Cycling the Canal du Midi with children
8 days / 7 nights
Canal du Midi - Seas and rivers - Culture & gastronomy - Self-guided - E-bike
Families - Comfort - Luggage transfer - New for 2021 - Mobile app
Last updated: 01/02/2022
~769 $ [710 €] per pers.
Toulouse, a world-renowned Gascon city, is the starting point of our tour "le canal du midi". Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this canal is as surprising as it is exceptional. You will go along it with your family, and with it, you will cross the towns of Castelnaudary, Carcassonne...
A whole atmosphere, curiosities, nature, history... Here is a new recipe which is not lacking in character and which brings originality to your holiday.
Your day by day program
Arrival in Toulouse and settle in your hotel. For those who wish, we can add an extra night in Toulouse and integrate a loop to discover the pink city and its surroundings.
Night in a 3-star hotel
After a great breakfast and getting back the bikes (delivered to the hotel), you will catch up with the cycle track in the heart of Toulouse. The locks will follow one another on this stage, as well as the pretty small harbours. The route is charming, mostly in the shade of century-old trees.
Stage of about 20 km
Along the canal, you will ride along the aqueducts and locks to reach your evening stopover. Take advantage of the shade of the plane trees to admire the mechanism of the locks and the passage of boats through them!
Stage of about 20 km
One lock after the other, you will discover some pretty small villages. Tonight, you will spend the night in the charming little town of Castelnaudary, well known for its famous cassoulet which we highly recommend! You will be able to take a tour of the Grand Bassin, the largest body of water on the canal.
Stage of about 20 km
This stage will take you through a large number of vineyards. You will discover superb residences and will take a wilder part of the Canal than the day before. The path is often narrower. This is the longest stage of the week.
Stage of about 30 km
A short stopover today, but which you can extend by visiting the town of Carcassonne, with its pretty port and medieval city perched on top of a hill.
Stage about 15 km
You can take advantage of this day to relax in the beautiful Cité de Carcassonne. For those who wish, we have prepared a beautiful itinerary to the Montagne Noire. You will discover the inland, many vineyards (tastings possible) as well as the Châteaux de Lastours and for the most courageous ones, the Grotte de Limousis cave.
Return to Carcassonne.
About 47 km
Elevation gain: +600 m approximately for the option including the cave / +300 m approximately for the Châteaux de Lastours alone.
Return possible by train from Carcassonne to Toulouse. Count about 1 hour by train. Bicycles can be transported in several trains per day at no extra charge. Additional night in Toulouse possible where an extra bike loop can be offered.
End of your tour after breakfast.
Departure board
From the beginning of March to the end of October.
Technical information
- From your hotel in Toulouse.
- End of your tour in Carcassonne.
- 2 and 3-stars hotels and guest houses with ensuite facilities.
- From 2 persons
- Easy and flat itinerary (except optional loop in Carcassonne). From 15 to 30 km per day.
- The follower bag (1 per person) is transported by vehicle to the next stage.
- Extra cost for July and August departures : 65€
- Extra cost for a single room use : 265€
- Reduction for a 3rd person in a triple room : -150€
- Leisure bike rental (pick up from Carcassonne included) : 175€
- E-bike rental (pick up from Carcassonne included) : 215€
- Children bike rental <1m50 (pick up from Carcassonne included) : 120€
- Baby seat rental : 25€
- GPS tracks on a key stick : 25€
- Nights in hotels and Guest houses
- Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Maps and roadbooks
- Transfers from the meeting point and back
- Insurances
- Lunches and dinners
- Train transfer back (from Carcassonne to Toulouse, about 20€)
- Bike rentals