Cycling France Tour of the Canal du Midi

The tour is 7 days long with 5 full days of riding. However, day 1 does include a warm-up circuit around the locality.

The cycling on this tour is graded as easy, mainly flat roads and canal paths, with lots of coastal aspects, peppered with fascinating villages, including the UNESCO listed Carcassonne.

The cycling on this tour is easy; you will keep mainly to flat coastal roads and canalside cycleways and much of the route is free of motorised traffic (if you don’t count the cruisers and barges chugging along the Canal du Midi!) This bike tour will show you all of the diverse aspects of the coast, and of course its varied and delicious food and drink!

If you have a vehicle the tour operator can arrange secure parking for your car and return you to it after the tour.

Yes, the tour operator provides lightweight alloy framed Trek ‘hybrid’ touring bicycles with 24 indexed gears, fully equipped with lock, pump and toolkit (although the guides will generally be on hand to fix punctures and minor mechanical problems). For carrying the items you might need during the day (camera, wallet, windbreaker etc.) a capacious handlebar bag is fitted, which also features a large map pocket. These clip on and off the bike in a flash so that you can always take your valuables with you when off the bike. The bikes are meticulously maintained and the tour operator keeps a wide range of sizes; female specific saddles are also available.

The tour operator also carries rain capes should they be required (but hopefully not!). For certain tours, they also have available 27-speed drop-handlebar race-style bikes, and tandems may also be available on certain tours by special request.

The tour operator does not provide helmets automatically, as they find people prefer their own if they want to wear one, and sizing and fit is quite personal; however, they always have helmets available for use.

All evening meals are included. The tour operator carefully selects the restaurants for cuisine and ambience, favouring those with a strong regional flavour. All meals include a starter, main course and dessert; some will have an additional cheese course. The tour operator is happy to arrange for the restaurants to cater for specific dietary requirements and allergies etc.

Wine is included with the meals, again favouring the local appellations of which there are so many! Breakfasts are included, usually continental although many hotels will provide a buffet-style breakfast. Lunch is not provided as different people have different requirements, but the tour operator does suggest restaurants for lunch. Your guides will often organise picnics on days where the itinerary and weather are suitable.

Yes, 18 is the minimum age for the tour.

The tours are kept to a small size of just 16 participants.

If you wish to have your own room then a single supplement is payable.