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Canal du Midi by bike from Toulouse to Carcassonne

4 days / 3 days riding  / ref. CM1 / Difficulty Moderate / Linear trip
from 470 €
per person

Your Canal du Midi bicycle tour :

Let the route of the canal guide you as it presents all its history punctuated by conquests, boat cruises, sunny walks. The ‘Canal du Midi’ offers you all its numerous architectural and cultural treasures : amazing civil engineering structures, Cathar vestiges…

This is also an opportunity to meet with numerous house-boats and its inhabitants in a country of ‘art de vivre’. Vineyard landscapes, countryside, pine and olive trees will punctuate your stay.

View trip map

Tour highlights

  • Toulouse: the pink city made of bricks and tiles
  • Stop in Castelnaudary… to taste the famous Cassoulet!
  • The excursion to the Cathar castles from the medieval city of Carcassonne

Day 1Arrival in Toulouse


City of great heritage, take time to visit all the numerous traces of its rich past : St Sernin church which is the biggest Roman church in the world, the ‘Capitole’ square etc… keep your eyes open to admire all the architectural details.

Day 2Toulouse – Castelnaudary (or St Martin Lalande) | 61 km (or 68 km)


‘The pink city’ famous for its numerous brick constructions, opens the doors of the ‘Canal du Midi’. Then, you will start your stage by crossing the ‘Lauragais’ country with its numerous farms where ducks and geese enjoy a peaceful life, swimming and disturbing cyclists along the canal. Here is a land of well being and gastronomy! Then, Castelnaudary, famous for its ‘Cassoulet’, welcomes you and invite you to taste its local cuisine.

Day 3Castelnaudary (or St Martin Lalande) – Carcassonne | 40 km


In the heart of the Cathar country, discover the manifold traces of their crusades all along your stage, which will guide you towards Carcassonne and its impressive medieval city. Classified as world heritage by UNESCO, you can admire one of the most beautiful fortifications of Europe.

Day 4Excursion in the vineyards and the Cathar castles | 49 km


In direction of the Black Mountains, ride away from the canal, heading into the heart of Cathar country. The ride takes you into vineyeards where there are many opportunities to taste the local wines.
Departure at the end of the stage.

Possibility to book an extra night in Carcassonne.

The little extra with Biking France:


  • Private return transfer from Carcassonne to Toulouse – on request.

Select your category

category Standard
category superior

Your accommodation

These hotels offer all the comfort and well-earned rest after a cycling day (private bathroom). A perfect place to enjoy all the centres of interest around.
These hotels provide charming services on high quality as well as a great location.
Pictures for indicative purposes. Depending on the availability.
Including :

• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• 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
• A personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route
• City taxes
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (3 nights included)
• Transfer from Carcassonne to Toulouse and personal bike repatriation

Including :

• 3 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• 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
• A personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route
• City taxes
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (3 nights included)
• Transfer from Carcassonne to Toulouse and personal bike repatriation

Children discount :from 0 to 2 years old : - 90%
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%

(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )

ARCADE Hybrid bike - 21 speed gears

CLOSED or UNIVERSAL frame

  • 1 rear pannier
  • 1 front bag
  • 1 kit repair (per booking)
  • 1 lock

Helmet not provided

ARCADE or VELO DE VILLE e-bike - 7 speed gears (or similar)

UNIVERSAL frame

  • 1 rear pannier
  • 1 front bag
  • 1 kit repair (per booking)
  • 1 lock

Helmet not provided

Practical details

  • Rental bikes will be available from our local partner.
  • At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
Your journeyHow to arrive in ToulouseReturn

Your journey

Tour description:

The development of the canal banks is very different from one department to another.
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.
The ride on the excursion loop towards Lastours chateaux is on small country roads.

Bike stages trip profiles:
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)

Navigation app

Besides the maps, we also provide a personalised navigation app showing points of interest along the route.

How to arrive in Toulouse

By train:
Paris Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (about 4h30 by TGV train).
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 >> Bordeaux St Jean train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
  • From Orly airport:
    – Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).

– Bus shuttle (Le Bus Direct) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Line 1 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
www.lebusdirect.com/en/lines-and-schedules/orly-airport-paris-etoile-champs-elysees-line.html

– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php

– Orly Val (automatic metro) :  from Orly Sud or Orly Ouest  >> Paris – stop ‘Antony’ >> RER B – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’  >> Metro line 4 >>  Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
www.transilien.com
www.ratp.fr/plans-lignes

  • From Beauvais airport:
    – Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).

– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 + line 13 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/

– Tram line T2 direction ‘Palais de Justice’ to reach the town center.
www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en/passengers/to-and-from/public-transport

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)
    – Carcassonne train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (about 1h by train).
    – Carcassonne >> Toulouse (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)
    – Carcassonne train station >> Narbonne train station (by train) >> Paris Gare de Lyon train station (by TGV train).
    – Carcassonne train station >>  Montpellier train station ou Lyon Part-Dieu train station (by TGV train) >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by TGV train).

Nearby Airports:
– Toulouse airport: www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en
– Carcassonne airport: www.aeroport-carcassonne.com/en
– Bordeaux airport: www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en


Trip overall rating : / 5 testimonials

« Très bonne réactivité »
« Service clef en main, logistique ok et région magnifique  »
Jean-François France travel date: 02 October 2023
« Une très belle première expérience de roadtrip à vélo. »
« Du plaisir, de beaux paysages, du calme, de belles rencontres; et un peu mal au jambes. Mais que ça fait du ... »
Patrick France travel date: 26 May 2023
« We enjoyed both or our tours with your company »
« We originally booked a trip from Colmar to Strasbourg but enjoyed it so much that we immediately booked a ... »
Warren Australia travel date: 13 September 2022
« Programme idéal »
« La rando de 4 jours Toulouse – Carcassonne est le programme idéal pour découvrir les paysages et les ... »
Etienne France travel date: 05 September 2022
« Je recommande »
« Je viens de terminer mon circuit à vélo le long du Canal du Midi et j’en ai été ravi. Randovélo ... »
Nicolas France travel date: 14 August 2022