The Canal du Midi by bike, from Toulouse to Sète via Narbonne

From the Pink City to the Mediterranean along the Canal du Midi by bike

Discover a unique cycling route along the legendary Canal du Midi, from Toulouse to Sète. After exploring the Ville Rose and its treasures (Capitole, banks of the Garonne), you ride in the shade of the plane trees to Castelnaudary, the capital of cassoulet. History awaits you in Carcassonne, where the medieval city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site stands proudly. Along the way, admire the works of Vauban, such as the Argent-Double hydraulic spillway in La Redorte, and stroll through the lively ports of Trèbes and Homps, in the heart of the Minervois vineyards. Join Narbonne, proud of its Roman past and its cathedral, before cycling towards Béziers, whose nine locks and canal bridge will impress you. The adventure ends near the Mediterranean, along the beaches of Portiragnes and the ancient basalt city of Agde, to the Thau lagoon and the bustling Sète, where swimming awaits you. An ideal getaway to combine heritage, nature and gourmet pleasures.

Points of interest during the stay:

• Toulouse, Castelnaudary, Narbonne et Béziers
• The medieval city of Carcassonne
• The Canal du Midi
• Sète

Day 1: arrival in Toulouse

Arrival at the accommodation, followed by the discovery of the "Pink City." Toulouse is nicknamed this due to the use of the typical local "foraine" brick, which adorns the façades with warm hues ranging from pale pink to vibrant orange.
Overnight in Toulouse.

Day 2: from Toulouse to Castelnaudary (64 km)

Leave Toulouse, following the Canal du Midi and its iconic plane trees. The sleepy barges guide you to Mongiscard. Continue to the Seuil de Naurouze, the watershed point. The route then follows the canal again, leading you to Castelnaudary, the cassoulet capital.

Overnight in Castelnaudary.

Day 3: from Castelnaudary to Carcassonne (40km)

Following the Canal du Midi, you approach Sainte-Eulalie, where the canal takes on more pronounced curves. This route leads you to the medieval city of Carcassonne, whose impressive architecture never fails to amaze. In summer, the city is especially lively.

Overnight in Carcassonne.

Day 4: from Carcassonne to La Redorte (36 km)

This stage along the Canal du Midi allows you to break up the long journey between Carcassonne and Narbonne. Two aqueduct bridges were built to cross the Fresquel and the Orbiel before reaching Trèbes, a lively river port with cafés and restaurants along the canal, as well as the Church of Saint-Étienne nestled in the old village. The Minervois region, renowned for its vineyards, is located nearby.

The canal banks were affected by the 2018 storms, leading to the closure of certain sections. However, these have been replaced by an unpaved greenway, making for a relatively easy stage with no major difficulties.

Overnight in La Redorte.

Day 5: from La Redorte to Narbonne (46 km)

This alternative to the main route will take you to Narbonne in a short stage, passing through the junction canal to Sallèles-d'Aude. You will then take the shared road through Cuxac-d'Aude to reach the Canal de la Robine at the Raonel lock. Your journey to Narbonne will end on a beautiful, well-developed, and well-marked greenway.

Overnight in Narbonne.

Day 6: from Narbonne to Béziers (58 km)

Today, the Malpas Tunnel is a remarkable feat of civil engineering not to be missed. Nearby, the Oppidum of Ensérune is well worth a visit, and you will be amazed by the astonishing dry lagoon of Montady. The cycling route ends at the unique site of the nine locks of Fonseranes and the magnificent Orb Canal Bridge, offering a breathtaking view of the city of Béziers.

Overnight in Béziers.

Day 7: from Béziers to Sète (54 km)

From Béziers, the Canal du Midi cycling route brings us closer to the sea. After a short detour through Villeneuve-lès-Béziers and Portiragnes, we reach the Roque Haute Bridge at our own pace. From there, Portiragnes Beach is just a short distance away and easily accessible for a refreshing swim! Finally, the surprising structures on the Libron and the round lock in Agde are true curiosities. The final moments along the Canal du Midi, which flows into the Étang de Thau at the Onglous lighthouse, mark the end of the journey. From Marseillan Plage, the stunning Lido greenway runs along the coast, leading you to Sète, where another swim always awaits.

Overnight in Sète.

Day 8: Sète
End of the stay after breakfast. Don't hesitate to book one or more additional nights to enjoy Sète and the Mediterranean. Return by train possible to Toulouse.

General information:

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Accommodation level:
  • Standard version: 2 and 3* hotels and guest houses.
  • Comfort version: 3 and 4* hotels and guest houses.
• Child rates: contact us

Dates 2025:

Departure every day from April 15 to October 15

High season in July and August

Included:

• 7 nights with breakfasts
• Tourist taxes
• Luggage transport
• Access to our GPS application
• Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except puncture)

Not included:

• Transport to the departure point
• Personal expenses
• Parking
• Visits other than those included in the program
• Anything not included in "included"

Options:

• Standard bike or ebike rental
• Half-board (4 dinners except in Toulouse, Narbonne, Béziers, Sète)
• Additional night(s) at the beginning or end of the tour in Toulouse or Sète
• Return by train from Sète to Toulouse
• Theft guarantee for the rented bike
• Cancellation insurance

Level:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain:
Flat, roads and rolling paths. Program with 90% of cycle paths.

Some tricky passages, branches, grass, brambles, not recommended with a trailer or with a child under 12 years old. Following the bad weather of 2018, the towpath of the canal was impacted between Carcassonne and Narbonne but accessible and pleasant variants have been put in place.

Climate:
Very shaded, mild sun, a little wind, pleasant temperatures.

Technicality:
36 to 64 km of hiking per day, or about 3 to 6 hours of cycling.
Easy route to follow, along the canals.

Bibliography:

• The Canal du Midi by bike
• The Canal des 2 Mers

Additional nights:
An additional night is offered at the beginning and end of your stay in Toulouse or Sète.

Meals:

Breakfasts: copious (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice) or buffet.
Lunches: not included
Dinners: Half-board option (4 dinners), at the hotel or nearby restaurant.

Bike:

• Rental bike: If you rent a bike, it will be given to you at the hotel. At the end of the tour, you must leave this bike at the last hotel and notify reception. We will take care of its return.
• Personal bike: We do not recommend bikes with small tires. Hybridand mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to service your bike before leaving. At the end of the tour, you will have to take care of your own bike.

Assistance:
Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except for punctures for which we do not intervene).

Return:
We can book you a train ticket from Sète to Toulouse.

Luggage:
They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person (max. 20 kg).

Transport:

By train: allow about 6 hours from Paris
By road: Toulouse is 677 km from Paris, or about 7 hours of travel.

Airport : Toulouse Blagnac

Cancellation insurance :
In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.