Burgundy and Provence are made for travellers who enjoy slow days, beautiful scenery, and exceptional food and wine, explored at an easy pace by e-bike and river cruise. This luxurious, all-inclusive journey follows the Rhône and Saône, pairing gentle cycling with the comfort of the AMADEUS Provence, your floating hotel. From the moment you step on board, every detail is handled—elegant cabins, attentive service, guided rides, and outstanding cuisine. Days drift past vineyard-covered hills, lavender-scented countryside, and historic towns like Lyon, Avignon, and Arles, while evenings are reserved for relaxing on deck or savoring refined French meals. It’s an effortless, unhurried way to experience southern France, designed for comfort, ease, and quiet enjoyment.
Burgundy and Provence e-bike & boat tour created for travellers who want everything handled with ease and comfort. From the moment you step aboard, the experience is fully all-inclusive—e-bikes, guided rides, gourmet meals, elegant cabins, and attentive service throughout. Each day blends gentle cycling with relaxed cruising, while logistics, planning, and pacing are taken care of for you. It’s a seamless, stress-free way to explore southern France, designed for those who value simplicity, quality, and a truly effortless journey.
Make your way to Lyon. At 5 pm, you will be warmly welcomed aboard the AMADEUS Provence. After settling into your cabin, meet your guides for an introduction to the week ahead. If conditions allow, we gather on the sun deck to enjoy views over the river as we ease into life on board. In the evening, we share our first dinner together as the ship departs Lyon and begins sailing north on the calm waters of the Saône, setting the tone for a relaxed and scenic journey through France.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
We wake in Mâcon, deep in southern Burgundy, where our e-bikes await. We cycle out of town, climbing gently before riding through varied countryside with views toward the Rock of Solutré. Along the way, we pass the impressive Château de Berzé-le-Châtel and ride through a historic cycling tunnel. Our destination is Cluny, once the most powerful Benedictine monastery in Europe. A guided visit brings its extraordinary history to life before we choose to either cycle back to Mâcon or return comfortably by support vehicle.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 58 km (36 mi)
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
After overnight sailing, we set out from Chalon-sur-Saône for a memorable ride through a landscape rich in castles, Romanesque churches, and storybook villages. Much of the route follows a former railway line, now a beautiful green cycling path through rolling countryside. We visit the elegant Château de Cormatin, surrounded by moats and refined gardens, before continuing through gentle hills toward Brancion fortress. A long descent carries us into the Saône Valley, finishing at the remarkable Priory Church of Saint-Philibert in Tournus.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 63 km (40 mi)
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
We enjoy a leisurely morning as the ship sails back to Lyon. In the afternoon, we explore the city by bike, discovering why Lyon is known as France’s gastronomic heart. We ride between the Rhône and Saône rivers, through elegant 19th-century districts and into the historic old town of Saint-Jean. Here, we uncover Renaissance courtyards hidden behind narrow passageways known as traboules, revealing layers of history that earned Lyon its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 22 km (14 mi)
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
We wake in Avignon and cycle along the Rhône through fertile farmland toward the legendary vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After lunch, we enjoy a wine tasting that introduces us to the region’s celebrated reds. Riding back toward Avignon, we pass Rhône islands and reach the iconic Pont d’Avignon before a guided walk through the city reveals its papal history and medieval charm. The ship remains docked overnight, giving us time to explore Avignon’s atmospheric streets.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 47 km (29 mi)
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
We arrive in Arles and cycle into the Provençal countryside toward Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where Van Gogh once lived. After lunch, we visit the immersive art experience at the Carrières de Lumières before riding through the Alpilles and descending into the Rhône plains. Back in Arles, we have time to explore Roman landmarks such as the amphitheater or enjoy a café made famous by Van Gogh.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 65 km (40 mi)
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
Today we ride through lavender fields and oak forests toward the dramatic Ardèche Gorge. Along the scenic route, our guide shares stories of prehistoric caves and early settlements. Suddenly, the landscape opens to reveal a canyon carved up to 300 meters deep, with spectacular viewpoints over winding cliffs and caves. In the afternoon, we return to the ship to relax on deck or unwind in the onboard spa.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 38 km (24 mi)
Accommodation: AMADEUS Provence river cruise boat
We return to Lyon in the morning and enjoy a final breakfast on board. After disembarking, transfers are available for onward travel or extensions, bringing our journey through Burgundy and Provence to a close.
Meals: Breakfast
The bike trails were well maintained and the guides were very helpful. The overnight stays on the boat were very comfortable and the food was delicious. I can recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys cycling and wants to discover the beauty of France.
The Rhone River bike tour in France was really great. We explored the beautiful countryside along the river by bike and visited many historic towns and charming villages. The guides were knowledgeable and told us a lot about the region. We slept very comfortably on the boat and enjoyed delicious food.
Included:
Add-ons (available to add at checkout):
Not included:
In order to joining this Burgundy & Provence e-bike & boat tour, good fitness level is required. This e-bike route follows the Rhône and Saône valleys through terraced, wine-growing landscapes, covering a total of 192 miles (309 km). While southern France is mountainous, the rides are not especially demanding—routes often start above the river valleys and include more downhill than uphill riding. The most you’ll cycle within a day is 40 miles (65 km), but check out the itinerary for day-by-day distances.
Most cycling takes place on quiet country roads with light traffic, and all gradients are manageable on an e-bike. With a premium pedelec equipped with a Bosch or Shimano mid-drive motor, you can adjust the level of assistance to match your comfort, making the overall difficulty easy to moderate depending on how you choose to ride.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more France bike tours here!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
The weather in Burgundy and Provence is generally pleasant but can be changeable. Days are often warm and sunny, ideal for cycling with the assistance of an e-bike, though hotter spells can occur. Evenings tend to be cooler, especially near the rivers, so a light layer is recommended. In more open or elevated areas, a fresh breeze is sometimes felt, and on occasion the warm Scirocco wind from North Africa can bring higher temperatures and a bit of humidity. Along with cycling and evening attire, packing swimwear is a good idea, as you’ll have opportunities to enjoy the onboard pool and riverside relaxation.
Group sizes and pricing
Burgundy & Provence e-bike & boat tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this Burgundy & Provence e-bike & boat tour is based on twin-share cabins, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. Please contact us before booking if interested.
The starting point of your Burgundy & Provence e-bike & boat tour is Lyon, France. To get there, most people fly into Lyon Airport Saint-Exupéry (LYS). From there, you can take a shuttle service or public transport to reach Lyon—it takes circa 30 minutes.
To make your arrival hassle-free, let your guides can arrange airport transfers for you—you can add it to your booking at checkout.
You will meet your guide and board the boat at 5 pm on Day 1.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 40% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid no later than 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If you cancel the booking…
Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.
The bike trails were well maintained and the guides were very helpful. The overnight stays on the boat were very comfortable and the food was delicious. I can recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys cycling and wants to discover the beauty of France.