Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue

COUNTRY:
France
LOCATION:
Provence, South of France
HOLIDAY TYPE:
Self guided, moderate cycling holidays
DEPARTURES:
This trip can depart any Saturday, March - November
PRICE:
From 815 - €1170 (8 days) excluding flights
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MORE INFO:
Prices are per person sharing a double room. Prices include: 7-night accommodations, daily breakfast, 4 dinners (drinks are not included), Luggage transfers, marked maps and/or cue sheets, tourist information, meeting with our local representative in Avignon, assistance if necessary & all tax and service charges. Prices do not include: Lunches, drinks, expenses of personal nature, travel insurance & rental bikes. Hybrid bikes are available at the rate of €95 per bike.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue

Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue

How Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue makes a difference

Environment

We are based in France. This is where we live and work. Our office is located in the French Alps, just a stones throw from the Swiss border, and we ride the very same roads we recommend to you for your cycling vacations. As firm believers of sustainable development, we have established a friendly network of professionals, comprised mainly of local tour guides, small operators, and family-run agencies. Most of our people have created their own jobs/enterprises in order to live their passion for the region and cultural heritage. All have extensive travel experience and have lived in various places before falling in love with the area they now call home.

Traveling with us guarantees that you will be taken care of by caring professionals who chose to build their lives here. Forget the non-descript and indistinguishable big chain hotels; we use genuine places with local charm. All the properties we use are run by people who have a passion for their region and its cultural, gastronomic, and historical heritage.'

We recommend travel by train, a much more eco-friendly solution. To travel within Europe, we recommend taking trains over renting cars, or air transports. Trains are more energy-efficient and will minimize the CO2 emission by capita. When flying is required, prefer an airline that contributes to funds aimed at offsetting carbon emissions.

In cities, we recommend clients to use public transportations, or to walk or bike. City bike rentals are more and more widely available in big and medium-sized cities across Europe they are the best way to get around congested cities. Our travel tips include a list of renters.

Community

We offer you a unique way to offset your carbon by using pollution-free bicycles. Travelling by bike, you are no longer an observer you are a peaceful and friendly actor of local people, environment and culture.

This trip will lead you through Provencal local arts and crafts, giving the actors of the local economy the opportunity to display their goods to an international clientele. Among other local producers, we advise you to stop at the Provencal fabric maker Souleidado in Tarascon to visit its museum and why not directly buying from its outlet?

You will also be travelling through the Camargue Natural Park and its nature reserve which includes some of the wildest and most protected lands in Europe. In this major world heritage wetland you will have plenty of time to observe and enjoy its exceptional biological diversity with its swamps, lagoons, and rice fields inhabited by more than 400 species of birds including pink flamingos, unique breeds of wild horses and bulls.

Relying on local guides and family-owned hotels, you will be ensured a warm, personalized welcome. All properties are run by people who have a passion for their region and its cultural, gastronomic, and historical heritage. We use genuine places with local charm, blending harmoniously into the environment. Our hotels offer guests a pleasant, nice-sized environment. Some of them have as few as two rooms, while others are small human-sized hotels.

We have teamed up with some local renters throughout France. We value their expert work and most of our clients are renting bikes directly through them instead of bringing their own. This, of course, also benefits the local economy.

Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue

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The story of the provider of Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue

Based in France, our company was born out of our founder’s life-long love of cycling, Bruno Toutain. After 15 years in the travel industry and years and years of cycling, he decided to combine his two passions and create this cycling company. We are a one-of-a-kind travel company offering a diverse array of cycling vacations: guided and self-guided, pre-arranged or customized, leisurely or challenging… even some based around cyclosportive events like the Etape du Tour. Our tours are perfect for independent riders, families, friends, and groups of varying levels – you can choose elements “a la carte” for your trip in all regions of France as well as some regions in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Our philosophy is to use local experts who passionately share their heritage with guests and to adhere to the concept of sustainable development. Our goal is for clients to experience the cultural, regional, historical and gastronomical heritage of their chosen destination and, of course, to have great, healthy fun on their bicycling adventure!"

Holiday provider no: 1167

Provence self guided cycling tours, Avignon to Camargue

Reviewed 29 Oct 2012 by Trish Price4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Seeing the Pont du Gard. This was amazing!
The scenery was beautiful, except in the Camargue, and all the villages were very French and full of atmosphere. Cycling through the Montagnettes and Alpilles was lovely. The variety of fruit and vegetables growing in the fields was fascinating as they changed from one area to another.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Cover up very well when in the Camargue as we got bitten to death by mosquitos. The wildlfie in the Camargue was very disappointing. The ponies were mostly shut in small fields with not much to eat waiting for somebody to ride them and the flamingos werre all in the Bird Park. Opt for the Cadran Solaire B&B instead of the Moulin d'Aure in Graveson. The Olivier restaurant in Graveson gave us a fantastic meal vcery reasonably.Go for a B&B basis rather than dinner included if you have specific dietary requirements.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?


Yes because all the hotels were locally owned.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Very well organised and very enjoyable. The extra day in the Camargue was not needed especially as there was nothing to do other than the Bird Park and walk around Saintes Maries de la Mer which was very commercialised - a typical seaside town.

Reviewed 31 Jan 2012 by Jennifer Wright4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Successfully navigating our way in and out of beautiful little towns being enthusiastically helped with directions and suggestions for great things to see and do by locals even with our absolute lack of French.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Ask all the questions you have up front. They were answered quickly and openly by email and individual adjustments were able to be made.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Locals were very accepting of us cyclists on their roads, (much more so than Sydneysiders were we live). I don't know if this was partly recognising that we do little damage to the environment on bikes.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Excellent. Bikes were better than ours at home. Accommodation was great. People friendly. Maps for directions could be improved.
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