Canal du midi Cycling : from Toulouse to Sete

Experience 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 !
Profile
— Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of HHH, ***, **** and ***** hotels — All breakfast — Luggage transfers between hotels
At a Glance
— Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of HHH, ***, **** and ***** hotels — All breakfast — Luggage transfers between hotels
Trip For You
Cycling Conditions Classification: Self-Guided Average daily distance: 47km (29 miles). No. of days cycling: 5 Terrain and route: This gentle and unhurried cycling holiday follows the path along the Canal du Midi. Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a navigation app so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. Your bikes will be adjusted to your height prior to arrival. Our local agent will be on call throughout the trip should you need. It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes into larger towns and cities. As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Group Description
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local agent is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the trip to go through the routes and point out particular places of interest.
Eating Drinking
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.
Transportation
Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel for you.
Joining Instructions
The tour normally begins at the start hotel in Toulouse.
Weather Information
The Canal du Midi is blessed with fantastic weather for cycling. The spring and autumn seasons experience mild climates with temperatures averaging 16-20 degrees Celsius. The summers are generally warmer with temperatures reaching the high 20s. There is always the chance of rain so it is best to be prepared for this with a waterproof layer, it is also good to have a warmer layer for the early mornings and evenings.

Highlights