Canal du Midi by bike from Toulouse to Sète
- Ride on the whole canal!
- The landscapes variety between Pays du Lauragais, Pays du Minervois and Pays Cathare
- The charming former lock houses
/ 5 testimonials
Reference : CM4
Difficulty : Moderate
Linear trip
From March to October
Departure: daily
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
Your Canal du Midi bicycle tour:
Enjoy the longest version of the ‘Canal du Midi by bike’: 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 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 2 : Toulouse – 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’. From here, 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 3 : Castelnaudary (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 4 : Carcassonne – Homps (or near) | 42 km
Between Aude river and the canal, your stage continues following 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 5 : Homps (or near) – 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 6 : Béziers – Sète | 50 km
Head for the Mediterranean! Along a pleasant cycle path, the canal guides you to Sète and its southern ambience. First you reach Agde, then the Etang de Thau, where the Canal du Midi empties. You’ll reach Sète riding along the Mediterranean beaches.
Day 7 : Departure during the day
The little extra with Biking France (optional):
- Private return transfer from Sète to Toulouse – on request.
Select your category
- from March 1st to April 14th
from October 11th to 31st - Departure: daily
325 € / pers.*
510 € / pers.*
- from April 15th to 30th
from May 12th to June 30th
from October 1st to 10th - Departure: daily
325 € / pers.*
510 € / pers.*
- from May 1st to 11th
from July 1st to September 30th - Departure: daily
325 € / pers.*
510 € / pers.*
Category's details
• 6 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 5 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
• 5 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (6 nights included)
•
Transfer from Sète to Toulouse and personal bike repatriation
• 6 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 5 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
• 5 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (6 nights included)
•
Transfer from Sète to Toulouse and personal bike repatriation
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 )
According to the category(price per person)
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 70 € / pers.
+ 40 € / pers.*
+ 110 € / pers.
+ 80 € / pers.*
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 70 € / pers.
+ 50 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 70 € / pers.
+ 50 € / pers.*
High season
+ 75 € / pers.
+ 55 € / pers.*
+ 115 € / pers.
+ 100 € / pers.*
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 )
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
- 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.
> How to arrive in Toulouse
> Return
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.
Bike stages trip profiles:
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)
Toulouse – Castelnaudary : 61km / elevation gain: 162m / elevation loss: 141m
Castelnaudary – Carcassonne : 40km / elevation gain: 94m / elevation loss: 164m
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
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/
- From Toulouse Blagnac airport:
– Bus shuttle « Tisseo » direction ‘Gare routière’ to reach the town center.
www.tisseo.fr/en/airport-shuttle
– 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)
– Sète train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (about 2h by train or TGV train)
– Sète >> 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)
– 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 : / 5 testimonials
England
travel date: 25 May 2023.
An unforgettable experience! Thanks again Randovelo!
England
travel date: 07 May 2023.
The cycle route along the Canal du Midi is generally well maintained except for sections west of Castelnaudray and west of Capestang. It is quiet, calm and generally rather beautiful. You can even hear the bird song.. Randovelo organised the trip well, the accommodation varied from satisfactory to excellent and the food and drink were good (except the morning coffee).. The bicycles were fine though one was in need of a thorough service.
France
travel date: 03 September 2022.
A lovely way to see this historic route. Lovely accommodation and meals. Highlight was the view of the old city in Carcassonne from our room in the Tribe and from their restaurant. We also enjoyed the ride into Sette around the beachfront and waterfront.
France
travel date: 28 July 2022.
Très bel itinéraire, paysages variés, étapes bien calibrées, accueil agréable dans les hôtels et les chambres d’hôtes sélectionnées.
France
travel date: 19 June 2022.
Belle expérience pour une première. Des vélos de qualités au vu du parcours (Canal du midi Toulouse-Sète) Bons choix d’hotel/maison d’hotes. A renouveler sans aucun doute.