Canal du Midi bike tour from Montpellier to Toulouse
Pricing informations
Tour description
The Canal du Midi bike tour
This Canal du Midi bike tour will make you cycle along one of the the most beautiful canal in Europe. It was built by Pierre Paul Riquet between 1667 and 1681 in order to link the Mediterranean to Atlantic Ocean. This idea had already been dreamt of by the Romans but was only carried out sixteen centuries later and even at that time was a considerable technological achievement.
Nowadays this calm restful waterway is lined on both sides by many trees. All along the 260 km / 160 miles of water situated in the South of France and the 64 locks, you will come across authentic and varied landscapes. You will come across such exceptional places of touristic interest as the medieval walled town of Carcassonne.
Other equally fascinating sites will make pleasant stopping points on your trip between the sea-port of Sète and Carcassonne. Agde is well-known for its wonderful fortified Romanesque cathedral built in basalt, Béziers for its 2000-year-old Roman bridge, its cathedral and its Canal Bridge and Narbonne for its great gothic cathedral, its archbishop’s palace and its Roman underground warehouses.
There are also numerous villages (typical of the South of France) spread out the whole way along your trip. You can discover new places, breathe in nice odours, get some fresh air, look around you and feel relaxed on your bicycle and at the same time undertake an activity which is good for your mind and body. This promenade along the water edge away from traffic will allow you to meet local people and other tourists and to appreciate the wonderful local cuisine.
Once in Carcassonne, you can choose to stop your cycling holiday or continue for 3 more days until Toulouse, the “pink city”
- The entire Canal du Midi!
- The medieval Cathar city of Carcassonne, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage
- A swimming break at Lake Saint-Ferreol, a historic site in lush greenery
- The diversity of Occitania’s landscapes
- The charm of the old lock houses
Program
Individual arrival in Montpellier. At the reception you will receive your traveler documents.
At 9:30am we will be at your hotel to adjust your rental bike and to give you all the necessary information about your tour. From the elegant city of Montpellier you will cycle along the Lez River on a bike path through a bird sanctuary to Palavas and the Mediterranean Sea. Then the way leads you along the Rhone-Sète Canal through the middle of a beautiful Lake District and finally to Frontignan-Plage and Sete.
This morning you should not forget to take your bathing togs. Because in the morning you ride along the beach on a perfect bike lane to Agde. Here you can visit the old town and the cathedral made of black stones. From here you follow the Canal du Midi to Beziers.
Via the bridge over the river Orb you reach the 7 locks at Fonséranes. Continue your ride along the canal, past the Celtic oppidum of Ensérune and an imposing Gothic church in Capestang. You continue on little roads and paths through the vineyards to Narbonne.
Visit the old town of Narbonne and its famous ancient monuments like the archbishop’s palace and the Gothic cathedral. Then you ride along the Canal de la Robine and on little roads to the Canal du Midi, which leads you to the little village of Homps, or a little bit further on to Olonzac.
You will finish your bike trip through hills, villages, and vineyards. Once La Réole is over, you will pedal through the vineyards of Entre-deux-Mers. Take a break and enjoy a wine tour, you’ll taste really good white wines (sauvignon blanc) in this appellation. Then pedalling on a charming cycle path in order to reach the “sleeping beauty”: Bordeaux, the former Roman “Burdigala”, inseparable from its vineyard… radiates widely in its stone adornment to dispense with fireworks classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The river Garonne, the heart of the city, welcomes walkers on the banks or for boat trips. the river tourism is very developed so everyone can appropriate the docks, hoping to witness the stopover of a cruise ship, «amazing and romanesque spectacle» of a giant of the seas in downtown.
Overnight and breakfast in hotel
Get back to Montpellier by train.
Extension to Toulouse (+ 3 nights):
You follow always the Canal du Midi, discover new villages and arrive in Castelnaudary.
On little roads and pathes to the heart of the Canal project, the St. Ferréol lake in the black mountains (Montagne Noire), discover new villages like Revel with one of the nicest covered markets of France and back to Castelnaudary.
Always along the Canal du Midi and arrival in the heart of the very nice town of Toulouse.
Practical details
Luggages
Documents
Bikes
Accomodations
Support
We take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike.
You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure .
At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.
We remind you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day
Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes:
- A welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for baggage transport
- Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from rental if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
- The logbook travel package including map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical indications
- The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the circuits:
- The “Evazio” application to download from smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on the your smartphone) and / or oral.
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
- The loan of a GPS device with the pre-recorded tracks
- Sends GPX tracks of each stage to be used with your own navigation support
On this circuit, we suggest that you provide you with the choice and by reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 set of repair
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, we can offer depending on age and size
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follow-up bike
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size.
At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We will take care of their recovery.
This tour is available in “superior” version.
The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:
Comfort : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 2 and 3 stars (or equivalent) and rooms of host.
Superior : The circuit mainly presents hotels classified 3 and 4 stars (or equivalent) and charming guest rooms.
Luxury : The circuit mainly presents 4 and 5 star hotels or equivalent
Our support team remains available for the duration of your trip.
