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Occitania

Discover the Passa Païs by bike, multi-activity trip

This medium length trip is perfect to appreciate the Passa païs from all its angles at a peaceful pace. Start your cycling trip from Mazamet and reach Mons la Trivalle in two short stages. You are in the Natural Park of the Haut Languedoc. A descent by Canoe on the Orb River allows you to appreciate the Caroux (local montain) in all freshness. The gorges of Heric are at your fingertips. Go to its discovery on a small hike. Then finish your stay by bike on the Passa Païs in Bédarieux.

Reviews (1) :
1.00 / 5
Reference PP0501
  • Itinerant trip
  • 5 days
  • Very easy
  • From march to october
  • Minimum age 1 year old
GPSGPS-app available
469€ / pers.
  • Itinerary
  • The Passa païs ! This old railroad line of the Haut Languedoc region has been 100% transformed into a secure bicycle path and will reveal all its secrets and beauty. As a family, a couple or with friends, you can ride the entire official route from Mazamet to Bédarieux in complete peace of mind. To allow you to appreciate this preserved territory to the maximum, we have planned a canoe descent on the Orb river and a hike in the magnificent Héric gorges. Short stages, magnificent landscapes, cozy accommodations, the conditions are met to raise the head and slow down.

    Day 1

     
     

    Arrival in Mazamet

    Arrival in Mazamet

    Day 2

     
     

    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 3

     
     

    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 4

     
     

    Mons La Trivalle options

    This day at the same accomodation allow you to combine 2 options (doable in one day)
       

    Hiking in Heric Gorges 3h

    Before leaving Mons la Trivalle, you will discover the beauty of the Heric gorges by taking a 5 km hiking trail that will lead you to the hamlet of Heric,
    On the way, you will find many natural pools and you will reach the hamlet at the end of your walk. Typical houses of the region, they are built with roofs in Lauze, supported by frames designed in chestnut, authenticity assured.
    You will then take the opposite way, to appreciate the beauty of the Caroux mountain, mountain of light.
    Included

    Canoe Orb river 3h

    Cycling is good, but to discover the Orb and its valley, canoeing remains the best option. Reach the departure base located only a few kilometers from the center of Mons La Trivale. A shuttle will drop you off downstream at Colombières. A 5 km descent will allow you to discover the Carroux from a very refreshing angle. You will navigate in the river on an active course. It is necessary to know how to swim and to be at least 8 years old.
    Departures are possible from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm every half hour.
    21,00 € / child
    21,00 € / teen
    24,00 € / adult

    Day 5

     
     

    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 stay in hotels with *** standards or bed & breakfasts selected for their style and quality. 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
    .
  • Reviews
  •   Memory of the trip  

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    1 bike travelers reviews 1.00 / 5

    SEJOUR A AMELIORER

    On the 2023-09-02 by BENEDICTE
    Une trop grande partie de ce séjour s'effectue dans un environnement trop bruyant ( proximité d'axes routiers très fréquentés ) et la dernière demi-journée n'est pas adaptée ( impossibilité de visiter le musée d'HEREPIAN qui , pourtant , est repris au programme )
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