South-west France is full of delicious, locally grown produce, cuisine and great wine and the French food tradition of Aquitaine and Gascony (so much praised by master chef Rick Stein in his French Odyssey) is an integral part of the barging experience.

Since the Atlantic is nearby the vibrant local markets here are bursting with varieties of fish, oysters and fruits de mer to tempt every palate.

The ethos in the kitchen is: cook it simply, cook it lightly, embrace seasonality and avoid heavy use of sugar, salt and fat, let the flavour and texture of the food be the focus – guests love this approach.

Pairing wine with food is an art and we work closely with our wine distributor in St Émilion, himself an executive chef, to bring you a wide variety of wines of great quality from across this region, specifically selected to complement the dishes. The excellent cellar carries approximately 600 bottles on board.

No meal in France would be complete without an offering of examples of the cheese makers’ art. Three new cheeses are selected each day to create imaginative cheese boards that may include dried fruits, nuts and honey.

The enjoyment of food is not only a taste experience, it’s also a visual one and each evening guests sit down to a different table setting, with luxury linens, candelabra and imaginative napkin folding!

Beautifully prepared by our resident chef, duck, foie gras and seafood are thus among the basics of the cuisine. Dietary preferences, vegetarian and special dietary needs are easily and cheerfully accommodated (but please tell us in advance).

Self-Drive Boating

For couples especially, getting away from it all on a self-drive boating holiday is one of the most peaceful escapes. It’s a chance to leave everyday life behind and explore France’s beautiful waterways at your own pace, in comfort and seclusion. With the freedom to cruise as far as you like and stop wherever you fancy, you’ll enjoy authentic French life like never before, delving into village cafés and restaurants or loading up with local specialities to enjoy on board.

Hotel Barges

If you love gourmet food, fine wine and fascinating culture then, as a couple, you’ll be in good company. Hotel barging in France is all about enjoying the finer things in life with a handful of like-minded fellow passengers. Join a hotel barge for just 6 – 12 guests and with everything included, all you need to do is relax and share the experience of boutique luxury afloat.

For the ultimate secluded getaway or honeymoon, you could always book exclusive use of the whole barge for an unforgettable cruise in the most romantic country on earth.

Riverboat Cruises

River cruising in France is in many ways the perfect holiday for couples who enjoy travelling in luxury. The all-inclusive experience means you can sit back, relax and enjoy unlimited drinks, gourmet menus, exciting itineraries and, of course, each other’s company, all while exploring a fascinating, new destination every day. And with an average of only 160 passengers, river cruises give you the opportunity to enjoy your time together or to make new friends.

Self-Drive Boating

A self-drive boating holiday in France takes family fun to a new level, but with plenty of relaxation time too. Each new day brings a new adventure, whether it’s crewing the boat, bike riding, canoeing or exploring the attractions, towns and villages en route. Stock up in fabulous local markets, discover charming cafés and restaurants but, above all, relax and enjoy all the scenery. Then, at the end of the day, there’s a comfy bed and a gentle waterway to lull everyone to sleep.

Hotel Barging

Many hotel barges are available only as a whole boat charter, which makes them the perfect setting for the holiday of a lifetime. These beautifully converted or newly built barges offer boutique hotel luxury and gourmet food and drink, all while cruising through some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. You’ll be looked after by an experienced crew who will show you the sights on the way and can often provide a specially crafted family cruise with activities for children and adults built into the itinerary. Which all makes for a truly exclusive cruise your family will never forget.

Riverboat Cruises

There is an increasing number of family-friendly cruises offering a great alternative to the usual family holiday. With a new destination and one or two excursions every day, children will never be bored. Older children especially will be fascinated by the culture and history coming to life in front of them. On board, there are casual dining options for family suppers and the chance to try delicious local specialities (as well as child-friendly classics). And as most cruises are all-inclusive, budgeting for this family holiday is child’s play.

Self-Drive Boating

Boating with friends is a fabulous way to spend time together, discovering new places every day and enjoying plenty of fun along the way. Browse the local markets for your al fresco lunches, linger over dinner at a riverside restaurant, explore the countryside or simply watch the scenery glide by in the best company. Hiring a self-drive boat in France means you can plan the perfect group holiday or just cast off and take each day as it comes.

Hotel Barges

If you’re looking for a rather special venue for a group holiday, then look no further than a private cruise on a hotel barge in France. Whole boat chartering means that you’ll be able to enjoy boutique hotel luxury with gourmet standard food and drink in the sole company of your own friends. Tailor your trip to suit specific tastes, interests or activities, then let the experienced crew look after everything, while you relax and enjoy the finer things in life together.

Riverboat Cruises

France’s many rivers offer a range of excellent choices for luxury group holidays. Whatever your tastes or interests, you’ll find the perfect ship and the perfect route to suit. With bars, cafés, restaurants, sundecks and swimming pools, there’s plenty of opportunity to socialise in luxury, while enjoying all-inclusive gourmet food and drink. And with every day comes a new destination to explore together. Whatever connects you, your group is sure to thrive in the sociable atmosphere of a riverboat cruise.

Self-Drive Boating - No comforts forgotten!

Wherever you choose to cruise, luxury boating through France is a pleasure to savour. Hire boats at the luxury end of the spectrum are typically the latest models and so you’ll be enjoying the very best in design, décor and equipment levels, navigation aids and technology. On board you’ll find all the mod cons, from extremely well-equipped galleys and air conditioning throughout, to music systems and sockets for your own gadgets. On deck you’ll find plenty of room to relax in style, with outside seating areas, a second helm position, BBQ facilities, ambient lighting, outside music speakers, a drinks fridge and more.

Meanwhile, you’ll quickly learn to love the bow thrusters that typically come as standard on luxury boats, making manoeuvring even easier. Large saloons are typically bright and airy with plenty of windows and lots seating, expansive galleys have plenty of room to whip up a masterpiece and spacious cabins all enjoy en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds and lots of storage. And if space is your ultimate luxury, then you might consider hiring a boat that is larger than you need, so you can enjoy even more room inside and out.

Hotel Barging - Reach for the stars!

Hotel barge cruising is always a memorable experience, but choose a six star ‘Supreme’ or five star ‘Grand Luxe’ barge, and you’ll discover another level of luxury and exclusivity. This handful of owner-operated boats represents the pinnacle of luxury afloat for discerning travellers from across the globe to immerse themselves in the very best that France has to offer.

Formerly commercial barges or newly built, the top luxury barges have been sensitively transformed into sensational boutique hotels, with smart exteriors and sumptuous interiors, attentive staff and world class cuisine. Each one has its own distinct style, but all offer large and spacious staterooms, combining bedroom, dressing area and en-suite bathroom, finished with the finest bed linens, a choice of mattress and pillow firmness and first class bathroom amenities. Saloons are also spacious and offer a truly elegant sitting area in which to relax and enjoy the well-stocked bar, although with a superb sun deck and spa pool within arm’s reach, you might expect to spend most of your time out on deck, watching the stunning scenery slip effortlessly by.

Dining can be either en plein air enjoying the warmth of the sun or the dazzling array of stars, or perhaps below deck around a splendidly laid dining table. The cuisine, meanwhile, is guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your trip. Highly experienced chefs, some to Michelin star level, source the best local ingredients daily to prepare a feast of local and national French dishes, all accompanied by fine wines, delicious local cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. With typically only three or four cabins, you and your guests will have the barge to yourselves, to relax in spacious comfort and style, enjoying the finer things in life, where everything is taken care of and no detail is left to chance.

River Cruising - Live life at the top!

With an unbeatable choice of rivers, itineraries and luxury cruise lines, France is the perfect choice for a top luxury river cruise. Each 5 star ship offers something different, but each one will give you that boutique hotel feel and a luxurious, all-inclusive experience. Some will even start the luxury service before you board, with a private car service to pick you up at home.

On board you will find beautifully designed interiors, from sumptuous lounges, bars and dining rooms to elegant staterooms that offer fine bed linen, premium bathroom amenities and flawless levels of comfort. On deck you will be able to relax on the sun deck, take a dip in the pool or find a quiet spot to watch the beautiful French countryside float on by. And with a typical crew to passenger ratio of one to one and half or two, you will enjoy impeccable service wherever you find yourself.

One of the highlights of any river cruise is the cuisine and, as you’d expect, fine dining is de rigueur on a luxury river cruise. Expertly trained chefs are on board to help you enjoy the very best that France has to offer. Flashes of Gallic flair in the kitchen will transform fresh, locally sourced ingredients into a superb dining experience with an unlimited supply of fine wines and beers to boost your enjoyment.

Luxury river cruises are also distinguished by the programme of excursions on offer that enable to you to explore and discover the region around you. From expertly guided tours, tastings and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, to the latest technology for self-guided exploration and complimentary bicycles, your ship is the perfect base for doing as much or as little as you like.

Self-Drive Boating - Keeping the costs down

If you’re looking for a boating holiday in France whilst working to a budget, then a self-drive boating holiday could well be for you. There’s a great choice of boats, rivers and routes available for you to plan the ideal getaway for family, groups or couples. Boats in this category tend to be less-recent models, offering a good standard of interior décor and equipment but without the bells and whistles of newer models.

On board you’ll find all the basics to ensure a great holiday, including a saloon with sofa (often making up a further bed) and dining area with panoramic views through large windows, as well as a galley equipped with a hob, oven and fridge. Depending on the size of the boat, the main cabin may have an en-suite bathroom, while additional cabins will usually share facilities.

Up on deck, there’ll be room to relax and sunbathe while watching the world go by, plus a table and seating so you can enjoy leisurely lunches and dinners al fresco. Most boats have an additional steering position on deck so you can all be together while cruising.

Budget self-drive boats provide all the basics and you can have a highly enjoyable river cruise holiday in France, at rates that offer great value for money.

Hotel Barging - No need to break the bank

Hotel barging is a growing part of river cruising in France although still a relatively unknown one. And while they are mostly known for their luxury and exclusivity, there are more and more options available at a relatively price conscious end of the scale.

Premier and Smart class hotel barges offer excellent levels of service and comfort, the difference with their more expensive counterparts usually being cabin size and the number of cabins and passengers. Some barges offer cruising during the day with a stay in a 3 star hotel for the night, rather than on board, which makes the cruise more economical. Many of the larger barges operating on a per cabin or charter basis enjoy economies of scale that are passed on to the customer.

On board you’ll find smart and comfortable interior decoration, including lounge and bar seating areas, with an integral or separate dining room. Cabins are all smartly finished with good quality bed linen and all enjoy en-suite bathrooms, although sizes do vary. Very few are large enough to include a bath. Up top there’s plenty of space to relax and unwind on the sun deck and perhaps take a dip in a spa pool or Jacuzzi and, of course, there’s room to dine al fresco, enjoying leisurely lunches, dinners and drinks.

This being France, your dining experience on board will be one of the highlights of your trip. Your on board chef will use fresh, local ingredients to create delicious multi-course dinners and lunches, accompanied by selected wines. Also included is a programme of excursions to keep you occupied, should you wish to be, and the use of bicycles to explore your surroundings.

River Cruising - Add the extras as you wish

There are river cruises to suit all budgets and, with a large choice of ships and routes, that is especially true of river cruises in France. Although the more moderately priced ships focus on providing great value for money, their cruises do still offer great levels of comfort and service. On board you will find smart, comfortable interiors with plenty of space to relax in lounge areas, bars and restaurants. Cabins are well appointed and usually a good size, most with balconies and all with en-suite bathrooms. Up on deck you’ll find a sun deck and loungers for watching the picturesque French scenery sail by. And with a crew to passenger ratio of one to three or four, you’re sure to receive attentive service.

All budget river cruises offer all-inclusive meals and for many it is the star of the show. The highly trained on board chefs create a delicious array of French regional and international dishes, made with superb local ingredients, from freshly baked bread and pastries for breakfast to multi-course lunches and dinners. Some cruises offer all-inclusive drinks, while on others, in order to keep fares down, they are extra.

No river cruise would be complete without a programme of shore excursions. Most include at least one excursion per stop with optional experiences and gourmet tours or tastings available at an additional charge. Your cruise might also carry a small fleet of bicycles for you to explore each destination at your own pace.