+33(0)2 54 78 62 52Canal du Midi by bike from Carcassonne to Sète
- The Minervois and its vine-clad slopes
- The medieval city of Carcassonne, World Heritage Site by UNESCO
- And at the end of the towpath … the beach
/ 9 testimonials
Reference : CM2
Difficulty : Easy
Linear trip
From March to November
Departure: daily
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
> Download tour program
Your Canal du Midi bicycle tour :
The ‘canal du Midi’, architect Pierre-Paul Riquet’s masterpiece, is the most famous water canal in Europe for its amazing measurements and for its peaceful surroundings. The idea of digging this channel linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean sea dates back to Antiquity but it was under Louis the 14th’s reign that it has been built.
Along the channel, discover the countryside landscapes and farms of the ‘Laugarais’ area, the gentle slopes sprinkled with vineyards, the chateaux of the Aude area and the city of Carcassonne up to the Mediterranean beaches.
Day 1 : Arrival in Carcassonne
Take the time to visit Carcassonne and its impressive medieval city. Classified as world heritage by UNESCO, you can admire one of the most beautiful fortifications of Europe.
Day 2 : Carcassonne – Homps (or nearby) | 42 km
Between Aude river and the canal, follow the rhythm of the stream, punctuated with pine and plane trees always offering a fresh environment. Each village hides a treasure to discover ; by the way do not forget to visit the canal bridge of Orbiel and the Argent-Double aqueduct.
Day 3 : Homps (or nearby) – Béziers | 63 km
Cross charming and typical small villages such as Paraza and Le Somail. Then, you find a winding canal, bordered of olive-trees and vines, before reaching the animated port of Capestang. After the Malpas’s tunnel, you can admire the cascade of the 9 locks of Fonsérannes before aching Béziers.
Day 4 : Béziers – Sète | 50 km
Cap towards the Mediterranean sea ! Through a pleasant cycle path, the canal guides you towards Sète and its mediterranean atmosphere. While riding along the Herault river, you will reach Onglous’s beacon, where the Canal du Midi thrown in the pond of Thau. Then, it is while skirting the Mediterranean’s beaches that you will reach Sète.
Day 5 : Departure during the day
The little extra with Biking France (optional):
- Private return transfer from Sète to Carcassonne – on request.
Select your category
- from March 1st to April 13th
from October 16th to November 15th - Departure: daily
185 € / pers.*
340 € / pers.*
185 € / pers.*
340 € / pers.*
- from April 14th to June 30th
from September 1st to October 15th - Departure: daily
185 € / pers.*
340 € / pers.*
- from July 1st to August 31st
- Departure: daily
210 € / pers.*
340 € / pers.*
Category's details
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
1 dinner (drinks not included)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
•
Digital routes (GPX tracks)
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• 3 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Sète to Carcassonne and personal bike repatriation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
1 dinner (drinks not included)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
•
Digital routes (GPX tracks)
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• 3 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Sète to Carcassonne and personal bike repatriation
from 3 to 11 years old : - 50%
from 12 to 17 years old : - 20%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
According to the category(price per person)
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 55 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 55 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.*
High season
+ 65 € / pers.
+ 55 € / pers.*
+ 90 € / pers.
+ 75 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 90 € / pers.
+ 75 € / pers.*
High season
+ 100 € / pers.
+ 80 € / pers.*
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 65 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 65 € / pers.
+ 45 € / pers.*
High season
+ 75 € / pers.
+ 50 € / pers.*
+ 105 € / pers.
+ 90 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 105 € / pers.
+ 90 € / pers.*
High season
+ 110 € / pers.
+ 90 € / pers.*
from 0 to 2 years old : free / from 3 to 11 years old : - 50% / from 12 to 17 years old : - 20%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
Extras
If you bring your own bike.
(price per additional luggage)
(in the case of a single person per booking)
Your accommodation
Your cycle hire
CLOSED or UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front bag
- 1 kit repair (per booking)
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided
UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front bag
- 1 kit repair (per booking)
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided
- Bikes will be delivered at the 1st hotel.
- At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
> How to arrive in Carcassonne
> Return
Your journey
Tour description:
The development of the canal banks is very different from one department to another. At the end of the tour, in the Aude (between Port-Lauragais and Olonzac) it is largely an undeveloped path and not very well maintained, which gives a very natural character to the route. On the other hand, some portions are very narrow, chaotic (roots, holes, etc.) and in rainy weather the path becomes muddy and slippery, especially at the beginning of the season.
Therefore, this bike tour is not suitable for road bikes and bikes equipped with trailer.
Bike stages trip profiles:
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)
Carcassonne – Homps : 42km / elevation gain: 74m / elevation loss: 128m
Homps – Béziers : 63km / elevation gain: 302m / elevation loss: 292m
Béziers – Sète : 50km / elevation gain: 100m / elevation loss: 117m
GPX files:
Besides the maps and detailed itinerary, we also provide the GPX files of your bike stages, as well as a suggestion of free mobile application (if you do not have a bike touring GPS).
How to arrive in Carcassonne
By train:
Paris Gare Montparnasse train station or Gare de Lyon train station >> Carcassonne train station (by train or TGV train) – (about 5h30).
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en
By plane:
- From Roissy CDG airport :
– Roissy Charles de Gaulle T.2 train station >> Lyon Part-Dieu train station >> Carcassonne train station (byTGV train).
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transer to Paris Gare de Lyon train station >> Montpellier St Roch train station or Lyon Part-Dieu train station >> Carcassonne train station (byTGV train or train + TGV train).
– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus): from Orly Sud >> Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 6 + line 14 >> Gare de Lyon train station >> Montpellier St Roch train station or Lyon Part-Dieu train station >> Carcassonne train station (byTGV train or train + TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php
– Orly Val (automatic metro) : from Orly Sud or Orly Ouest >> Paris – stop ‘Chatelet les Halles’ >> RER D – stop ‘Paris Gare de Lyon’ >> Montpellier St Roch train station or Lyon Part-Dieu train station >> Carcassonne train station (byTGV train or train + TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
www.transilien.com
www.ratp.fr/plans-lignes
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon train station >> Montpellier St Roch train station or Lyon Part-Dieu train station >> Carcassonne train station (byTGV train or train + TGV train).
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 >> Gare de Lyon train station >> Montpellier St Roch train station or Lyon Part-Dieu train station >> Carcassonne train station (byTGV train or train + TGV train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/
- From Carcassonne airport:
– Bus shuttle(Bus) RTCA : from the airport to the town center adn the medieval city
http://rtca.carcassonne-agglo.fr/infos/12
www.aeroport-carcassonne.com/en
Return
If you have to come back to the start point:
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France: please contact us!
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility)
– Sète train station >> Carcassonne train station (about 1 by train or TGV train)
– Sète >> Carcassonne (by taxi)
If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports:
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France: please contact us!
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility)
– Sète train station >> Paris Gare de Lyon train station (TGV train).
– Sète train station >> Nîmes train station or Montpellier St Roch train station (by train) >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by TGV train).
Nearby Airports:
– Montpellier airport: https://montpellier-airport.com
– Béziers – Cap d’Agde airport: www.beziers.aeroport.fr/en
Trip overall rating : / 9 testimonials
France
travel date: 16 August 2020.
Bonne expérience avec RandoVelo
France
travel date: 09 June 2019.
Super rando, organisée de manière très professionnelle. Un parcours mémorable riche en rencontres, réalisé dans des conditions idéales, sans trop de monde, sans moustique et une météo plaisante. Des pneus tout terrain sont à conseiller du fait de la réfection des berges.
FRANCE
travel date: 25 May 2019.
Dans le sens carcassone / sete on a le vent dans le dos ce qui est plutôt agréable.
France
travel date: 13 May 2019.
…un vrai challenge réussi puisque nous avons reservé deux jours avant le depart…
France
travel date: 23 July 2018.
Je remercie une fois encore RandoVélo pour nous avoir permis de passer quelques jours très agréables. Tout est parfaitement organisé et nous n’avons eu qu’à faire travailler nos mollets sans se prendre la tête
France
travel date: 03 September 2017.
Great trip – really enjoyable. Clear directions, great hotels and great route to take in South France. Thanks!
England
travel date: 23 July 2016.
A great service made a great holiday – thank you!
France
travel date: 04 July 2014.
Très belle expérience
France
travel date: 04 August 2012.
Je viens de terminer mon circuit à vélo le long du Canal du Midi et j’en ai été ravi. Randovélo conserve ma confiance et je renouvellerai l’expérience avec l’association et en ferai la promotion autour de moi.
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
