France: Bicycling around Provence, at your own pace

A cycling tour through Provence doesn’t have to be all about the bike. France-based Cyclomundo offers a self-guided bicycling trip through the southern French countryside that’s good for families with children or folks who want to travel at their own pace.

The eight-day Provence With Youngsters itinerary starts in Avignon and winds down quiet roads to Graveson, Fontvieille, Les Baux de Provence and other stops before arriving in Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Roman ruins. Ride 12 to 20 miles a day on quiet, flat roads past olive trees and fields on the route provided by Cyclomundo, and the company transports your luggage from point to point.

The deal: Cyclomundo is offering discounts for companions on self-guided cycling trips in France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. Trips must be booked between Feb. 4 and 26 to get the discount rate. For example, on the Provence With Youngsters trip, the first person pays full fare and the second traveler pays 20% less for reservations made during the February dates. (Prices for children vary by age.)

Date: The trip leaves daily April through October.

Price: About $1,118 a person, based on double occupancy ($894 for a second person if you book by Feb. 26); prices are approximate conversions from euros. It includes two nights in a hotel and five nights in guesthouses, daily breakfast, five dinners, train ticket from Arles back to Avignon, luggage transfers and briefing with a local representative about the course. Note international airfare and bike rental (about $123 per adult) are extra, though you can bring your own bicycle.

Contact: Cyclomundo, (646) 233-1354 in the U.S.