Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Montpellier and transfer to St Guilhem le Desert (UNESCO site #1) to start your bike tour. Check into your nice hotel where you will have an orientation about the tour, and then you can explore this fabulous village. Dinner is included, and then after, you should go to the central plaza for cafe or drink of your choice to soak up the ambiance of village dating to the year 804!
Overnight in St Guilhem le Desert.
Day 2: St Guilhem le Desert – Villeneuvette (28 miles/45 km)
Take some more time after breakfast to explore this fascinating village before you go out on a nice cycling trip to Villeneuvette. On this cycling itinerary, you will travel through rural and quiet countryside with several stops possible in villages along the way.
You will ride on the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain (UNESCO site #2), the resting place of St James (UNESCO site #2) This is also an important wine country, so tasting is very possible. You will pass the Lake of Salagou before you reach Villeneuvette and your charming hotel. This little village is an outdoor place with some famous land formations that remind of the Italian Dolomites! 39km, flat to rolling. Dinner is included.
Overnight in Villeneuvette.
Day 3: Villeneuvette – Beziers (32 miles/51 km)
Another day in the quiet backcountry of this region of Causse et Cévennes (UNESCO site #3) going to the city of Beziers. From Villeneuvette you drop down onto a plain and can enjoy some flat riding and vineyard country. Dinner on your own tonight.
Overnight in Beziers.
Day 4: Beziers – Canal du Midi – Siran (42 miles/67 km)
Leaving Beziers after breakfast, you will drop further south and west toward the Canal du Midi (UNESCO site #4). The ride starts out flat before getting somewhat rolling. You will pass numerous villages dating from another time. The highlight, and maybe your lunch spot, is Minerve. It’s an old Cathar bastion and ranked "one of the most beautiful village of France." At the end of the ride you are in the village of Siran. Dinner included.
Overnight in Siran.
Day 5: Carcassonne (option: 29 or 45 miles/47 or 73 km)
While you are just a short distance from Carcassonne (UNESCO site #5), the eventual goal for the day, we invite you on a ride along the canal direct into Carcassonne or a longer diversion to Fabrezan and Lagrasse and then dropping back into La Cite where you hotel is situated just outside the fortress walls. Dinner on your own tonight - suggestions inside the Cite included.
*Please note that if you rent a road bike you will not be cycling on the canal path. Instead, you will be on roads nearby.
Overnight in Carcassonne.
Day 6: Free day or Optional bike ride Carcassonne (option: 27 or 42 miles/44 or 67 km)
Bike ride optional today. With all there is to see and do in Carcassonne, we inserted this day to use as you wish. We will include 2 cycling tours, 44km or 67km, over flat terrain to see more of the surroundings but leaving time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site at Carcassonne. Dinner on your own tonight.
Overnight in Carcassonne.
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast. Trains from Carcassonne possible. Extra nights also possible, please inquire at time of booking.