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Rhône cycle path | From Lyon to Arles

Rhône cycle path

Follow the lifeline of the Rhône-Alpes region until Provence. Be accompanied by lush vineyards and fragrant orchards. This is an area both rich in nature and culture. Splendid cathedrals and relicts from Roman times are testimony to an abundant era long gone. During your tour marvel at cultural treasures such as the large Roman theatre in Vienne, or the architecturally outstanding museum of the Confluences in Lyon. Just as contrasting can also be the culinary treasures. Frog legs or nougat from Montélimar? You can already see there will be something for everyone’s taste... 

Easy
Bike tours
8 Days / 7 Nights
Self-guided tour

Itinerary

Since 1998 Lyon’s old part of town is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Mighty churches, about 30 museums and an excellent food serving industry guarantee a delightful stay.

Already after just a few kilometres the futuristic museum ‚des Confluences’ appears with its spectacular location on an island at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône. There is a lot of traffic in the cities as well as Lyon. We recommend to go by train to Givor (not incl.). You follow the course of your ‚companion’, the river Rhône and soon you reach Vienne where you will stay tonight with its many remains of an ancient Roman colony. You will be impressed by the temple of Augustus and Livia and by the biggest Roman theatre in Gaul. One overnight in Saint Désirat.

The beautifully designed cycle path takes you South again, directly along the Rhône riverbank. World renowned grapes are grown in the surroundings of Tournon sur Rhône. We recommend you have your lunch break in one of the charming villages with their medieval village centres and sample at least one glass of the famous ‚Hermitage’. After that you will soon reach the main town of the Drôme-region called Valence. Also called the ‚Northern Gate to Provence’, it will amaze you with its vibrant town centre full of cafés and restaurants.

Effortlessly you cycle through the fertile Rhône-valley. The temptation for ‚petty larceny of food’ is especially high today, since there are peaches, apples and kiwis growing directly along the route. Nevertheless, make sure you also look up and do not miss high up a once proud castle which has sadly crumbled and turned into a ruin, but still keeps a watchful eye over the valley. In today’s Day Finish Montélimar it is all about ‚nougat’, which is produced here in special quality. Temptations from dawn to dusk.

You change banks of the Rhône several times over impressive suspension bridges. The cycle path then leads to the former episcopal town of Viviers. Behind the 12th century cathedral, you can enjoy a magnificent view over the Rhône valley. In the floodplain forests that follow, it becomes quiet, nothing can be heard except the whirring of the wheel spokes. In Bourg St. Andéol, picturesque houses from the 16th to 18th centuries characterise the old town directly on the Rhône. Along the way is the small town of Pont St. Esprit, where a 600-year-old bridge with 25 arches stretches impressively over the Rhône. The destination, however, is the town of Orange with its famous Roman theatre and the town foundation arch, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One overnight stay in Orange. 

In Caderousse, whose surrounding dykes protect the Provençal hamlet from possible floods of the Rhone, the route goes along the ViaRhôna through the famous wine-growing region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The path leads through the vineyards directly along the slopes and offers beautiful viewpoints over the Rhone valley. In Avignon, we recommend a stroll through the old town with a visit to the Palace of the Popes, which has been declared a World Heritage Site. One overnight stay in Avignon. 

On your final stage you casually cycle through glowing yellow sunflower fields, apple orchards and peach plantations, past tomato- and basil fields. En route, you come across the little town of Pont St. Esprit, known for its 600-year old bridge, whose 25 arches stretch impressively across the river Rhône. You will be staying in the town of Orange with its well-known Roman theatre and the city founding arch, both part of the UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage.

After breakfast individual return journey or start of your extension. We recommend the connecting tour Provence roundtrip - from Orange.

Tour character

Easy to moderate

The terrain is mostly flat and easy to cycle on. The Rhône cycle path is overall well-constructed and a perfect example for signposting and routing.

Prices & Dates

Sustainability with Rückenwind!
Help us to achieve greater sustainability. If you choose to use the digital route book and forgo the printed version you will help us to reduce our environmental impact and we’ll give you a discount of 20 Euro per room as a thank you.

Prices per person in EUR

Services & extras

Services

Included:

  • 7 Overnights in hotels of the booked category incl. breakfast buffet or extended breakfast
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
  • Personal welcome briefing (GE,EN)
  • At best elaborated route with maps (GE,EN,FR)
  • Detailed travel documents with maps 1x per room (GE,EN,FR)
  • GPS-Tracks on request available
  • For rental bikes, rental bike insurance
  • 7-days-service-hotline

Not included:

  • Arrival and departure
  • Costs for parking
  • City tax
  • Transfers
  • Optional sightseeings
  • City maps
  • Repairs of own bike
  • Travel Insurances
  • Costs of the private requirements
Extras

Arrival/Parking

  • Parking garage near the hotel approx. € 28,- per day, payable on site, no reservation possible.
  • Very good train connection from Arles and Sète (TGV station) to Lyon, approx. 2.5 - 3.5 hours, possible without changing, with own bike a change is necessary. 
  • Airports: Lyon and Marseille, Montelimar, Nimes

Departure

  • Return transfer by minibus to Lyon every Sunday (minimum 4 persons), cost per person € 130,-, for the return transport of your own bike we charge € 39,- extra. From Sète every Tuesday (minimum 4 people), cost per person € 160,-, we charge € 39,- extra for the return transport of your own bike. Limited space available.
Hotels

French hotel classification

 

Category X: Overnight stays in good quality hotels of the 2* - 4* category. All rooms with shower/bath and WC.

Further information

Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"

Meike Engling
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+49 441 48597 28
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