Weekend on the Canal du Midi
A bike ride along the water, from Toulouse to Carcassonne ...
© Vincent Photographie - ADT Aude
© Vincent Photographie- ADT Aude
© CRT Occitanie
© C. Deschamps - ADT Aude
© Alain Bonnardeaux
© Steve Douglas
Highlights
Castelnaudary, cassoulet capital!
The Circulade de Bram, an ancient medieval village
The medieval city of Carcassonne listed as a UNESCO heritage
The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Hilaire
Cycling weekend on the Canal du Midi
We invite you to come and ride for 3 days on the paths of the Canal du Midi. Make the most of the generous gastronomy of the region to round off this sweet moment of life.
Your adventure begins in Toulouse, the warm colors of the facades remind you why it’s nicknamed the Pink City. During a stroll, venture into the alleys of the Occitan capital to discover all its secrets.
Built by Pierre Riquet, with its revolutionary power supply and lock system, the Canal du Midi symbolized the technological advance of Toulouse in the 17th century. Already well known to locals who love cycling, it offers one of the most beautiful greenways in France. Along the water, the ancient plane trees offer you a valuable shade in the heat of the south! They are also home to the old barges and the impressive locks that make up the backdrop to your getaway.
On this flat, very accessible cycle route, you connect beautiful medieval villages. Formerly called Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon, the Occitanie region brings together tradition, heritage, know-how and a mosaic of breathtaking landscapes. For a weekend, let yourself be seduced by an authentic cassoulet from Castelnaudary, accompanied by a regional wine … Then set out to conquer the Medieval City of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its fortified walls still conceal many mysteries.
Leisure From CASTELNAUDARY to CARCASSONNE 45km 71m 
Leaving Castelnaudary, you continue through the countryside to the charming abbey of Saint-Papoul, before rejoining the canal at Bram. Follow the canal towpath to Carcassonne. You pass through the new town and arrive on the banks of the Aude, where the impressive walls of the medieval city stand out. Take time to visit this fortress, admirably restored by Viollet-le-Duc. Evening in Carcassonne.
- For a few more km 54km 575m
For this long and sporty version, you leave the Canal des 2 Mers. The relief is a bit steeper but you are rewarded by the discovery of the Abbey of Villelongue then of Montolieu, a charming village of Books and the Arts.
CARCASSONNE, LOOP TO THE ABBAYE OF SAINT-HILAIRE 45km 665m
You leave Carcassonne to head south towards the first slopes of the Pyrenees. Located at the end of your loop, you will discover Saint-Hilaire Abbey, one of those incredible places where its thousand years of history capture the imagination.
- For a few more km 60km 861m
You will discover the small town of Limoux, well known for its Blanquette de Limoux, a sparkling white wine that expresses all the richness of its terroir.
Essential Range
You want to enjoy your itinerary without anything fancy. Our ”essential” range offers a simple accommodation for a good night’s rest in a simple hotel, guesthouse, rest house or hostel.
Starting from 305€/participant in Self Guided option | See detailed prices
Comfort Range
Our quality standard at Abicyclette. This type of accommodation includes 2 and 3 stars hotels. Depending on the itinerary, you might spend some nights in approved guesthouses. You enjoy a double bedroom with private bathroom and toilet and adapted welcome for you and your bikes.
Starting from 365€/participant in Self Guided option | See detailed prices
Privilege Range
Opt for total comfort in charming 3 and 4 star hotels which offer all the services you need and a special welcome for you and your bikes.
Quote on request | Contact us
Price includes
- Accommodation: 2 nights in a Double room
- 2 breakfasts
- Luggage transfer
- Phone assistance 24/7
- Access to our exclusive travel application to follow your route, inform you about places of interest, restaurants, facilitate your assistance in case of emergency, find all your travel documents and our practical advice.
- Application fee
- Taxes
- The itinerary trackable on the following supports:
- Loan of a Bicycle GPS uploaded with full itinerary of the trip
- Cycling practical guide including topo maps, restaurant recommendations for lunch & dinner
- Day 1 : Welcome by telephone with our team on the day of your arrival.
Price does not include
- bike rental (see option)
- Breakfast on day 1
- Lunches
- Dinners not included in "Price includes"
- Drinks, visits & other personal expenses
Homemade and fully tested itineraries
- Routes selected for their cycling and touristic interest entirely tested and away from traffic
- Accomodations selected for their hospitality, atmosphere, services and quality meals
- A flexible organisation to suit you needs and wishes: You choose the date you want to you leave on! We check the availability of each accomodation to make sure it is possible.
Close assistance
- One of our guides greets you on your first day. He will hand out all the needed documents for the trip (hotel vouchers, maps of the area,GPS, practical guide), get you settled on your bikes (for rental bikes).
- Phone assistance, you can reach the Abicyclette team whenever you need
- A Luggage transfer service which respects your hours of rest (we pick them up after 10:00 and deliver them before 16:00)
Follow your itinerary anyway you like – modern, practical, traditional
- We loan you a GPS so that you can easily follow your itinerary without having to look for your way around (bike support included)
- A practical cycling guide with all the useful information (addresses, highlights for the day, topo maps, and touristic information)
You can also
- Rent a high end quality bike for real comfort, cycling pleasure and reliability a long trip requires.
- Suscribe to a Cancelation or Multi Risk insurance policy which cover you in case something unexpected comes up.
On our guided tours (for groups on demand), we accompany you every step of the way
- One of our state qualified instructor and professional cycling guide accompanies you every step of the way
- Full board (all meals covered unless asked otherwise)
- A picnic buffet set up for lunch with a wide choice of fresh and local produce
We offer a high-end bike rental service. Our bikes are suited for road and gravel road long-distance cycling. Fully equipped and highly reliable, they are faithful travel companions.
Premium Trekking Bike
Supplied equipment per bike
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Electric BikeA high-end electrically assisted bicycle with its BOSCH crank motor :
Supplied equipment per bike
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Children Bike
Supplied equipment per bike
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Child trailer“Perfect for a family trip !”
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Getting here
Departure city : TOULOUSE
Coming by car
- at 6h from PARIS
- at 2h30 from BORDEAUX
- at 5h15 from LYON
Coming by train
- Toulouse train station - 6h from Paris
Coming by plane
- Toulouse airport
Arrival city : CARCASSONNE
Coming by car
- at from PARIS
- at from BORDEAUX
- at from LYON
Coming by train
- Carcassonne train station - 5h30 from Paris
- Toulouse train station - 4h30 from Paris
Coming by plane
- Toulouse airport
*Parking: Since many of our clients travel by train or plane, we do not include parking in our packages. In addition, many accommodations don’t have the capacity to park a vehicle for the duration of your cycling vacation. So if you’re planning to arrive by car, we suggest you check parking options when you make your reservation. If you reserve a parking space at the first or last accommodation of your stay, you must pay the accommodation provider on site.
* Abicyclette Voyages accompanies you on demand, including transportation solutions.
How to get back to the starting point
- By train from Carcassonne to Toulouse in 45 min (hotline)
- Private shuttle: see detailed fares or contact us
Recommended equipment
Bike
- Hybrid Bike or Touring Bike or Gravel Bike
- 18 to 30-speed transmission
- 26- to 29-inch wheels
- Tires: 35 to 42 section, reinforced against punctures
- Disc brakes recommended
- 2 bottle cages
- Bell
- Front and rear lighting
Clothing and equipment
- Helmet (supplied with bike rental unless otherwise specified locally)
- 1 bike mount for smartphone to use the mobile route planner application
- Suitable cycling clothing:
- bib, shorts or tights: elastic and breathable, to facilitate movement and wick away perspiration
- Breathable T-shirts, synthetic or merino wool
- Breathable windbreaker
- Thermal or fleece jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- 1 pair of sunglasses
- 1 pair of cycling shoes
- 1 backpack or 1 or 2 carrier bags
- 1 or 2 water bottles (supplied with bike rental in France)
- 1 lock (supplied with bike rental)
- Technical details, recommended by the team for optimum comfort:
- 1 pair of gloves or mittens, depending on season and destination
- Padded bib (chamois)
- High-visibility vest or fluorescent belt
- Neck warmer and cap
Bike maintenance
- Emergency repair kit: 2 or 3 inner tubes, patches, pump, tire levers, multi-tools
- Maintenance kit: rag, oil, brake pads
Other
- A suitcase for your belongings carried in the vehicle (limited to one per person)
- Street clothes
- 1 pair of evening shoes
- Fleece jacket for the evening
- Toiletry bag
- Telephone and charger
Duration 3 days and 2 nights
Level Leisure
Departure date From April 1st to October 31st
Destination The Canal du Midi
Occitanie - Pyrenees
Themes Greenways & Canals
Electric bike trips
Fine wine & Dining
Weekend
See detailed prices
Personalized service 
Easy
From TOULOUSE to CASTELNAUDARY 62km 177m
You leave the pink city and enjoy a journey in the heart of the nature. You bike through the Lauragais countryside full of authentic small villages. You continue to the Seuil de Naurouze, where watersheld are separated. You can make a stop at the Maison de la Haute Garonne located in the Lauragais’ port. There is an exposition about the Canal du Midi construct by Riquet. You then take the road again to Castelnaudary where you will have the opportunity to savour the culinary speciality: a Cassoulet.
Orientation by phone with us
On receipt of your travel documents (and bikes if you’ve opted for rental), we take the time to talk to you over the phone to explain all the important points and answer any questions you may have.