Lock system on Canal du Midi with white boats passing through. Bicycles are loaded on one boat deck. Tourists watch from concrete walkways.

Green and brown barge traveling on Canal du Midi with tree-lined towpath alongside. Dense green foliage frames the peaceful waterway scene.

Canal du Midi in Sète showing a white motorboat navigating the waterway, with colorful buildings lining both sides and numerous boats moored along the canal.

Wooden stairs leading down to sandy beach with protective fence barriers. Two people fishing visible in distance by blue ocean waves.

Itinerary

Individual arrival in Toulouse. Due to the reddish bricks of many buildings, Toulouse is also called ‘La Ville rose’ (the pink city). Life takes place in cafés and on the Garonne at the old harbour, and the Toulousains meet at Place St. George for tapas. There is much to see: the pilgrims St. Sernin Basilica, the Place du Capitole and the Augustin museum. One overnight stay in Toulouse.

Personal Bike hand-out (if booked). Castelnaudary is the largest port at the Canal du Midi, and even the largest wine freighters could turn around here. French people take long journeys to pay their culinary respects to the town of the hearty bean stew "Cassoulet".

Follow the Canal du Midi to Bram, then head towards the Pyrenees. On an old railway line converted for cyclists, the climb is moderate, you roll through railway tunnels, over viaducts and bridges to Mirepoix, an enchanting bastide from the Middle Ages.

Back through the Ariège countryside, a quiet and meditative agricultural landscape with rolling hills, you ride to Carcassonne. There, the imposing Cité, the largest fortified city in Europe, awaits you; you are in the heart of the Cathars.

Montolieu is a wonderful city at the edge of the Montagnes Noires. There are 15 antique stores with over 200.000 books in this worth seeing city of book. The former royal textile manufacturing was declared to a National Monument in 2004. Further overnight in Carcarssonne.

Olonzac is the centre of the winegrowers in the Minervois, Homps was the shipping port. Vines everywhere, the Montagne Noire and the Corbière in sight, here you practise doing nothing on the canal. Overnight stay in Olonzac or Homps.

The destination of your journey today is Narbonne, you will change to the Canal, driving along the Canal de la Robine towards the Mediterranean Sea. Great buildings of the Middle Ages are the unfinished cathedral and the palace of the archbishops. Another highlight is the market hall "Les Halles", it was awarded as the most beautiful in France. One overnight stay in Narbonne.

You drive via Capestang to Béziers, passing the famous Canal Tunnel. Once a rich wine-growing metropolis, to which many magnificent buildings bear witness, Béziers is also the birthplace of Paul Riquet, the builder of the Canal du Midi. The archbishop's palace watches over the town, and the attraction on the canal are the
Neuf Écluses, the Nine Locks. One night in Béziers,

The further you cycle, the saltier the air becomes. The cycle path leads directly along the sea towards Sète, the largest French fishing town on the Mediterranean, also called "Little Venice of the Languedoc" because of its many canals. Here, an evening stroll can be excellently combined with a good meal; the town's origins are Italian - and so is its cuisine. One overnight stay in Sète.

The tour ends after breakfast. Individual return journey or extension of your stay.

Tour character

Easy to moderate

Easy to moderate heavy. Cycling takes place along the canal on renovated towpaths and on paved, quiet side roads. The bike paths are now all well expended.

Map showing Canal du Midi route through southern France from Toulouse to Sète, passing through towns like Castelnaudary, Carcassone, and Béziers.

Prices & Dates

Printed route book – sustainability with Rückenwind

Your travel package includes a digital route book as standard. If you would like a printed version, please let us know when you book. The surcharge is € 20 per route book and you will receive your copy on site. Join us in contributing to even greater sustainability!

Prices per person in EUR

Services & extras

Services

Included Service

9 nights in hotels as described
Breakfast
Personal welcome briefing (ENG)
Carefully travel documents
Digital travel documents incl. navigation app and GPS data
Luggage transport from Hotel to Hotel
7-days-service-hotline

Optional Services

Printed route book, per route book € 20
Bike rental including insurance

Not included Service

Arrival and departure
Costs for parking
City tax
Transfers
Optional sightseeings
City maps
Repairs of own bike
Travel Insurances
Costs of the private requirements

Extras

Arrival/Parking

Good arrival via train or plane to Toulouse.
Airport: Toulouse, Montpellier or Béziers/Cap d´Agde
Depending on the hotel you have booked and availability, parking is either available at the hotel (cost approx. € 20 per day) or in the Matabiau car park (approx. € 32,50 per day).

Bus transfer on Saturday or Monday (guaranteed for bookings of 2 or more people), limited space available; booking required.

Hotels

French hotel classification

Accommodation is mainly in well-maintained 3-star hotels (French classification) and in charming Chambre d’hôtes establishments – very good hotels, some of which are situated slightly out of town. All rooms are equipped with a shower and toilet or a bath and toilet.

Further information

Further important information in accordance with the "Pauschalreisegesetz" (Package Travel Act) can be found here!