Canal du Midi: Carcassonne to Sete, the South of France and the Sea

Day 1: Arrival in Carcassonne

Arrive in captivating Carcassonne, a wonderful place to start your trip! Your hotel is located right at the base of the walls of this grand medieval city. Drop your luggage in the hotel and head out to explore. You'll be provided with orientation and bike set-up in the early evening, and there are plenty of options for excellent dining spots, including a number of restaurants within the city walls. As this UNESCO World Heritage Site is so intriguing, you may like to add an extra night to your trip - ask us for rates.

Overnight in Carcassonne.

Day 2: Ride along the Canal du Midi
32 miles/51 km, elevation gain 490 meters

Leaving Carcassonne, you'll come to the village of Trebes as you cycle along the quiet canalside bike path. As you ride, you can watch the amateur and professional boat operators gliding past and nagivating the canal locks. Continue south of the canal to reach the charming village of St. Pierre des Champs, following flat to rolling terrain. Dinner is included tonight.

Overnight in Lagrasse.

Day 3: Cycle to Narbonne
40 miles/64 km or 43 miles/69 km, elevation gain 545 meters or 405 meters

Today's route takes you to the commune of Narbonne where you can visit its impressive Gothic cathedral and old town. The cycling route briefly veers off the Canal du Midi in order to reach Narbonne via the Canal de la Robine. Today's ride features flat to rolling terrain with some trail sections.

Overnight in Narbonne.

Day 4: Ride to Beziers
24 miles/38 km, 203 meters

The cycling route today heads into the blissful countryside, following small country roads until you reach the beautiful town of Beziers, famous for hosting the Feria in August, a festival which draws thousands each year to watch events like bullfighting. Beziers is also known for the St. Nazaire Cathedral and the regrettable plight of the Cathars, all of whom were murdered in a purge by the Catholic crusaders in July 1209. You'll cycle some additional kilometers to reach your quiet, charming hotel, enjoying flat to rolling rural terrain following sections of the Canal du Midi trail.

Overnight in Beziers.

Day 5: Beziers to Cap d'Agde
19 miles/31 km, elevation gain 65 meters

Leaving Lignan and Beziers far behind, you'll cycle to the sublime seaside resort of Cap d'Agde on the blissful Mediterranean Sea. You'll first pedal past Agde, with its historically important trading port. Once called 'Good Fortune' (from the Greek 'Agathe Tyche'), Agde became an important trading point between Marseille and Spain during the 3rd century. Cap d'Agde is known for its stunning sandy beaches, so take some time out for a dip in the azure waters of the Mediterranean or to stretch out under the sun.

Overnight in Cap d'Agde.

Day 6: Cap d'Agde to Sete
17 miles/27 km, elevation gain 90 meters

Today's ride is a relatively short one along the coastal area between the Thau Lagoon and Mediterranean Sea. Today you will have the chance to visit Caves Richemer, a nice stop between land and sea, where you will have a wine tasting. The tasting will be accompanied by tasting oysters and toasts with fish rillettes made with dry white wine from the winery's "Terre & Mer" selection. It is a great opportunity to find out more about the "Terret blanc", a grape variety that the Richemer winery is dedicated to working with, as the wines from the "Terret blanc" are beautifully married with the sea food from the local Thau lagoon.

Arriving in Sete, you'll discover a beautiful city of typical southern French districts, crossed with canals lined with colorful houses overlooking the water. Soak up the blissful atmosphere here and perhaps learn a little about George Brassens, a popular French singer born in Sete in 1921. Dinner is not provided tonight, so take a stroll into the city and wander into one of the many enticing eateries. For a longer ride today, please enquire prior to your arrival.

Overnight in Sete.

Day 7: Departure

Departure after breakfast.

Don't want the adventure to end? Consider taking a cycling day tour in Paris or Provence.