Cycling in France - Trip suggestion

Passa Païs and Canal Du Midi

Independent Cycle Routes = Bike rental + map + hotel recommendations

​

DURATION: 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS |  LEVEL: Hard due to climbing of hills, especially on days 1 & 4  |  CUSTOMIZABLE: YES  |  TYPE: BIKE HIRE ONLY

POPULAR BESPOKE OPTIONS

Extra day in Narbonne to cycle to the beach.

Option of taking train+bike from Mazamet to Carcassonne for about 30 euros in order to avoid toughest mountain part, making this trip easy to medium!

Also option of taking train from Béziers to Bedarieux for about 1 euro.

DEPARTURES

Every day.

DISTANCE

288 Km

PRICE

Bike Hire Only

A  bike trip suggestion for serious cyclists.  This is an independent bicycle tour:  If you prefer to book your own hotels or use campings, than this independent tour option is just for you.  We will provide you with a fully equipped bicycle (the same as used on the full package tours), waterproof panniers, maps, and hotel recommendations, the rest is up to you.  We can also store excess luggage for you until you come back.  Bicycle dropoff and/or pickup are available as well in some places.

Bike Tour by Day - Bicycle Trip in the South of France

Day 1.  Béziers - Bedarieux.  47 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

Starting at our shop in downtown Béziers you will quickly leave the city and head towards the mountains north of Béziers.  You will follow small paved roads through vineyards with little to no traffic.  On the way you will pass through several small villages.  There will be a few hills to climb along the way.  The last 5 km though are a downhill descent into the city of Bedarieux.

Day 2. Bedarieux - St. Pons.  39 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

At Bedarieux you join the brand new Voie Verte (bike path) called Passa Païs.  This path is an old converted railroad.  You will pass old train stations, go over bridges, and pass through tunnels.  The path is level and car free.  You are cycling through the Parc Naturel Du Haut Languedoc. The park is rich in flora and fauna, including owls, eagles, otters, the very rare European genet (a catlike mammal), and crawfish and trouts in its many streams. Many protected species live in the park.  Along the way you will pass many natural wonders such as the thermal springs at Lamalou-Les-Bains, the stunning canyon of Gorges d'Heric (feel free to stop here and take a small hike), and caves.  You will also pass through Olargues, voted one of the most beautiful villages in France.  In Olargeus, make sure to visit the Pont Du Diable.  In St Pons you can visit the new museum of pre-history, located across the street from a church founded in 936 (no, not 1936, but 936!).

Day 3. St. Pons - Mazamet.  36 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

Today you will continue following the old converted railroad to its end in Mazamet.  You will have plenty of time to take breaks along the way.  There are also several caves along the way.

Day 4.  Mazamet - Carcassonne.  52 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

Today will be harder then the previous days, due to having to cross a mountain range.  But the last 32 Km will be mostly downhill, so wear your helmet.  You will be on roads with moderate to little traffic.  You will also reach the highest point of your entire trip today, at 720 meters.  Following the Route Des 4 Chateaux, you will cycle past the famous Lastours ruins.  The day's journey ends in Carcassonne with its Cité Medieval, an UNESCO world heritage site.

OPTION: Take the train from Mazamet to Carcassonne.  Price about 30 euros per person, with bike free.  Reserve tickets ahead of time.  Highly recommended if you are not a strong cyclist!  Make sure you are on a TER train.  If it says CAR that means bus, and it might not be possible to bring your bike.  Avoid TGV as they may require you to put the bike into a bag (in order to keep the other passengers' luggage clean).  TGV and Intercity also cost 10 euro per bike extra.

Day 5.  Carcassonne - Homps.  45 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

After a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast you will start cycling along the Canal Du Midi.  The Canal Du Midi dates from the 1600's and was build to transport goods from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.  The canal is also an UNESCO world heritage site.  Enjoy the peace and silence passing by vineyards, locks, poppy fields, and sunflower fields cycling along a car-free towpath.  Spend night in cozy hotel on the bank of Canal Du midi in Homps.

Day 6.  Homps - Narbonne.  40 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

 Continue to follow the Canal Du Midi for about 22 Km, after which you will start heading south towards Narbonne.  You will be on the towpath along the Canal, and on quiet roads while making your way to Canal De La Robine, at which point you will once again be on a car-free towpath leading directly into downtown Narbonne.

Day 7. Narbonne - Béziers.  36 Km - Self Guided cycling holiday in the south of France

Leaving Narbonne you will follow small roads with little to no traffic passing through several small villages.  After about 26 Km you will join the Canal Du Midi and head downstream towards our hometown.  Along the way you will see the Tunnel de Malpas, the only tunnel on the Canal Du Midi, and the famous Nine Locks of Fonseranes, where the canal drops 21.5 meters.  Shortly after that a beautiful aqueduct will take you directly into Béziers.

Optional Days - Bicycle Trip in the South of France

Day 8:  Béziers to the beach and back again ~ 27 Km

Leave your luggage in our shop and cycle to the beach along the Canal Du Midi, which is paved on this segment.  Return before 6PM to our shop to return the bikes and pick up your luggage.

What's Included - Bicycle Trip in the South of France

What’s Included:

• Map
• Hotel suggestions (book yourself)
• Luggage storage in Béziers
• Comfortable premium quality hybrid bike with pannier

Optional: (not included)

• Extra days of bike touring
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel (optional)

Not Included:

• Your trip between here and your home, before & after the tour
• Hotels
• Your travel and health insurance
• Your private costs, souvenirs, gifts, telephone, minibar, etc
• Technical support (we will help finding repair shop)

Bike Tour Gallery - Bicycle Trip in the South of France

​<>13 - 15

Bike Rental - Inquiry

Bicycle hire in the south of France.

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

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.

​

Name*Enter NameEmail*Enter EmailSubmitting Form...The server encountered an error.Form received.

Submit

Message*Enter Your MessagePhone*Enter Phone NumberCountry*Enter TextNumber of people*Enter TextEmail (verification)*Enter TextImage Verification: