Canal Du Midi Cycling Holiday

Toulouse to Sète

Sportive

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

DESCRIPTION

This is the sporty tour where you carry your own luggage in the provided water-proof panniers.  We deliver the bikes to your hotel in Toulouse.  Any excess luggage or suitcases (empty or not) will be taken by us after you have finished loading the panniers.  These luggages will be returned to you at the end of the trip in Sete.

POPULAR CUSTOM OPTIONS

Additional stop over in Narbonne

Two nights in Homps in order to visit Minerve.

DEPARTURES

Every Sunday and Wednesday.

DISTANCE

266 Km / 165 Mi

PRICE (BIKE INCLUDED)

740€ PP

(+200€ PP for daily luggage transfer from hotel to hotel)

Price for double occupancy

The tour follows the Canal Du Midi downstream and goes in the direction of the prevailing winds!

Come cycle the Canal Du Midi with Relax Bike Tours, the only bike touring company actually located on the Canal Du Midi.  Using the highest quality products available along with the most detailed route maps, this will be a pleasure for both young and old alike.  We are a registered travel agency, as required by French law, giving you extra peace of mind.  We offer many bike tours along the Canal Du Midi.

Day 1. Toulouse - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

Arrival by car, train, or airplane directly into Toulouse.  You will have plenty of time to visit the bustling city of Toulouse.

Spend night in superb 3*** hotel in downtown.

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Day 2. Toulouse to Castelnaudary  ~65Km / 40 Miles - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

Bicycles will be delivered and fitted, roadbook explained, and general orientation.  If you brought your own pedals or seat they will be put on at this time as well (please let us know before hand so we can bring the proper tools).  After breakfast start of on paved towpath along the beautiful Canal Du Midi.  You will reach the canal's highest point at le Seuil de Naurouze.  This is the so-called continental divide; rain falling to the East of this point will end up in the Mediterranean, and rain falling on the west will end up in the Atlantic.  The Rigoles supply the canal with water from the Black Mountains at this point.  Today's trip eventually leads you to Castelnaudary, famous for its local dish "cassoulet."

Spend night in 2** hotel on the canal's bank.

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Day 3. Castelnaudary - Carcassonne  ~40Km / 24 Miles - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

Another great cycling day awaits you this day.  Cycling on the flat towpath of the Canal Du Midi, you will pass vineyards, locks, poppy fields, and sunflower fields.  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.

Spend night in lovely 3*** hotel at the feet of the Cité.

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Day 4. Carcassonne - Homps  ~45Km / 27 Miles - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

After a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast you will leave Carcassonne behind you cycling along the Canal Du Midi.  Enjoy the peace and silence watching the many small boats passing by on the Canal.

Spend night in excellent B&B near the Canal Du midi in Homps.

OPTION: Extra day in Narbonne.

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Day 5. Homps - Béziers  ~61Km / 38 Miles - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

After breakfast follow Canal Du Midi downstream towards Béziers, our home town!  A little bit past Poilhes, you will see Tunnel de Malpas.  This tunnel of 173 meters in length was dug in one week.  Note that the old roman road (Via Domitia from Italy to Spain) passes over this tunnel, and the railroad passes below it.  On top of the hill on the north side of this tunnel is the Oppidum d'Ensérune, a settlement occupied from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD, the Romans being the last ones to have settled there.

The first locks you will encounter this day are in Béziers.  These are the famous Nine Locks of Fonseranes.  At this point the Canal Du Midi drops 21,5 meters.  At the bottom of the Nine Locks you will notice that the canal splits up into two segments.  The oldest and original segment is in a straight line with the Nine Locks, and heads straight towards the river Orb.  Boats had to actually join this dangerous river and float downstream to once again join the canal.  Due to the fact that too many boats sank, a new segment of the Canal Du Midi was dug in the 1850's which leads to a beautiful aqueduct.  The view of the Béziers cathedral from this aqueduct is fantastic!

Spend night in 3*** hotel in the historic downtown area of Béziers.

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Day 6. Béziers - Sète  ~55Km / 34 Miles - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

After breakfast you head down through the Parc des Poets towards the Canal Du Midi.  If you pay attention, you might be able to see the Mediterranean sea glimmer in the distance from downtown Béziers.  Flamingos and horses might make their appearance today, between Portiragnes and Marseillan Plage, usually towards the south of the bike path.  Agde is France's second oldest city, Marseille being the first.  It dates from the Greek times.  The bicycle path from Marseillan to Sète follows the beach and is paved and flat, thus taking about 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.  Bicycle pick up today.

Spend night in the best and most beautiful 3*** hotel in downtown Séte.

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Day 7. Séte - Canal Du Midi Sportive self guided bike tour

Explore Sète, also called the Venice of southern France.

Sète has a train station with frequent connections to Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Paris, Barcelona, etc.

Price includes: All hotels (2 and 3 stars) and Bed & Breakfast accommodations, breakfast each day, tourist tax, bicycle hire, bike drop-off and pickup, yellow safety vests, waterproof panniers, steering wheel bag, helmet, water bottle, lock, spare inner tube, technical and telephone assistance 24/7 in English/Dutch/French, roadbook with detailed maps and directions, luggage storage in Béziers.  Two person minimum.  Rates based on double occupancy.