Cycling tour along the Canal de Garonne from Bordeaux to Toulouse (or reverse)
Pricing informations
Tour description
Canal de Garonne bike tour from Bordeaux to Toulouse
The Canal de Garonne Cycling tour between Bordeaux and Toulouse along the Canal des Deux Mers (Canal de Garonne / Canal du Midi). This self-guided cycle tour begins in the capital of Bordeaux and ends in the inviting metropolis of Toulouse, but that’s not the only part of the story. Between them, you’ll pedalling through the spectacular Canal de Garonne, a lengthy 19th-century waterway and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, through quaint villages, blossoming countryside, and rows upon rows of highly cultivated vines. It’s a leisurely cycling holiday through both the traditionally rural and the fiercely industrial aspects of this fascinating French region.
As a cyclist ride out to meet man, nature, heritage and culture of the Gironde, Tarn and Garonne and Haute Garonne! The Garonne biking tour first thourgh the Entre-Deux-Mers vineyards before exploring landscapes of the Green Way “Canal de Garonne”. Enjoy the wonderful tranquility which pervades the tunnel of greenery! Conviviality is surely one of the main features of the Green Way of the Garonne canal. There are many stopping places and bases for water activities, restaurants, bars abound. You won’t be starving or thirsty! Hitting the road on two wheels is a fantastic way to discover landscapes and viewtrips.
There’s no better way to understand the heart of southern France than to do the canal de Garonne cycling tour through it and feel the beat!
This bike road goes along waterways and past tidy, traditional towns such as Le Mas d’Agenais and Damazin. Enter the city of Agen by crossing a historic canal bridge. Ride along cycle routes, seeing several lock houses. At the village of Moissac, take time to explore the distinctive abbey and cloister. Leaving the Canal de Garonne bike path, you’ll ride to Montauban. Get back on the canal road cycling, which leads you to your destination, Toulouse.
There are many places in Aquitaine for people to meet and chat. Each traveller will live a real cycling experience. Including accommodation overnight in 3-star hotels and beautiful guesthouses. To be more confortable during your cycling tours, we can Bike hire or an E-bike as you prefer!
- The hilly landscapes of Entre-Deux-Mers with pretty medieval villages
- A pleasant cycle path between the canal and century-old plane trees punctuated with locks
- The many remarkable engineering works along the route, such as the Agen “Canal Bridge” The Cloitre of the Abbey of Moissac, at the mouth of the Tarn
- Toulouse, the “pink city”
Program
This program may be done in the opposit way : From Toulouse to Bordeaux
Overnight in a 3-star hotel in the heart of « Bordeaux » city where you will find the road book and bikes waiting for you.Breakfast included.
Bordeaux, named before “Burdigala”, is a Roman city, inseparable from its vineyards and prestigious stones architecture. The river Garonne, heart of the city, welcomes walkers on the banks and offers boat trip, and barge visit. The quays suit everyone, hoping to witness the stop of a cruise ship, “amazing show” of a giant of the seas in the city centre. Capital of wine, Bordeaux is endowed with a rich history and architecture. Before leaving Bordeaux, we advise to book for a wine guided tour in a château. you’ll learn everything about Bordeaux wines, including winemaking, appellations, tannins, the difference between medoc and St Emilion, grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Malbec… And also tasting of course!
From the gates of « Bordeaux » in Aquitaine, one of the most beautiful Green Ways beckons you across fields and vineyards, and chateaux! Leave « Bordeaux » by a bicycle path on the right bank of the « Garonne », and then follow this Green Way that snakes through the hills of « Entre-Deux-Mers ». You will cycle through towns as « Créon » or « Sauvettere-de-Guyenne ». Then, go down to « la Réole » through romanesque backroads surrounded by vineyards. This itinerary is easy, most of the time wooded, and also dotted with vineyards and stopping places, which allow you to appreciate that it deserves (Entre-deux-mers) of « between » two rivers the Dordogne and Gironde.
Overnight in a charming bed and breakfast. Dinner and breakfast included.
Apart from the first few miles of cycling on backroads, the rest of this itinerary will allow you to discover and follow the «Canal de Garonne ». Then you just have to take the pace leisurely and exploit your surroundings. Barges, barely faster than cyclists are stopped at the locks. Walkers, cyclists and boatmen exchange expressions of sympathy whenever one overtakes the other.
From «Castets-en-Dorthe » Itineraries are beautiful, shaded everywhere by large trees. The road is continuous, easy and safe. You will discover splendid sights such as «St-Macaire », «Castets-en-Dorthe », and finally «Meilhan-sur-Garonne ».
Overnight in a charming bed and breakfast. Dinner and breakfast included.
Your cycle tours continue along the Garonne canal, a convivial place where lots of stops are possible. You’ll road cycling through « Mas d’Agenais » a fortified wall and detaining the famous Rembrandt’s painting: “Christ on the Cross” preserved in the church of St. Vincent. The path is easy and safe.
End your journey in Serignac, a pretty Bastide (fortified town) of from the 13th Century housing half-timbered houses and arcades.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included. Optional dinner
This itinerary is wonderful as there are lots of interesting locations! The Green Way is easy and secure. Ride under the shade of plane trees that you will encounter throughout of your trip. On your way, you will discover interesting sites: the canal bridge of « Agen », Lake « St-Nicolas-de-la-Grave », « Moissac » … Take the time to visit « Agen » and its museum; « Auvillar », a beautiful perched village; « Valence d’Agen » and laundries; « Moissac » and abbeys.When you pass Lamagistère, cross the Tarn-et-Garonne, artistic territory full of treasures! You will discover the rich heritage classified as UNESCO. Then you will continue your bicycle tour on backoads that will guide you to this unique heritage. You will be seduced by the beauty of the surrounding wildlife that makes the « Tarn-et-Garonne » a real open-air museum.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included. Optional dinner
On the way to « Toulouse », you will cycle on an easy and secure Green Way under the shade of the trees. Only the last kilometers to enter Toulouse are noisy but it will lead you to the city centre, a real comfort! On this path, you will discover one of the greatest structures of « Montech »: The Water Slope. The « Tarn-et-Garonne », orchard and Chasselas grapes country invites you to navigate between a cultural tourism and outdoor leisure. You will end your journey in « Haute Garonne », classified in the first department for its quality of life and warm colors of « Toulouse ».
Overnight in a 3-Star hotel in the heart of Toulouse. Breakfast included.
« Toulouse » has been developed over the centuries using mainly tile and Roman brick, ancient heritage, still used today! Both modern and yet proud of its legacy, « Toulouse » is always open and brilliant. « Toulouse » intoxicates its inhabitants who get caught with its own style of charm and colorful historic buildings of the well-named “Ville rose” (Pink City)! City of bricks, violet, rugby, planes and the poet Claude Nougaro. This stereotyped summary should tell us that this regional metropolis offers jewels of architecture.
After breakfast make your way to your chosen departure point, or stay on in « Toulouse » for one or two extra nights to enjoy the city’s attractive ambiance.
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 helmet (on request)
- 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 a “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.