Phenicien: Sample Cycling Cruise Itinerary
Bike and Barge Cruise in PROVENCE AND THE CAMARGUE
Provence: Aigues-Mortes to Avignon

New Bike and Barge Program for 2009
Le Phenicien is now offering a special bike and barge program on selected cruise weeks, which is open for individual passenger bookings at a lower rate than the regular cruise. A different bike ride is proposed everyday with the assistance of a cycling specialist on board. Each biker will be given a road book with the detailed suggested itineraries. The daily average bike ride is about 35 km but serious bikers may opt for up to an 80 km route daily. The routes are mostly flat or reasonably hilly and are ideal for bikers with experience with similar rides. Accommodations and all meals with wine are included but not open bar. See below for a sample itinerary and what's included in this cruise.

Sunday
Transfer from a defined pickup point to Le Phenicien moored close to the ramparts of the walled city of Aigues-Mortes. It is time to settle in and explore the old fortress, once a departure point for the holy crusades of King St Louis, and now famous for its ambiance and shopping opportunities. Our first dinner on board gives an indication of the high standard of cuisine that will be served during the cruise with the accompanying wines specially chosen from local wineries.

Monday
This morning you will meet your cycling assistant and get fitted to your bikes during an information meeting to go over the week ahead. You are now ready to take your first bike ride and explore the surroundings on small roads and trails along the salt fields bordered by canals, lakes and marshes where bulls, horses and pink flamingoes give an uncommon touch to the scenery. We will pull into the village of Le Grau du Roi and the beaches nearby where you will have your first picnic in a marine atmosphere (30km). Back to the barge we start a peaceful short navigation to the village of Gallician where we will stop and stay overnight.

Tuesday
The highlight of our ride this morning will be the Chateau d'Espeyran, an unknown jewel of the French patrimony. During the guided visit we will discover a full set of original furniture on a site occupied since the 6th century B.C. On the way you will certainly enjoy the wildlife and particularly the great variety of birds found everywhere in this area. The Camargue never fails to surprise! (35 km). Back on board after a lovely picnic lunch we cruise the canal, the Petit Rhone and the Rhone river to reach the Roman city of Arles, the open-air museum of Provence where Van Gogh painted 300 canvasses in 1888.

Wednesday
Enjoy the city of Arles this morning and its open Provencal market before we start a great ride towards one of the most beautiful villages of France, Les Baux de Provence, where you will have a free visit and time for shopping. On the way we will make a stop at an olive oil mill in Mausanne and enjoy a lovely picnic. The ride back through the famous landscapes of Provence dotted with cypresses and olive trees will stay in your memories. We set sail this afternoon to our next stop, the charming village of Vallabregues, the capital of Basketry in Europe, famous for its local craftsmanship. (50 km).

Thursday
Right after breakfast we head off on our ride to the Abbey of Saint Michel de Frigolet. Enjoy here a picnic lunch surrounded by the nice smells of our Provencal thyme, the best in Europe. Riding back to the barge, the local charming villages along the way such as Boulbon or Barbentane offer a good spot for a little rest in the shade. And then a cruise up the Rhone River towards the papal village of Villeneuve les Avignon where we will stay for the night. (35 km).

Friday
Our last bike ride this week will take us to the famous village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, once chosen by the Popes to grow the sacred vineyards. After free time to visit the village - and maybe a cautious wine tasting - we all get back on the bikes for a short ride to the barge, awaiting on the Rhone River. You have lunch on board as the barge cruises gently down the river to Avignon where we will end our journey. You still have plenty of time to discover the town where the Popes lived in the 14th century and a last chance for shopping while the crew is getting everything ready for your farewell dinner! (35 km).

Saturday
After breakfast, you will be transferred to a defined meeting point.

Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

What's Included in the Bike and Barge Program:
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in cabins with private bath
- Transfers from Avignon or Nimes to the barge and return
- All meals beginning with dinner on Sunday, through breakfast on Saturday
- All wines with lunches and dinners (1/2 bottle per person per day)
- Bottled water and soft drinks
- Cash bar available for spirits and beer, payable at the end of the week in Euros only
- Bicycles are custom ordered; passengers must provide their measurements (general weight, height and inseam)
- Program members are provided a road book with cycle itinerary suggestions; each itinerary is an average 35km (50km mid-week). For serious cyclists, a longer 50-80km extension itinerary is offered.
- Bicycle helmets, repair tools, tubes, pump and a small case fixed on the bike to carry a picnic lunch and a bottle of water.

What's Not Included in the Bike and Barge Program:
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to Nimes/Avignon and return
- Optional gratuity for the crew; we suggest a minimum of 5 % to be given to the manager in equivalent euros
- Open bar
- Guided land excursions