Easy-to-moderate cycling featuring undulating routes with more frequent short ascents, and a mix of shorter and longer days.
The season for this holiday is:
04 April 2020 - 04 July 2020
01 September 2020 - 31 October 2020
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| °C | 10 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 20 | 14 | 11 |
| mm | 63 | 65 | 64 | 67 | 68 | 51 | 29 | 46 | 58 | 81 | 61 | 76 |
7 nights: 04 April 2020 - 04 July 2020 & 01 September 2020 - 31 October 2020
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
| Starting | Price | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 4 - 24 Apr 2020 | £885 | £385 |
| 25 Apr - 21 May 2020 | £965 | £460 |
| 22 May - 27 Jun 2020 | £995 | £485 |
| 1 - 25 Sep 2020 | £995 | £485 |
| 26 Sep - 24 Oct 2020 | £925 | £410 |
| 3rd & 4th person discount | -£100 | |
| Single traveller supplement | £100 |
Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.
Electric bikes available: add £70 per person
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.
7 nights: 04 April 2020 - 04 July 2020 & 01 September 2020 - 31 October 2020
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
| Starting | Price | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 4 - 24 Apr 2020 | £1120 | £385 |
| 25 Apr - 21 May 2020 | £1210 | £460 |
| 22 May - 27 Jun 2020 | £1245 | £485 |
| 1 - 25 Sep 2020 | £1245 | £485 |
| 26 Sep - 24 Oct 2020 | £1165 | £410 |
| 3rd & 4th person discount | -£110 | |
| Single traveller supplement | £110 |
Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.
Electric bikes available: add £70 per person
Included travel: Out UK–Carcassonne via Paris (Eurostar/TGV/regional rail), approx duration 9h30. Pay locally for taxi from Carcassonne station (0h10). Home: Narbonne–UK via Paris (TGV/Eurostar), approx duration 9h & walk (0h10).
> More about 'by rail' prices
> The 'rail experience': what to expect
If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.
7 nights: 04 April 2020 - 04 July 2020 & 01 September 2020 - 31 October 2020
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
| Starting | Price | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 4 - 24 Apr 2020 | £965 | £385 |
| 25 Apr - 21 May 2020 | £1045 | £460 |
| 22 May - 27 Jun 2020 | £1080 | £485 |
| 1 - 25 Sep 2020 | £1080 | £485 |
| 26 Sep - 24 Oct 2020 | £995 | £410 |
| 3rd & 4th person discount | -£160 | |
| Single traveller supplement | £160 |
Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus a return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais with P&O Ferries for your party and one car.
> More information about travelling self-drive
Electric bikes available: add £70 per person
A supplement of £35 per car per single journey applies for outward travel on 3-5 & 10-12 April 2020, and for homeward travel on 12-13 April 2020. A supplement of £47 per car per single journey applies outward on Fridays & Saturdays 22-23 May & 10 July-15 August 2020 and homeward on Saturdays & Sundays 30-31 May & 18 July-30 August 2020.
Room upgrades (£ per person per night)
| Hotel La Résidence, Narbonne | ||
|---|---|---|
| Superior: 04 Apr - 31 May 2020 | £12 | |
| Superior: 01 Jun - 04 Jul 2020 | £18 | |
| Superior: 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2020 | £18 | |
| Superior: 01 Oct - 31 Oct 2020 | £12 |
Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room
Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike except at Hotel du Donjon et des Remparts. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £14pp per day.| Hotel du Donjon et des Remparts, Carcassonne (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 04 Apr - 24 Apr 2020 | £72 | £124 |
| 25 Apr - 04 Jul 2020 | £96 | £172 |
| 01 Sep - 24 Sep 2020 | £96 | £172 |
| 25 Sep - 31 Oct 2020 | £72 | £124 |
| Le Jardin d’Homps, Homps (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 04 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 | £72 | £114 |
| 01 Jul - 04 Jul 2020 | £87 | £145 |
| 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2020 | £72 | £114 |
| Hotel La Résidence, Narbonne (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 04 Apr - 31 May 2020 | £92 | £154 |
| 01 Jun - 04 Jul 2020 | £102 | £172 |
| 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2020 | £102 | £172 |
| 01 Oct - 31 Oct 2020 | £92 | £154 |
Travelling from the UK
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Birmingham - Montpellier (via Paris) | Air France |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Nottingham East Midlands - Carcassonne | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh - Béziers | Ryanair |
| Edinburgh - Carcassonne | Ryanair |
| Edinburgh - Montpellier (via Amsterdam) | Air France |
| Edinburgh - Montpellier (via Paris CDG) | Air France |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Gatwick - Montpellier | easyJet |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Heathrow - Montpellier (via Paris) | Air France |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Manchester - Béziers | Ryanair |
| Manchester - Carcassonne | Ryanair |
| Manchester - Montpellier(via Paris) | Air France |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Newcastle - Montpellier (via Paris) | Air France |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Southampton - Montpellier (via Paris CDG) | Air France |
This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.
Connecting travel options - flying via Carcassonne
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| direct taxi Carcassonne airport to hotel (0h20) | £12 | flexible |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| rail Narbonne to Carcassonne (0h30) | £14 | 1200 |
| direct taxi hotel to Carcassonne airport (0h45) | £66 | flexible |
Connecting travel options - flying via Béziers
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| rail Béziers to Carcassonne (1h) | £12 | 1630 |
| direct taxi Béziers airport to hotel (1h25) | £112 | flexible |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| direct taxi hotel to Béziers airport (0h45) | £60 | flexible |
Connecting travel options - flying via Montpellier
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| rail Montpellier to Carcassonne (1h25-1h45) | £24 | 1600 |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| rail Narbonne to Montpellier (1h) | £22 | 1130 |
If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?
We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >
We thoroughly enjoyed the cycle, it was a great mixture of canals and hills. We cycled the extra miles to Narbonne Plage, what a beautiful beach. Homps was my favourite place to stay and my favourite restaurant En Bonne Compagnie. Chez Lulu was a great find in Narbonne too, very French. The weather was kind to us for October but remember to take mosquito spray.
Outwith the Cité, most of Carcassone was closed at the weekend which was disappointing and very quiet. We enjoyed the alternative routes through the French countryside more than canalside paths. It was a great way to see rural France.
We specially enjoyed cycling on the canal towpaths, our stay in Homps, and the trip to Minerve.
We recommend using an on-line map such as Guru maps, for which an internet connection is not needed.
We recommend cycling with snacks and a picnic lunch, as you cannot count on bars and restaurants in rural areas being open. And vegetarian options are scarce.
We thoroughly enjoyed the cycle, it was a great mixture of canals and hills. We cycled the extra miles to Narbonne Plage, what a beautiful beach. Homps was my favourite place to stay and my favourite restaurant En Bonne Compagnie. Chez Lulu was a great find in Narbonne too, very French. The weather was kind to us for October but remember to take mosquito spray.
Outwith the Cité, most of Carcassone was closed at the weekend which was disappointing and very quiet. We enjoyed the alternative routes through the French countryside more than canalside paths. It was a great way to see rural France.
We specially enjoyed cycling on the canal towpaths, our stay in Homps, and the trip to Minerve.
We recommend using an on-line map such as Guru maps, for which an internet connection is not needed.
We recommend cycling with snacks and a picnic lunch, as you cannot count on bars and restaurants in rural areas being open. And vegetarian options are scarce.
We enjoyed our lovely sunny week, meandering around the vineyards and along the canal. We have returned relaxed and happy, and despite eating and drinking plenty, not too much heavier thanks to the cycling.
Get the daily route maps updated! Loved Carcasonne. Great rural routes through the vineyards away from the Canal. Very pretty and scenic. Enjoyed it. Would definitely consider another Inntravel holiday in the future.
Loved all of the cycling - despite short distances, heavier bikes and heat did make it hard work in some places. We swapped starts of day two and three around so we could get to the market at Olonzac (on Tues) - and that was worth doing. If you are not used to mountain biking - some of surface on the Canal may be a bit trying. Perhaps worth a bit of off-road practise before going if you are used to smooth tarmac. Great combination of routes giving access to some really unspoilt French countryside and villages. Favourite - the descent into Cruzy with view of church from above.
We had anticipated the cycling along the canal would be the best part of the holiday but actually enjoyed the quiet country lanes and the hills around Minerve far more than the towpaths. In parts, the towpath was VERY challenging with tree roots, very large stones and ruts, also very muddy after a couple of evenings' worth of rain. It was very difficult to actually cycle in places on the canal which spoilt the routes a little; we wouldn't recommend the first half of the holiday for this reason. However, we highly recommend the rides around Minerve, the cycle to Narbonne from Cruzy and the ride into Gruissan from Narbonne on the final day. Beautiful!
The towpath sections have been particularly affected by the unusually wet spring weather this year, and we appreciate that this will have affected the enjoyment of cycling alongside the canal.
HIGHLIGHT: The ride to Minerve. Well worth getting the E Bikes making the journey well within our capabilities.
really enjoyed this relaxing and beautiful trip
The cycle ride to Minerve was great and quite a challenge. We thought we might not do it but Thomas at Le Jardin d'Homps persuaded us. It took us 9 hours. We're not that experienced cyclists but it was well worth the pain! Funny little cafe in Minerve with stuffed animals and friendly owner. We enjoyed Narbonne, an attractive place, and ate at Le Meli-Melo, friendly staff.
Don't miss getting to Minerve - it is amazing and totally unique.
Staying at Le Jardin De Homps was an absolute dream and a great privilege.
The cycle trail from Narbonne to Narbonne Beach (16km each way) was a delightful afternoon's side trip.
As is sitting in Narbonne central square watching the local boys ride past on their back wheel - obviously the way you are supposed to cycle in this pretty city. Don't forget to climb the tower there for a wonderful view.
A visit to the Narbonne Market at 12 midday (until about 2pm) is full of excitement!
Overall, a really wonderful holiday, thanks to the Inntravel team.
Brilliant holiday. Great way to see the real France. If travelling with Ryanair check their luggage policy carefully. Travel light if possible due to no lifts and many stairs to climb in some places.
Very well organised holiday with some excellent accommodation. It was amazing to be able to stay in the medieval city of Carcassonne. With excellent weather, we also enjoyed a swim at the lac de la Cavayere, a half hour bus ride away. Le Somail was a lovely place on the canal to stop for lunch.
Would definitely consider another Inntravel holiday.
This was a really lovely varied holiday that took us around an amazing assortment of villages, towns and countryside. As lovers of the countryside as well as museums and galleries this was a perfect holiday. Each day was different and unique.
Wonderful experience. The Jardin d'Homps was a superb oasis. Minerve well worth the visit and electric bikes were fantastic.
We were unlucky with the weather on this holiday - 65mph winds, temperatures of less than 10 degrees and driving rain in mid May had not been factored in to our planning. Inevitably, this affected our view of the holiday, and certainly made some bits of the towpath less easy to cycle than they would otherwise have been. But it was a good holiday nonetheless. The accommodation was all excellent, apart from Cluzy, which was only just acceptable. In particular, Le Jardin d'Homps was really lovely - the owners couldn't have done more for us, including lighting a fire to dry us off! The bikes were of good quality, and Mellow Velos were most helpful when we had one small query. The provided directions were excellent, too.
The towpaths are not of consistent quality - they can be uneven, narrow and bumpy (and with the weather we had, very muddy!). In places, we opted for quiet country roads instead, just to avoid some more bone shaking by the canal. Beware too stretches where there is gravel - this can be perilous.
Having cycled on a number of occasions in Austria, Switzerland and Germany - we were all agreed that they are better organised for cyclists than the French appeared to be from this holiday. But we had a very good holiday! Thanks to Inntravel for all the organisation.
Over recent years there has been a lot of tree-felling work along the Canal du Midi in an attempt to stop the spread of the deadly Ceratocystis platani fungus which has been devastating the trees. This work has caused damage to some sections of the towpath but these are gradually being repaired. The poor weather, creating muddy conditions, certainly won't have helped in this instance.
Our route follows a mixture of tow path and quiet country roads to create an enjoyable and varied mixture of terrain.
Our highlights were the challenging and very wet cycle to Minevere and the sunny cycle to the sea at Gruissan our final day. The accommodation at Homps is excellent. We found some lovely restaurants and enjoyed all of the cycle rides. The canal was not difficult to cycle along and as has been previously said there is usually a small lane next to it. We hired bikes on our first day and had a look at the start of the route .
Our journey was a wonderful experience from begining to end, with so many opportunities to immerse ourselves in the culture of this beautiful region of southern France. Mellow Velos and the accommodation (particularly in Carcassonne, Homps & Cruzy) were all excellent - we met so many lovely people along the route, who added to the richness of our experience.
We really enjoyed our cycling adventure and thank you so much for putting together a great itinerary. The bikes were great though the odometers were a bit temperamental and didn't seem to relate to your notes - being 15 per cent out but we coped ok. We loved all aspects of the route and it was good to get into the countryside from time to time. We were very lucky with the weather. The hotels were superb. The Hotel Le Donjon Les Ramparts in Carcassonne was a highlight and the Le Jardin d'Homps amazing - especially with the swimming pool. It was lovely to have a welcome glass of sparkling wine there. We also enjoyed sharing the evening meal with the hotel owners at Cruzy. The Hotel La Residence in Narbonne was also enjoyable. Everyone welcomed us and it was a really great experience. We would definitely recommend Inntravel!
This was our 3rd cycling trip and we will definitely be booking a 4th. The organisation and attention to detail is superb and makes for a stress free leisurely cycling holiday, exploring places we would not cycle to otherwise, given the amount of research into a area needed.