Day 1  Arrival
Our local representative in Languedoc will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel located in the heart of the medieval part of Carcassone.  After your check-in, he will give you a hand assembling the bikes, go over the itinerary, and give you all the necessary materials (marked maps and/or cue sheets, tourist information) which includes a suggested afternoon loop.  You may of course prefer to take the afternoon off and explore the walled “museum city” of Carcassonne and its extraordinary medieval treasures.

Day 2:  Carcassonne - Couiza (approx. 100 km)
After breakfast, you’ll ride southwest on quiet roads—the road network in that part of France is such that you’ll never ride on busy roads—through typical villages such as Cailhau, Bellegarde and the medieval town of Mirepoix--the half-point of your ride—which offers many lunch options whether you want to take advantage of the typical restaurants in the old part of town, have a quick bite at an outdoor café, or buy sandwiches and picnic roadside.   The ride to Couiza will take you through Chalabre and Puivert before tackling your first “col: “Col des Tougnets” (558 m). 

Day 3:  Couiza – Couiza
You will be given different options.  Depending on your mood and legs, and the weather conditions (high-altitude passes don’t re-open until mid-May), you can choose between a super challenging loop which will take you on mythic Tour de France routes over Col de Garavel (1265 m) and Port de Pailhères (2001 m) to Ax-les-Thermes, a classic TdF finish.  The way back will take you over Col de Chioula (1,431 m), Col de Marmare (1,361 m), Col des 7 Fréres (1,253 m), and Col des Coudons (883 m)…  a real challenge as the total mileage for this loop is 140 km!   Shorter versions will take you to Port de Pailhères and back to Couiza following a different road than the one you rode earlier to reach Port de Pailhères. 

Our easiest option will take you north of Couiza through the Corbières wine-making area.  Although much easier than our first option, it is not however a rest day!  Even if “mountainous” may not be the appropriate term to describe the terrain, “rolling” does not quite do justice to this area where low altitude passes are many!  Among the ones you’ll cover today are Col de la Louviero (599 m), Col de l’Espinas (680 m) and Col de Taurize (500m). 

Both options will take you back to your hotel located in Couiza.

Day 4:  Couiza – Lezignan Corbières (approx. 108 km)
Many of the climb-worthy passes (Col de Saint-Louis, Col du Linas, Col de la Croix-Dessus, Col du Prat, and Col de Villerouge) offer amazing views over Languedoc’s most scenic part which includes some breathtaking sites such as the Cathar fortresses of Peyrepetuse and Queribus.   You’ll then follow a route that winds through a scenic landscape checkered with vineyards, medieval sites (Villerouge-Termenès and Lagrasse) and Old World villages.  Your destination is Lezignan-Corbières, in the heart of the Corbières wine-making area.  Your hotel is outside the town and set amidst vineyards (Le Mas de Gaujac, a 3-star property)

Day 5:  Lézignan-Corbière - Carcassonne (108 km)
You will ride through the Corbièrew wine area.  Although many places offer wine-tasting, you might want to do it later!  The climbing will start right after the crossing of  Minerve, a village so beautiful that it has been deemed one of France’s most beautiful villages (“Un des Plus Beaux Villages de France”).  Two classic climbs, Col de Serières (685 m) and Col de Salette (913 m) will take you to the hilltop medieval village of Lespinassiere.   From there, the way back to Carcassone is mainly downhill!

Day 6:  Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport. .

Pricing: This tour is priced at 850 euros per person in a double room. 

This price includes:

• 5-night accommodations in 3-star properties "of character"
• Daily breakfast
• Daily dinner (drinks are not included)
• Transfer between your hotel and Carcassonne airport on Day 1 and Day 6
• Luggage transfers
• Meeting with our local representative
• Marked map and/or cue sheets
• Assistance if necessary
• All tax and service charges

This price does not include:

• Expenses of personal nature
• Travel insurance. An Elvia insurance can be secured through us at the rate of 15 euros per person (also covers bike damage and theft

Note: We require a minimum of 4 riders to run this tour.