Canal du Midi Itineraries

Toulouse to Sete

DURATION: 6 NIGHTS / 7 DAYS | LEVEL: MODERATE | DISTANCE: 266 Km

Day 1. Toulouse to Castelnaudary ~65Km / 40 Miles

After breakfast start of on paved towpath along the beautiful Canal Du Midi. You will reach the canal’s highest point at le Seuil de Naurouze. This is the so-called continental divide; rain falling to the East of this point will end up in the Mediterranean, and rain falling on the west will end up in the Atlantic. The Rigoles supply the canal with water from the Black Mountains at this point. Today’s trip eventually leads you to Castelnaudary, famous for its local dish “cassoulet.”

Day 2. Castelnaudary – Carcassonne ~40Km / 24 Miles

Another great cycling day awaits you this day. Cycling on the flat towpath of the Canal Du Midi, you will pass vineyards, locks, poppy fields, and sunflower fields. You will have plenty of time to visit the medieval Cité of Carcassonne. The Cité is the largest medieval castle in the world, and its cobbled streets, drawbridges, and narrow streets are said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

Day 3. Carcassonne – Homps ~45Km / 27 Miles

After a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast you will leave Carcassonne behind you cycling along the Canal Du Midi. Enjoy the peace and silence watching the many small boats passing by on the Canal.

Day 4. Homps – Béziers ~61Km / 38 Miles

After breakfast follow Canal Du Midi downstream towards Béziers, our home town! A little bit past Poilhes, you will see Tunnel de Malpas. This tunnel of 173 meters in length was dug in one week. Note that the old roman road (Via Domitia from Italy to Spain) passes over this tunnel, and the railroad passes below it. On top of the hill on the north side of this tunnel is the Oppidum d’Ensérune, a settlement occupied from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD, the Romans being the last ones to have settled there.

The first locks you will encounter this day are in Béziers. These are the famous Nine Locks of Fonseranes. At this point the Canal Du Midi drops 21,5 meters. At the bottom of the Nine Locks you will notice that the canal splits up into two segments. The oldest and original segment is in a straight line with the Nine Locks, and heads straight towards the river Orb. Boats had to actually join this dangerous river and float downstream to once again join the canal. Due to the fact that too many boats sank, a new segment of the Canal Du Midi was dug in the 1850’s which leads to a beautiful aqueduct. The view of the Béziers cathedral from this aqueduct is fantastic!

Day 5. Béziers – Sète ~55Km / 34 Miles

After breakfast you head down through the Parc des Poets towards the Canal Du Midi. If you pay attention, you might be able to see the Mediterranean sea glimmer in the distance from downtown Béziers. Flamingos and horses might make their appearance today, between Portiragnes and Marseillan Plage, usually towards the south of the bike path. Agde is France’s second oldest city, Marseille being the first. It dates from the Greek times. The bicycle path from Marseillan to Sète follows the beach and is paved and flat, thus taking about 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

Bike Tour by Day – Self guided Canal Du Midi Bike Tour – Bespoke

Day 1: Toulouse to Castelnaudary ~62 Km

Today you will start you bike tour along the Canal Du Midi. The towpath will be paved, flat, and easy going for the first 50 Km. Cycle by the highest point of the Canal Du Midi today at Naurouze and see the man-made creek coming from the mountains that is the main source of water for the canal.

Day 2: Castelnaudary to Carcassonne ~42 Km

A beautiful cycling day awaits you today as you go from Castelnaudary to Carcassonne. Sunflower fields stretching all the way to the horizon are visible during the first months of the summer. Pass by Bram and visit its archaeological museum, located just a few Km from the canal and reachable by dedicated bike path. Stay at our hotel next to the walled cite of Carcassonne.

Day 3: Carcassonne to Homps ~39 Km

You have some time in the morning to explore the castle of Carcassonne if you have not done so yet. Start your bike tour along the Canal Du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cycling is easy on the ancient towpaths with no traffic.

Day 4: Homps to Narbonne ~45 Km

Continue cycling along the Canal Du Midi towards Narbonne. You will pass by Le Somail around noon time, making this ancient rest stop a good spot for you to take a break and lunch as well. Later you will cycle past the Canal de la Jonction and the Canal de la Robine right to the hearth of Narbonne. Our hotel is only a few meters from the canal and offers secure indoor bike parking.

Day 5: Narbonne to Beziers ~35 Km

Cycle along paved county roads back to the Canal Du Midi. Visit the Malpas Tunnel, the only tunnel on the Canal Du Midi. Shortly after you will pass by the famous Nine Locks of Beziers, the masterpiece of the Canal Du Midi. These locks offer a fantastic view of Beziers, the birth place of Paul Riquet (the builder of the Canal Du Midi). Cycle of the Orb aqueduct to enter the oldest city in France, Beziers.

Day 6: Beziers to Sete ~55 Km

Today’s bike trip will follow a paved towpath from Beziers to Portiragnes Plage. From here you have the choice to either continue along the towpath or to follow small paved roads to Agde. Flamingos will be visible to the observant cyclists. There is an optional visit of Marseillan and its picturesque harbor. The final stretch today will be on a paved bike path along the beach from Marseillan Plage to Sete, allowing for ample opportunity to go for a swim.