The 'Canal des 2 Mers': from Bordeaux to Sète by Bike
12 days / 10 days riding / ref. CGCM1 / Difficulty Moderate / Linear tripper person
Your cycling tour on Canal des 2 Mers, from Bordeaux to Sète:
The ‘Canal des 2 Mers’ link up the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. This bike itinerary leads you along the Canal de Garonne from Bordeaux to Toulouse. Then, you will join the Canal du Midi, UNESCO World Heritage, to the Mediterranean Sea. You will follow this ancient canal towpath, converted as a promenade and discovery space, to share with walkers and boaters.
Tour highlights
- From the Garonne River to the Mediterranean Sea in the same cycling tour
- Unforgettable landscapes and sites
- The marked-out itineraries along the ‘Canal des 2 mers’
Day 1Arrival in Bordeaux
For this first day, take your time to visit Bordeaux. Take a walk along the Garonne docks. This city, World Heritage Site by UNESCO will fill you with enthusiasm for its quality of life, the green airy spaces, its gastronomy and its wine of course!
Day 2Bordeaux – Rauzan | 46 km
Once the Garonne crossed in Bordeaux, follow the bike path ‘Roger Lapébie’ (French racing cyclist) in the middle of vineyards and forest. This path use an ancient railway which leads you to the heart of the ‘Entre-deux-mers’. You will leave it to reach you accommodation in Rauzan, medieval village overhanged by its castle and donjon.
Day 3Rauzan – Marmande | 69 km
You leave Rauzan and reach the bike path. It ends in Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, fortified village from de 13th century. Follow the itinerary by small countryside routes, before joining the Canal des-deux-mers in La Réole, small village overhanging the Garonne. Then follow the Canal and reach Marmande, the tomato capital city!
Day 4Marmande – Agen | 64 km
Reach the canal that you will follow to Agen. Two stops are must-be-seen places. The first at ‘Le Mas-d’Agenais’ with the church St. Vincent, pearl of the French Renaissance and the ‘Christ on the Cross’ from Rembrandt. The second one in Damazan, fortified village from the 13th century. Then you will arrive in Agen by one of the longest bridge-canal in France.
Day 5Agen – Moissac | 42 km
Run of the river, this stage continues, pasing through Valence d’Agen, medieval village with a rich cultural and natural heritage. You will find a warm welcome for cyclotourists.
You arrive in Moissac, unmissable stage of St Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage. Visit the ancient Benedictine abbatial church, its cloister and the church which tympanum is one of the greatest from the Romanesque Art.
Day 6Moissac – Toulouse | 68 km
During this last stage, enjoy the quietness of the canal before joining the lively and well-known “Ville rose”. The villages are queuing regularly, welcoming you for lunch breaks or relaxation. You arrive in Toulouse, away from the traffic, via the Canal du Midi.
Day 7Toulouse – 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 gooses enjoy a peaceful life, swimming and disturbing cyclists along the canal. Moreover, it is also a land of well being and gastronomy. Then, Castelnaudary, famous for its ‘Cassoulet’ , will welcome you and invite you to taste its local cuisine.
Day 8Castelnaudary (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 9Carcassonne – Homps | 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 10Homps – 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 11Béziers – 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 12Departure during the day
The little extra with Biking France (optional):
- Private return transfer from Sète to Bordeaux – on request.
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 11 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
2 dinners (drinks not included)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 10 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
• 9 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (11 nights included)
•
Transfer from Sète to Bordeaux and personal bike repatriation
• 11 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
2 dinners (drinks not included)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 10 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
• 9 dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (11 nights included)
•
Transfer from Sète to Bordeaux 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 )
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 journey
Tour description
The route is made on mainly on bike paths, tow paths along the canal ; and some low traffic routes.
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)
Bordeaux – Rauzan : 46km / elevation gain: 424m / elevation loss: 367m
Rauzan – Marmande : 69km / elevation gain: 432m / elevation loss: 476m
Marmande – Agen : 64km / elevation gain: 169m / elevation loss: 147m
Agen – Moissac : 42km / elevation gain: 111m / elevation loss: 93m
Moissac – Toulouse : 68km / elevation gain: 155m / elevation loss: 74m
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 Bordeaux
By Train:
From Paris Montparnasse station >> Bordeaux St Jean station about 2h10 (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 (by TGV train).
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St-Jean train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle (Le Bus Direct) : from Orly Sud or Ouest – Line 1 >> Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St Jean train station (by TGV train).
www.lebusdirect.com/en/lines-and-schedules/orly-airport-paris-etoile-champs-elysees-line.html
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St-Jean train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 + line 13 >> Montparnasse train station >> Bordeaux St Jean train station (by TGV train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes
- From Bordeaux-Mérignac airport:
– Shuttle transfer (30 minutes) to town center (Bordeaux St Jean train station).
www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
www.30direct.com
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 >> Bordeaux St Jean train station (about 4h15 by train)
– Sète >> Bordeaux (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
