Canal Du Midi bike tour

From Toulouse to Sète

The Sportive Tour

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 Sète.

This bike 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.

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​E-Bikes AvailableLimited quantities -first come, first serve

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

POPULAR BESPOKE OPTIONS

Extra day in Carcassonne.

Additional stop-over in Narbonne.

Extra day in Homps in order to cycle to Minerve.

DEPARTURES

All year.  Every day of the week.

DISTANCE

266 Km / 165 Mi

PRICE (BIKE INCLUDED)

€740 PP

Price for double occupancy

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

Day 1:  Arrival in Toulouse

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

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.

Day 2:  Toulouse to Castelnaudary ~65 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

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."

Day 3:  Castelnaudary to Carcassonne ~42 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

A beautiful cycling day awaits you today as you go from Castelnaudary to Carcassonne.  Sunflower fields stretching all the way to the horizon are visible during the first months of the summer.  Pass by Bram and visit its archaeological museum, located just a few Km from the canal and reachable by dedicated bike path.

Day 4:  Carcassonne to Homps ~45 Km

Cathar bike tour around the Canal Du Midi - Bespoke and self-guided

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.

Day 5:  Homps to Béziers ~ 61 Km

Cathar bike tour around the Canal Du Midi - Bespoke and self-guided

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!

Day 6:  Béziers to Sète ~55 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Today's bike trip will follow a paved towpath from Béziers to Portiragnes Plage.  From here you have the choice to either continue along the towpath or to follow small paved roads to Agde.  Flamingos will be visible to the observant cyclists.  There is an optional visit of Marseillan and its picturesque harbor.  The final stretch today will be on a paved bike path along the beach from Marseillan Plage to Sète, allowing for ample opportunity to go for a swim.

Day 7:  Sète

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Explore Sète, also called the Venice of southern France.

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

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

Day 5:  Homps to Narbonne ~ 24 Km

Cathar bike tour around the Canal Du Midi - Bespoke and self-guided

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.  Our hotel is only a few meters from the canal and offers secure indoor bike parking.

Day 6:  Narbonne to Béziers ~39 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 of the Orb aqueduct to enter the oldest city in France, Béziers.

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
• Bike rental: Comfortable premium quality hybrid bike with panniers
• Technical support (not including flat tire)

Optional: (not included)

• Extra days of bike touring
• Luggage transfers

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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