Pyrenean Foothills (Mediterranean France)

Overview

A beautiful and remote part of southern France often visited by le Tour, boasting quiet roads and spectacular scenery. Experience gorges, vineyards, moorland and ancient forests. See a dozen Cathar castles, including Montségur, Quéribus and Peyrepertuse. Enjoy cycling in the warmth of the Mediterranean climate. Multiple daily route choices for ultimate flexibility. Good value flights between Toulouse, Carcassonne, and UK regional airports and beyond. Comfortable and friendly hotels with local cuisine geared to cyclists. Excellent support from two customised support vans and two expert, proactive guides focused on making your holiday the very best it can be. The landscape between Carcassonne, Foix, and Perpignan is a delightful place to ride a road bike. It's peppered with deep gorges, vineyards, thick forests, and spectacular medieval castles. The narrow roads that link the pretty, sun-baked villages are quiet and generally well-surfaced, but the countryside here is far from flat! This region is often referred to as Cathar Country (Pays Cathare in French) in recognition of its importance in the conflict between the Catholic Church and those who followed Catharism some 800 years ago. This Marmot Classic style holiday is the perfect introduction to cycling in the mountains of Europe. Compared to the Alps, Dolomites, or the neighbouring Pyrenees, the climbs are relatively short, and the gradients are generally kind. However, those looking for more of a challenge will not be disappointed, as every day there are longer routes and steeper climbs to get your heart and legs pounding! Regardless of which route you choose each day, our two Marmot guides with their fully kitted-out support vehicles are there to help you achieve your goals while on the road. You can stop for a breather whenever you choose, with no fear of holding up others in the group. In contrast, if you want to power your way through each day on the Challenge route, you won't need to wait for slower riders; there are plenty of opportunities to really push yourself. This is _your_ holiday after all, and it's our mission to help you make it the best it can be! 6 days of stunning cycling with route options daily. Detailed GPS route files provided for all route options. On-the-road support from two friendly and knowledgable guides both in customised support vehicles. Water and unlimited snacks (fruit, cake, nuts, snack bars etc) at support stops. 7 nights twin-share hotel accommodation including breakfasts. 6 three-course evening meals, with wine, beer or soft drinks included. Airport transfers on arrival and departure days at specified times. Our photos of you and your holiday, shared with you after the trip. Tips paid to evening meal restaurant staff on behalf of the group. Your money financially protected by ABTOT. Added consumer confidence and support via our ABTA membership. We stay in comfortable 2* and 3* hotels with ensuite facilities. We have selected the hotels for their location and for their customer service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender) unless you book a single room for a supplement (contact [[email protected]](</cdn-cgi/l/email-protection>) for availability). Each hotel has a garage/locked room to ensure that your bike has a comfortable night too. All the hotels have WiFi but it is not always reliable! Some only have WiFi in reception as opposed to in individual rooms. Also, WiFi can be slower in the evenings when many riders choose to upload their routes to Strava, stretching the bandwidth. The hotels and restaurants we use can cater for most dietary needs and allergies if we know what these are well in advance. Each day, your guides will also double-check with the kitchen, to ensure they have something suitable planned for you. You can let us know about any special dietary requirements on the booking form or via email. Please note that we request you stick to your dietary preference for the entire trip, as it’s very complicated for the hotels (and guides) if an individual has dietary requirements for some meals and not for others. Your day will usually start with breakfast from around 08:00 with set off time at around 09:00 to 09:30. Lunch is typically served in restaurants and cafes from 12:00 to 14:00. Depending on which route you choose each day, you’ll be back at the hotel any time between 14:00 and 18:00. Dinner is usually served at 19:30. Your guides may occasionally need to adjust these timings depending on the needs of the group or the weather conditions. Our holidays are cycling holidays (with an emphasis on cycling!), but you are welcome to have a lift in our vans during the day if you need one, for example if you’re injured, exhausted, or unsure about riding in challenging weather conditions. If you become ill or injured and are not planning to ride for the whole day (or if you would just like a day off the bike!), then we will normally recommend that you take a taxi directly to the next hotel. This will give you the maximum possible time to rest and recover at the hotel, or to enjoy other activities off the bike. If you have rim brakes on your carbon wheels then we definitely do NOT recommend you bring them on this holiday - this is because we have witnessed several cases of sudden and catastrophic delamination of these wheels on descents. Take a look at our [blog](<https://marmot-tours.co.uk/rim-brake-carbon-wheel-delamination-when-cycling-in-the-mountains>) about this issue. If you’re bringing your own bike, then please also bring: bike lights, a pump, tyre levers, inner tubes, brake pads, a chain link, a spare rear derailleur hanger. Tools for bike assembly are not required as Marmot Tours has them available for you to use on arrival (including a torque wrench). See FAQS for more detail. If you are a non-EU national, to enter the EU you will need a passport issued within the last 10 years, that is also valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Residents of [many countries](<https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/eu-visa-agreements-with-non-eu-countries/>) can enter the EU for short stays without a visa. From 2027, all non-EU visitors to the EU will require an ETIAS electronic travel authorisation. Travel insurance is essential for all Marmot Tours holidays and anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the tour. Day 0: Arrival day. Transfers from Toulouse Airport (TLS) to Foix. Warm-up rides, including the climb to Prat d’Albis (1460m). Day 1: Day ride from Foix. Route via Mas d'Azil and the river Arize through a cave. Climb to Col des Marrous (990m). Optional extension to Col de Péguère (1362m) and Mur de Péguère (18% gradients). Day 2: Foix to Limoux. Route past Lac de Montbel to Chalabre. Detour to Château de Puivert. Climb over Col de Festes (678m). Optional loop over Col du Bac (620m). Day 3: Limoux to Rivesaltes. Journey through the Corbières towards the Mediterranean. Visit Château de Termes. Classic route over Col de la Loubière (599m). Other options to Arques and over Col de Valmigère (700m), Col du Paradis (627m), and Col de La Fage (731m). Day 4: Rivesaltes to Quillan. Visit Château d'Aguilar (261m), Château de Quéribus (612m), and Château de Peyrepertuse (699m). Ride through the Gorge De Galamus. Optional climbs to Col de Saint-Louis (696m). Day 5: Day ride from Quillan. Circular routes in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Routes via Château d’Usson and over Col des Moulis (1099m) and Col du Garavel (1256m). Option to cycle to Château de Puilaurens (610m) over Col du Campérié (514m). Challenge route includes Col de Pailhères (2001m). Day 6: Quillan to Foix. Climb to Col de Portel (601m). Descend over a high plateau to Château de Puivert and over Col de Babourade (658m) to Bélesta. Climb to Col de Montségur (1056m) and Château de Montségur. Climb to Château de Roquefixade (756m). Optional longer ride includes Col de Coudons (883m), Col de la Croix des Morts (898m) and Prat d'Albis (1460m). Day 7: Departure day. Transfers back to Toulouse airport (TLS). 5% early bookers discount for booking and paying deposit more than 6 months in advance. 7.5% group discount for 10+ people, with a £150 voucher for the organiser. 10% discount for loyalty from the third Marmot Tours road cycling holiday onwards. Maximum 10% discount on any holiday.

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included