Compare Cycle Provence by Intrepid Travel vs French Art Voyage: Paris, the Rhône and the French Riviera by Road Scholar

Day 1 Avignon

Bonjour! Welcome to France. Your adventure begins in Avignon with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the historic Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon or explore the leafy streets and the massive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) at your own pace. You could also flop down on the grass of the Jardin des Doms with a fresh fougasse (French bread often sculpted to resemble a head of wheat) and some cheese. Tonight, ask your new local leader for the best dinner spot.

Day 2 Orange

After breakfast today, there will be a bike fitting for the group followed by a short test ride to ensure everyone's equipment has been set up properly. Then, you’ll leave Avignon and cycle along quiet and flat country roads to Orange. Along the way, pass through the famous wine region of Chateauneuf du Pape and maybe make a stop at a local vineyard. Sample some of the red wine this region is famous for, then continue the road to Orange. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk of the town, visiting the Arc de Triomphe d'Orange and the outstanding Roman Theatre – one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Europe. The rest of the afternoon is free.

Day 3 Uzes

Leave Orange behind and ride the quiet roads south to the walled Provencal commune of Caderousse. Here, cross the mighty Rhone River passing the medieval village of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres and cycle past the vineyards that produce Lirac wines – the favourite wines of kings and the papal community in Avignon. Continue west through wine country to the legendary Pont du Gard – widely considered to be one of the world’s best-preserved examples of a Roman Aqueduct. Towering high above the Gardon River, this three-tiered stone masterpiece never fails to impress. On a quiet day, there may even be an opportunity to ride across it! After visiting the Pont du Gard, continue west to the small town of Uzes with its graceful circuit of boulevards and cute cafes.

Day 4 Saint Remy

Today is a long day in the saddle, but you’ll be rewarded with impressive sights along the way. Hopefully, the infamous mistral wind will be blowing from the northwest, providing a tailwind all the way to Saint Remy. Winding back across the Rhone, travel beneath the old city gate and into the small town of Tarascon. Take a short break from cycling to visit the imposing medieval castle, before sitting on the riverbank to learn about the legend of the Tarasque, the namesake of the town. After lunch, continue to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. In distinct contrast to the surrounding larger cities and towns, Saint Remy displays a typically Provencal way of life. Visit the serene gardens of Saint-Paul Asylum where Vincent van Gogh was a self-admitted patient and where he painted many works of art, including ‘Irises’ and the famous ‘The Starry Night’.

Day 5 Saint Remy (& optional Mont Ventoux ride)

Today is a free day off the bike to explore charming Saint Remy at your own pace. Indulge your inner Van Gogh and chill out in a Provencal cafe, or if you’re still keen for a ride, your crew can suggest the best route in the local area. You can also take on the legendary Mont Ventoux on a carbon road bike. Driving from Saint Remy to Bedoin early, you’ll be riding on the mountain as the sun rises to beat the infamous Ventoux winds and summer heat. The unguided ride should take about 4 hours, leaving enough time to grab a coffee and croissant before you rejoin your driver in Bedoin for the drive back in Saint Remy.

Day 6 Les Baux & Arles

Hit the road again after breakfast. Today, you start with a short ride to the hilltop commune of Les Baux-de-Provence. Although the distance is short, this is also one of the more difficult rides. For those not wanting to ride uphill, your support vehicle is always available. The first climb through the forest is rewarded with a short but beautiful descent on possibly the smoothest road in all of France. Carry on through olive groves and vineyards before arriving at Les Baux – declared ‘one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France’ thanks to its narrow, cobbled streets and surrounding countryside. Visit Chateau des Baux, which sits perched on a limestone cliff offering 360-degree views. After, ride through the Val d’Enfer’s (Valley of Hell) white limestone rock formations. From here, it is a downhill ride to Fontvieille, where you’ll follow the Canal d'Arles alongside the Rhone River all the way into Arles. Park the bikes and take a leader-led walk, passing the Place de la Republique, Van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Roman Amphitheatre.

Day 7 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer/Arles

Swap vineyards for waves on a ride south to the capital of the Camargue – Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which sits on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Set on the Rhone River delta, the lakes of Camargue are a bird spotters paradise, home to more than 400 species of birds. The area is also known for its famous white Camarguais horses, often seen running free around Camargue. After lunch, return to Arles by vehicle. You also have the option to ride back to Arles (but this optional ride will not be supported by either the leader or your vehicle). Tonight, maybe get the group together to enjoy a final dinner.

Day 8 Arles

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Day 1
Departures from the U.S.
In Flight

Day 2
Arrival in Nice
Nice D Best Western Plus Hotel Massena Nice
Morning: Arrivals at Nice Airport and transfers to the program hotel in Nice.

Afternoon: Check in at your hotel and take the afternoon to unpack and relax. We will gather in our private meeting room in the early evening where the Group Leader will greet you with a warm welcome and introduce everyone. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. All routes and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions may affect the itinerary. River conditions can affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 3
Nice sites: Flower market, Matisse Museum and Chagall Museum
Nice B,L Best Western Plus Hotel Massena Nice
Activity note: Today's activities include travel by coach and standing for periods of times in museums.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we will hear a lecture about Painters and the French Riviera from the 19th century up to the 20th. We will depart by coach on a bus excursion of Nice and visit to the flower market. This is ranked by France's National Council for the Culinary Arts as being one of the country's special markets.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Take a field trip to the Matisse Museum, situated on the hill of Cimiez, in the Hotel Regina where Matisse lived. The museum gathers a collection of works left by the artist (and his heirs) to the city of Nice where he lived from 1918 until 1954. After seeing the museum we will walk through the cemetery. Afterwards, enjoy the Chagall Museum. The permanent collection is the biggest public collection of works by Marc Chagall. It is organized around the set of works produced by the painter on the Old Testament themes.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Nice - St. Paul de Vence
Nice B,L,D Best Western Plus Hotel Massena Nice
Activity note: Today's activities include travel by coach and walking and standing on gravel paths and paved streets.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a field trip to visit the Matisse Chapelle.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Join your group leader on a field trip to Fondation Maeght which is an architectural ensemble that was created to present modern and contemporary art in all its forms. An exceptional site that contains one of the most important collections in Europe, with paintings, sculptures, drawings and graphic works of modern art from the 20th century.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Aix en Provence Cezanne studio & St Paul de Mausole hospital
Martigues B,L,D MS Van Gogh
Activity note: Today's activities include travel by coach from Nice to Martigues and walking and standing on gravel paths and paved streets.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Board the coach to Aix. Enjoy a walking exploration of Aix with a local expert and explore Cezanne's birthplace and the landscape that inspired many of his paintings. Afterwards head off to the Cezanne studio. Paul Cézanne's house in Aix is one of the most remarkable artists' studios in the world. Preserved exactly as he left it, it is filled not just with the objects he painted but also, with his hat still sitting on its peg and a glass of wine on the table, a sense of the man himself.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Board the coach to Martigues to embark the ship and have an orientation. Tonight's orientation will cover all safety aspects during the cruise as well as drink cards, deposits for the TV remote and then a welcome dinner.

Dinner: Welcome dinner onboard. Lunch and dinner each day include unlimited drinks: beer, table wine (red & white), mineral water, fruit juice, tea or coffee

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Port Saint Louis - Arles - Avignon
Avignon B,L,D MS Van Gogh
Activity note: Today's activities include travel by coach with stops as well as walking and standing on field trips.

Breakfast: On board.

Morning: Enjoy a field trip to the Provencal village of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, where van Gogh spent the second to last year of his life, after being forced to leave Arles. Afterwards, we will visit the St Paul de Mausole’s hospital where Van Gogh had been confined.

Lunch: On board.

Afternoon: Explore the Roman and Art city of Arles. 8 of Arles Roman and Romanesque Monuments and 65 acres of downtown are considered part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. As part of our visit we explore the old town on foot and discover a few of these special sites. Also learn about the work and places that inspired Van Gogh while he lived in Arles.

Dinner: On board.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Avignon - Viviers
Viviers B,L,D MS Van Gogh
Activity note: Today's activities include walking and standing on gravel paths and paved streets.

Breakfast: On board.

Morning: This morning we will explore the medieval city of Avignon on foot. Afterwards you can opt to have some free time or enjoy an optional walking discovery of the austere and imposing Palais des Papes, where we will learn about the history of papacy in Avignon. You may even get a chance to visit the Saint Benezet Bridge, known as "Le Pont d'Avignon," made famous by the children's song.

Lunch: On board.

Afternoon: As we cruise toward Viviers, enjoy a discussion about the Provence Artists: Van Gogh and his search for light and Cézanne and the Provencal Sites.

Dinner: On board.

Evening: Enjoy an optional evening stroll in Viviers with your Group Leader.

Day 8
Viviers - Tain l'Hermitage
Tain l'Hermitage B,L,D MS Van Gogh
Activity note: Today's activities include walking and standing on gravel paths and paved streets.

Breakfast: On board.

Morning: This morning you have the opportunity to visit the Bourg Saint Andeol and the Palais des Eveques. En route to rejoin the boat in La Voulte you will stop to view the scenic village of Cliousclat, one of the most lovely rural villages in France and a visit to a chocolate factory (tasting included).

Lunch: On board.

Afternoon: This afternoon, there will be an on-board discussion about the wine regions along the Rhone and the origin of wine. Later, we will take a field trip to a small wine cellar in Tain l'Hermitage (depends on availability) where you will taste some of the regional wines paired with local specialties or have a wine tasting on board.

Dinner: On board.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Vienne - Lyon
Lyon B,L,D MS Van Gogh
Breakfast: On board.

Morning: This morning, we will take a short walk along the bridge that connects Vienne to visit the Roman Temple of Augustus. We will then take the coach to the Gallo Roman museum. There will be a lecture about Roman Vestiges of the Northern Rhône. Explore the Saint-Romain-en-Gal museum and archaeological site and learn about the everyday life of the ancient Romans. Then continue on to the Chaponost Aqueduct where you will marvel at the amazing beauty and technology created more than 2,000 years ago. Later on, the coach will depart for Lyon.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon, move ahead in time and look at urban development in the Middle Ages and Renaissance as we explore Lyon, a world UNESCO heritage city. Lyon sits at the confluence of two great rivers: the Saône and Rhône. Long at the center of European trade due to its strategic location, the city serves as a midway point of France. Next, we will take the funicular down to Old Lyon for further exploration of the architecture, hidden traboules and alleyways of one of the greatest Renaissance sites in France. Later, enjoy some free time to explore Lyon.

Dinner: On board.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Tournus - Chalon
Chalon sur Saône B,L,D MS Van Gogh
Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Your Group Leader will present a lecture on the influence of Flemish art in European painting.

Lunch: On board.

Afternoon: You will explore the monastic city of Tournus and learn about the role of monasteries in the wine trade. Then travel to Chalon to visit the Museum of Photography Nicéphore Niepce and a wine tasting afterwards.

Dinner: Farewell dinner and evening celebration on board.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Chalon - Beaune - Paris
Paris B,D Best Western Hotel Anjou Lafayette Opera
Breakfast: On Board.

Morning: This morning leave your ship behind and head towards Paris, driving through some of the world's most selective vineyards. Stop in Beaune for an educational stroll of the fortified city, capital of the Burgundy wine trade, and enjoy an on-site lecture at the famous Hospices de Beaune.

Lunch: On your own - take this opportunity to have a quick lunch on your own before continuing on to Paris.

Afternoon: As you drive from Beaune to Paris your Group Leader will talk about the Dukes of Burgundy. Check in at your Paris hotel.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Jacquemart André Museum, Orangerie Museum.
Paris B Best Western Hotel Anjou Lafayette Opera
Activity note: Today's activities include extensive walking on both cobblestone and paved streets. In addition, there will be use of the Paris Metro which may involve unavoidable stairs.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Take the metro to the Jacquemart André Museum.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We may take the Paris Metro to the Orangerie Museum which is a must-see museum in Paris. Claude Monet chose to exhibit some of his most prized works featuring his large water lily paintings. Here we will enjoy a lecture about art of the 20th century and the Walter Guillaume collection. This collection includes Monet and its waterlilies, Modigliani, Rousseau, Matisse, Utrillo, and Soutine. Free time to explore the area or perhaps visit the Musée du Louvre (on your own).

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Paris - Le Marais & Picasso museum
Paris B,D Best Western Hotel Anjou Lafayette Opera
Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Take a walk in one of oldest and most visually stunning quarters of Paris, Le Marais, to discover the most beautiful mansions. Le Marais which means 'marsh' in French , which once was one and went from being a mostly working-class and immigrant neighborhood to one of the most affluent and prestigious areas in the city. Next we will visit the Picasso Museum and have a lecture on Picaso the Giant of the 20th century, as we learn about Pablo Picasso, his work, and his time in France. This collection is composed of 5,000 pieces by the artist, more than 200,000 personal archives, and his own collection of some 150 works (Matisse, Cézanne, Le Douanier Rousseau, etc.)

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free time to explore the area or perhaps visit the Musée du Louvre.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
Departure
In Flight B
Activity note: Today's activities include travel by coach.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Take shuttles from the hotel to the CDG Airport for departures. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!