Marseille to Barcelona cycling holiday
Single supplement from £355 - £370.
Mimimum age 16.
Late availability on these dates: 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 04 Oct
Description of Marseille to Barcelona cycling holiday
The Camargue region is in Provence, but this is not the Provence that many are familiar with. Rather than lavender fields, it is a landscape of wetlands where birdlife proliferates, among herds of white horses and bulls. When you pass through the nature reserve early on this Marseille to Barcelona cycling holiday, spending two days weaving between lakes and levees, you can’t fail to appreciate the changeability of this region. How dependent everything: wildlife, human inhabitants, the scenery itself, is on the movement of the sea. A sea that is gradually rising.
Cycling is the perfect way to explore the Camargue, indeed the perfect way to travel between Marseille and Barcelona, two fascinating port cities, especially in the company of others. You’ll join a sociable small group, led by a guide, on an eight-day route packed with memorable moments. Daily distances are very achievable, with 70km the maximum, though 50km is the norm. There are a few long climbs too, such as the approach to Figureres over the Banyuls Pass (visit to the famous Dali Museum optional), but when you have a dozen people cheering each other on, suddenly your calves don’t feel so tired.
You won’t be in the saddle the full way – where necessary the group will travel by train and bus, so that you cycle only the most interesting and attractive parts of the route. All of your transport arrangements are of course pre-organised and included.
Before reaching Figueres you’ll ride a short section of the Canal du Midi, one of the finest examples of 17th century construction, to the picturesque town of Beziers, and have the first of several chances to take a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean Sea.
The final stretch taking you from Figueres to Barcelona explores the rolling hills of the Emporda region. You’ll swim off sandy beaches, wander ancient Greek ruins, meander through oak forests and charming medieval villages, before reaching one of the most exciting cities in Europe for an evening meal, to bid farewell to the group and your guide.
The areas you’ll be riding through are wonderfully scenic but a world apart from the more well-known images of Provence or the Costa Brava. As well as being a lot more relaxed, they also see far fewer tourists. Which means that groups of cyclists, staying in locally owned hotels, eating at locally owned restaurants every evening, and sampling the local vineyards, are especially welcome.
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Single supplement from £355 - £370.
Mimimum age 16.
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Reviews
3 Reviews of Marseille to Barcelona cycling holiday
Reviewed on 23 Oct 2023 by Michael Casey
I rate it very highly, we had really good guides and all the routes very well planned. Accommodation and food very good. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Cycling holidays are a relatively sustainable way to travel as they have less negative impact on the local infrastructure, environment and people while encouraging positive interaction with local people. We cycle on routes that are removed from mass tourism, creating less pollution, noise and traffic. When using motorised transport we work with small, locally owned transport companies.Precious resources are saved, in multiple night stops, by using hotels with policies of reusing towels to reduce pollution and water consumption. In addition our leaders encourage groups not to buy plastic bottles but refill and reuse from a large water container carried on the support vehicle during rides and for the whole journey.
We visit and cycle in the protected lowlands of the Camargue and Rhone Valley. This area is home to a wide variety of bird species and made up of dykes and salt water lakes. Tourism is essential in these parts to sustain the natural habitat but often by-passed by the hordes heading south to the Mediterranean. Cycling and staying in the region is a great way to support the local community and enjoy the natural beauty on offer.
As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.
People
One of the great aspects of a cycling holiday is the ability to stop off en route at any point to visit local markets, enjoy a drink in a small café and meet the local people. These stops are often off the beaten tourist trail and therefore help local businesses. The French and Spanish are appreciative when people try to speak their language so why not learn a few phrases before you go? Our tour leader will actively encourage budding linguists and at least make sure people know the basics.We choose to include only breakfasts on this trip. Most lunches will either be a picnic, sourced in local shops made up of regional fare, or a stop at a local café or bar. Our tour leaders will make recommendations to clients to use locally owned restaurants for the evening meals. When dining in restaurants our tour leaders also offer advice about what to order based on what’s in season and what has been produced locally. Guests will also be encouraged to try local wines and other locally produced drinks.
We cycle through and stay in the Baix Emporda region of Catalonia in the north east of Spain. This is not an area with the same level of tourism as the nearby beaches of the Costa Brava but it has a thriving local artisan economy. We can help to support this and in particular the local vineyards and the pottery and crafts in La Bisbal.
As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.
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