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  • BE: +32 (0) 2 588 76 91
Voyage vélo Cycling holidays in France Radreisen in Frankreich
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Rhone Valley

7-day family cycle trip along the ViaRhôna

From Vienne to Montelimar, discover the ViaRhôna cycling with your family on short and secure itineraries. A week full of great memories for children and parents!

Reviews (3) :
4.00 / 5
Reference VR0702
  • Itinerant trip
  • 7 days
  • Very easy
  • From April to October
  • Minimum age 1 year
GPSGPS-app available
From
Prices
899€ / pers.
Book here
  • Itinerary
    • You start your bike tour in Vienne, former capital of Roman Gaul. Discover the many well preserved monuments of the Gallo-Roman era including the impressive ancient theater. Your route continues at the foot of the terraced vineyards of the prestigious Côte-Rotie. Chocolate lovers will not miss to stop at the Cité du Chocolat for a sweet break. Then, you can add an extra day to discover the Gorges du Doux and the Ardèche mountains inside an authentic steam train, unforgettable experience! A few pedal strokes further, the first orchards of the Rhone Valley appear. Pass Valence, City of Art and History, which introduces you to the South. Your itinerary continues in Ardèche between caves, picturesque villages, castles and nature reserve. You finally reach Montélimar and its Provençal charm. Stroll through the old parts of the town and enjoy the famous nougat!

    Day 1
     
     

    Arrival in Vienne

    Vienne boasts many Gallo-Roman vestiges. The best way to visit it is to walk from one site to the other, as the majority of the built heritage is located in the town center. Among them, the most famous are the antique theater, remarquable for its size, and the temple d’Auguste et de Livie, which nicely stands out in the middle of a town square.

    Day 2
     
     

    Vienne - Serrières

    Bike
    34km
    You cycle quietly along the Rhône River on the bike path before crossing the river to get to the “Ile au Beurre”. Have a break on this peaceful island known for the diversity of its fauna! Take the time to have a look around since you are in the heart of the major vineyards of the Rhône Valley including the famous Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Côte-Rôtie. From this point on, you will get your first glimpse of the typical Provence villages and houses.

    Day 3
     
     

    Serrières - Tain l’Hermitage

    Bike
    37km
    Just before crossing the river once again, have a break in the Village of Saint-Vallier. As strange as it may seems, the railway connecting Paris to Marseilles split the Saint-Vallier historical center in two. Enter the Saint-Vallery Church, and the Poitiers family’s burial chapel (parents of Diane de Poitiers)
    As you arrive in Tournon-sur-Rhône you cross the Rhône River on the oldest French hanging bridge that is still in use today. This “Passerelle Seguin” bridge allows you to reach the village of Tain-l’Hermitage, home of the famous wine and ValRhôna chocolate. Be sure to taste both of these delicious regional specialities.
     

    Extra day : Journey in a steam train

    The train does not run everyday, please contact us
    Take an extra day to enjoy the gorges of the Doux river in a true steam powered historic landmarked train. Get aboard the train in the Tournon-sur-Rhône station and discover the gorges of the Doux River and the Ardeche montains. You reach the lovely small town of Lamastre where you will stroll or have a picnic on the river banks. In the afternoon you get back on the train and start the return way to Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain l’Hermitage where you will stay for the night.

    Day 4
     
     

    Tain l’Hermitage - Valence

    Bike
    22km
    The cycle path now offers a gentle introduction to the South of France, with its pretty villages in typical southern style. Vineyards and fruits orchards are now the main part of the landscape.
    Discover the surprising blind channel around “La-Roche-de-Glun” village. Make sure you have a close look at the Diane de Poitiers Tower.
    Your trip ends in Valence, a classified Town of Art and History. With its colorful markets, shaded gardens and historic quarters, this living city makes you feel like being in Provence already.
       

    Cité du Chocolat Valrhona 2h

    Discover all the chocolate making secrets and know-how of Valrhona through an interactive and multi-sensory journey.
    		 Included

    Day 5
     
     

    Valence - Baix

    Bike
    40km
    Today, the ViaRhôna snakes in Ardèche in the midst of the orchards. Stop in Soyons to visit the "Jardin des Trains Ardéchois", a gorgeous garden, 2800 m² large, miniature trains are crossing stations, tunnels and rivers in precisely reproduced Ardèche landscapes! Your path will take you then to picturesque villages and historic cities such as Charmes-sur-Rhône and La Voulte-sur-Rhône.

    Day 6
     
     

    Baix - Montélimar

    Bike
    34km
    You still head south alongside the Rhône river with the beautiful Abbey of Cruas and the Rochemaure Castle in the background. These two pieces of Architectural Art perfectly show the rich heritage of the Rhône valley. You cross the Rhône river using the "himalayan bridge" build on the pillars of the Old Bridge of Rochemaure, quite an experience! You are now in Drôme and your way will gently ends with some sweets in Montélimar, the city of "nougats"!

    Day 7
     
     

    Departure from Montélimar

    Wellknown stop on the road to the South, Montélimar has a flair of Provence! Walk the pedestrian streets in the old district, admire the colorful houses and enjoy a drink sitting in sidewalk cafes in the cool shade of trees. You can’t miss tasting the famous nougats which will rejoice kids and parents.
  • Accommodation

    • Category B

    You are accommodated in **/*** hotels selected for their ideal situation on the itinerary. You will be comfortable and warmly welcomed. Breakfast is included.
    * Example of the type of accommodation
  • Bikes, luggage and documents
    • Bikes

    On your arrival day, we provide you with:

    • a touring bike adjusted to your size or a tandem
    • equipped : front rack pack with an integrated file compartment, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), reflective vest, repairing toolkit with patches etc.

    We also provide you with the appropriate equipment for your children : baby seat, bike trailer or trailer bike depending on their age and size.
    Electric bikes are also available for adults (+1m55).

    You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied (see the Tarif tab)


    Luggage

    Our services include luggage transport in order to let you enjoy your trip comfortably and without stress :
    • We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
    • Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
    • We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.

    Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.


    Travel documents

    A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

    Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

    Our documentation contains a very detailed description of the itinerary. No matter how you usually navigate, you will find your way thanks to our comprehensive guidance material including:
    • a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
    • a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest

    Example of a map and of a step-by-step description


    Our GPS App

    For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

    You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

    -> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.
  • Practical information
    • To get to departure point:

    • By plane: the nearest airport is Lyon Saint-Exupery. At the airport, there is a shuttle tramway Rhone Express taking you to the city center at Lyon Part-Dieu train station in 30 mn.
    • By train: many regional trains go to Vienne from Lyon, from either Lyon Part-Dieu or Lyon Perrache train stations (duration of the trip about 20min). High-speed trains do not stop in Vienne. To plan your trip, www.sncf-connect.com


    Parking

    If you come by car to Vienne, you can park in the secure car park of SNCF station (74€/ 7 days).


    To get back to starting point:

    Trains take you back to your starting point if you wish. Regular regional trains are riding between Montélimar and Vienne. Bikes are accepted for free. The duration of the trip is about 1h. Full rate is 21.60€/pers.

    You will find the timetable of the day in your travel documents.


    Meeting time:

    The first day is an arrival day without cycling. You arrive whenever you want depending on from where you come. Please note that rooms are usually available in the middle of the afternoon depending on your accommodation. We advise you to plan half a day for visiting Vienne, which is worth it. We thank you to advise us if you plan to arrive late.

    .
  • Reviews

    •   Memory of the trip  

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    3 bike travelers reviews 4.00 / 5

    “ Easy cycling along the lovely Rhone ”

    On the 2023-08-11 by Ton and Kirsteen
    We cycled with a family party including 2 kids of 10 and 11 and a grandmother of 77 (!). It was a great route alone the Rhone, backwards and forwards across some beautiful bridges. We enjoyed great hotels in nice towns and lovely dinners during the holiday. We cycled almost only on dedicated cycle paths which was fantastic for the kids. All in all a great experience.

    “ Viarhona Vienne à Montélimar en famille ”

    On the 2022-08-19 by Sophie
    Agréable circuit en famille avec un ado qui a bien apprécié.

    “ 1 semaine sur la viarhona ”

    On the 2020-08-09 by Régis
    1ère expérience en vélo avec les enfants. Nous avons adoré le concept. Nous allons refaire prochainement
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