Canal du midi Cycling : from Toulouse to Sete
Canal du midi Cycling : from Toulouse to Sete
Canal du midi Cycling : from Toulouse to Sete
7 Days Starting in Toulouse, France and ending in Sète, France
Visiting: Toulouse, Carcassonne, Béziers, Sète
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C06CM
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
12-99
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Enjoy a ride with a free spirit and the wind in your hair, far from traffic and noisy towns on a continuous 240 km path dotted with monuments and exceptional landscapes. Between ports, villages, fields, vineyards and culinary specialities, this region is a place of tradition, seaside resorts and culture. Meet this friendly, natural, jovial, welcoming and food-loving region.
A trip along the canal, would not be complete without watching a boat pass through one of the numerous locks. Stop a moment to see how the water is transferred from one side of the other, raising the barge, and allowing it to pass through. Along your way experience the Mediterranean 'art de vivre' : enjoy a break under an olive tree or stop for lunch in a local restaurant to taste the local gastronomy and wines. Along the Canal du Midi, the combination of local products, peace, quiet and authenticity ensure an unforgettable journey in the heart of nature !
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : 1: Arrival In Toulouse
Location: Toulouse
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The 'Pink City', which owes its name to the colour of the brick that adorns the facades, is as lovely as its name. Toulouse has no shortage of sights to visit: the wide Capitol Square, the Bernardins convent with the palm-shaped vault, the Assezat hotel in the Renaissance style, the banks of the Garonne in the heart of the city, the Space museum...
Day 2 : 2: Toulouse - Castelnaudary
Location: Toulouse
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Starting in the centre of Toulouse, the route leads you through the green valleys of the Lauragais district. You will be able to enjoy a pastoral setting of wheat and sunflower fields. Your route is also interspersed with locks and beautiful rural villages with a southern Gothic architectural style. Later on, Castelnaudary, famous for its ‘Cassoulet’ (a slow-cooked bean and meat casserole), welcomes you and invite you to taste its local cuisine.
Day 3 : 3: Castelnaudary - Carcassonne
Location: Carcassonne
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving Castelnaudary, you pass the imposing St-Roch lock. Follow the canal at your own rhythm and enjoy this quiet ride with lovely views over the peaceful countryside. Then, arrive in Carcassonne via the port in the lower town. Do not miss the medieval citadel overlooking the surrounding countryside. This ancient oppidum (fortified city) dating from the Roman times became an imposing fortress over the centuries, raised to defend itself against Spanish Aragon. The architect Viollet-Leduc saved the walled city from the demolition and today it is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Day 4 : 4: Carcassonne - Homps
Location: Carcassonne
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today the ride is going through the Minervois area and its renowned vineyards which is just a short ride away from the Canal du Midi. Between Aude River and the canal, your way is punctuated with pine trees shade. Here, each village hide a treasure to discover such as the canal bridge of Orbiel. Arriving in Homps, an historic wine-exporting port, is very lively, with many shops. Here you find yourself in the heart of the Minervois area.
Day 5 : 5: Homps - Beziers
Location: Béziers
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ride along several wine villages, calling for your attention! Further on, Le Somail is one of the canal’s most attractive stops, a picture-postcard village with its port, chapel, cafes and amazing antique shops. Then, follow the canal bordered by olive-trees and vines, before reaching the bustling port of Capestang. Along your way, meet amazing civil engineering structures such as the 17th-century Malpas tunnel, built as Europe’s first-ever navigable canal tunnel. Then, admire the cascade of the 9 locks of Fonsérannes before aching Béziers.
Day 6 : 6: Beziers - Sete
Location: Sète
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This last ride leads you to the Mediterranean! The canal guides you towards Sète and its Mediterranean atmosphere. Along your way, pass by Onglous lighthouse, where the Canal du Midi ends in the Etang de Thau. Then, arriving in Sete, you can reach the beach easily for a refreshing dip in the sea!
Day 7 : 7: Leave Sete
Location: Sète
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
What's Included
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Hotel-to-hotel accommodation
Enjoy hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of standard hotels.
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All breakfast
All breakfasts are included during your stay.
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Luggage transfers
Luggage transfers between hotels are provided.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas or vaccinations are not included and are the responsibility of the traveler.
Accommodation
These are the standard hotels for our trip. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking. Early booking is advised as during busy times we may have to substitute individual hotels for one of an equal or superior standard.
Food
Whether you are a fan of sweet or savoury food, your stomach will thank you at the end of your stay. On the colourful local markets, you will find the finest quality products from the Mediterranean and the countryside. This region has plenty to offer to the food lovers: the seafood platters of clams, oysters and mussels; as well as Pélardon, Causses Blue, and Tome cheeses. The Petits Pâtés de Pézenas (small pastries filled with meats), the tielle (a seafood pie) from Séte, picholine olives, the famous cassoulet (bean stew casserole with pork or duck) from Castelnaudary, the Catalans Rousquilles (biscuits), and salt (and rice) from the Camargue make this a foodie’s paradise.
Canal du Midi is also an important region for winemaking, offering amateurs some real nuggets. Full-bodied, light or fruity, there is truly a world of flavors to share in here: Fitou, Corbières, Minervois, Clape, Quatourze, Cabardès, Malepère and Limoux. Nourished by the Mediterranean sun and the richness of their different wine districts, the Languedoc wines all have their own personality, whether they are reds, whites, rosés or sparkling wines. They are part of the rich cultural and culinary heritage of the region.
Spreading over 245,000 hectares, the Languedoc vineyards are one of the largest vineyards in France, as well as the oldest. From Nîmes to Aude, from Montpellier to Carcassonne, from mountains to bushland and sea, the vineyard landscapes pass by as you travel along the wine routes.
Mode of Transport
The tour involves cycling along the Canal du Midi, starting from Toulouse and ending in Sete. Luggage transfers between hotels are included, ensuring a seamless travel experience as you explore the scenic routes and historic cities.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of standard hotels. Early booking is advised as during busy times, individual hotels may be substituted with one of an equal or superior standard.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
All breakfasts are included in the tour package.
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Is luggage transfer provided during the cycling tour?
Yes, luggage transfers between hotels are included in the tour.
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What are some of the culinary highlights of the region visited on this tour?
The region offers a variety of culinary delights including seafood platters of clams, oysters, and mussels, as well as cheeses like Pélardon and Tome. You can also enjoy local specialties such as the cassoulet from Castelnaudary, tielle from Sète, and a variety of wines from the Languedoc vineyards.
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What are some notable sights along the Canal du Midi route?
Notable sights include the medieval citadel of Carcassonne, the canal bridge of Orbiel, the 17th-century Malpas tunnel, and the cascade of the 9 locks of Fonsérannes. The tour also passes by the Onglous lighthouse where the Canal du Midi ends in the Etang de Thau.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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