Your
cruise itinerary day by day…
Aigues Mortes
to Avignon
Sunday,
Day 1
Transfer
from a defined pickup point to Le Phénicien 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 holly crusades of the king St Louis,
and now famous for its ambiance and shopping opportunities. Our first dinner on
board giv
es 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,
Day 2
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 to 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,
Day 3
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 VI century before J.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 Rhône and the Rhône river to reach the Roman city
of Arles, the open-air museum of Provence
where Van Gogh painted 300 canvasses during his stay here in 1888.
Wednesday,
Day 4
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 Vallabrègues the capital of Basketry in Europe
famous for its local craftsmanship.
(50 km).
Thursday,
Day 5
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 so on up the Rhône river towards the papal village of Villeneuve lez
Avignon where we will stay for the night. (35 km).
Friday,
Day 6
Our
last bike ride this week will take us to the famous village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
once chosen by the Popes to grow the sacred vineyards. After a free visit of the
village - and maybe a cautious wine tasting - we all get back on the saddles for
a short ride to the barge awaiting on the Rhône river. You have lunch on board
as the barge cruises gently down the river to Avignon where we will end up our
journey. You still have plenty of time to discover the town where the Popes
lived in the XIV century and take your last chance for shopping while the crew
is getting everything ready for your farewell dinner! (35 km).
Saturday,
Day 7
After
breakfast, you will be transferred to a defined meeting point.
Your
cruise itinerary day by day…
Avignon to Aigues
Mortes
Sunday,
Day 1
Transfer from a defined pickup
point to Le Phénicien moored close to the papal village of Villeneuve Lez
Avignon.
It
is time to settle in and explore the medieval village nearby. 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,
Day 2
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 heading for the famous vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After a nice
picnic on the way we reach the famous village once chosen by the Popes to grow
the sacred vineyards. After a free visit of the village - and maybe a cautious
wine tasting - we all get back on the saddles for a short ride to the barge
awaiting on the Rhône river. An
afternoon navigation will take you to Avignon the town where the Popes lived in
the XIV century and where we will stay overnight. (35 km).
Tuesday
, Day 3
Enjoy your free time in
Avignon this morning, the monumental Palace of the Popes and the city center are
at walking distance from our port. Before lunch we set sail for the village of
Vallabrègues the capital of Basketry in Europe famous for its local craftsmanship.
Just after arriving in Vallabrègues we head off on our ride to the Abbey of
Saint Michel de Frigolet. Riding back to the barge you will enjoy the nice
smells of our Provencal thyme, the best in Europe. Charming villages along the
way such as Boulbon or Barbentane offer a good spot for a little rest in the
shade. (35 km).
Wednesday,
Day 4
We set sail this morning to
Arles the open-air Museum of Provence, on the way passing through the huge 36
foot high lock of Beaucaire. We
arrive early enough to let you enjoy Arles’ large open air market and a free
visit of the Greek then Roman city where Van Gogh painted 300 canvasses during
his stay here in 1888. After a refreshing lunch on board you will take a bike
ride to the twin cities of Beaucaire and Tarascon, their castles and two
millenaries of History. (40 km).
Thursday,
Day 5
Everybody is warmed up now, so
this is the right time for a longer morning bike ride to 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 in Mausanne and its
Typical Provencal market 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 are back on board for a great piece of navigation towards the
Camargue on the Petit Rhône river and the canal. (50
km).
Friday,
Day 6
We will start cruising deeper
into the Camargue this morning and reach our final destination Aigues-Mortes.
From there we will 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 to the village of
Le Grau du Roi and the beaches nearby where you will have your last picnic in a
marine atmosphere. (30km). Back to
the barge in the afternoon you will still have plenty of time to discover the
walled city of Aigues-Mortes from where the King Saint Louis set sail for the
holly crusades of the XII century.
The Camargue never fails to surprise and
welcomes us for our farewell dinner!
Saturday, Day 7
After
breakfast, you will be transferred to a defined meeting point.
Le' PHENICIEN
Year 2011 Rates in US Dollars
ACCOMMODATION |
VALUE |
MID |
REGULAR |
Charter 18 guests wholeboat |
$55,010 |
$61,610 |
$69,320 |
Charter 17 guests wholeboat |
$52,810 |
$58,910 |
$67,125 |
Charter 16 guests wholeboat |
$50,610 |
$57,210 |
$64,910 |
Charter 15 guests wholeboat |
$48,420 |
$55,000 |
$62,720 |
Charter 14 guests wholeboat |
$46,210 |
$52,815 |
$60,520 |
Charter 13 guests wholeboat |
$44,005 |
$50,610 |
$58,115 |
Charter 12 guests wholeboat |
$43,270 |
$48,420 |
$56,125 |
Charter 11 guests wholeboat |
$43,270 |
$48,420 |
$56,125 |
Charter 10 guests wholeboat |
$43,270 |
$48,420 |
$56,125 |
Charter 9 or less guests wholeboat |
$43,270 |
$48,420 |
$56,125 |
Stateroom per person |
$3390 |
$3890 |
$4310 |
Single in twin cabin |
$4600 |
$5380 |
$5990 |
2011 DEPARTURE DATES |
ROUTE |
Mar 27; April 10, 24; May 8, 22; June 5, 19;
July 3,17, 31; August 14, 27; September
11, 25;
October 9,
23; November 6 |
Aigues-Mortes/Avignon |
April 3, 17; May 1, 15, 29; June 12, 27; July 10,
24;
Aug 7, 21; September 4, 18;
October 2, 16, 30 |
Avignon/Aigues-Mortes |
Value season: March 27 - April 17, July 10 to August 7, from
October 30 - November 6
Mid season: April 24 to May 8, June 26 to July 3, August 14 -
21, October 16 - 23
Regular season: May 15 to June 19; August 8 to October 9
Aignes Mortes to Avignon
1/ TGV train station
Nimes
TGV: pick
up time 16:45
Avignon TGV: drop
off time 09:00
2/ Hotel
Nimes: Hotel Vatel - http://www.hotelvatel.com/
Pick up: 17:00
Avignon: La Magnaneraie - http://www.hostellerie-la-magnaneraie.com/
Drop
off: 9:30
Avignon to Aignes Mortes
1/ TGV train station
Avignon
TGV: pick up time 16:45
Nimes TGV: drop
off time 09:00
2/ Hotel
Avignon: La Magnaneraie - http://www.hostellerie-la-magnaneraie.com/
Pick up: 17:00
Nimes: Hotel Vatel - http://www.hotelvatel.com/
Drop off: 9:00
- Golf Cruises are available for charter
groups at a supplement of $830 per person. Please contact us for itinerary. (non
golfers in the group do not pay supplement)
- *Wine Appreciation Cruises are available for charter groups at a supplement $670 per person. A minimum base of 9 passengers is required Please
contact us for itinerary.
- *Cooking Cruises are available for charter groups at a supplement $920 per person. A minimum base of 9 passengers is required Please
contact us for itinerary. Avignon to Aigues-Mortes direction only. Maximum 15 passengers.
A different bike ride is proposed everyday with the
assistance of a cycling specialist. Each biker will be given a road book with
the detailed suggested itinerary(ies). The daily average bike ride is about 35
km (50 km in the middle of the week). A longer trip (50 to 80 km) is proposed
as an extension of the basic ride for serious bikers. The itineraries are
mostly flat or reasonably hilly and will be ideal for bikers having similar
rides about once a week. We do not recommend this program to people who never
bike.
Cruise
includes
Accommodations
with private bath and lavatories, all meals on board and picnic luncheons off
the barge, water and wines up to ½ bottle per person served with meals on the
barge, use of the facilities of the boat, availability at no extra cost of
pickup and drop-off transfers between specified meeting points and the barge,
one week all-road bike rental with helmet and repairing tool kit, road book with
daily suggested itineraries, availability at no extra cost of a cycling
assistant, unless otherwise specified.
Cruise does not include
Drinks
from the bar, air and train transportation, hotel before and after, airport
taxes, health or accident insurance, trip cancellation insurance and baggage
loss (all strongly recommended). Items of a personal nature such as passport,
laundry, purchases or gratuities for the crew.
