Explore. Connect. Ride
6 Day Lightweight Bikepacking Tour
Join us for an unforgettable lightweight bikepacking adventure through the stunning foothills of the Pyrenees. I’ve purposely designed this tour to offer up the perfect balance of challenge and comfort. You’ll explore beautiful landscapes, and get a real taste for what it’s like to go on a bikepacking trip, while also being fully supported each and every day.
Dates: June 28 – 04 July (6nights/5days)
Start / Finish: Toulouse, France
Style: Lightweight Bikepacking
Accommodation: Hotels (twin share)
Meals: All inclusive
Difficulty: Ability to cycle 100km on consecutive days
Riding: On road – paved surfaces
Pricing: €1550 per person (€350 single supplement available)
Ready to give bikepacking a try?
If you’ve been curious about bikepacking but not sure where to start, this tour is for you! Over 5 days, you’ll experience the adventure of lightweight bike travel with no camping gear or cooking to worry about — instead you’ll enjoy cycling through some of the most beautiful parts of the French Pyrenees.
With small group sizes, two experienced guides by your side, and everything taken care of (accommodation, meals, and route planning), you can focus on simply just enjoying the ride. This is your chance to give bikepacking a go in a supportive, easy-going environment. Come join us and see where the adventure can take you!
Tour Overview
- Experience the joy of bikepacking in a guided, small-group setting as we journey through the lesser-known gems of Southern France. With rolling terrain, mountain views, historic sites, and charming villages, this adventure is designed for those new to lightweight touring. Carry only what you need in your bikepacking bags as we take care of accommodations, meals, and route planning.
- Enjoy 5 days of riding, immersing yourself in the beauty of both the Ariege Pyrenees and Aude region. We’ll take the time along the way to exploring medieval wonders like Carcassonne, sample the local cuisine and of course create long-lasting memories. Whether you’re seeking to try bikepacking for the first time or wanting a fun and well-supported cycling getaway, this tour is the perfect blend of both adventure and comfort.
Highlights
Stunning Landscapes:
Discover the breathtaking charm of this hidden gem in the South of France. Pedal through rolling terrain in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, and marvel at the impressive gorge roads that we personally believe rank among France’s most spectacular. Every day of this adventure promises unforgettable scenery —perfectly experienced on a bikepacking adventure!
Cultural Treasures:
Explore the rich history of the Cathar castles, wander through picturesque French villages, and spend a full day immersed in the medieval splendour of Carcassonne. You’ll also get to experience the tranquility of cycling along sections of the serene Canal du Midi, making unforgettable memories all along the way.
Lightweight Bikepacking:
Pack light and travel far! We have designed this tour to allow you to experience the fun of bike travel while only requiring you to carry the essentials in your bikepacking bags. No need for camping gear on this tour, as we will be staying in comfortable hotels each night. As for cooking equipment – leave that behind as we embrace the culinary food options available to us locally all along the route. Think small and authentic boulangeries, great restaurants and the opportunities to sample the local cuisine.
Small Group Experience:
We don’t want your experience to be drowned out by being in a big group! With our smaller group size, participants will enjoy personalised attention from two experienced guides. Riding this tour will leave you with great memories from cycling through such a stunning region, you’re likely going to make some new friends along the way!
Local Food Experiences:
We personally believe one of the best parts of travel is getting to sample the local cuisine. On this tour you’ll enjoy delicious French breakfasts, prepared lunches and dinners each day of your journey. All your meals on our tour are fully catered for – we promise you won’t go hungry!
Supportive Guides:
You’ll have the support of two experts along the ride. Bella, a podcast host passionate about bike travel and showing you the best of the region, and Ceri, a qualified cycling mechanic who has years of experience assisting on cycle tours.
Together, your ride leaders create a supportive and inspiring environment, empowering you to confidently embrace the adventure aspect of this bikepacking tour. This leaves you free to focus instead on the experiences contained within the journey.
Itinerary
Day 1: Toulouse to Foix
Distance: 100kms – Elevation Gain : 700m
Our first day will see us leave the beautiful city of Toulouse via the historic Canal du Midi. You’ll soon learn why so many bike travellers enjoy riding along this historic path. We will then make our way through the stunning rolling countryside, and enter the Ariege region. Passing through charming villages with views to the Pyrenees mountain in the distance, the scenery will give you a taste for what to expect on the rest of our tour. We end our day arriving in Foix – known for it’s impressive Castle which sits prominently at the height of the town.
Day 2: Foix to Quillan
Distance: 90kms – Elevation Gain: 1100m
We leave the charming town of Foix and its classic cobbled streets behind and now begin going deeper into the foothills of the Pyrenees. Today will see us increase the elevation, as we take on some more climbing. The mountain views can be found around every bend in the road but the real treat comes as our route takes us down through the Gorges de Rébenty before making our way to the beautiful village of Quillan situated on the banks of the Aude River.
Day 3: Quillan to Carcassonne
Distance: 110kms – Elevation Gain: 1400m
The route for day 3 was inspired by a bikepacking trip that ride leader Bella took herself. More gorge roads are on offer – this time with the stunning Gorges de Galamus. The scenery is spectacular and we promise you’ll be amazed at the roads you’ll be riding on, with nature making us feel the size of tiny ants. Our end destination for day 3 is Carcassonne, a town in France that is oozing with history, so much so we are going to be based here for two nights.
Day 4: Carcassonne explore
Distance: 50 – 70kms
We believe it’s important that you take the time to fully appreciate the places you arrive in on a bikepacking trip and today is all about that. We will be enjoying some time off the bike to firstly see the sights of Carcassonne. No trip there is truly complete without a visit through the fortified old city. We got a glimpse of it as we arrived here and now it’s time to explore more, this time on foot. We will also have the opportunity to take the bikepacking bags off our bikes and go for a shorter explorer ride to see the surrounding areas.
Day 5: Carcassonne to Toulouse
Distance: 110kms – Elevation Gain: 780m
As we leave the beautiful city of Carcassonne behind it’s now time to head back to the city of Toulouse. Our route will take us through beautiful towns such as Castelnaudary – home to the infamous french dish cassoulet! From there more rolling countryside greets us before we once again join onto the tree lined Canal du Midi and enjoy the final easy kms back to Toulouse. We end this tour with a special celebratory dinner, giving us the opportunity to reflect back on the group experiences we’ve enjoyed along the way.
What’s Included
Accommodation
Each night, you’ll relax in carefully selected hotels, ensuring a restful and enjoyable experience after a day of riding. Accommodation is based on twin share, with the option to book a single room for an additional supplement. We’ve selected these welcoming stays to offer the perfect blend of comfort and charm on your bikepacking adventure.
On the Road Support
Throughout your adventure, you’ll benefit from the expertise and care of two ride leaders. We are both passionate about bike adventures and committed to ensuring every aspect of your journey is enjoyable and worry-free.
Bella brings an intimate knowledge of this particular region, having personally lived in this area of the Pyrenees for 6 months when she first moved to France. What struck her most was the variety of the terrain on offer – no two days are ever the same. Her passion for bike travel and local insights will enrich your experience, providing context and stories that connect you with the terrain you’re riding through.
Ceri is a seasoned tour professional and qualified bike mechanic with experience supporting the women’s pro peloton. She also loves taking her own bike adventures and believes exploring places on two wheels is the best way to travel. Rest assured you’re in capable hands should any mechanical issues arise. With a good understanding of on-the-road needs, she’ll also help with pacing, encouragement, and practical tips for bikepacking, especially for those new to this style of travel.
Food
We’ve got your meals covered to keep you fuelled and happy throughout the tour. Start your day with a hearty breakfast to set you up for success on the bike. Lunches will be sourced locally, fresh, simple, and satisfying. You will also be provided with ride snacks for use throughout the ride, keeping your energy levels high. At the end of each day, gather with the group for a relaxed dinner either at local restaurants or our hotel, where you’ll get a real taste of the region’s flavours. It’s all about good food, great company, and keeping the adventure rolling!
Local Cultural Experiences
This tour is as much about connecting with the local culture as it is about the daily riding. Included in the tour price is a guided tour through the iconic medieval fort of Carcassonne, that brings its remarkable history to life. Along the way, you’ll also discover charming French villages, learn the stories behind the historic Cathar castles, and gain insights into the unique traditions of the region.
Pricing & Booking
Tour Pricing
Total Cost: €1,550 per person (€350 single supplement available)
Deposit: €550 (non-refundable) payable upon booking to secure your spot.
Balance Payment: €1,000 due no later than 28 April 2025 (60 days before the tour start date).
Tour Terms & Conditions
By submitting your booking request, you acknowledge and accept the Tour Terms and Conditions. Please review these carefully before proceeding.
Have any questions or want to plan out your own adventure?
If you have any questions about the Seek Travel Ride Tour, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help!
Are you part of a group looking to experience the Pyrenean foothills together? Well we’d love to help you organise your own bespoke tour. Whether it’s a custom route, special dates, or tailored support, we can create an adventure that’s perfect for your group.
📧 Email us or fill out our contact form to get in touch!
Seek Travel Ride Tour FAQS
Due to the nature of this tour we recommend using your own bike, to ensure that your luggage (panniers/bikepacking bags) are compatible with your bike frame. However, options to hire a bike are available in Toulouse. Please reach out if you need to hire a bike for this tour and we can assist with linking you in with rental providers. Please note that bike hire costs are not included in the overall tour price.
The majority of the terrain is rolling countryside, we aren’t taking on any mountain passes, we will admire them from afar. The roads are tarmac, with the odd rougher section but absolutely fine for a road bike. If you have a gravel bike, you would probably want slicks for the trip.
Absolutely, you are welcome to join us! All we say is this is not a trip to try and prove how fast you are. If you can ride faster than everyone else, congrats, but you will be expected to back it off and ride with the group to be a part of the adventure.
Whilst we would love to say always sunny, it’s not always the way! It’s likely shorts and t-shirts weather, or summer cycling kit if you are wearing lycra – however, we are cycling near the Pyrenees foothills so you will want to plan for some cooler mornings and the chance of rain.
We will arrange storage for bike bags during the trip so any bike bags and the odd piece of kit that you decide last minute not to carry can be left in Toulouse.
There are numerous options to get to Toulouse, whether it’s by air, road or train. If you need any help with finding the best options, get in touch with where you are travelling from and we will send some suggestions.
We will send a comprehensive kit list before the trip but the key pieces of equipment you need are; a (serviced!) bicycle (road or gravel), either panniers or bikepacking bags, gps (not essential but recommended) and your cycling kit to cover a range of seasons.
If you’re anxious about joining, we don’t want that to stop you, we will absolutely make sure you feel comfortable before you arrive and during the trip, and where possible arrange an intro call with fellow travellers beforehand. We are a friendly bunch and everyone is welcome.
Absolutely! Food is a passion of ours so if you have special dietary requirements we can certainly cater for you. All we ask is you make us aware at the time of booking so we can make arrangements with our local partners.
Sometimes life happens and you need to cancel well made plans. We get it. Deposits are non refundable. Please reference our refund policy based on the cancellation periods set out below:
Before April 28, 2025 (60+ days), the refund amount will be €1,000 (balance minus deposit). Between April 28 and May 28, 2025 (30–60 days), the refund amount will be €500 (50% of the balance minus deposit).
After May 28, 2025 (less than 30 days), no refund will be issued
We will take a deposit of €550 at time of booking and the balance is payable 60 days before the trip starts (28th April 2025). We will send you a payment link to make the deposit payment via email once you have confirmed you would like to join us.
The cost is €1550 for the 6 nights, 5 days riding. There is an optional single supplement of €350 if you don’t want to share a twin room bringing the total cost with a single supplement to €1900
While it’s not ‘all-inclusive’ it’s as close as we can get. Hotels for 6 nights, Welcome dinner on the first night, followed by 5 days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a celebratory meal when we return to Toulouse on the Thursday evening. Local experiences like a guided visit to Carcassonne’s Fort are included and we will share more details of other experiences closer to the trip. Mechanical support is also included, we will all be cycling but we will have tools to carry out essential repairs on the roadside if needed and your bike will be checked over before we leave.
We will be cycling approximately 100km each day give or take, but each day will be an adventure and a chance to explore the local areas.
This trip isn’t designed around speed, it’s designed to be a chance to discover the local area, french culture and experience bikepacking and it’s self sufficiencies. All we ask is that you can ride 5 days around 100km back to back. Rather than focusing on average speed, which will be different depending on the terrain we are riding on, how much luggage we are taking, the wind direction etc. instead we would suggest a better way to gauge your ability is knowing that this tour will likely require you to spend 5 – 6 hours pedalling your bike each day. This won’t be done all at once, nor at a flat out pace but likely around 22 – 24km/hr . We do plan to stop occasionally and enjoy the views as well. If you’re not sure, get in touch and we can chat.