Southern France Canal du Midi Bike Tour

Most memorable was the 2 night stay in Carcasseronne, France. We opted for a Rest Day and did not do the scheduled In & Out Ride.
Upgrading to Deluxe accommodations was a really great value.
The 'Rails to Trails' In & Out route to Mirepoix, France was a great alternate from the towpath. Consider providing tours linking these well maintained trails. This one went way beyond Mirepoix. Other riders said there were many in Spain.
The condition of the tow path varied with the cities (Carcasserronne, Baziers and Narbonne having the worst maintenance (except in town)) and the long remote area between Baziers and Agde. Toulouse and surrounds were well maintained.
30 gear bicycle upgrades were a must for my group of 70 something year old men. My eBike was sturdier than other rentals I have had and it's Bosch drivetrain performed as well as my own.
There was miscommunication somewhere for our stay in Mirepoix. The manager showed us the reservation requesting two double rooms, but there was no mention of 2 beds in the two rooms. The hotel was full and only one of the rooms had two beds. He was able to book the two men in a nearby hotel.
Throughout the entire reservation process I found TripSIte to be professional and easy to work with with excellent communication and advice. One thing, the vests were fit larger than indicated size...
Thank you so much,
John J Kaib

Riding on the canal was very pleasant but the diversions from it added something extra. In particular the cycling on quiet country roads and cycleways. We enjoyed the ride to and from Mirepoix in particular.

The Canal du MIDI bike trip was an excellent and slow way to see the beauty of the countryside and experience the hospitality of locals. There was enough time at the end of each day to explore the villages and see the sights. Can highly recommend this bike ride. It was also fun to meet other cyclists.

The loveliness and peacefulness of biking by the canal. The GPS tracks were spot on as was the support from Robert. The bikes were outstanding and the accommodations were perfect!

We had a great time on this trip. It is easy cycling so good for newbies. The cassoulet at the Castelnaudary lodging was excellent. As was the place itself.

We used the GPS files so no problem navigating. Others mentioned the written directions could use work. Bikes were very good and we had no problems.

Would recommend taking the alternate routes some days. They go off the canal for better views.

For a picnic lunch go to Le Relais de Sully in Villesèquelande. Very well provisioned store.

If having lunch on the last day go to Marseillan Port, not Plage. Very limited options. Or power through and stop at La Parenthèse (accès N°23) almost at Sète. For which you will pay more but beautiful beach and food.

Carcassonne was a highlight of this trip. It is an exceptional city. I plan a return visit. The weather cooperated, only one day of showers. This is my 4th bike trip using Tripsite. I highly recommend them. They are extremely responsive and helpful in planning your dream vacation.

The Canal du Midi tour is a wonderful cycling experience - generally easy riding along a lovely tree-lined waterway and across gorgeous countryside. The daily distances were about right, 30 - 40 kms, and allowed us to arrive at our destinations not all all tired and with enough time to explore and relax when we got there. I would think this would be a perfect first tour for uncertain, inexperienced riders and even for families. The stops were all excellent and varied - some rural, some more urban, most with historical significance (especially Carcassonne and Narbonne!), and the canal itself becomes a big part of the tour as you learn about its history and its many innovative engineering achievements. The food, of course, was also a highlight of the tour, and I would definitely recommend including the additional meals, as the restaurants selected were all first class, served exquisite local fare, and were in excellent locations. The hotels and inns were also all excellent choices. We are so appreciative of the local organizers for all these great arrangements, and also for the seamless support along the way - the bags were always picked up by 9:30, and they were always waiting for us when we arrived at our lodgings. Robert of Ruckenwind is clearly very passionate about cycling and he was an enthusiastic presence and a great resource throughout the trip. Some things worth noting beforehand, however: 1) the canal paths start out smooth and paved, and also very well shaded, but get progressively more uneven as you get farther away from Toulouse, some with rough gravel patches and others with mud puddles or dried, rutted spots that are hard to navigate; and the plane trees are dying in places so you are periodically exposed to the hot sun; 2) the routes often diverge from the canal, partly to avoid some of those rough patches, but also, I think, just to get riders off the canal to offer some diversity and to allow you to see more of the landscapes. This is generally a good thing, and you can never really get lost because you always have a sense where the canal is. But we did lose our way sometimes, and often had to rely on our GPS to find our way back. Anyway, thanks again to Tripsite, to Ruckenwind (especially to Robert!), and to the local operator for a truly memorable cycling experience!

As a group of four mature adults, we completed the Canal du Midi bike ride. It was great even with some windy and wet days. The scenery is fantastic and any little glitch was quickly forgotten when you looked out upon your surrounds. The Tripsite team were very helpful and our gear was always at the next destination by the time we got there. I had an e-bike where as the others had standard bikes. I thoroughly recommend the pedal assist e-bike as it really took the stress off when in slightly difficult terrain. Great for doing the hills in traffic as all you have to do is sit and watch the cars rather than standing up in the pedals. Definitely my kind of bike and my kind of trip. Loved the open space and rolling countryside.