Are any of these trips more popular with older people? I'm looking for a good adventure for turning 70, but if the other participants are all in their 20s, that would likely not be much fun for me, or, likely, for them.

one of the reviews said that Lluis made their lunches as well, so I was wondering about that.

Would it be possible to make our way to Sete after the cycling trip? And return to Toulouse maybe 4 days later?

Are you still using that hotel? Or will a different hotel be used for the Sept 27 departure?

you have the wrong map on the 'Cycling in France - Canals and Castles of the Midi' by Explore!

If you follow the link below to our website you will find the correct map for this tour (on the photo slide there is a button saying map).

Do I need travel insurance for this trip?

It is highly recommended to have travel insurance before joining the tour.

What are the accommodation details for the tour?

The confirmation with hotel details will be sent closer to your tour date in your final documents.

Are meals included in the tour package?

Details regarding meals will be included in your final trip documents.

Are there suggestions for appropriate clothing for the tour?

Advice on appropriate clothing will be included in your pre-tour information.

What is the maximum number of participants in a group?

Our tours can accommodate up to 16 people per group.

If the last day of the tour is to Toulouse airport and my flight doesn't go out that day, can we stay?

We can book you an extra night at the hotel where the group stays last night in Narbonne. Another option is to take a transfer to Toulouse airport with the group and stay an extra night there. If you want to stay in Narbonne, there is also a train that takes 2 hours.

How much does it cost to upgrade to an e-bike?

E-bike hire costs an additional fee per person for the duration of the trip.

From

$2,110

US $1,970 per person

Cycling in France - Canals and Castles of the Midi

8 days

•

From Carcassonne to Toulouse

4.6

18 reviews

View all
Itinerary was interesting and accurately reported in description. The tour was very capable and organized the rides very well.
William, traveled in September
5.0
View all

From

$2,110

-7%

US $1,970 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Platinum Operator: Explore!
Bicycle: Pedal through scenic landscapes on two wheels
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Medium Intensity: Travelers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities
Guided in English
Group Size 7 - 16
Ages 16+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Toulouse to Carcassonne
Toulouse to Carcassonne
Start point
Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France (Toulouse, 16:00)
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Hotel Aragon), Hotel 3* (Hotel l'Aragon Carcassonne (or similar))
Included Activities
- Explore historic ramparts of Carcassonne
Optional Activities
- Train from Toulouse to Carcassonne (approximately one hour) if arriving early
- Additional accommodation in Toulouse before tour starts
Landmarks
Carcassonne Ramparts
Toulouse Blagnac Airport
Day 2
Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Hotel Aragon), Hotel 3* (Hotel l'Aragon Carcassonne (or similar))
Included Activities
- Circular bike ride around Carcassonne countryside
- Bike orientation and familiarization
- Visit villages of Bouilhonnac and Les Rustiques
- Cycle along Canal du Midi
Landmarks
Canal du Midi
Bouilhonnac
Day 3
Carcassonne to Homps
Carcassonne to Homps
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Chateau Jouarres), Hotel 3* (Residence Jouarres (or similar))
Included Activities
- Cycle along Canal du Midi
- Wine tasting at Chateau l'Amiral in Marseillette
- Learn about wine production and chateau history
Landmarks
Canal du Midi
Chateau l'Amiral
Day 4
Homps
Homps
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Relaxed lunch at local restaurant serving seasonal produce in La Laviniere)
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Residence Jouarres (or similar))
Included Activities
- Leisurely circular bike ride around La Laviniere
- Lunch at local restaurant with seasonal produce
Landmarks
La Laviniere
Day 5
Minerve Optional or Relaxation
Minerve Optional or Relaxation
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Chateau Jouarres), Hotel 3* (Residence Jouarres (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Optional guided cycle to Minerve village (approximately 37 kilometres/23 miles with 450 metres/1,480 feet ascent)
- Self-guided relaxation cycling on flat route near hotel
Landmarks
Minerve
Day 6
Canal du Midi to Narbonne
Canal du Midi to Narbonne
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Hotel Zenitude Residence - Narbonne), Hotel 3* (Hotel Zenitude Residence - Narbonne (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided cycling along Canal du Midi and Canal de la Robine to Narbonne
- Exploration of Narbonne historic old town centre
Landmarks
Canal du Midi
Canal de la Robine
Narbonne Cathedral
Narbonne Roman Warehouses
Day 7
Narbonne to Gruissan Plage
Narbonne to Gruissan Plage
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Hotel Zenitude Residence - Narbonne), Hotel 3* (Hotel Zenitude Residence - Narbonne (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided cycle ride to Gruissan Plage following Canal de la Robine
- Visit to Gruissan coastal town
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the Mediterranean at Gruissan Plage
- Visit to Narbo Via Museum (Roman Museum of Narbonne)
- Aperitif at local cafes in Narbonne
Landmarks
Canal de la Robine
Gruissan Plage
Gruissan
Narbo Via Museum
Day 8
Narbonne to Toulouse
Narbonne to Toulouse
End point
Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS), Rue Charles Lindbergh, Blagnac, Haute-Garonne 31700, France (Montpellier, Departures Hall, 10:00)
Meals
Breakfast
Landmarks
Toulouse Blagnac Airport

Landmarks
Carcassonne Ramparts
Toulouse Blagnac Airport

Landmarks
Canal du Midi
Bouilhonnac

Landmarks
Canal du Midi
Chateau l'Amiral

Landmarks
La Laviniere

Landmarks
Minerve

Landmarks
Canal du Midi
Canal de la Robine
Narbonne Cathedral
Narbonne Roman Warehouses

Landmarks
Canal de la Robine
Gruissan Plage
Gruissan
Narbo Via Museum

Landmarks
Toulouse Blagnac Airport

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Hotel Aragon
Hotel 3*
Days 1, 2
Hotel l'Aragon Carcassonne (or similar)
Hotel 3*
Days 1, 2
Chateau Jouarres
Hotel 3*
Days 3, 5
Residence Jouarres (or similar)
Hotel 3*
Days 3, 4, 5
Hotel Zenitude Residence - Narbonne
Hotel 3*
Days 6, 7
Hotel Zenitude Residence - Narbonne (or similar)
Hotel 3*
Days 6, 7

Operated by

Explore!

Platinum Operator

Rating: 4.5(8,252 reviews)
Response time: within 1 day
Response rate: 96%
Cancellation policy

Traveler Reviews

4.6

Overall rating based on 18 Reviews

Itinerary
4.7
Transport
4.4
Guide
4.8
Accommodation
4.1
Food
4.4
Tour Operator
4.5

George
May 19th, 2025
The itinerary, flexibility, and courtesy were all superb.
Traveled in May 2025
Reply from: Explore!
Thanks so much for your wonderful review, George and for choosing Explore!
Show more
William
September 30th, 2024
Itinerary was interesting and accurately reported in description. The tour leader was very capable and organized the...
Show more
Traveled in September 2024
Reply from: Explore!
Thank you for sharing some feedback on your recent cycling trip to France - Canals & Castles of the Midi. It is lovely to hear that you enjoyed our itinerary and felt you learnt some of the local history from your Explore Leader, all whilst having fun cycling. We hope to welcome you on one of our other cycling tours in the future.
Show more
A
Pamela
May 28th, 2023
The Canal du Midi is very nice, perfect for a cycle ride.
Traveled in May 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Anne
May 30th, 2023
The beautiful scenery in France, the food, especially the croissants and pastries, and the nice group of people we...
Show more
Traveled in May 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Rachida
July 8th, 2023
Riding along the quiet and peaceful canal du midi, along the vineyards listening to our guide (Erwin) explaining the...
Show more
Traveled in July 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Susan
October 1st, 2023
First Explore trip totally met all my expectations, stunning location, cycling right level, food, drink, people!
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Aoife
September 30th, 2023
The final cycling day our guide suggested Lastours as a destination, it was an unexpected joy on top of the...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Hilary
October 20th, 2023
Cycling into Carcassonne Cycling to Chateaux de Lastours and walking up to some of the chateaux
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Jane
October 1st, 2023
Seeing flamingos in flight near Gruissan
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Explore!
A
Leslie
October 2nd, 2023
Honestly, as stated above each day was a different adventure. Our rides were highlighted by our guide, Erwins...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Explore!

Dates & Availability

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!

Ends on 15 Jul, 2026

From Saturday
5 Sep, 2026
To Saturday
12 Sep, 2026
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From:
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To Saturday
19 Sep, 2026
English
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-7%
From Saturday
26 Sep, 2026
To Saturday
3 Oct, 2026
English
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US $1,970 per person
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From Saturday
22 May, 2027
To Saturday
29 May, 2027
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From Saturday
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To Saturday
5 Jun, 2027
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From Saturday
12 Jun, 2027
To Saturday
19 Jun, 2027
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From Saturday
11 Sep, 2027
To Saturday
18 Sep, 2027
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Instant Confirmation
From Saturday
18 Sep, 2027
To Saturday
25 Sep, 2027
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Multiple Room Types
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Instant Confirmation
From Saturday
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To Saturday
2 Oct, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

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Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

V
Vicky
Asked on January 22nd, 2026
Are any of these trips more popular with older people? I'm looking for a good adventure for turning 70, but if the other participants are all in their 20s, that would likely not be much fun for me, or, likely, for them.
Age Range
Group size
- V
  Vicky
  Traveler•Written January 2026
  one of the reviews said that Lluis made their lunches as well, so I was wondering about that.
- V
  Vicky
  Traveler•Written January 2026
  are the rooms in the hotels double, dorm-style, or single, or if a single room is an option, what is the upcharge?
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2026
  Our average booking ago for our tours is 61.
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2026
  For lunches not included, the guides will often collect a kitty and then grocery shop and prepare lunches for the group.
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2026
  Generally we use comfortable hotels that are locally rated about 3 stars. We can absolutely let you know the pricing for a single room, again we would just need to know when you are looking to travel.
R
Rhonda
Asked on July 21st, 2025
Would it be possible to make our way to Sete after the cycling trip? And return to Toulouse maybe 4 days later?
Tour Details
- R
  Rhonda
  Traveler•Written July 2025
  Are you still using that hotel? Or will a different hotel be used for the Sept 27 departure?
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2025
  We do not offer any customizations so we would not be able to assist with a side trip to Sete. For the review, out of the 55 reviews on the tour, we have received an overall rating of Excellent on the accommodation with only 1 review stating there was an issue with the accommodation. We have addressed this with the hotel, however as the majority of our travelers have loved the accommodation and have had no bad experiences, we have not made any changes to the accommodation.
- R
  Rhonda
  Traveler•Written July 2025
  Is it possible to speak with someone over the phone as I have several questions regarding how the group riding will be managed? Can individuals ride at their own pace or must the group stay together the entire time? How many people are currently booked for the September 27 tour? What is the age range of the people and or the average age? Is it mostly individuals or couples or is it a large group of people who know each other?
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2025
  Pace - riders can ride at their own pace, however there may be times they will have to wait for the group to catch up if they get too far ahead as we don't offer GPS and it is the guide that sets the route. We have 12 people booked for 27SEP25 and only 4 spaces currently available. The ages range from 58 - 74. 4 people have booked as solo travelers and then we have 4 bookings of 2.
T
Tim
Asked on July 11th, 2025
you have the wrong map on the 'Cycling in France - Canals and Castles of the Midi' by Explore!
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2025
  If you follow the link below to our website you will find the correct map for this tour (on the photo slide there is a button saying map).
D
Dan
Asked on November 26th, 2024
Do I need travel insurance for this trip?
Travel Support
- Explore!Operator•Written November 2024
  It is highly recommended to have travel insurance before joining the tour.
A
Adrian
Asked on October 16th, 2024
What are the accommodation details for the tour?
Accommodation
- Explore!Operator•Written October 2024
  The confirmation with hotel details will be sent closer to your tour date in your final documents.
R
Rene
Asked on October 9th, 2024
Are meals included in the tour package?
Meals
- Explore!Operator•Written October 2024
  Details regarding meals will be included in your final trip documents.
T
Tanja
Asked on July 19th, 2024
Are there suggestions for appropriate clothing for the tour?
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2024
  Advice on appropriate clothing will be included in your pre-tour information.
G
Gloria
Asked on June 17th, 2024
What is the maximum number of participants in a group?
Group size
- Explore!Operator•Written June 2024
  Our tours can accommodate up to 16 people per group.
T
Tania
Asked on April 20th, 2024
If the last day of the tour is to Toulouse airport and my flight doesn't go out that day, can we stay?
Flights / Transfers
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2024
  We can book you an extra night at the hotel where the group stays last night in Narbonne. Another option is to take a transfer to Toulouse airport with the group and stay an extra night there. If you want to stay in Narbonne, there is also a train that takes 2 hours.
M
Michelle
Asked on January 9th, 2024
How much does it cost to upgrade to an e-bike?
Price / Availability
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2024
  E-bike hire costs an additional fee per person for the duration of the trip.

From

$2,110

-7%

US $1,970 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 124434

Currency
€
Euro
France
Plugs & Adapters
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before September 24th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after September 24th, 2026, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Explore!. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 75 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Explore! will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Explore!" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Explore!. Please familiarize yourself with the Explore! payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Cycling in France - Canals and Castles of the Midi

Itinerary

Toulouse to Carcassonne

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Carcassonne

Included Activities

Carcassonne to Homps

Included Activities

Homps

Included Activities

Minerve Optional or Relaxation

Optional Activities

Canal du Midi to Narbonne

Included Activities

Narbonne to Gruissan Plage

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Narbonne to Toulouse

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Traveler Reviews

Dates & Availability

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Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Good to Know

Videos

Keep Exploring France

Cycling in France - Canals and Castles of the Midi

Itinerary

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Traveler Reviews

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

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