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Cycle from Bordeaux on the Atlantic Coast of France inland along a glorious cycle paths and quiet roads following the Canal de Garonne as it wends its way south-eastwards to the Pink City of Toulouse. Cycle beside the canal through the dappled shade of the plane trees, admiring the vineyards, orchards and tiny villages that line the route. Easy cycling through sublime scenery.
After a night in the port city of Bordeaux your cycling holiday begins with a ride along a wonderful cycle path deep into the Aquitane countryside. Enjoy carefree cycling through a charming rural landscape, punctuated by fortified towns and sleepy villages. The next day you join the beautiful Canal de Garonne, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. For the next four days the Canal will be your guide, leading you through a charming world where the pace of life is slow, the cycling is easy and the scenery serene and timeless.
Canal de Garonne
In a country blessed with a huge choice of fabulous cycle routes this really does rank as one of the must-do’s, the canal side cycle path is enjoyable, safe and flat and continuously serves up a conveyor belt of wonderful sights and scenery as you pedal along. You’ll love the charming villages of Buzet sur Baise, Damazan and Le Mas d’Agen. The aqueduct at Agen, that carries the canal above the Garonne River, is sure to impress as is the lovely old town of Moissac with its 12th century Abbey.
Each night you’ll stay in charming guesthouses and hotels in delightful villages and towns along the route.
The route is mainly on cycle paths with the odd section along quiet roads and lanes. It is predominantly flat with only some minor climbs along the way.
Make your way from Bordeaux airport to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore this interesting port city with Roman origins. Take a stroll through the atmospheric old town and don’t miss the charming public gardens on the banks of the Garonne River. Our tip is to invest in the 229 step climb to the Pey Berland bell tower adjacent to Saint-Andre’s cathedral – the view is definitely worth the effort.
Your first day’s cycling starts with a pleasant ride alongside the Garonne River. After a while you leave the river and head eastwards, following a beautiful Voie Verte cycle path through ever-changing scenery ranging from expansive vineyards to cool, shady forests and open farmland. You’ll also pass through some tiny wine-villages along the way as well as the old walled-town of Creon. You’ll stop for the night in a charming guesthouse along the route.
Dinner included this evening
The day starts with some idyllic cycling along quiet rural lanes through wooded areas and vineyards. After a while you’ll join the Canal de Garonne and begin to follow it as it wends its way south-eastwards. The canal-side cycle path is wonderful, leading you through the dappled sunlight of the sentry-like plane trees. Your will stay the night in the Meilhan area.
Today’s route leads you along the lush Garonne Valley. You’ll pass many orchards and, in the summer months, vivid fields of sunflowers and other crops as you make your way through the rural landscape on the canal-side cycle path. Every now and then you’ll pass through tiny canal-side villages, usually with their own locks and often pretty waterside bistros. Make a point of stopping in the charming villages of Le Mas d’Agenais and Damazan for a stroll around its quaint, cobbled streets. Your stop for the night in the charming village of Sérignac sur Garonne. Please note that due to hotel availability guests may sometimes be accommodated in the town of Agen, 10km further along the canal making today's ride 65km in total. Of course, in such cases tomorrow's ride becomes 10km shorter.
Today you can look forward to a beautiful and easy ride with many points of interest along the way. The Agen Aqueduct is both impressive and beautiful, consisting of 23 stone arches that carry the canal across the Garonne River. It was opened in 1849 and is quite narrow meaning barges have to wait their turn at either end. Agen itself is a lovely old town and definitely worthy of a wander around and a coffee break. The Canal continuously flirts with the Garonne River and at times you will be cycling along the narrow strip of land that separates the two. Saint Nicholas de Grave marks the confluence of the Garonne and Tarn Rivers and the resulting lake is a well-known bird sanctuary. You can also add on a detour to visit the very beautiful village of Auvillar, which is well worth the climb. You spend the night in a central hotel on the banks of the River Tarn in the lovely old town of Moissac.
Your last day following the Canal de Garonne is a very pleasant one. Pretty, rural villages line the route as you follow the canal south through open countryside towards Toulouse. In the town of Montech you can stop to admire the unique water-slope, an ingenious, some would say overly-complicated, lock-replacement system that moves a wedge of water, complete with barge, up or downhill. After some more idyllic riding in the shade of the canal-side plane trees you arrive in the city of Toulouse. Known as the ‘pink-city’ due to the abundance of rosy-red brick buildings Toulouse is steeped in history and has one of the largest Roman churches in Europe. Alternatively, you could take the tour of the Airbus Factory on the outskirts of town and/or visit Cité de l’Espace, an excellent and informative space museum. Enjoy a celebratory meal on the town’s bustling square before retiring to your centrally located hotel for a good night’s sleep.
After breakfast it’s time to checkout and head for home or your next adventure.
On this tour you can choose between a regular bike, a gravel bike or an E-bike.
Regular bikes: Is an alloy framed touring model with 21 speeds and a comfortable, relaxed riding position, perfect for a leisure cycling holiday. The minimum height for a male specific bike is 160cm and for a female 150cm. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and repair kit and handlebar bag.
E-Bikes: These unisex/step through electric bikes are a popular option on this route and ensure riders can enjoy the scenery along the way, whilst not working too hard at the climbs. Minimum height is 150cm. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and repair kit and handlebar bag.
Gravel bikes: The rugged, hi-spec, 20 speed male specific bikes have a lightweight frame and drop handlebars which offers a more dynamic riding position and the wider tyres are capable of handling both asphalt and gravel trails. The minimum height for a gravel bike is 155 cm (Frame 48 cm). Bikes come equipped with a rear seat-post, lock and repair kit.
Helmets are not provided, so you will need to bring your own.
Below you will find examples of the accommodations typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.
Comfort: Comfortable hotels and charming guesthouses.
Bordeaux: Hotel de Normandie
Frontenac : Chambres d’hotes Chez Mme Duranteau
Saint-Marthe: Le Moulin de Tarres de Bas
Serignac sur Garonne: Le Prince Noir Hotel
Moissac: Le Moulin de Moissac
Toulouse: Grand Hotel D’Orleans
Local taxes
Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night
Fly to Bordeaux Airport and then take the regular shuttle into Bordeaux and make your way to your centrally located hotel.
At the end of the trip you can either fly back from Toulouse or take the train back to Bordeuax and fly back from there.
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