 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, and 7 dinners • Coffee and tea on board • 27-speed hybrid bicycle rental, including helmet, pannier, water bottle, lock • Tour guide on bike (multilingual) • Information pack, route descriptions and maps • Mid-week service of cabin cleaning and towel change • Booking Fee Daily Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Aigues-Mortes Our barge is moored in Aigues-Mortes, a medieval town and ancient military and commercial port on the Mediterranean. Your cabin will be available at 6 p.m.. Aigues- Mortes is a historic city in the middle of one of the most beautiful spots of Provence, the Camargue. In 1240 Saint Louis decided to build a city close to his kingdom in order to have direct access to the Mediterranean Sea. Seven hundred years later the fortifications still dominate the Camargue. You can admire the original city ramparts with six prestigious towers and ten gates as you walk around the town walls (about 1.5 km) before entering the charming and narrow streets of this wonderful Mediterranean town. After dinner on the boat, we'll preview the week’s highlights and cycling itinerary. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Day 2: Aigues-Mortes – round trip - 34 miles (55 km) – 20-meter elevation gain Today we'll take a scenic bike tour through small country lanes, between canals and lagoons, until you reach the charming fishing village Le Grau-du-Roi. Along the way there will be the possibility of a refreshing dip at the beach. Day 3: Aigues-Mortes – Arles – 16 miles (25 km) – no elevation gain We will sail for a couple of hours up to Saint Gilles and then cycle to today’s destination: Arles, a Roman capital in the time of Julius Caesar and a major religious center in the Middle Ages. You'll have the option of taking a guided tour of the city or exploring on your own. You can visit the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre, dating from the end of the first century, and the slightly more damaged Roman Theatre. The magnificent Cloister and Church of St. Trophime are two gems of Romanesque art dating from the Middle Ages. On the Place du Forum inside the old city walls you’ll find Van Gogh’s famous “Night Café.” Van Gogh came to Arles in 1888 and rented a small house on the Place Lamartine that, unfortunately, has been destroyed. The Provencal countryside and the peculiar light inspired Van Gogh and he painted here non-stop. Day 4: Arles - Les Baux - St Rémy - Vallabreguès - 34 miles (55 km) – 300-meter elevation gain This is a breathtaking stage of our tour, which will bring us to the Alpilles with the haunting medieval village of Les Baux de Provence – one of the most visited tourist sites in all France, and justifiably so. Definitely visit the Chateaux de Baux for a spectacular view on the surrounding Alpilles Mountains. We'll then glide down to Saint Remý de Provence. St. Rémy is the birthplace of Nostradamus but it's better known as the place where Vincent van Gogh stayed in a sanitarium for more than a year, producing an incredible 150 paintings. We'll travel through a landscape of limestone cliffs and olive trees. In the evening we will moor in Vallabregues,̀ a pretty village on the banks of the Rhône. Day 5: Vallabreguès – Aramon – 22 miles (35 km) – 90-meter elevation gain Today we'll take lovely country roads to Barbentane with its castle at the confluence of the Rhone and Durance rivers. We will cycle to the magnificent Abbey of Saint Michel de Frigolet and afterwards go down to the medieval village of Boulbon. In the afternoon, we'll make our way to Aramon where we'll spend the night and enjoy its beautiful view over the Mont Ventoux. Day 6: Aramon - Avignon - 25 miles (40 km) – 110-meter elevation gain Today we'll discover the best preserved Roman aqueduct in Europe: Pont du Gard, a three- tiered aqueduct over 2,000 years old. Heading back to Aramon in the afternoon, we will then sail to Avignon, the City of the Popes. We'll moor here for the night at the Quai de la Ligne next to the famous Pont St. Benezet.́ Day 7: Avignon – Ile de la Barthelasse - Avignon - 19 miles (30 km) – 100-meter elevation gain Today we’ll get to the other side of the river Rhone by crossing the island Ile de la Barthelasse, and we’ll ride in the typical garrigue landscape, between vineyards and orchards. Before going back we’ll visit Villeneuve Les Avignon, once known to be the town of the cardinals. In the afternoon a guided visit will let us discover the historic city of Avignon. Day 8: Tour Ends After breakfast, we'll part ways. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Avignon to Aigues-Mortes Itinerary The following week’s tour will have a reverse itinerary: starting in Avignon and ending in Aigues-Mortes. The itinerary is reversed with the order of the sights changed slightly. Please ask for the Avignon to Aigues-Mortes itinerary if you're interested in the exact daily itinerary. Getting There In Aigues-Mortes the boat is moored by the Quai des Bateliers in Avenue du Pont de Provence. Your cabin is available at 6 p.m. and a group dinner and welcome meeting is at 7 p.m.. You'll be sent a map and detailed directions after full payment is received. We recommend you take the train from Paris to Aigues-Mortes. The trip will take about 4.5 – 5.5 hours. Most trains for this trip depart from Gare de Lyon. There are one or two that leave directly from Charles de Gaulle airport, but you'll have to specifically put that in as your starting location when you look for tickets online. There will be a high-speed TGV train from Paris to Nimes. In Nimes you will take the local train to Aigues-Mortes. We recommend purchasing your TGV ticket ahead of time as the high-speed TGV trains require seat reservations. However, you cannot purchase tickets more than two months in advance. You can check the train connections by visiting the website www.sncf.com or www.raileurope.com End of Tour The tour ends in Avignon. There is a direct TGV train from Avignon to Paris Gare du Lyon (one or two daily departures to CDG airport). The trip takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes. We recommend purchasing this ahead of time. From the barge you can take a taxi to TGV train station, which will cost about €25-30. If at the end of the tour you have to return to the starting point, we recommend you take the train. From Avignon Centre, trains leave every 2 or 3 hours (the best is at 9.15 a.m.) and take approximately 1.5 hours to Aigues-Mortes. Every train has a change in Nimes or St. Cesaire and the price is about €18. From the train station in Aigues-Mortes there are few connections to Avignon. The timetable and prices can change. Difficulty and Daily Mileage This tour is rated "moderate to challenging" for its rolling hills with short climbs and sweet up and downs. There are a few days with mostly flat terrain, and a few with some rolling hills. There is one good climb on day 4 to Les Baux de Provence. All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances (such as mooring requirements, etc). Travel Guidance The skipper and his mate are responsible for the smooth running of the barge. An experienced, multilingual guide will accompany the group to indicate points of interest along the way, and can assist in case of flat tires or breakdowns. Route instructions are available if you prefer to ride on your own, but please let us know this ahead of time. Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] The Bicycles Well-maintained, comfortable 27-speed hybrid bikes are included. These unisex bike models come in sizes appropriate to your height. The bikes have a side pannier, helmet, water bottle, and lock. If you prefer to bring your own bike you are welcome to do so at a discount of $90 per bike, but realize that bikes cannot be transported on the high-speed TGV in France.