Cycling Canal du Garonne
- Cycling Canal du Garonne
If you are looking for a relaxing and lovely cycle then this ride from Bordeaux to Toulouse could be for you. It is a fantastic mix of riding through beautiful forest, historic villages and towns , along the canal, orchards and countryside.
The length of the cycle is approx 300kms – we cycled it over 6 days. Our longest day was 55 kms, our shortest 40 kms. We then continued on to Sete which was another 250kms.
Bike Hire
We organised our bike hire through Cycles Sud-Ouest. Clare was great to deal with through the booking process and made some good suggestions for places to stay along the way.
We started out from Bordeaux on Monday Sept 16th and arrived in Toulouse on Sept 22nd. We continued on to cycle the Canal du Midi for 7 days to arrive in Sete on Sept 28th.
We hired normal hydrid bikes – total cost for the two bikes was 526 euros for 13 days hire (40 euros per day).The ride is virtually flat along the canals so there is absolutely no need for e bikes.
We had our own panniers but you can hire those if needed.
What clothes do you need to take
We cycled in shorts and tee shirts every day with sandals as footwear. You need one warm jumper or puffer jacket and a good light waterproof coat in case of rain plus a pair of walking shoes.
What do you do with all your luggage
Simple answer – take it all with you! Our Canal du Garonne cycle was part of a 3 month trip in Europe. We travelled light and were able to put all the luggage for our entire trip in 4 panniers (which then fitted into one large soft bag) and two smaller backpacks that zipped to the pannier bags. The large soft bag folded to nothing and could be zipped up – it even had wheels and a handle! In total we had 25 kgs of luggage which was all then attached to our rear carriers on the bikes.
We purchased a small soft chilly bag with a long strap that we then strapped over our luggage – this was great for putting in cheese, yoghurt for breaky, milk, butter and could even handle keeping the wine cool!
Where did we stay
We booked our accommodation either through http://www.airbnb.com or http://www.booking.com. We had a mix of mainly B & Bs and self catering apartments. One night we even stayed on a canal boat which we loved. We look at ratings and reviews so choose carefully. We like boutique accommodation( definitely no chain hotels) that offers charm and a kitchen with an outdoor space to enjoy. Pick some along the route that have a washing machine as well.
Do you need a special app to follow the route
Absolutely not! Follow the canal and signs and you honestly cannot go wrong! It is very hard to get lost. We missed the odd sign but google maps then becomes you friend. We purchased an airalo esim (electronic esim)for our entire trip. As we were travelling for some time we purchased a 90 day esim for $US100 with 50GB of data. Unless you are downloading movies it is absolutely enough. https://www.airalo.com
Itinerary
Spend some time in and around Bordeaux then grab your bikes and head for the Roger Lapebie cycleway. Roger won the Tour de France in 1937 and the path is the old rail route. Absolutely lovely. At the end of the Roger Lapebie you then head for the Canal du Garonne and follow that all the way to Toulouse.
Places we stayed – Bordeaux to Sete
Highlights
Roger Lapebie Cycleway
You leave Bordeaux along the Garonne River and then inland to the Roger Lapebie Cycleway. The ride through the forest is stunning,
Lovely small rural towns and countryside
There are numerous small medieval villages and towns along the way where you can stop, enjoy and have a wander. Sometimes you might be lucky to come across a market as well to try a few local delicacies.
Hitting the Canal du Garonne
On the second day cycling we made it to the canal. It is quite a picture!
The canal really is magical. In September we felt like we were the only cyclists on the canal. It is so peaceful and tranquil. Cycling over 6 days is so easy. You can just take your time, soak up the natural beauty and surrounds.
Accommodation
We stayed in some fabulous places. We had mix of B & B’s, cottages, apartments and even one night on a boat.
Costs
We were surprised at how easy it was to organise the trip ourselves and how good the accommodation was for the price.
Averagely our accommodation cost 72 euro per night. We stayed a total 7 nights and cycled 6 days.
The bike hire per day for the 2 bikes was 40 euros per day – this included hybrid bikes, helmets and the transfer fee to get them back to Bordeaux.
Breakfast we ate before we left each day and usually consisted of yoghurt, muesli , fruit , tea and coffee. Lunch was always something from the boulangarie ( very fresh and tasty rolls with my favourite pastry “pain aux raisin – simply delicious!). We would then find a lovely spot on the way to enjoy and have a breather.
Dinner we would often grab something from the local supermarket to cook and enjoy with a bottle of local wine – usually local cheeses to start. If you are into dining out every night then factor that in but that cost very much depends on what culinary delights take your fancy.
Total cost for the 6 days/7 nights was 1100 euros for the two of us.
This included accommodation, food, drink, bike hire, travel insurance, mobile e sim, and sundry expenses along the way.
The costs exclude getting to Bordeaux and away from Toulouse to your next destination.
Rent your house out
Our cycle from Bordeaux to Toulouse was part of a 3 1/2 month trip in Europe. We rented our house out in Auckland NZ through Furnished Rentals. This paid for half our holiday! They organised everything for us so you can rent out and be totally worry free – just enjoy the extra income that goes into your bank account!
Get a comprehensive Guide
If the above sounds great then for a small fee(US$2.95) I can share all the details of our entire trip. It will give you all the information you need to organise your own epic ride on the Canal du Garonne.
In addition you will also get a comprehensive guide to organising a cycle trip from Toulouse to Sete down the Canal du Midi and also the fabulous Loire Valley from Orleans to Nantes.
If you want a comprehensive guide to organising your own Loire Valley cycle trip.
Click below
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