+33(0)2 54 78 62 52Canal du Midi by bike from Toulouse to Carcassonne - short stages
- Toulouse: the pink city made of bricks and tiles
- Stop in Castelnaudary… to taste the famous Cassoulet
- Easy and short stages to fully enjoy the panorama!
/ 7 testimonials
Reference : CM3
Difficulty : Easy
Linear trip
From March to October
Departure: daily
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
> Download tour program
Your Canal du Midi cycling tour:
Let the route of the canal guide you as it presents all its history punctuated by conquests, boat cruises, sunny walks. The ‘Canal du Midi’ offers you all its numerous architectural and cultural treasures : amazing civil engineering structures, Cathar vestiges…
This is also an opportunity to meet with numerous house-boats and its inhabitants in a country of ‘art de vivre’. Vineyard landscapes, countryside, pine and olive trees will punctuate your stay.
Day 1 : Arrival in Toulouse
City of great heritage, take time to visit all the numerous traces of its rich past : St Sernin church which is the biggest Roman church in the world, the ‘Capitole’ square etc… keep your eyes open to admire all the architectural details.
Day 2 : Toulouse – Villenouvelle | 32 km
The pink city’ famous for its numerous brick constructions, opens the doors of the ‘Canal du Midi’. Then, you will start your stage by crossing the ‘Lauragais’ country with its numerous farms where ducks and geese enjoy a peaceful life, swimming and disturbing cyclists along the canal.
Day 3 : Villenouvelle – Castelnaudary (or St Martin Lalande) | 31 km (or 38 km)
Here is a land of well being and gastronomy! Then, Castelnaudary, famous for its ‘Cassoulet’ , will welcome you and invite you to taste its local cuisine.
Day 4 : Castelnaudary (or St Martin Lalande) – Carcassonne | 40 km
In the heart of the Cathar country, discover the manifold traces of their crusades all along your stage, which will guide you towards Carcassonne and its impressive medieval city. Classified as world heritage by UNESCO, you can admire one of the most beautiful fortifications of Europe.
Day 5 : Departure during the day
The little extra with Biking France (optional):
- Private return transfer from Carcassonne to Toulouse – on request.
Select your category
- from March 1st to April 14th
from October 11th to 31st - Departure: daily
225 € / pers.*
375 € / pers.*
- from April 15th to 30th
from May 12th to June 30th
from October 1st to 10th - Departure: daily
225 € / pers.*
375 € / pers.*
- from May 1st to 11th
from July 1st to September 30th - Departure: daily
225 € / pers.*
375 € / pers.*
Category's details
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
•
A personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Carcassonne to Toulouse and personal bike repatriation
• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
1 travel folder (per room) including colour maps
•
A personalized navigation app showing points of interest along the route
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (4 nights included)
•
Transfer from Carcassonne to Toulouse and personal bike repatriation
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
According to the category(price per person)
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 70 € / pers.
+ 40 € / pers.*
+ 110 € / pers.
+ 80 € / pers.*
(accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
+ 60 € / pers.
+ 50 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 60 € / pers.
+ 50 € / pers.*
High season
+ 70 € / pers.
+ 55 € / pers.*
+ 90 € / pers.
+ 75 € / pers.*
Mid season
+ 90 € / pers.
+ 75 € / pers.*
High season
+ 100 € / pers.
+ 85 € / pers.*
from 0 to 2 years old : - 90% / from 3 to 11 years old : - 20% / from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
Extras
If you bring your own bike.
(price per additional luggage)
(in the case of a single person per booking)
Your accommodation
Your cycle hire
CLOSED or UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front bag
- 1 kit repair (per booking)
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided
UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 front bag
- 1 kit repair (per booking)
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided
- Rental bikes will be available from our local partner.
- At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
> How to arrive in Toulouse
> Return
Your journey
Tour description:
The development of the canal banks is very different from one department to another.
In the Aude (between Port-Lauragais and Olonzac) it is largely an undeveloped path and not very well maintained, which gives a very natural character to the route. On the other hand, some portions are very narrow, chaotic (roots, holes, etc.) and in rainy weather the path becomes muddy and slippery, especially at the beginning of the season.
Therefore, this bike tour is not suitable for road bikes and bikes equipped with trailer.
Bike stages trip profiles:
(click below to see the trip profile of each stage)
Toulouse – Villenouvelle : 32km / elevation gain: 104m / elevation loss: 83m
Villenouvelle – Castelnaudary : 31km / elevation gain: 75m / elevation loss: 73m
Castelnaudary – Carcassonne : 40km / elevation gain: 94m / elevation loss: 164m
Navigation app
Besides the maps, we also provide a personalised navigation app showing points of interest along the route.
How to arrive in Toulouse
By train:
Paris Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (about 4h30 by TGV train).
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en
By plane:
- From Roissy CDG airport :
– Roissy Charles de Gaulle T.2 train station >> Bordeaux St Jean train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle (Le Bus Direct) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Line 1 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
www.lebusdirect.com/en/lines-and-schedules/orly-airport-paris-etoile-champs-elysees-line.html
– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php
– Orly Val (automatic metro) : from Orly Sud or Orly Ouest >> Paris – stop ‘Antony’ >> RER B – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 4 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
www.transilien.com
www.ratp.fr/plans-lignes
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 + line 13 >> Montparnasse train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (by TGV train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/
- From Toulouse Blagnac airport:
– Bus shuttle « Tisseo » direction ‘Gare routière’ to reach the town center.
www.tisseo.fr/en/airport-shuttle
– Tram line T2 direction ‘Palais de Justice’ to reach the town center.
www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en/passengers/to-and-from/public-transport
Return
If you have to come back to the start point:
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France: please contact us!
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility)
– Carcassonne train station >> Toulouse Matabiau train station (about 1h by train)
– Carcassonne >> Toulouse (by taxi)
If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports:
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France: please contact us!
- A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility)
– Carcassonne train station >> Narbonne train station (by train) >> Paris Gare de Lyon train station (by TGV train).
– Carcassonne train station >> Montpellier train station ou Lyon Part-Dieu train station (by TGV train) >> Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV Station (by TGV train).
Nearby Airports:
– Toulouse airport: www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en
– Carcassonne airport: www.aeroport-carcassonne.com/en
– Bordeaux airport: www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
Trip overall rating : / 7 testimonials
France
travel date: 04 September 2023.
1ère expérience de cyclotourisme très concluante. Voyage vraiment clé en main.
United Arab Emirates
travel date: 25 July 2022.
An exceptionally well organized, smoothly run 3 day cycling trip. All equipment of the highest quality and complete. We would highly recommend any family to use them and we certainly will again.
Irlande
travel date: 01 May 2022.
Enjoyed our cycle from Toulouse to Carcassonne with Rando Velo during the Easter recess. Excellent accommodation provided for each of the stages. Bicycles provided and safe storage of same were provided at each location we visited. The itinerary and maps provided by Rando Velo was clearly presented and the suggested sites to visit along the way were very helpful.
Irlande
travel date: 01 May 2019.
Enjoyed our cycle from Toulouse to Carcassonne with Rando Velo during the Easter recess. Excellent accommodation provided for each of the stages. Bicycles provided and safe storage of same were provided at each location we visited. The itinerary and maps provided by Rando Velo was clearly presented and the suggested sites to visit along the way were very helpful.
France
travel date: 20 August 2018.
Circuit très bien pensé. Hébergement et restauration au top. Aucun souci sur ce circuit. Vélos de très bonne facture.
France
travel date: 19 August 2018.
Excellentes prestations!
United Arab Emirates
travel date: 25 July 2018.
An exceptionally well organized, smoothly run 3 day cycling trip. All equipment of the highest quality and complete. We would highly recommend any family to use them and we certainly will again.
Some questions about this trip ?
Contact us +33(0)2 54 78 62 52 or by email
