Cycle the Canal du Midi to the stunning Mediterranean coast

Cruise the Canal du Midi by bike from incredible Carcassonne to spectacular Sete on the Mediterranean coast. Beginning in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carcassonne, a medieval city restored by the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc and celebrated for its grand castle and quaint cobbled streets, you'll embark on an unforgettable cycling trip along the renowned Canal du Midi.

Along the route to Sete, you'll make stops at several key locations like Narbonne and Beziers, historical sites which offer fascinating insights into the authentic southern French lifestyle. Park up your bicycles on the blissful beaches of Cap d'Agde, and soak up the splendid scenery that makes the South of France one of the country's most prized assets.

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Highlights

• Medieval city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Cycling along the Canal du Midi to the Mediterranean coast
• Blissful sandy beaches of Cap d'Agde
• Typical southern French locations like Narbonne and Beziers

Learn More

Learn more about self-guided tours.

Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Paris and Provence.

Daily program

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. 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.

Surface and terrain

You will enjoy rolling countryside and some short climbs on this tour. Most of the tour takes place on paved routes or packed routes, including trails along the Canal du Midi.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

The accommodations on this tour are 3- and 4-star hotels.

Carcassonne: Hotel Montmorency

Lagrasse: Hostellerie les Corbières

Narbonne: Hotel La Residence

Bézier: Café Hôtel XIX

Cap d'Agde: Hotel Les Grenadines

Sete: Le Grand Hotel

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start
Nearest airport: Carcassonne Airport
Nearest train station: Carcassonne

Tour end
Nearest airport: Béziers Cap d'Agde Airport
Nearest train station: Sete

If you fly into Paris, you can catch a train to Carcassonne in 5 hours 20 minutes. At the end of the tour, the train from Sete to Paris takes about 4 hours. Flights to/from Beziers and Montpellier are also possible.

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 6 nights of accommodation in superior hotels of charm
• Daily breakfast at each hotel, 1 dinner included
• Luggage transfers
• Detailed road book, including details maps, touristic information, step by step itinerary and cue sheets; comprehensive trip literature
• Technical and emergency support available at all times
• Standard bike rental included
• Orientation in person with our local guide

Bike rentals

Bikes available and included in the tour cost (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

• Standard touring bikes

Bikes available to rent (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

• Electrically assisted bike*

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Equipment included with standard and electric bikes:

• Helmet
• Garmin GPS
• Odometer
• Water bottle
• Lock
• Pannier and handlebar bag
• Repair kit (2 spare tube, tool kit, tire levers, patch kit, pump)
• Saddle bag (road bike only)

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

Helmet:
A helmet is included with your bike rental; however, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons.

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

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