Cycling the Canal du Midi

Enjoy this easy-going cycling adventure along the Canal du Midi cycling route. It's perfect for occasional riders seeking to discover a region from the saddle, or for those travelling by bike for the first time but comfortable riding a bike over a few consecutive days. Flat and traffic-free cycle paths take you through charming town and villages, where you can enjoy the region's culinary delights and thriving wine industry. E-bikes are available for hire should you wish to have some battery-powered assistance.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This self-guided cycling tour is graded easy to moderate, with distances ranging from 41km to 65km (25mi to 40mi). The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. You will be cycling on mostly dedicated unpaved cycle paths, with very occasional short stretches on busier roads. Terrain will be largely easy-going but you must stay vigilant on the canal path as some surfaces are uneven, cobbled or have exposed tree roots. Sturdy rental bikes are provided for this. 

We use a mixture of B&Bs and 3 and 4-star hotels on this tour, all of which are locally-run. We hand-pick the accommodation to ensure you enjoy every minute of your stay. Many of them are full of charm and local character, making this a particularly enjoyable adventure. A warm welcome, traditional hospitality, and delicious local food and drink complete the experience.

We book en-suite rooms as standard. 

We'll always try and use the hotels’ shown in the accommodation information. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you in alternative hotels which aren’t listed in the description. The alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described. In case alternative accommodation needs to be booked, supplements may be payable, and we’ll advise you accordingly.

Single Rooms & Solo Travellers

If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. This tour is available to solo cyclists with an additional cost.

Breakfast is included each morning. In France this is generally a light continental breakfast. Lunches and dinners are not included so that you are free to choose from the surrounding options. If there isn't a restaurant at your accommodation there will be options nearby. It is always a good idea to check with your hotel to make sure in advance that dinner will be served, and for the smaller towns and villages we also recommend doing some research and making dinner reservations in advance (particularly for Sundays and also in March, April, late September and October). For lunch, you will pass through towns and villages en-route where you can purchase provisions for a picnic lunch. Most days will have suitable lunch stops should you prefer this. 

Navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure App which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone.

The route follows the official waymarked Canal du Midi network.

You can begin your trip on any day of the week from 1st March to 31st October.

While March will be cooler and weather can be a bit more unpredictable, April through to the start of June and late September into October will have warm days with cool nights. Spring and Autumn are much more pleasant for cycling and are usually around 21°C-22°C (70–72°F), ,and it also means you'll escape the summer crowds. Autumn is particularly magical due to its soft colours with the trees. This part of France can get hot in the summer (June, July and August), with temperatures as high as 38°C (100°F) on some occasions, but the towpaths are naturally protected from too much exposure to the sun thanks to the trees. Please note that for the section between Homps and Beziers, some tree felling has taken place here due to a common disease. In hot weather, please be prepared for a lack of shade on this section of canal, taking extra precautions for the sunshine and heat.

Toulouse

Toulouse Airport is the best airport for the start of this tour. The tram (T2) and Tisséo airport shuttle bus will take you quickly to Toulouse city centre. Both run every 20 minutes. The tram is both the quickest and cheapest mode of transport, with a journey time of 35 minutes. Taxis are also available at Arrivals.

Paris to Toulouse

For those coming from further afield, Toulouse is well connected to Paris via the direct high-speed TGV train. The fastest service takes approximately 4.5 hours from Paris Montparnasse station to Toulouse Matabiau station. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is well-connected to the city centre with trains and airport shuttle busses running regularly. It's the perfect opportunity to tag on a Paris city break.

For more information on trains, tickets and prices from Paris, please visit the sncf website.

From Sete to Montpellier

The city of Montpellier is just a short 20-minute train journey from Sete, which makes Montpellier Airport a good option for flying home, with an Airport Shuttle Bus from the city centre to the airport.

For more information on trains, tickets and prices from Paris, please visit the sncf website.

Brom Sete to Beziers

The city of Beziers has an airport with connections to multiple cities in the UK and across Europe. From Sete, it's a direct 25-minute train journey. 

From Sete to Toulouse

From Sete, you can return to the start point, Toulouse, by taking a direct train. It takes approximately 2 hours. 

From Sete to Paris

If returning to Paris, you can take the train from Sete directly to Paris Gare De Lyon, which takes approximately 4 hours. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is well-connected to the city centre with trains and airport shuttle busses running regularly.

Luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in the tour. Your booking includes one bag per person weighing up to 20kg (44lbs). If you wish to bring additional bags at extra cost, please reach out to your Adventure Specialist prior to final payment.