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Occitania

3 days cycling with your family on the Passa païs

This 3-day bike ride in the Haut Languedoc Natural Park is refreshing for the body and mind. Take advantage of the short and gentle stages to slow down the pace. You will ride on the old railroad in the Jaur valley and then at the foot of the majestic massifs of the Haut Languedoc. The numerous tunnels on the cycle path guarantee you a total change of scenery. When you arrive in Bédarieux, a shuttle will take you back to the starting point.

Reference PP0301
  • Itinerant trip
  • 3 days
  • Very easy
  • from march to october
  • Minimum age 1 year old
GPSGPS-app available
335€ / pers.
  • Itinerary
  • This 3-day cycling trip in the Natural Park of the Haut Languedoc is a great breath of fresh air in a green setting. The short and gentle stages allow you to discover the magnificent landscapes of the Tarn and the Hérault departement. You will ride on the old railroad of the Jaur valley and then at the foot of the majestic massifs of the Haut Languedoc. The numerous tunnels on your road guarantee you freshness and quietness. You will cross the typical villages of Saint Pons de Thommières, Olargues or Lamalou les bains. If there were only a few words to describe this cycling experience: softness, nature, authenticity, calm.

    Day 1

     
     

    Mazamet - Labastide Rouairoux

    Altitude
    ±250m
    Bike
    24km
    From Mazamet, the Bike path of the Passa Païs offers you a landscape full of greenery and calm. You are in the valley of Thoré, at the foot of the Black Mountain, ideal to recharge your batteries.
    You will take the path of the old railroad, connecting Mazamet to Bédarieux and you will penetrate a set of oaks and ash trees, which will offer you freshness and intimacy.
    On about 25km, you will cross multiple tunnels, more or less long, lighting up on your way and you will cross many points fitted out to take a break.
    Regularly, you will find on your way bridges, opening windows of light on the surrounding massifs, to benefit at most from the nature which surrounds you.
    You will go along some villages in which you will be able to stop to discover places like the departmental museum of Textile in Labastide Rouairoux, a privileged witness of the region’s industrial past.
    The track has a stabilized surface and a very soft profile.

    Day 2

     
     

    Labastide Rouairoux - Mons la Trivalle

    Altitude
    ±250m
    Bike
    33km
    You will leave behind the Montagne Noire and enter the Jaur valley.
    The Passa Païs will then offer you new landscapes, transition between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean climate. You will be surrounded by green oaks, pines and chestnut trees: you are in the Hérault.
    The horizon opens up before you and offers you new colors and new vegetation. Some passages of higher level allow you to take height and to reach another point of view on the nature which surrounds you.
    While stopping at Saint Pons de Thomières, you will discover its abbey church classified as a Historic Monument with its marble heart, formerly extracted from local quarries.
    It is the largest Romanesque cathedral in the Occitan region.
    You will take the bike path again and discover until the village of Olargues, a landscape more and more changing offering you a relief of schist and a vegetation of scrubland.
    In Olargues, a medieval village, a halt is necessary to take advantage of this magnificent village, one of the most beautiful in France, located at the edge of the river at the foot of the Caroux.
    You will have a few kilometers to ride to Mons la Trivalle, name meaning "mount of the three valleys", which is the gateway to the Orb valley.
    Classified as a protected natural site, it is the ideal place for cycling. Balance between ocean, mountain.

    Day 3

     
     

    Mons la Trivalle - Bedarieux

    Altitude
    ±190m
    Bike
    19km
    You will continue your trip on the Passa Païs in the direction of Poujols sur Orb, a pretty little village at the foot of the Caroux and Espinouse massifs.
    This stage offers you an open scenery composed of chestnut trees, low shrubs of scrubland and multiple flowers.
    You will then pass through the famous spa town of Lamalou les bains, with its historic town center and quiet streets. Do not hesitate to visit the bell museum on your way, in Herepian, just after.
    You will then arrive in Bédarieux, at the gates of the Regional Natural Park of the Haut Languedoc, the end of your trip on the Passa Païs, which will have shown you all its facets.
  • Accommodation
  • Category B

    You sleep in *** hotels with an elegant setting and a warm atmosphere or in charming bed and breakfasts along the canal. Breakfast is included.

    * Example of the type of accommodation
  • Bikes, luggage and documents
  • Bikes

    On your arrival day, we provide you with:

    • a touring bike adjusted to your size or a tandem
    • equipped : front rack pack with an integrated file compartment, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), reflective vest, repairing toolkit with patches etc.

    We also provide you with the appropriate equipment for your children : baby seat, bike trailer or trailer bike depending on their age and size.

    Electric bikes are also available for adults (+1m55).

    You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied (see the Tarif tab)


    Luggage


    For this trip, bikes are equipped with 2 waterproof saddle bags with a capacity of 10 to 20L each to transport your luggage. Do not forget to put your items in a soft travel bag to be able that you can roll it up in your saddle bags.

    For more comfort, you can choose to add luggage transport in your booking:
    (see rate in "Prices")

    • We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
    • Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
    • We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.(included in your bike rental).
    • We advise to take an extra set of clothes with you if you expect to arrive before 5p.m. at your accommodation.

    Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.


    Travel documents

    A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

    Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

    We can provide you with travel documents in paper format (for a supplement of €15 for printing and postage), which include:
    • a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
    • a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest

    Example of a map and of a step-by-step description


    Our GPS App

    For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

    You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

    -> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.
  • Practical information
  • To get to departure point:
    • By plane: flight to Toulouse, then TER train to Mazamet. Or flight from paris to Castres and then taxi to Mazamet
    • By train: TGV, Intercity and regional train to Toulouse, then TER to Mazamet. Travel time from Toulouse is estimated at 1h45. To plan your trip, https://www.thetrainline.com/
    • By car: Various possibility to park your car in Mazamet

    Parking:
    • If you drive to Mazamet, you can park your car at out local bike partner

    To reach back the starting point:
    • Regional trains and TGV take you back to your starting point if you wish. The duration of the journey is around 4h30 with connections.
    • You can book a private transfer for you, your bikes and lugage from Bédarieux to Mazamet. Departure at 14h00 from Bédarieux. drive 1:30 h
    .
  • Download
    the trip description
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