Canal Du Midi bike tour

From Carcassonne to Béziers

The Restful Tour

 

An amazing bike tour in the south of France, cycling along the Canal Du Midi.  Short daily distances including two rest days with optional bike excursions to Minerve or the sea. Stay in wonderful hotels & bed & breakfasts, and taste superb wines in historic wine regions & gourmet local food in excellent restaurants.

 

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DURATION: 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS  | LEVEL: MODERATE  |  CUSTOMIZABLE: YES  |  TYPE: SELF-GUIDED

 

POPULAR BESPOKE OPTIONS

Extra day in Béziers to cycle to the beach.
Extra day in Carcassonne before start of tour.

 

DEPARTURES

Every day.

 

DISTANCE

119 Km

191 Km with excursions

 

PRICE (BIKE INCLUDED)

€895 PP

Price for double occupancy

 

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(photos are non-contractual)

 

Bike Tour by Day - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

 

Day 1:  Arrival in Carcassonne

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Arrival by car, train, or airplane directly into Carcassonne.  You will have plenty of time to visit the medieval Cité of Carcassonne.  The Cité is the largest medieval castle in the world, and its cobbled streets, drawbridges, and narrow streets are said to have inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty.

 

Day 2:  Carcassonne to Homps ~39 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

You have some time in the morning to explore the castle of Carcassonne if you have not done so yet.  Start your bike tour along the Canal Du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Cycling is easy on the ancient towpaths with no traffic.

 

Day 3:  Rest day in Homps (optional circle bike ride to Minerve ~32 Km)

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Today you have the choice of going for a swim in the hotel pool or the nearby lake.  For the more sportive persons, there is the option of cycling to Minerve and back.  This will require a bit of climbing.  The trip to Minerve will be on county roads.  There is a taxi service that can take you and your bikes to Minerve if you wish (not included; book yourself or with our assistance; pay taxi driver yourself).

 

Day 4:  Homps to Narbonne ~45 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Continue cycling along the Canal Du Midi towards Narbonne.  You will pass by Le Somail around noon time, making this ancient rest stop a good spot for you to take a break and lunch as well.  Later you will cycle past the Canal de la Jonction and the Canal de la Robine right to the hearth of Narbonne.

 

Day 5:  Rest day in Narbonne (optional bike trip to the beach ~40 Km or  ~65 Km)

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Explore the small city of Narbonne.  Visit the cathedral and its museum.  Have lunch in the Halles or one of the many great restaurants in the city center.  Today also includes two optional bike rides to the beach.  You can continue along the Canal de la Robine to either Port Nouvelle or Gruissan.  Port Nouvelle has a train station so you could take the train back to Narbonne with the bikes, or vice versa depending on wind directions.  Gruissan is closer by and is more beautiful, but has no train station so you have to go back the same way you came.  There is also an extreme option of ~65Km circle ride around the La Clape mountain back to Narbonne (GPS phone app required).

 

Day 6:  Narbonne to Béziers ~ 35 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Cycle along paved county roads back to the Canal Du Midi.  Visit the Malpas Tunnel, the only tunnel on the Canal Du Midi.  Shortly after you will pass by the famous Nine Locks of Béziers, the masterpiece of the Canal Du Midi.  These locks offer a fantastic view of Béziers, the birth place of Paul Riquet (the builder of the Canal Du Midi).  Cycle over the Orb aqueduct to enter Béziers.

 

Day 7:  Béziers

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

The oldest city in France has undergone a facelift recently and is now more welcoming to visitors as ever before.  You can visit the old Roman arena here or climb the cathedral tower.  Béziers has a train station and airport with connections all over France and Europe.

 

Optional Days - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

 

Day 0:  Carcassonne - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

An extra day and night in Carcassonne.  A rest day to get over jet-lag.

 

Day 8:  Béziers - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

An extra day in Béziers.  Take a rest day or cycle to the beach along the Canal Du Midi (paved this time!) to Portiragnes Plage.  For the extreme cyclists you can also cycle to Sète and take the train back with the bikes.

 

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Whatʼs Included - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

 

What’s Included:

 

• 6 nights accommodation in 3* hotels and B&B's, some with pools
• breakfasts everyday
• Luggage transport from hotel to hotel each day
• Bike rental: Comfortable premium quality hybrid bike with panniers
• Technical support (not including flat tire)

 

Optional: (not included)

 

• Extra days of bike touring

 

Not Included:

 

• Your trip between here and your home, before & after the tour
• Your travel and health insurance
• Your private costs, souvenirs, gifts, telephone, minibar, etc

 

Bike Tour Gallery* - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

 

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*images are non-contractual

Booking - Inquiry

 

Cycling tours in the south of France.

To take the first step to this bike tour, please send us this form. We will email you in a few hours about availabilities and all the next steps to confirm your booking.

 

You can also email us at relaxbeziers@gmail.com

 

IMPORTANT:  Please make sure you enter a valid email address otherwise we will not be able to reply.

 

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