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The treasures of Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne by bike

Price per person

From 965€

Type of stay

Voyage à vélo

Location

Toulouse, Albi, Montauban - France

Duration

7 days

Difficulty

Departures

Daily from April to October

Capacity

2 people minimum

Reference

Cyclo 35

Your stay

Cycling vacations in Tan and Tarn-et-Garonne. Treasures in the heart of Occitania!

We offer you a cycling trip through the Tarn in the heart of Occitanie, with small incursions into Tarn-et Garonne and Haute-Garonne. An undulating yet diverse cycling route along the Tarn, Aveyron and Canal Latéral de la Garonne, between bastides and vineyards, fertile valleys and gorges, plains and plateaus. Here, conviviality and gastronomy are an integral part of the region’s heritage, and your taste buds won’t be left out. The region is brimming with specialities that promise to delight your taste buds.

Departing from Toulouse, your route takes you first through the real ” Pays de Cocagne ” (not far from the “ fantasized land of profusion and abundance “!), a source of inspiration for artists through the ages, including of course Toulouse-Lautrec. As you leave this beautiful region, the vineyards of Gaillac on both banks of the Tarn await you. You’ll wind your way through the “Premières côtes de Gaillac” before reaching Albi La Rouge, the breathtaking episcopal city with its imposing UNESCO-listed Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile.

You’ll visit some of the “Grands Sites d’Occitanie” and travel back in time, including the medieval towns of Castelnau-de-Montmiral and Cordes-sur-Ciel, the jewel of the Tarn. Don’t miss the panoramic view of the latter before heading down to visit it!

A little further on, in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, an astonishing medieval town that has kept its inhabitants, there’s a change of scenery. You’ll follow a cycle route along the Aveyron Gorges, a succession of high limestone cliffs overlooking wild, verdant countryside. Here, breathtaking panoramic views and picturesque villages such as Penne and Bruniquel (where Romy Schneider and Philippe Noiret played a few scenes in the famous film “Le Vieux Fusil”).

Your freewheeling journey continues across the plains to Montauban and its gentle way of life, then along the Montech canal. Finally, the Canal de Garonne greenway takes you to your final accommodation in the heart of Toulouse.

You'll enjoy :

The rolling, bucolic landscapes of the Tarn, a veritable land of plenty.
The magnificent Gaillac vineyards
The medieval villages of Cordes sur Ciel, Penne, Bruniquel
The spectacular Aveyron gorges
The Art and History centers of Gaillac, Albi or Montauban
Toulouse The “pink city

Back to travel

Daily program

Day 1 - Arrival in Toulouse

You’ll receive your bike, documentation on the region and a route booklet indicating your route.

Toulouse is well worth a long visit, with its famous Place du Capitole and the quays of the Garonne, a magical place at sunset. Toulouse is nicknamed the ” pink city ” because of the terracotta bricks used to build its houses. Its other nickname is the “city of violets”, a flower that you can taste in all its forms!

Night and breakfast in a 3* hotel.

Day 2 - Toulouse to Gaillac

On your first day by bike, you’ll leave the hustle and bustle of the city for the peace and quiet of small country roads. You’ll discover the Pays de Cocagne, the first Albigensian bastides of Saint-Sulpice la Pointe and l’Isle-sur-Tarn; Rabastens and its Church of Notre-Dame du Bourg, aUnesco World Heritage Site. You’ll then be immersed in the vineyards of Gaillac, France’s oldest vineyard, before reaching the town of the same name.

Night and breakfast in a 3* hotel or charming B&B

Jor 3 - From Gaillac to Albi

Get on your bike and discover Castelnau de Montmiral on small, undulating roads. Classified as one of the ” Most Beautiful Villages in France “, this medieval town proudly overlooks the Tarn valley, and boasts a magnificent arcaded square, half-timbered facades and a mix of red brick and white stone.

You’ll finish on a high note with Albi, an episcopal city listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. From the moment you arrive, it’s all you’ll see! The largest brick cathedral in the world, the majestic and imposing Sainte Cécile cathedral is considered one of the pearls of the South-West.

Enjoy an evening in the red city.

Night and breakfast in 3* (or 2*) hotel

Day 4 - Albi to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val

Today, take in the breathtaking medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel perched on its rocky outcrop. Put the bike down and follow the steep cobbled streets to one of the oldest bastides in Occitanie. This treasure trove of Gothic architecture will enchant you with its fortified gates, ramparts and sculpted Gothic facades, its craftsmen’s stalls and artists’ galleries.

Then a change of scenery as we reach the Aveyron Gorges, a succession of high limestone cliffs dominating a wild, verdant landscape.

You’ll finish this stage in Saint-Antonin-Noble Val, another medieval town sitting at the confluence of the Aveyron and Bonnette rivers.

Night and breakfast in a charming bed & breakfast.

Day 5 - Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val to Montauban

You’ll start your day as close as possible to the Aveyron Gorges, in a wild, green setting. The route de la Corniche offers a view of the Aveyron Gorges as you pass through the picturesque hamlet of Brousses.

This stage, rich in historical heritage, will take you to the medieval villages of Penne and its castle built in the Middle Ages, and Bruniquel ,one of Occitanie’s must-see villages, with its picturesque lanes. You will then pass through the fortified village of Montricoux on the banks of the Aveyron, before reaching Montauban. Grand site d’Occitanie The town of Montauban, both welcoming and lively, is appreciated for its gentle way of life.

Night and breakfast in a 4* hotel.

Day 6 - Montauban to Toulouse

First join Port Canal, Montauban’s marina: a haven of peace and greenery, then the Canal de Garonne at Montech, famous for its marina and its unique water slope.

This peaceful stage, in the shade of plane trees, ends with a few kilometers that are a little less quiet as you enter Toulouse , but which provide access to the heart of the city – a real comfort!

Night and breakfast in a 3* hotel

Day 7 - Departure

Departure from Toulouse after breakfast.

rates

Price per person

7 days – 6 nights: €965
July and August: €1020

Price includes

6 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels and bed & breakfasts (in double/twin rooms)
Road book (with map and directions)
1 GPS App for smartphone
Luggage transfer at each stage
24/7 telephone assistance

Supplement

VTC bike rental: €135
Electric bike rental: €250
Gravel bike rental: €230

Further information

We take care of transporting your luggage every time you change accommodation, so you can travel light and enjoy your day’s hiking.

Leave your luggage at the reception desk of your accommodation before departure.

At the end of the afternoon, you’ll meet them at the reception desk of your new accommodation or directly in your room.

Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (maximum 23 kg) + 1 carry-on.

Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (generally one month before) and/or on arrival at your first accommodation.

It includes :

A welcome letter with key practical information:

Baggage transport times
Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
Any additional information

Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information

Any necessary vouchers to be given to the service provider(s)

On request and depending on the tour:

Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance. The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device

On this tour, we can provide you with a choice of the following, upon reservation:

A VTC bike adapted to the ride and the route

An electric bike adapted to the route

A gravel bike adapted to the course

With equipment :

Bag 1

Handlebar bag

Repair kit

Anti-theft device

Headset

1 rear bag
1 handlebar bag
1 repair kit
1 helmet (on request)
1 anti-theft device
1 charger (for electric bike)

For younger children, depending on age and size, we can offer

Children's bikes

Bicycle follower

Trailer

Second trailer

A child’s bike
A baby seat
A trailer
A follower bike

The bike is adjusted to your size and delivered to the first accommodation.

At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. We’ll take care of collecting them.

This tour is offered in the “superior” category

Hotel categories :

Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent comfort level) and bed & breakfasts.
Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort) and charming bed & breakfasts.
Luxury: The tour features mainly 4- and 5-star hotels (or equivalent level of comfort).

For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available: