Southern France Canal du Midi Bike Tour
France Bike Tours
Cycling from Toulouse to the Mediterranean
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8–10 days
- Prices from€1178 Rates
Overview
The Canal du Midi is undoubtedly the most stunning canal in Europe, and this cycling tour in France allows you to experience it in all its beauty.
This calm and restful waterway is lined on both sides by thousands of century-old trees. Along the 160 miles of waterway, you will come across authentic and varied landscapes, as well as exceptional towns of cultural and historical interest, such as the starting city of Toulouse and the medieval walled village of Carcassonne.
Highlights
- Agde with its fortified Romanesque cathedral
- Béziers with its 2000-year-old Roman bridge, cathedral, and Canal Bridge
- Narbonne and its stunning gothic cathedral, archbishop’s palace, and Roman underground warehouses
- Sete where the Canal flows into the Mediterranean Sea
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Itinerary
Day 1: Individual arrival to Toulouse
Day 2: Toulouse - Castelnaudary, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 3: Castelnaudary - Mirepoix, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Mirepoix - Carcassonne, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 5: Roundtrip to Montolieu, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Carcassonne - Olonzac/surrounding, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Olonzac/surrounding - Narbonne, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Narbonne - Beziers, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 9: Beziers - Séte, 40 mi. (65 km)
Day 10: Departure or extension of stay in Sete.All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, therefore the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork or repair work on locks and the towpath. In this case please follow the directions posted on site which may lead onto secondary roads, etc.
Day 1: Individual arrival to Toulouse
After arriving in Toulouse, check in to your hotel, settle in, and relax. In the evening, a welcome meeting is scheduled with the distribution of the rental bikes. Toulouse is sometimes called, “ville rose”, or the pink town because of its buildings made of reddish stone. Following the welcome meeting, take a walk to see the important sacred buildings of Toulouse, one of which is the basilica St-Sernin de Toulouse, one of the most beautiful Romanesque sacred buildings in South France. Toulouse is an attractive mixture of architectural styles with lordly Renaissance houses and former industrial buildings, which were masterfully rebuilt into culture temples. Overnight in Toulouse.Day 2: Toulouse - Castelnaudary, 37 mi. (60 km)
Castelnaudary is the destination of today’s bike tour. The Moulin de Cagurel from the 17th century can be seen on the pestilence hill. Splendid manors, built in the 17th century and beautiful half-timbered houses make this town an architectural jewel. A popular culinary delicacy in Castelnaudary is the savory bean stew, Cassoulet, which became popular during the Hundred Years' War. Overnight in Castelnaudary.Day 3: Castelnaudary - Mirepoix, 31 mi. (50 km)
Follow the newly remodeled Canal du Midi cycle path to Bram. You'll cycle along an old railway line converted for cyclists, and head toweards the Pyrenees. The climb is moderate as yyou roll through railway tunnels, over viaducts and bridges to today's destination, Mirepoix, an enchanting bastide from the Middle Ages.Day 4: Mirepoix - Carcassonne, 37 mi. (60 km)
Back through the Ariège countryside, a quiet and meditative agricultural landscape with rolling hills, to Carcassonne. There, the imposing Cité, the largest fortified city in Europe, awaits you; you are in the heart of the Cathars.Day 5: Roundtrip to Montolieu, 25 mi. (40 km)
Montolieu, located at the edge of the Montagnes Noires, is sometimes referred to as "the City of Books". There are 15 book stores containing over 200,000 books that will delight the avid reader. Many artists live and work in Montolieu. The former royal textile manufacturing was declared a National Monument in 2004. After a visit to this lovely village, cycle back to Carcassonne.Day 6: Carcassonne - Olonzac, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today's route will lead along the waterways through villages, wine-growing estates, and vineyards. The day ends in Olonzac where you will have the chance to taste some good quality wines from the region.Day 7: Olonzac/surroundings - Narbonne, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today's destination is Narbonne, which is surrounded by beautiful vineyards. It was also the former capital of the Romanesque antiquity and the first Roman colony outside of Italy. Sights like the relics of the street "Via Domitia" or the historic bridge, "Pont des Marchands", which serves as a foundation for rowhouses and shops are evidence of Narbonne's rich historical past. Later centuries have also left their marks on the town, such as the archbishop's palace or the Gothic cathedral. Overnight in Narbonne.Day 8: Narbonne - Béziers, 28 mi. (45 km)
The route today leads past the Canal Tunnel en route to Beziers. The history of Beziers goes back 2,700 years and is the birthplace of the father of the Canal du Midi, Pierre-Paul Riquet. The alley Paul-Riquet in the center of the town is dedicated to him. Beziers is located in a scenic winegrowing region, where the climate is perfect for growing grapes. Be sure to enjoy a glass of local wine! Overnight in Beziers.Day 9: Béziers - Séte, 25 mi. (65 km)
The cycle path leads directly along the sea towards Sète, the largest French fishing town on the Mediterranean. It's many canals have given it the name, "Little Venice of the Languedoc" Enjoy a good meal followed by an evening stroll. Overnight stay in Sète.Day 10: Departure or extension of stay in Sete
The tour ends after breakfast. Individual departure or extension of your stay.Day 1: Individual arrival in Toulouse
Day 2: Toulouse - Castelnaudary, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 3: Castelnaudary - Carcassonne, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Carcassonne - Olonzac, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Olonzac/surroundings - Narbonne, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Narbonne - Béziers, 25 mi. (65 km)
Day 7: Béziers - Sète, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: SeteSee our showcase of bicycle tours, features, and news.
Map
Hotels & Bikes
Standard: Accommodations in 2- to 3-star hotels and charming guesthouses.
Deluxe: Accommodations in 3- to 4-star hotels and charming guesthouses.Bicycles
Touring bike
7- and 21-gear-bike
- Model: Own production on basis of Velo de Ville or KTM
- Aluminum unisex or gents frame
- Aluminium rigid fork
- Shimano 7-gear Nexus hub gear with pedal brake / Schimano 21/24- gear Acera derailleur gear
- Shiman V-Brakes front and rear
- Selle Royal Comfort saddle
- 28" puncture-proof tires with automatic valve
- 27,2 mm patented seat post
30-gear plus bike
- Model: Own production on basis of Velo de Ville
- Shimano 30-gear Deore/XT derailleur gear
- Suspension fork RST 60 mm suspension travel
- Shimano T6000 hydraulic disc brake
- High-quality saddle
- Aluminium hydroformed trapezoidal frame
- 28" puncture-proof tires with automatic valve
- 27,2 mm Ergotec Seatpost with suspension
E-bike
- Model: Own production on basis of Velo de Ville or KTM
- Shimano 8-gear Nexus hub gear with pedal brake
- Panasonic or Bosch middle motor 36 Volt
- Battery with a minimum of 500 Wh
- Aluminum rigid or RST suspension fork
- Shimano V-Brakes front and rear of Magura HS 11
- Selle Royal Comfort saddle
- Aluminum unisex with middle motor frame
- 28" puncture-proof tires with automatic valve
- 27,2 mm patented seat post with suspension
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations for 7 or 9 nights in selected category
- Breakfast buffets
- 21 gear unisex (men’s frames on request) city touring bicycle
- Bike insurance
- Personal welcome meeting and tour briefing in both German and English
- Detailed travel information with maps (one set per room)
- Navigation app and GPS tracks
- Luggage transfer
- 7-day service hotline
What’s Not Included
- Arrival to/from the start/finish
- Remaining meals
- City tax and parking
- City maps
- Optional sightseeing tours
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Arrival every Saturday from April 13 to October 24, 2024
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2024
Season 1: April 13 to April 26 | September 24 to October 7
Season 2: April 27 to June 14 | September 15 to September 21
Season 3: June 15 to September 1410 day tour Standard Deluxe Season 1 $ 2355 £ 1242 $ 2,132 € 1419 kr 217534 ₪ 5782 ¥ 239269 Mex$ 26448 NZ$ 2592 NOK 16923 zł 6258 S$ 2104 kr 16851 $ 1,557 $ 2853 £ 1504 $ 2,583 € 1719 kr 263524 ₪ 7004 ¥ 289854 Mex$ 32039 NZ$ 3140 NOK 20500 zł 7581 S$ 2548 kr 20414 $ 1,886 Season 2 $ 2521 £ 1329 $ 2,282 € 1519 kr 232864 ₪ 6189 ¥ 256131 Mex$ 28312 NZ$ 2775 NOK 18115 zł 6699 S$ 2252 kr 18039 $ 1,667 $ 3003 £ 1583 $ 2,718 € 1809 kr 277321 ₪ 7371 ¥ 305030 Mex$ 33717 NZ$ 3305 NOK 21574 zł 7978 S$ 2682 kr 21483 $ 1,985 Season 3 $ 2621 £ 1382 $ 2,372 € 1579 kr 242062 ₪ 6434 ¥ 266248 Mex$ 29430 NZ$ 2885 NOK 18831 zł 6964 S$ 2341 kr 18751 $ 1,733 $ 3136 £ 1653 $ 2,838 € 1889 kr 289585 ₪ 7697 ¥ 318519 Mex$ 35208 NZ$ 3451 NOK 22528 zł 8331 S$ 2800 kr 22433 $ 2,073 Single supplement (all seasons) $ 563 £ 297 $ 509 € 339 kr 51969 ₪ 1381 ¥ 57161 Mex$ 6318 NZ$ 619 NOK 4043 zł 1495 S$ 503 kr 4026 $ 372 $ 662 £ 349 $ 599 € 399 kr 61167 ₪ 1626 ¥ 67279 Mex$ 7437 NZ$ 729 NOK 4758 zł 1760 S$ 592 kr 4738 $ 438 8 day tour Standard Deluxe Season 1 $ 1955 £ 1031 $ 1,770 € 1178 kr 180588 ₪ 4800 ¥ 198632 Mex$ 21956 NZ$ 2152 NOK 14049 zł 5195 S$ 1746 kr 13989 $ 1,293 $ 2204 £ 1162 $ 1,995 € 1328 kr 203583 ₪ 5411 ¥ 223925 Mex$ 24752 NZ$ 2426 NOK 15837 zł 5857 S$ 1969 kr 15770 $ 1,457 Season 2 $ 2121 £ 1118 $ 1,920 € 1278 kr 195918 ₪ 5207 ¥ 215494 Mex$ 23820 NZ$ 2335 NOK 15241 zł 5636 S$ 1895 kr 15177 $ 1,402 $ 2337 £ 1232 $ 2,116 € 1408 kr 215848 ₪ 5737 ¥ 237414 Mex$ 26243 NZ$ 2572 NOK 16792 zł 6210 S$ 2087 kr 16720 $ 1,545 Season 3 $ 2204 £ 1162 $ 1,995 € 1328 kr 203583 ₪ 5411 ¥ 223925 Mex$ 24752 NZ$ 2426 NOK 15837 zł 5857 S$ 1969 kr 15770 $ 1,457 $ 2420 £ 1276 $ 2,191 € 1458 kr 223513 ₪ 5941 ¥ 245845 Mex$ 27175 NZ$ 2663 NOK 17388 zł 6430 S$ 2161 kr 17314 $ 1,600 Single supplement (all seasons) $ 447 £ 235 $ 404 € 269 kr 41238 ₪ 1096 ¥ 45358 Mex$ 5014 NZ$ 491 NOK 3208 zł 1186 S$ 399 kr 3194 $ 295 $ 596 £ 314 $ 539 € 359 kr 55035 ₪ 1463 ¥ 60534 Mex$ 6691 NZ$ 656 NOK 4281 zł 1583 S$ 532 kr 4263 $ 394 Extra Options
Bike rental options
10 day tour
Bike upgrade
- 30-speed Velo de Ville protype with Aluminum hyroformed trapezoidal frame
$ 123 £ 65 $ 111 € 74 kr 11344 ₪ 302 ¥ 12478 Mex$ 1379 NZ$ 135 NOK 883 zł 326 S$ 110 kr 879 $ 81 Electric bike $ 314 £ 165 $ 284 € 189 kr 28974 ₪ 770 ¥ 31869 Mex$ 3523 NZ$ 345 NOK 2254 zł 834 S$ 280 kr 2244 $ 207 8 day tour
Bike upgrade
- 30-speed Velo de Ville protype with Aluminum hyroformed trapezoidal frame
$ 123 £ 65 $ 111 € 74 kr 11344 ₪ 302 ¥ 12478 Mex$ 1379 NZ$ 135 NOK 883 zł 326 S$ 110 kr 879 $ 81 Electric bike $ 279 £ 147 $ 252 € 168 kr 25755 ₪ 685 ¥ 28328 Mex$ 3131 NZ$ 307 NOK 2004 zł 741 S$ 249 kr 1995 $ 184 Extra nights
Sète
Standard Deluxe Twin/double $ 131 £ 69 $ 119 € 79 kr 12111 ₪ 322 ¥ 13321 Mex$ 1472 NZ$ 144 NOK 942 zł 348 S$ 117 kr 938 $ 87 $ 196 £ 103 $ 177 € 118 kr 18089 ₪ 481 ¥ 19897 Mex$ 2199 NZ$ 216 NOK 1407 zł 520 S$ 175 kr 1401 $ 129 Single supplement $ 105 £ 55 $ 95 € 63 kr 9658 ₪ 257 ¥ 10623 Mex$ 1174 NZ$ 115 NOK 751 zł 278 S$ 93 kr 748 $ 69 $ 173 £ 91 $ 156 € 104 kr 15943 ₪ 424 ¥ 17536 Mex$ 1938 NZ$ 190 NOK 1240 zł 459 S$ 154 kr 1235 $ 114 Toulouse
Standard Deluxe Twin/double $ 136 £ 72 $ 123 € 82 kr 12571 ₪ 334 ¥ 13827 Mex$ 1528 NZ$ 150 NOK 978 zł 362 S$ 122 kr 974 $ 90 $ 146 £ 77 $ 132 € 88 kr 13490 ₪ 359 ¥ 14838 Mex$ 1640 NZ$ 161 NOK 1049 zł 388 S$ 130 kr 1045 $ 97 Single supplement $ 100 £ 53 $ 90 € 60 kr 9198 ₪ 244 ¥ 10117 Mex$ 1118 NZ$ 110 NOK 716 zł 265 S$ 89 kr 713 $ 66 $ 124 £ 66 $ 113 € 75 kr 11498 ₪ 306 ¥ 12646 Mex$ 1398 NZ$ 137 NOK 894 zł 331 S$ 111 kr 891 $ 82 Return transfers
Saturday or Monday (guaranteed from 2 people) $ 207 £ 109 $ 188 € 125 kr 19163 ₪ 509 ¥ 21077 Mex$ 2330 NZ$ 228 NOK 1491 zł 551 S$ 185 kr 1484 $ 137 Transfer of bike (if you bring your own) $ 65 £ 34 $ 59 € 39 kr 5979 ₪ 159 ¥ 6576 Mex$ 727 NZ$ 71 NOK 465 zł 172 S$ 58 kr 463 $ 43 Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
This self-guided tour is rated moderate with undulating terrain with rolling hills. The route is partially paved but as much as possible follows the canal on sandy trails. Weather greatly affects the quality of the paths.
Airport Info
The closest international airport to your tour start is Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS).
Local Travel
There is an airport shuttle bus with a stop at the ground floor gate C2, arrival levels. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes. Departures begin at 5:40 am and ending just after midnight. The shuttle goes from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport to Toulouse Matabiau station every 20 minutes. It stops at the Pierre Baudis Conference Centre (Company Caffarelli station), the center of Toulouse, Jeanne d’Arc station (line B), Jean Jaurès station (lines A and B), Matabiau Station (train, metro, bus, coach). At the end of your tour, you can return to Toulouse by train. Travel time is 2-3 hours and costs approx. €41
Climate
Please check local conditions before arrival. Average high/low temperatures in degrees F for the region are: March 59º/41º, April 64º/46º, May 70º/51º, June, 78º/57º, July 83º/61º, August 82º/61º, September 76º/57º, and October 68º/49º.
Day of Rest
Day 5 could be used as a day of rest.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Tour Operator
This tour is run by Rückenwind Reisen.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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