The Heart of the Tarn River Valley

*Below is itinerary for Supported Tour. This can also be used as a guideline for a self-guided tour.

Day 1: Coupiac, 11 mi. (18 km)
Day 2: Ambialet, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Brousse, 36 mi (52 km) 
Day 4: Albi, 28 or 56 mi. (45 or 90 km)
Day 5: Belmont, 31 or 44 mi. (50 or 70 km)
Day 6: St Affrique, Millau Bridge, and Roquefort Cheese Cave, 25 or 45 km 
Day 7: Free day
Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Coupiac, 11 mi./18 km
After your arrival in Toulouse, an airport pickup can be arranged to your accommodations for the duration of your tour, Les Magnolias. Lunch is not included today but you can enjoy a meal at your expense on the Les Magnolias terrace after a refreshing swim.

Optional: late afternoon bike ride of 10 mi. (16 km)  to Coupiac on the Green route (slight climb on a mountain and forest road). Your evening will conclude with a dinner at Les Magnolias. 

Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Ambialet, 25 mi./40 km
You will cycle once again on the green route toward  Ambialet (a forest, mountain and Tarn River ride), showcasing stunning views of the Tarn River. The historic village of Ambialet is the perfect place for a coffee stop and is dominated by an ancient Franciscan monastery and Roman church. The Celts were the first to settle in Ambialet around the 6th century BC. They were followed by the Gauls, and the Romans, who set up a frontier post in this important strategic position. Your return ride to Les Magnolias is also along the Tarn river. A special lunch stop will be at La Chanterelle in the village of Trebas. Here, all meat is cooked over an open hearth in the restaurant and the portion sizes are generous. Wines are exceptionally reasonable and good quality, especially the local wines. Upon arrival once again at the hotel, we suggest a lovely swim before dinner before dining at once again in the renowned restaurant, on your own, under the direction of the popular and aspiring young chef.

Included Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 3: Brousse-Le-Chateau, 36 mi./52 km
After a delicious breakfast at Les Magnolias, you can depart for Brousse through forest and mountain trails, along the Tarn River. You will encounter a short but steep climb en route.  You can enjoy a short coffee stop at the Chateau House in beautiful Lincou Village or at Brousee Le Chateau, categorized as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Lunch will be on your own. Perhaps you would enjoy a picnic lunch along the Tarn River or a light salad or Roquefort omelet at Brousse-Le-Chateau. Return ride via the flat Tarn route or mountain route.  The special Meal this evening will be at Les Magnolias or a nearby selected village restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Albi, 28 or 56 mi., 45 or 90 km
Today you will enjoy a  mountain, forest, and river ride.  After a coffee stop at Ambialet’s Hotel Du Pont, you will continue on one of most picturesque rides of all, past rural farmhouses, through forest and river scenery.  Lunch will be on your own at Albi’s ancient village center.  Visit Albi World Heritage Site attractions: Albi Cathedral, Toulouse-Lautrec museum, Berbie Palace gardens.  Walking and shopping along the cobbled streets of old Albi town.  Return to Plaisance by support vehicle or you can opt to return by bike. Dinner this evening will be either at a carefully selected nearby village restaurant or at Les Magnolias.
 
Included Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 5: Belmont, 31 or 44 mi./50 or 70 km
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will cycle on the Yellow route ride to Belmont via the characterful village of Combret, through beautiful forest scenery. You will enjoy a variety of terrain!  You can enjoy a coffee stop at Belmont and then return to Combret for a special lunch.   Optional return ride to Plaisance or you can decide to hop on the support vehicle (for those that have booked the guided tour) for return to the hotel. Dinner will be on your own this evening at Les Magnolias or a nearby village restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 6: Cycling and Touring day: St Affrique, Millau Bridge, and Roquefort Cheese Caves, 25 or 45 km 
There will be a morning transfer with bikes to St Affrique’s charming fresh produce market.  Ride 35 km from St Afrique to the troglodyte village of Peyre, via the stunning St Rome Sur Tarn. It is a beautiful ride along the Tarn River, past quaint old farmhouses, and lively local rural activity.  Lunch will be on your own in Peyre with its incredible view of the tallest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Roquefort cheese caves are next on the agenda with an optional tour of the caves. Return to Plaisance.  Special dinner at Les Magnolias.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 7: Free day
Today is all yours! Relax at the hotel, swim, play pétanque, cycle, walk or go canoeing. It is up to you! Your dinner at Les Magnolias is included this evening!

Included Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 8: Departure

Breakfast at Les Magnolias.  Depart for Toulouse Blagnac airport.

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Les Magnolias, a delightful 22 room boutique hotel designed in a classic traditional style based on stone and French oak. The restaurant delights its guests by offering semi-gastronomic dishes. The chef’s recipes are almost always based on fresh, local, and seasonal produce. The hotel is a recently renovated 700-year-old building, once the family home of the famous French poet Paul Valerie. The hotel is used as the primary base for cycling clientele as it is located in an idyllic cycling environment, surrounded by protected indigenous forests, rivers, ancient villages, and well kept and quiet roads.