7 Day Self-Guided Cycling Tour Along the Canal de Garonne From Bordeaux to Toulouse or Reverse
Self-Guided Cycling Tour France
This trip has something for all appetites of nature, culture, recreation, sports, gastronomy, and conviviality. You will follow the Canal de Garonne, classified as UNESCO World Heritage site. This trip with alternating cycle paths and minor roads in flat relief will delight you with its diversity of landscapes. The canal, often lined with plane trees, allows you to discover various landscapes, vineyards, groves, orchards, villages, and numerous works of art and historical monuments. Bicycle paths, greenways, and trails are opening the way to other landscapes: the canal, the locks, and the beauties of Bordeaux and Toulouse. Join Evazio on this cycling tour to see the wonderful side of France!
Key information
- Trip type: Self-guided
- Lodging: Point to point
- Terrain: Bicycle paths, minor roads in flat relief, greenways, and trails
- Starts in: Bordeaux
- Ends in: Toulouse
- Total distance: 161 - 186 miles / 259 - 299 kilometers
- Type of bike: Touring bike (145 EUR), gravel bike (250 EUR)
- E-bike: Available to rent (275 EUR)
Highlights
- The hilly landscapes of Entre-Deux-Mers with pretty medieval villages
- A pleasant cycle path between the canal and century-old plane trees punctuated with locks
- The many remarkable engineering works along the route, such as the Agen “Canal Bridge” The Cloitre of the Abbey of Moissac, at the mouth of the Tarn
- Toulouse, the “pink city”
- 6 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Accommodation
You will be welcome every night in 3 or 4-star hotels or charming guest houses.
Program
As a cyclist ride out to meet man, nature, heritage, and culture of the Gironde, Tarn and Garonne, and Haute Garonne! The Garonne biking tour first through the Entre-Deux-Mers vineyards before exploring landscapes of the Green Way “Canal de Garonne”. Enjoy the wonderful tranquility which pervades the tunnel of greenery!
Conviviality is surely one of the main features of the Green Way of the Garonne Canal. There are many stopping places and bases for water activities, and restaurants, and bars abound. You won’t be starving or thirsty! Hitting the road on two wheels is a fantastic way to discover landscapes and viewtrips.
There’s no better way to understand the heart of southern France than to do the Canal de Garonne cycling tour through it and feel the beat!
This bike road goes along waterways and past tidy, traditional towns such as Le Mas d’Agenais and Damazin. Enter the city of Agen by crossing a historic canal bridge. Ride along cycle routes, seeing several lock houses. At the village of Moissac, take time to explore the distinctive abbey and cloister. Leaving the Canal de Garonne bike path, you’ll ride to Montauban. Get back on the canal road cycling, which leads you to your destination, Toulouse.
There are many places in Aquitaine for people to meet and chat. Each traveler will live a real cycling experience.
Itinerary
This program may be done in the opposite way: From Toulouse to Bordeaux.
Day 1: Arrival in Bordeaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Bordeaux, named before “Burdigala”, is a Roman city, inseparable from its vineyards and prestigious stone architecture. The river Garonne, the heart of the city, welcomes walkers on the banks and offers boat trips, and barge visits. The quays suit everyone, hoping to witness the stop of a cruise ship, an “amazing show” of a giant of the seas in the city center.
Capital of wine, Bordeaux is endowed with a rich history and architecture. Before leaving Bordeaux, Evazio advises that you book a guided wine tour in a château. You’ll learn everything about Bordeaux wines, including winemaking, appellations, tannins, the difference between Medoc and St Emilion, grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Malbec… And also tasting of course!
Overnight in a three-star hotel in the heart of Bordeaux city where you will find the road book and bikes waiting for you. Breakfast included.
Day 2: From Bordeaux to the Entre-Deux-Mers (40 - 60 kilometers)
From the gates of Bordeaux in Aquitaine, one of the most beautiful Green Ways beckons you across fields and vineyards, and chateaux! Leave Bordeaux by a bicycle path on the right bank of the Garonne, and then follow this Green Way that snakes through the hills of Entre-Deux-Mers.
You will cycle through towns such as Créon or Sauvettere-de-Guyenne. Then, go down to a Réole through Romanesque backroads surrounded by vineyards. This itinerary is easy, most of the time wooded, and also dotted with vineyards and stopping places, which allow you to appreciate what it deserves (Entre-deux-mers) between two rivers the Dordogne and Gironde.
Overnight in a charming bed and breakfast. Dinner and breakfast included.
Day 3: Cycling along the Canal de Garonne (25 - 55 kilometers)
Apart from the first few miles of cycling on backroads, the rest of this itinerary will allow you to discover and follow the Canal de Garonne. Then you just have to take the pace leisurely and exploit your surroundings. Barges, barely faster than cyclists are stopped at the locks. Walkers, cyclists, and boatmen exchange expressions of sympathy whenever one overtakes the other.
From Castets-en-Dorthe, itineraries are beautiful, shaded everywhere by large trees. The road is continuous, easy, and safe. You will discover splendid sights such as St-Macaire, Castets-en-Dorthe, and finally Meilhan-sur-Garonne.
Overnight in a charming bed and breakfast. Dinner and breakfast included.
Day 4: Biking through the rich valley of the Garonne (55 - 60 kilometers)
Your cycle tours continue along the Garonne Canal, a convivial place where lots of stops are possible. You’ll road cycling through Mas d’Agenais a fortified wall and detaining the famous Rembrandt painting: “Christ on the Cross” preserved in the church of St. Vincent. The path is easy and safe.
End your journey in Serignac, a pretty Bastide (fortified town) from the 13th Century housing half-timbered houses and arcades.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included. Optional dinner.
Day 5: Cycle through beautiful villages toward Moissac (37 miles / 60 kilometers depending on variations)
This itinerary is wonderful as there are lots of interesting locations! The Green Way is easy and secure. Ride under the shade of plane trees that you will encounter throughout your trip. On your way, you will discover interesting sites: the canal bridge of Agen, Lake St-Nicolas-de-la-Grave, and Moissac.
Take the time to visit Agen and its museum; Auvillar, a beautiful perched village; Valence d’Agen and laundries; Moissac and abbeys. When you pass Lamagistère, cross the Tarn-et-Garonne, an artistic territory full of treasures! You will discover the rich heritage classified as UNESCO. Then you will continue your bicycle tour on backroads that will guide you to this unique heritage. You will be seduced by the beauty of the surrounding wildlife that makes the Tarn-et-Garonne, a real open-air museum.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included. Optional dinner.
Day 6: Cycle on the Green Way toward Toulouse (64 kilometers)
On the way to Toulouse, you will cycle on an easy and secure Green Way under the shade of the trees. Only the last kilometers to enter Toulouse are noisy but it will lead you to the city center, a real comfort!
On this path, you will discover one of the greatest structures of Montech: The Water Slope. The Tarn-et-Garonne, orchard, and Chasselas grapes country invites you to navigate between cultural tourism and outdoor leisure. You will end your journey in Haute Garonne, classified in the first department for its quality of life and the warm colors of Toulouse.
Overnight in a 3-star hotel in the heart of Toulouse. Breakfast included.
Toulouse has been developed over the centuries using mainly tile and Roman brick, ancient heritage, still used today! Both modern and yet proud of its legacy, Toulouse is always open and brilliant. Toulouse intoxicates its inhabitants who get caught with its own style of charm and colorful historic buildings of the well-named “Ville rose” (Pink City)! City of bricks, violet, rugby, planes, and the poet Claude Nougaro. This stereotyped summary should tell us that this regional metropolis offers jewels of architecture.
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast, make your way to your chosen departure point or stay on in Toulouse for one or two extra nights to enjoy the city’s attractive ambiance.
Bikes
For this holiday, you can bring your own bike or rent one from Evazio. Please let them know your choice upon reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 set of repair
- 1 helmet (on request)
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, Evazio can offer depending on age and size:
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follow-up bike
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size. At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. Evazio will take care of their recovery.
Luggage
Evazio will take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike. You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure. At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.
Evazio reminds you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day.
Documents
Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes a welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for baggage transport
- Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from the rental if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
- The logbook travel package including map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist, and practical indications
- The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the circuits:
- The “Evazio” application to download from a smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on your smartphone) and / or oral
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
A support team remains available for the duration of your trip.
Location
Food
You will have six breakfasts and two dinners during the tour (drinks not included).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- 6 overnights with breakfast in 3 or 4-star hotel and charming guesthouses (in double / twin room)
- 2 dinners (drinks not included)
- Route notes and maps, regional information
- GPS App for smartphone
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- Emergency phone call support 7/7
What's not included
- Drinks
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
10 km
Transfer not provided
Toulouse–Blagnac Airport
204 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by train
You can arrive in Bordeaux or Toulouse.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 21 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.