This Canal Du Midi bike tour starts at the beautiful Lac St Ferréol in the Black Mountains. Lac St Ferréol is a man made lake constructed between 1667 and 1672 by Paul Riquet, the founder of the Canal Du Midi. The dam here was the largest one in the world at the time of its completion. It is also the oldest part of the Canal Du Midi. Its function was, and still is, to store as much water as possible to supply the Canal Du Midi during the dry months.

The tour follows the Canal Du Midi downstream and goes in the direction of the prevailing winds!

Come cycle the Canal Du Midi with Relax Bike Tours, the only bike touring company actually located on the Canal Du Midi. Using the highest quality products available along with the most detailed route maps, this will be a pleasure for both young and old alike. We are a registered travel agency, as required by French law, giving you extra peace of mind. We offer many bike tours along the Canal Du Midi.

DURATION: 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS | LEVEL: MODERATE | CUSTOMIZABLE: YES | TYPE: SELF-GUIDED

POPULAR BESPOKE OPTIONS

Extra day in Carcassonne.

Two nights in Lac St Ferreol to enjoy the lovely scenery and hotel.

Extra day in Narbonne to cycle to the beach.

Extra day in Sète.

Taxi from Toulouse to Lac St Ferreol

DEPARTURES

Every day.

DISTANCE

261 Km via Narbonne

251 Km via Mirepeisset

PRICE (BIKE INCLUDED)

April to October 1250€ PP

Price for double occupancy

(photos are non-contractual)

Bike Tour by Day - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Day 1: Arrival in Revel, Lac St Ferreol

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Start your adventure at the source of the Canal Du Midi at the lake in Revel, Lac St Ferreol. This is the oldest part of the Canal Du Midi. The hotel has a pool and overlooks the lake. The lake has several beaches as well. The majority of our past clients have said that they would have loved to stay at this hotel for 2 nights before the trip because of its excellence and its surroundings.

OPTIONAL: TAXI FROM TOULOUSE TO HERE - ask us for details

Day 2: Lac St Ferreol to Castelnaudary ~50 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

You will start cycling along the creek that supplies the Canal Du Midi with water, the Rigole. The Rigole goes from the lake all the way to the Canal Du Midi, about 37 km away. At the Canal Du midi you will turn east and head towards Castelnaudary.

Day 3: Castelnaudary to Carcassonne ~42 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

A beautiful cycling day awaits you today as you go from Castelnaudary to Carcassonne. Sunflower fields stretching all the way to the horizon are visible during the first months of the summer. Pass by Bram and visit its archaeological museum, located just a few Km from the canal and reachable by dedicated bike path.

Day 4: Carcassonne to Homps ~39 Km

Cathar bike tour around the Canal Du Midi - Bespoke and self-guided

You have some time in the morning to explore the castle of Carcassonne if you have not done so yet. Start your bike tour along the Canal Du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cycling is easy on the ancient towpaths with no traffic.

Day 5: Homps to Narbonne ~ 45 Km

Cathar bike tour around the Canal Du Midi - Bespoke and self-guided

Continue along the Canal Du Midi heading East. Have a relaxing lunch in the beautiful town of Le Somail right along the Canal Du Midi. Continue cycling past the canal junction. You have enough time today to explore part of the canal that goes towards Narbonne. Along the way is the Amphoralis Museum, an open air museum situated on the site of an old Roman pottery site. Here the Romans fabricated the famous amphora that they used to transport wine all across the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 6: Narbonne to Béziers ~35 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Cycle along paved county roads back to the Canal Du Midi. Visit the Malpas Tunnel, the only tunnel on the Canal Du Midi. Shortly after you will pass by the famous Nine Locks of Béziers, the masterpiece of the Canal Du Midi. These locks offer a fantastic view of Béziers, the birth place of Paul Riquet (the builder of the Canal Du Midi). Cycle over the Orb aqueduct to enter the oldest city in France, Béziers.

Day 7: Béziers to Sète ~50 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Today's bike trip will follow a paved towpath from Béziers to Portiragnes Plage. From here you have the choice to either continue along the towpath or to follow small paved roads to Agde. Flamingos will be visible to the observant cyclists. There is an optional visit of Marseillan and its picturesque harbor. The final stretch today will be on a paved bike path along the beach from Marseillan-Plage to Sète, allowing for ample opportunity to go for a swim.

Day 8: Sète

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Explore Sète, also called the Venice of southern France.

Sète has a train station with frequent connections to Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne, Carcassonne, Toulouse, Paris, Barcelona, etc.

Alternative Tour - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Day 4: Carcassonne to Puicheric (alternative route) ~ 32 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Take your time to visit the old cite of Carcassonne this morning. Start cycling in late morning to reach Trebes for lunch. Trebes is about 14 km away and has a plenitude of restaurants to choose from, all overlooking the canal.

Day 5: Puicheric to Mirepeisset (alternative route) ~ 33 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Keep following the Canal Du Midi. You will have time today to take it easy, cycling past Le Somail. Le Somail was founded by Paul Riquet and served as one of the overnight stays for passengers on the mail boat. Le Somail is picture perfect and is a good place to have lunch. It is also home to a very large bookstore that has a small English book section as well.

Day 6: Mirepeisset to Béziers (alternative route) ~ 44 Km

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Cycle along the Canal Du Midi from Argeliers directly to Béziers. Pass by Capestang and visit its imposing cathedral. Make sure to stop at the tourist office here as it houses the best Canal Du Midi souvenir shop along the entire route. Visit the famous Nine Locks in Béziers and the Malpas Tunnel, both on the Canal Du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Optional extra days - This bike tour can be customized any way you wish. Below some examples.

Day 6: Rest day in Narbonne (optional bike trip to the beach ~40 Km or ~65 Km)

Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

Explore the small city of Narbonne. Visit the cathedral and its museum. Have lunch in the Halles or one of the many great restaurants in the city center. Today also includes two optional bike rides to the beach. You can continue along the Canal de la Robine to either Port Nouvelle or Gruissan. Port Nouvelle has a train station so you could take the train back to Narbonne with the bikes, or vice versa depending on wind directions. Gruissan is closer by and is more beautiful, but has no train station so you have to go back the same way you came. There is also an extreme option of ~65Km circle ride around the La Clape mountain back to Narbonne (GPS phone app required).

Whatʼs Included - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

What’s Included:

7 nights accommodation in 3* hotels and B&B's, some with pools
breakfasts everyday
Luggage transport from hotel to hotel each day
Bike Rental: Comfortable premium quality hybrid bike with panniers
Technical support (not including flat tire)

Optional: (not included)

Extra days of bike touring
Taxi from Toulouse to Lac St Ferreol.

Not Included:

Your trip between here and your home, before & after the tour
Your travel and health insurance
Your private costs, souvenirs, gifts, telephone, minibar, etc

Bike Tour Gallery* - Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour - Bespoke

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*images are non-contractual

Booking - Inquiry

Cycling tours in the south of France.

To take the first step to this bike tour, please send us this form. We will email you in a few hours about availabilities and all the next steps to confirm your booking.

You can also email us at relaxbeziers@gmail.com

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