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  • France 
  • Massif Central 

The Great Crossing of the Massif Central by mountain bike, Part 3

From Millau to Sète

From
480€/person
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Presentation of your trip

The GTMC: The final part of the Great Crossing of the Massif Central by mountain bike, the final slopes which will transport you to Sète and the Mediterranean Sea. 
You set off from the beautiful city of Millau. Take in the superb view over its viaduct, before starting the crossing of the Causse du Larzac and enjoying breaks in the charming villages of Couvertoirade and Lunas. On this stage, you ride most often along beautiful paths, but will also take on technical and playful single-tracks ! 
Leaving Larzac, you will smell the scents of the South, riding through red-earth lands to reach Lac du Salagou, a spot which is adored by cyclists. 
Before dipping your feet in the water, slalom between pretty wineries of the Hérault, then the Canal du Midi and, finally, the sea via a pretty cycle path to reach Sète.

  • DestinationFrance, Massif Central
  • TypeFree
  • Length of trip5 days and 4 nights
  • ActivitiesMountain Biking
  • Physical level
  • Technical level

Possible periods for this trip

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • March
  • Apr.
  • May
  • June
  • Jul.
  • August
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.
Description of the tripProgramTravel conditionsDates and price

Trip details

Highlights

  • Legendary crossing of the Causse du Larzac
  • Lac du Salagou
  • Arrival at the Mediterranean Sea having visited inland wineries
  • Accommodation in a double bedroom

Complementary informations

  • 5 jours - 4 nights in a double bedroom including 5 days of mountain biking
  • Compatible with electric mountain bikes

Program

  • Day 1

    From Millau to La Couvertoirade

    • Distance : 49 km
    • Elevation gain : 990 m
    • Negative gradient : 600 m
    • Type of accommodation : Double room

    The third part of the Great Crossing of the Massif Central starts from Millau, in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of the Grands Causses, famous for its viaduct which you will be able to see from the road you climb to reach the Plateau of Larzac. From here, the route takes you on to discover the typical landscapes of the Larzac, along wide tracks, then pretty and technical single-tracks, to reach the village of Le Couvertoirade.
    Night in La Couvertoirade.

  • Day 2

    From La Couvertoirade to Lunas

    • Distance : 50 km
    • Elevation gain : 700 m
    • Negative gradient : 1190 m
    • Type of accommodation : Double room

    For this second stage, you move on across the slopes to reach the village of Caylar, thus leaving the Causse du Larzac. The route follows the Escandorgue Forest, a small volcanic massif ! We then enter further forest areas, without any great difficulty except for a somewhat physical climb to reach Joncels. 
    Arrival via a beautiful forest descent for a break on the banks of the River Orb, in the charming and history-filled village of Lunas.
    Night in Lunas.

  • Day 3

    From Lunas to Clermont l’Hérault

    • Distance : 43 km
    • Elevation gain : 810 m
    • Negative gradient : 980 m
    • Type of accommodation : Double room

    Setting off from Lunas, you gain altitude via a physical climb to reach the plateau, from where we can see the Mediterranean ! The red lands of Salagou are also in sight. After a descent to the Chateau de Dio, a series of climbs are rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view. A very beautiful descent then takes you to the famous Lac du Salagou, a site that is adored by cyclists ! You ride around the lake along fantastic single-tracks, passing through red-hued lands. At the end of the stage, you descend into Clermont l’Hérault.
    Night in Clermont l’Hérault.

  • Day 4

    From Clermont l’Hérault to Pézenas

    • Distance : 49 km
    • Elevation gain : 885 m
    • Negative gradient : 965 m
    • Type of accommodation : Double room

    You are gradually getting closer the the culminating point of the Great Crossing of the Massif Central: the Mediterranean Sea ! But first, you have a sequence of hills to climb, the final reliefs of the largest massif in France. Passing along a technical single-track, you reach Neffiès. And then? A relatively flat route through vineyards and slaloming between small and ancient volcanoes. Finally, you reach Pézenas, Molière’s town, where you end the stage.
    Night in Pézenas. 

  • Day 5

    From Pézenas to Sète

    • Distance : 42 km
    • Elevation gain : 205 m

    The final stage of the mythical Great Crossing of the Massif Central ! On beautiful paths with occasional sea views, in the heart of magnificent vineyard landscapes, you are getting closer to the final goal. The landscape becomes flatter and flatter as you continue along beautiful single-tracks. You pass through Agde before finally reaching Sète along a magnificent cycle path on the sea front. And, voila, you have arrived at the end of the GTMC!
    End of trip.

  • End of trip

Travel conditions

  • Luggage

    You only carry the items of the day and the picnic. Luggage is carried by vehicle.

    1 piece/person and limited to 15kg/piece.

  • Formalities

    • A valid official ID
    • We recommend travel insurance with repatriation included

  • DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT

    Departure from Millau (12).

    How to get there:
    By car: A75 motorway
    By train: Millau train station.

  • Accommodation

    Double room formula: you sleep in comfortable rooms for 2 people in hotels or guest rooms selected.  Bed linen and towels are provided.

    A bathroom and toilet are reserved for you in the vast majority of cases.
     

  • Food

    No question of dieting during your stay but it is rather an opportunity to taste the local cuisine. We attach great importance to the quality of food: dietary balance, energy intake and specialty of the country are the ingredients of each meal.

    Picnics, 2 options:

    either you manage your own picnic
    either you take the proposed picnic option.

  • Difficulty level

    Physical level: 2/3
    You have a good physical condition and regularly practice mountain biking. From 41 to 50 km per day with maximum positive gradients of 990 m.

     

    Technical level: 2/3
    You master well the braking in descent and the trajectory of the bike. You will ride on paths or paths sometimes rolling, sometimes technical (steeper, with small obstacles).

    Stay compatible VAECompatible VAE

  • Options

    • Transfer back to Millau. 
    • Picnic option.
    • Additional accommodation before or after the stay,
    • Single room supplement.

  • Accompanying

    Three formulas to choose from:

    Self-guided mountain bike with luggage carrying by taxi (from 2 people):
    Equipped with the guidance material we give you: maps with highlighted route, GPS with built-in route and detailed topo-guide, you go alone to discover circuits designed by our team. The topo and the GPS fixed on the handlebars, you let yourself be guided by the indications prepared with care, for a maximum precision.

    ATV with assistance vehicle (from 6 people):
    The assistance vehicle joins you at different times during the day’s stage, and transports your picnic, water, extra clothes and a complete toolbox in case of mechanical problems. Enjoy your day with a light bag. The driver of the vehicle also gives you advice for each step, helps you manage your effort, and can most of the time answer your questions about the region visited.

    Mountain bike with state certified instructor with luggage carrying by taxi (from 6 people):
    Accompanied by a professional mountain bike certificate, you ride without worrying about the route to follow. Our instructor, specialist of the region, guides you and gives you, if you wish, the right advice to make you outstanding mountain bikers. Thanks to his knowledge of the route, he adapts to your group to manage schedules and effort throughout the day. Freed from group management, your only concern is to please you on your mountain bike.

Dates and price

Free departure from

Price TTC per person

Freedom package with luggage transfer by cab - double room
Registration at 2 people670€
Registration at 3 people620€
Registration at 4 people530€
Registration at 6 people480€
Formula with qualified instructor and luggage carrying by taxi - hotel double room
Registration at 6 people810€
Registration at 8 people710€

Options

  • Transfer back to Millau, contact us!
  • Option 4 picnics: 40€/pers
  • Additional accommodation before or after the stay,
  • Single room supplement: 100€/pers
     

The price includes

  • The reservation of accommodation,
  • IGN maps with highlighted plot, map holder,
  • The detailed guidebook,
  • GPS electronic tracks (in .gpx format),
  • GPS (if requested) and its GPS holder,
  • Half board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 5,
  • Daily luggage transport,
  • For the formula with assistance vehicle: 1 vehicle + driver assists the group throughout the stay.

The price does not include

  • Accommodation the day before departure,
  • Drinks,
  • Picnics,
  • Personal expenses,
  • Personal ATV equipment (helmets, gloves),
  • Mountain bikes,
  • Transportation to the meeting point,
  • The transfer back,
  • Insurance.

The destination

  • Massif Central

    Traversée du Massif Central by road bike: from Clermont-Ferrand, through the typical Volcans d'Auvergne to the sea in the pretty town of Sète, nicknamed the "Venice of Languedoc".

    See more trips
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