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Charming small town Vals-les-Bains on the banks of the Volane river (Copyright: Prill)

Ardèche by gravel bike

Round trip starting in Livron-sur-Drôme

Road bike tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
Loop tour
Individual tour

Charming small town Vals-les-Bains on the banks of the Volane river (Copyright: Prill)

Postcard villages and winding backroads

Have you already had the pleasure of racing along the sealed roads of the Ardèche, but couldn’t help eyeing up those narrow gravel roads that promise an even more intense encounter with untamed nature? If so, you have probably already realised that this region is ideal for gravel biking.

This time, why not choose a gravel bike so that you can explore dirt tracks, well-maintained forest paths and the old railway line along the Eyrieux.

You can ride for hours here without meeting a single car. What you will find are volcanic slopes covered in yellow gorse, beautiful limestone cliffs, deep gorges, idyllic river valleys and towering rock columns. A little piece of paradise in the rural south of France awaits you!

The itinerary
at a glance

For your 8-day round trip in the Livron-sur-Drôme area

Your starting point is Livron-sur-Drôme, near the confluence of the Drôme and Rhône rivers. The mountains are not far away and a first panoramic view will whet your appetite for the days ahead!

You will start your gravel exploration of the Ardèche in the Rhône valley. After crossing the Rhône, you will enter the Eyrieux valley, where the Dolce Via long-distance cycle route will be your guide for today's stage. At 90 kilometres, it is considered the wildest and most beautiful ‘Voie Verte’ in France.

On this varied route you will see impressive bridges, viaducts, tunnels and galleries overhanging gorges – all remnants of the old railway line you are following. The crunch of fine gravel under your tyres will serenade you as the river meanders gently between granite cliffs.

The vegetation is equally varied, alternating between fruit orchards and wilder stretches of lush nature. The higher you go, the more chestnut trees you will see - a source of flour and staple food in the Ardèche for many generations.

Today you will head for the Ardèche plateau and enjoy wide vistas of this landscape from the many beautiful roads and tracks. On your gravel bike, you will discover a less well-known, more alpine side of the Ardèche: rugged landscapes and jagged mountain peaks, some of which are reminiscent of the great peaks of the Central Massif. The only difference is that the slopes here are covered with yellow flowering gorse.

As you climb above the picturesque village of Saint Clément, you slowly but surely gain elevation and the views become more and more impressive. Soon you will notice the first ‘Sucs’ rising from the plateau; evidence of the intense volcanic activity that shaped the landscape of the Ardèche some ten thousand years ago. Viscous lava with a low gas content slowly rose and solidified, forming grey domes such as Mont Gerbier de Jonc.

You will cross the mountain pastures where the subtly aromatic hay is reflected in the fine flavour of Fin gras du Mezenc, a beef that is traditionally processed and even has its own AOC label. Via Sainte Eulalie and the crater of the Vestide du Pal, you will soon reach the eastern foothills of the Ardèche plateau. The Fontolière river will lead you down to the pretty village of Mont­pezat-sous-Bauzon.

The day begins with a climb up a gravel track to the Col de la Gravenne. From here you have a magnificent view to the south and the distant peaks of the Alps and the Massif Central.

The route continues along a truly panoramic road that takes you to the small but picturesque village of Jaujac. In addition to the typical and lively village square and the old market on the hillside, Jaujac is particularly famous for its salt columns exposed by the Lignon river. You can take a dip before starting the climb to the Col de la Croix Millet. At the top, the views are once again breathtaking.

A winding descent takes you to Largentière. The town was once the seat of the Bishopric of Vivier and has a lot to offer in terms of architecture. At the end of the day, you will follow the charming route of the Roubreau stream to your accommodation in the middle of wild nature.

This transitional stage starts in the mountains but ends in the southern Ardèche. Today you take on the gentle slopes of the 1500m high Tanargue and its stunning balcony roads, which make for a really good gravel ride. Once again, the views to the south will make you forget the effort of the climb.

You gradually leave the mountainous Ardèche behind and approach the southern slopes with their Mediterranean vegetation and gentler terrain. Along generally well-maintained trails on the banks of the Baume and Alune rivers, you will soon reach the enchanted Bois de Paiolive forest. You will get to see the landscape of bizarre and spectacular limestone rocks and low vegetation which is so typical of the south.

The gorges of Chassezac are the final highlight of the day before you roll along back roads and gravel tracks to Vallon Pont d'Arc in the heart of the Ardèche Gorge.

The fifth stage of the journey takes you through the many picturesque villages that make up the Ardèche: Labeaume, Balazuc and Vogüé, whose castle you will spot from a distance. Medieval streets, well-kept stone houses in a spectacular setting of limestone cliffs and a crystal-clear river flowing through it all.

Whether the Ardèche, Ligne or Baume, all the rivers here have carved gorges in the ubiquitous limestone and will tempt you to take a dip. At the end of the day, you will reach Vals-les-Bains, a small spa town famous for its carbonated mineral water.

The final day of cycling begins with the climb to the Col de Vals. Gravel tracks and small roads wind through the heart of this mountainous massif until, at a fork in the road, the ruins of the Château de Boulogne rise majestically. The magic of this place is sure to charm you.

Continuing towards the Massif des Coirons, you will gradually gain altitude and the woods will give way to a stark landscape with wide vistas. On the horizon, you will be able to make out the route you have been following for the last few days, before heading towards the Rhône Valley and back to 'civilization'.

Privas, the prefecture of the Ardèche departement, is still in the mountains and marks the last outpost of the Ardèche. A quiet cycle path takes you back to the Rhône and Livron-sur-Drôme.

If you still can't tear yourself away from the rugged beauty of the Ardèche, we would be happy to book you some extra nights. Otherwise, it's time to say goodbye...

Level

Road cyclist

You proudly call yourself a road cyclist and get a buzz out of 100-kilometre rides. You can tackle hilly stages with plenty of elevation gain without breaking a sweat, and the rapid descents really get your blood pumping. Thanks to the power in your legs, you are also sure to reach your destination in good time.

Topography 

The landscape in the Ardèche is hilly to mountainous, but the route only rarely has gradients of more than 10%.

Road conditions

You will mainly be travelling on narrow roads and nature trails. The proportion of gravel is approx. 30%.

Route-finding & navigation

You will navigate by yourself using maps and/or GPS data.

Services & Info
Trip details

  • 7 x national 2*/3* level overnight stay
  • 7 x hearty breakfast buffet
  • 7 x multi-course dinner menu
  • Carefully designed routes

  • Roadbook with maps in German and French
  • PEDALO app and/or GPS data
  • 7-day service hotline in German and English

 

Minimum number of participants
  • This tour requires a minimum of 2 participants.
  • If the tour is cancelled, you will receive a full refund. No further claims will be accepted.
  • Once the minimum number of participants has been reached, the tour is guaranteed to take place. You will receive confirmation of your booking as soon as a PEDALO representative has checked the available capacity.
  • Despite the minimum number of participants, you are welcome to send us a booking enquiry if you wish to travel alone. Please note, however, that there will be a solo surcharge if your date is not booked by other participants.
Taxes & Fees

Local/resort tax: according to tariff

If applicable, these are to be paid directly to the hotel and are not included in the holiday price.

Prices & Dates
at a glance

Arrival: Daily from 14.05. to 15.10.2025

Surcharge for solo travellers: Please note that the price quoted for this tour is for a minimum of two people (minimum number of participants; see 'Travel notes'). If you are travelling alone on your chosen date, we may have to charge you an additional fee.

 

Prices per person in EUR

Frequently asked
 questions

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Your travel documents usually include general travel information, a hotel list, a road book and/or detailed maps as well as a textual description of the route; you will also get luggage tags and possibly also vouchers and/or information material on the various sightseeing attractions. The exact contents of the information package depend on the booked trip and its included services.

The documents will be sent to you approx. two to three weeks before the start of your tour. Depending on the trip, you may receive them partly in digital form and partly by post – or you will receive the hotel list and general travel information in advance by e-mail, and the remaining documents along with the maps on site at your starting hotel.

Please note that the travel documents are issued exclusively for PEDALO guests and are therefore not available without a booking.

The transport of your luggage from hotel to hotel is included as part of the basic service package for all staged tours and round trips in the PEDALO programme. You simply leave your luggage out for our courier in the morning before you set off on your cycling stage. When you arrive at your next accommodation in the late afternoon or early evening, it will be there waiting for you.

Just in case, we recommend always packing a change of clothes in your saddle bag, especially for short stages which you may cover more quickly than the luggage driver.

Depending on how the logistics are organised on site, there may be restrictions on the maximum weight and/or number of pieces of luggage. You will receive more detailed information on this with the travel documents well before the start of your trip.

Travel insurance is not included in our prices. You can decide whether to get a quote elsewhere or simply book your travel insurance online at pedalo.com/en/service/travel-insurance. In any case, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance!

Please note that for last-minute bookings (less than 30 days before the start of the trip), insurance cover can only be taken out within 3 days of booking.

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