The exceptional cycling route of La ViaRhôna attracts many adventurers every year. To plan your next cycling adventure on this mythical route along the Rhône, you may be wondering how many days you should allow for this expedition. At Paulette bike rentals, we've put together this guide to help you estimate the length of your stay on La ViaRhôna, from Lyon to Sète, taking into account your expectations and travel pace.

Setting your cycling trip objectives
The length of your journey on La ViaRhôna can be influenced by many factors. Before diving into planning your trip, consider these essential questions:

• Who are you sharing this adventure with? Is everyone in the group at the same level of fitness? If you're traveling with children, consider shorter legs so that everyone gets the most out of the trip.
  
  
• What is your main goal for this trip? Do you prefer to pedal intensively to make rapid progress, or do you plan to enrich your cycling experience with cultural visits, wine tastings and more?
  
  
• Do you intend to cover the entire distance of the ViaRhôna, from Lyon to Sète, or just certain sections? Perhaps you plan to stop in one of the towns associated with Paulette to drop off your bikes?
  
  
• Is this your first cycling adventure, or are you used to pedaling for miles? Bear in mind that fatigue can build up over the miles.
  
  
• Do you plan to take detours to visit towns or remarkable sites that branch off from the main itinerary?

By answering these questions, you'll be able to establish the number of kilometers you'd like to cover each day, and thus plan your stages on La ViaRhôna, by renting your bikes from our rental agency in Lyon.

How far can I cycle in a day?
At an "average" pace, where you pedal for 4 to 5 hours a day, you can expect to cover around 40 to 50 kilometers a day. This means you can cover the entire ViaRhôna, from Lyon to Sète, in around 8 to 10 days.

If you prefer a more leisurely pace, especially if you're traveling with children or want to take full advantage of the sites of interest along the route, aim for 30 to 35 km per day. It will then take you approximately 15 days to cover the entire route. Be sure to include rest days to fully appreciate the region's rich heritage!

For seasoned cyclists looking for a challenge, consider doing 80 to 100 km a day. At this pace, you could complete this stage of the ViaRhôna in less than a week! However, remember that these estimates depend on your personal preferences and may vary.

Key stages on the ViaRhôna
Planning your stops will depend on your cycling pace. Here are some significant landmarks to help you:

Lyon - Vienne (30 km): Enjoy the historic city of Vienne and its remarkable Roman heritage.
Vienne - Valence (65 km): Discover the Îles de Drône nature reserve on this stretch.
Valence - Montélimar (75 km): Take a break to taste the famous Nougat de Montélimar.
Montélimar - Avignon (80 km): A visit to Avignon and its famous bridge is a highlight of this journey.
Avignon - Arles (50 km): Explore the rich historical heritage of Arles on this leg.
Arles - Sète (100 km): Arriving in the charming town of Sète, between sea and pond, is a fitting end to your adventure, at the Hôtel Au Valéry in Sète.

See our suggested itinerary here ! 

Make your trip easier with our bike rental service

At Paulette, we want to make your cycling adventure along the ViaRhôna as easy and enjoyable as possible. Visit us at our branch in Lyon where you can rent quality bikes, and drop them off in Sète at the end of your journey! You'll find a list of our partner drop-off points on the road here.

With Paulette, there's no need to worry about returning your bikes. Pick them up at the start with all the necessary accessories and simply leave them at your arrival point.

Stay tuned for more cycling adventures! Follow us and share your memories on Facebook and Instagram with #paulettebike. Don't forget to tag us: @paulettebike!"