FRANCE A LA CARTE ESCORTED TOURS
Our tours
are based on 4 to 6 people travelling in a comfortable minivan
with an experienced, english-speaking driver/guide. Accommodation
is
carefully selected bijou hotels,
exceptional guesthouses and chateaux.
The itineraries
are planned to let you discover a hidden France which only
natives can know.
The advantage of such small groups is that the tour can
be adapted according to the participants wishes.
BOOKING ENQUIRIES
PRICE
: from €999 per person (depends on dates
so ask - base
two sharing double room)
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Cruise the Canal du Midi in a sun-powered
eco-boat

The 17th century engineering masterpiece, the Canal du Midi, now
a UNESCO world heritage site, can now be cruised by means of a
craft adapted to its age and status: a pollution-free ecologically
sound solar-powered barge, designed exclusively for this purpose,
the SOLEIL D'OC.
You
can book a berth aboard this extraordinary boat and find out
more about the canal and its flora and fauna,
the surrounding vineyards of Minervois and Corbières, and
the numerous villages, churches and chateaux which line the itinerary.
These
cruises go from the mediaeval citadel of Carcassonne to the town
of Béziers (or vice-versa). Guests are accommodated
in 2-berth cabins on board and treated to excellent meals either
on board or in canal-side restaurants. First and last nights are
spent in quality hotels on dry land in Carcassonne and Béziers.

The
programme: Carcassonne-Béziers aboard the SOLEIL D'OC
day 1: arrive Carcassonne. Visit the citadel
with its towers and turrets and breathe in the 8 centuries of history
embedded in its walls. Overnight in magnificent 3* hotel over-looking
the Canal du Midi.
day 2: embarkation aboard the 'Soleil d'Oc' (literally
the 'Sun of Occitania') in the afternoon. Presentation of the boat
and its crew, a little history of the Canal and we're off to Trebes
with an introduction to the Canal du Midi's lock-gates. Dinner
and overnight on board.
day 3: Navigation to Puicheric in the morning
followed by a visit to a farm and lunch at the farmhouse. In the
afternoon we can visit a 'Windmill farm' - another ecological phenomenon
which is gaining ground in this windy part of France. Dinner and
overnight on board.

day 4 : Today we float though the vineyards of
Minervois to the little village of Homps. Lunch on board before
visiting the artist's village of Minerve. Informal contact with
local artists over dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight on board
the Soleil d'Oc.
day 5 : Today's trip takes us at a leisurely
pace to Le Somail, one of the original 'ports' on the 17th century
canal. A break in the morning for a spot of wine-tasting at the
cellars at Ventenac. Lunch on board. This is the centre of the
Narbonnais natural reserve: 8 different sorts of land use make
up this 80,000 hectare park. Optional visits to a Hat Museum, a
Pottery Centre or the European Patchwork Centre. Dinner (with musical
spectacle) and overnight on board.
day 6 : On this section to Capdestang we discover
the Aude and Cesse rivers and their vegetation and wildlife.
In the afternoon visit the village and the ancient Collégiale.
Dinner and overnight à bord.
day 7 :
early start for this day replete with lock activity. First to
Fonbserrannes where we lunch before attacking
the 'ladder' of 7 lock-gates and a canal bridge. Arrival at the
Pont Neuf in Béziers around 5pm. Overnight in hotel in Béziers.
Dine where you will.
day 8: end of our services


BOOK
NOW or ENQUIRE
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