The Via Rhôna rolls you almost entirely downhill from the moment you clip in at Lake Geneva — the Rhône does most of the gradient work for you, losing height so gradually you barely notice the effort accumulating in your legs.
Over ten to fourteen days, the route traces the river's full length to the Mediterranean coast at Sète, passing through vine-draped gorges, nuclear-plant flatlands, and the luminous ochre light of Provence.
Roughly sixty percent of the route now runs on dedicated, tarmac-smooth cycling paths separated from traffic; the remainder shares quiet roads or riverside levée tracks, which can be gravelly and a little loose after heavy rain, so road tyres with some width (28–32mm) are a sensible choice.
Day-to-day riding is genuinely varied. North of Lyon the valley narrows and the wind tends to push at your back — travel south for this reason. Lyon itself deserves a full rest day; the Presqu'île and Vieux Lyon are worth it, and the city has several hire stations if you are piecing together sections. Below Lyon the landscape opens dramatically, and Ardèche vineyards give way to Provence scrub and lavender.
Avignon rewards a lay day for the Palais des Papes and the Pont. The final stretch into the Camargue is flat, salty, and frankly magical — flamingos standing in roadside lagoons as you freewheeled towards the coast.
Accommodation is plentiful along the marked route, from basic gîtes to riverside hotels; booking ahead in summer is sensible but rarely panicked. Véloroute signage is reliable throughout, and SNCF trains will carry bagged bikes at both ends without much fuss.
Go in May–June or September when the Mistral wind is least savage and temperatures stay kind.