THE CANAL DU MIDI BY BIKE FOR FAMILIES - FROM CARCASSONNE TO THE SEA Part nights (Sète) - Veloccitane
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THE CANAL DU MIDI BY BIKE FOR FAMILIES
FROM CARCASSONNE TO THE SEA
Part 2 - 7 days / 6 nights (Agde) or 8 days / 7 nights (Sète)
THE CANAL DU MIDI BY BIKE FOR
FAMILIES
6 days / 5 nights (Agde) or 7 days / 6 nights (Sète)
Self-guided family cycling holiday – ONWARD JOURNEY
This family cycling holiday along the canal du midi offers you an
itinerary from Carcassonne to Sète, on the shores of the HIGHLIGHTS
Mediterranean. To start off, we suggest that you explore the city
• A Toulouse-based
of Carcassonne, before heading through numerous wine-
company, specialising in
producing villages between Minervois and Corbières, with
tours of the Canal du Midi by
plenty of opportunities for wine-tasting. Once past Béziers, the bike
sea air will accompany you to Agde, where the Canal du Midi
runs into the étang de Thau. • A selection of B&Bs and
charming hotels, as often as
If you have the time, you can continue your journey along the
possible, with a swimming
seashore to the beautiful city of Sète.
pool
• A bike trip with stages
specially designed for
families
• New, comfortable bikes,
adjusted to your size
DAY BY DAY Day 1: ARRIVAL IN CARCASSONNE B&B / 2* Hôtel Arrival in Carcassonne. Possible visit of the city of Carcassonne and/or a bike tour, starting from your hotel. Dinner of your choice, night in Carcassonne. Bike hire for the day is an option (15€ per person). We recommend a pretty tour that starts in Carcassonne, allowing you to discover the city as well as vineyards and the Cavayère lake, where you can swim. Day 2: THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM CARCASSONNE TO MARSEILLETTE B&B / 2* Hotel After this night in the land of medieval knights, an easy stage awaits you. You leave Carcassonne behind while making the most of the last views back to the city with its majestic towers and ramparts. The Canal du Midi now becomes wild, before joining the market gardens of the plain of Marseillette. Come the evening, dinner of your choice and night in Marseillette. Cycling: 22 km Day 3 : THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM MARSEILLETTE TO HOMPS B&B / 2* Hotel You now follow the course of the river Aude, to enter the regions of Corbieres and Minervois. At the heart of these landscapes of vineyards, smelling evocatively of the south, you cross charming hamlets, before arriving at the port of Homps. This small and lively port is the perfect place to taste the good wines of the region at the end of the day. Dinner of your own choice and night in Homps. Cycling: 20 km
DAY BY DAY Day 4: THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM HOMPS TO LE SOMAIL B&B / 2* Hôtel Downstream from Homps, the rugged terrain surrounding the canal necessitated the construction of impressive feats of engineering. This is why in just 4 km you encounter no less than 4 bridges and 4 aqueducts, one after the other. The stage ends in the charming little port of Le Somail, where the adorable couple who welcome you to their home, keep alive the tradition of hospitality of the village. Cycling: 20 km Day 5: THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM LE SOMAIL TO CAPESTANG B&B / 2* Hotel Between le Somail and Capestang, we suggest that you take a pause at the port of Argelier, a medieval village which, as well as many charming tiny streets, has interesting remains of an ancient château and ramparts. Once you have arrived in Capestang, you have plenty to discover with its château, collegiate church of St Etienne (14thC) and lagoon or ‘étang’ from which the village gets its name: “Lou Cap de l'estang ». Dinner of your own choice and night in Capestang. Cycling: 22 km Day 6: THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM CAPESTANG TO BEZIERS B&B / 2* Hotel Today, you can discover two of the most impressive industrial works of the Canal du Midi. Firstly, the tunnel de Malpas, where the canal passes beneath the very beautiful roman Oppidum d’Ensérune. Upon arriving in Beziers, you will discover the colossal 9-rise lock which allows the canal to cross the river Orb. Dinner of your choice and night in Béziers. Cycling: 20 km
DAY BY DAY
Day 7: THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM BEZIERS TO
AGDE
B&B / 2* Hôtel
For this last day on the “Canal du Midi by bike for families”, you
cross the plains which border the Mediterranean, enlivened by the
bracing sea air. Your arrival in Agde, where the canal runs into the
etang de Thau, will not be without emotion!
Cycling: 23 km
Your holiday ends in Agde if you have chosen the 7 days / 6 nights
version. A supplementary night in Agde is possible.
Day 8: THE CANAL DU MIDI FROM AGDE TO SETE
This easy stage between Agde and Sete lends itself to dawdling! A
beautiful cycle path between the étang de Thau and the
Mediterranean allows you to watch the flamingos. You have
numerous spots for swimming. Once you arrive in Sète, you can
make the most of the pretty fishing port known as the « Venice of
the Languedoc ».
Cycling: 35 km
Your holiday ends upon your arrival in Sète if you have chosen the 8
days/7 nights trip, from Carcassonne to Sète.
EXTEND YOUR STAY
From Agde and Sète all of the Mediterranean coast is accessible by
train. The Côte d’Azur, the Côte Vermeille around Collioure, or the
Spanish coast are all only just a few hours away.
DATE OF DEPARTURE
You can start the day you prefer.
TO BOOK YOUR BIKE TRIP
Contact us by email:
contact@veloccitane.fr
By phone: + 33 5 61 71 00 55
OUR SELECTION OF ACCOMMODATION
You sleep in pretty Bed and Breakfasts, or welcoming 2*
hotels, ideally situated for your overnight stays along the
length of the canal. The swimming pools will give you the
chance of a refreshing bathe at the end of the day (always
possible). Breakfast is included.
We have selected for you B&Bs with cachet where you will
find a warm welcome and a swimming pool as often as
possible. These are ideally situated along the length of the
canal. According to availability at the time of your inscription,
it could be possible that you are booked into a different B&B
of the same category or into a 2* hotel.
DISCLAIMER
The names and the photos of accommodation are given for
information purposes. According to availability, the B&Bs or hotels
could be modified and replaced without warning by another
accommodation of the same category.
YOUR STAY
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
HOW TO GET HERE MEALS:
In order to limit your CO2 emissions, we encourage you to To give you maximum flexibility, we
carpool or use public transport. have left you free to choose your own
dinners rather than include these in the
IF YOU COME BY TRAIN holiday price. There are numerous
restaurants possible on each night.
Tariffs and timetables on the website:
https://www.oui.sncf/
LEVEL:
SNCF Train station of Carcassonne
Stages of 20 to 35 km per day. Almost
Your first accommodation in Carcassonne will be close
entirely flat, bike paths are not
from the train station.
tarmacked on the whole itinerary.
Possible with young (less than 12 years
IF YOU COME BY PLANE
old).
Carcassonne airport
GUIDING/MONITORING:
Self-guided, unaccompanied holiday.
IF YOU COME BY CAR
Find your route on the website: www.viamichelin.fr or
www.mappy.fr
QUALITY BIKES AND EQUIPMENT
● Arcade hybrid bikes made in France, perfectly adapted
to the Canal du Midi
A fresh stock of more than 60 bikes of different sizes,
2017 models
Ride the latest, up to date bikes!
Our bikes are renewed each season and checked after
each hire by our specialist mechanics.
● All your equipment is included: helmet, panniers front
and back, lights front and back, lock, repair kit, yellow
high visibility jacket.
● A bike that fits you, we have 6 sizes available
● Electric bikes (e-bikes) available as an optional extra
CHARACTERISTICS
Aluminium frame, 21 speeds, ‘V-brake’ brakes, ‘Royal’ saddle, puncture resistant tires, 28" wheels,
mudguards, weight 14 KG.
Given the nature of the terrain, 2 wheel trailers for children are not possible on the
section between Toulouse and Castelnaudary.
WE CAN ALSO PROPOSE
Tandems Bob Yak bike trailers Children’s trailers Panniers
Security deposit is to be given at the time of taking the rented equipment.
A guarantee (a swipe of your credit card) as well as a proof of identity are also requested. The guarantee is
reimbursed upon the safe return of the bikes.
WHAT TO BRING
Bring one bag or suitcase for a change of clothes during your week. Transported by vehicle, you will
find your bag each evening in your B&B or hotel.
Clothes
• 1 sun hat or baseball cap • Necessary toiletries: preferably
• 1 neck scarf biodegradable products
• 1 woolen/fleece hat or bandana • 1 quick drying towel
• Breathable T-shirts • Toilet paper
Avoid cotton, which takes a long time to dry; • Sun cream and protective lip balm
bring short sleeve t-shirts in breathable • Soothing cream
material
• I base layer (breathable material) or 1 shirt
If you take your own bike
with long sleeves
• 1 fleece
• 1 helmet (not obligatory in France but
• 1 jacket made of Gore-tex or similar, strongly recommended)
waterproof and breathable • 1 pair of cycling gloves (optional but strongly
• I long and 1 short pair of cycling shorts, recommended)
preferably padded for more comfort cycling • 1 map carrier (optional)
• 1 pair of trousers for the evening • 1 water container (1,5 liter minimum)
• Under wear • 1 repair kit (spare inner tube, pump,
• Socks. Avoid cotton ‘tennis’ type socks which puncture repair kit)
are slow to dry
• 1 bicycle lock
• 1 swimming costume for the swimming pools
• panniers
and your arrival at the sea
• water carrier (optional)
Shoes Personal Pharmacy
• 1 pair of shoes ‘multi-activity’ for cycling and • Your usual medicines
walking
• Vitamin C ou multi-vitamins
• Pumps or sandals for the evening
This list should be adapted according to the • Pain killers : preferably paracetamol
season. • Adhesive tape (eg : Elastoplast) 6 cm wide
• Plasters of different sizes and antiseptic
Equipment wipes
• 2nd skin dressings for blisters (eg : Spenco)
• 1 pair of sun glasses of excellent quality • Mosquito repellent
• 1 head torch (optional): our bikes are
equipped with lights
• 1 pocket knife (to be put in the hold luggage
on the plane)
• 1 small waterproof bag for valuables and
money
Si vous prenez votre propre vélo :
• 1 casque (non obligatoire en France mais
fortement conseillé)
• 1 paire de gants de vélo (facultatif mais
fortement conseillé)
• 1 porte-carte (facultatif)
• 1 gourde (1,5 litre minimum)
• 1 kit de réparation (chambre à air de
YOU HAVE A QUESTION ?
WE HAVE AN ANSWER !
Anaïs, your travel agent
She will be your privileged interlocutor in order to develop a stay that
perfectly corresponds to your desires. Anaïs will be able to advise you the
right addresses and the essential sites of the South-West.
Always curious to discover a new destination combine with a rich
customer relationship experience will work your heart out to guide you
towards the realization of your next bicycle trip!
CONTACT US
☎
Par téléphone Par e-mail Par courrier
+ 33 5 61 71 00 55 contact@veloccitane.fr Véloccitane - Maison du Vélo Toulouse
+ 33 5 34 40 64 72 89 bd Pierre Sémard
31000 Toulouse
VÉLOCCITANE, THE CYCLING TRAVEL AGENCY
Véloccitane is a travel agency dedicated to self-guided biking tours.
Our office is ideally located along the Canal du Midi in Toulouse, in front of the train station
Matabiau. From there, why not visiting the gorgeous routes of the south-west of France? The Canal
du Midi, Canal de Garonne, Canal de la Robine, Rigole de la Plaine are waiting for you!
Our website www.veloccitane.fr
Our facebook : https://fr-fr.facebook.com/veloccitane/
Registration under the travel agencies register Atout France : IM031160002
Financial guarantee : Groupama Assurance Crédit – 5/7 rue du Centre – 93199 Noisy le Grand
Professional liability insurance : Groupama d’Oc – 14 rue Vidailhan – CS 93105 – 31131 Balma CedexYou can also read
