Luxury barge and river cruise vacations in France, Spain and Portugal. Train tours in Spain. All-inclusive barge and river cruising and canal barging in France, Spain and Portugal. Cruises on luxury trains, barge hotels or elegant river boats. Enjoy French wines, gourmet cuisine and private guided tours. Travel Burgundy, Champagne, Provence, Normandy, the Loire River valley, the Paris region, Northern Spain,  Andalusiaand the Douro River valley by barge, riverboat or train. Group theme charters and family tours. Cooking and wine appreciation classes. Wine cruises and wine tours.



Barge Cruises, River Cruises and Train Tours in France, Spain and Portugal

 

CRUISE
DESTINATIONS

 


~ Barge Cruises in France ~
Burgundy - Vezelay

Pastoral views, famous wines and gourmet cuisine

Cruise the Canal du Nivernais in central Burgundy aboard an 8-passenger barge-hotel (7 days - 6 nights). This barge has been carefully transformed by a team of skilled craftsmen from a lumber barge into a self-contained hotel with gourmet restaurant, bar, and sun deck complete with hot tub. Cruising through the heart of the French countryside, you will visit quaint villages, local wineries, and a World Heritage basilica.

Photos and deck plan of luxury barge hotel. All-inclusive river and canal cruising and barging vacation in the French countryside.

Barge cruises in France: Paris, Dijon, Auxerre, Clamecy, Baye. Burgundy-Vezelay river boat cruise with French wines and gourmet cuisine plus private tours.

TYPICAL BARGE CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary)

Day 1 - Sunday: Auxerre. Meet at the designated location for the transfer to the barge. Enjoy a glass of champagne while you meet the crew. After settling in, you can take a stroll along the banks of the River Yonne before dinner on board the barge.

Day 2 - Monday: Auxerre to Vincelles. Morning cruise past vineyard-clad hillsides to Vincelles. After lunch, enjoy an excursion to Chablis, home of one of the most famous white wines in the world. A tasting in one of the town’s cellars will introduce you to some of the local wines. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 3 - Tuesday: Vincelles to Mailly la Ville. After breakfast, tour the medieval town of Auxerre. Originally the capital of Lower Burgundy, the town is noted for its magnificent cathedral. Return to the barge for a cruise south through rich pasturelands with grazing Charolais cattle to the market town of Mailly la Ville. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 4 - Wednesday: Mailly la Ville to Le Saussois. This morning, visit the charming 14th-century medieval village of Noyers, one of the most beautiful villages in France. Afternoon cruise past the Saussois cliffs, where an international climbing center creates a spectacular setting. Enjoy a walk before returning to the barge for dinner .

Day 5 - Thursday: Le Saussois to Lucy sur Yonne. Morning excursion to the town of Vézelay, one of Burgundy’s most famous treasures with its Romanesque Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, craft shops and fine views of the surrounding countryside. Lunch ashore at a local inn, followed by an afternoon cruise to Lucy sur Yonne. Dinner on board the barge.

Day 6- Friday: Lucy sur Yonne to Chevroche. Morning cruise through beautiful countryside to Chevroche. In the afternoon, visit the Chateau of Bazoches, whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lionheart and which was later remodelled by Maréchal Vauban. Captain's farewell dinner on board the barge.

Day 7- Saturday: Chevroche to Auxerre. After breakfast, transfer from the barge the designated location.

On alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.

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Highlights

  • Wine tasting in Chablis
  • Medieval towns of Auxerre, Noyers and Vezelay
  • Vézelay Basilica, a World Heritage site
  • Château de Bazoches

Included

  • Accommodations with private bath or shower and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
  • Wine with lunch and dinner and selected alcoholic beverages consumed aboard the barge
  • Sightseeing tours and entrance fees as specified
  • Round-trip transfers from specified meeting points

Not Included

  • Transportation to and from beginning and end points
  • Health and travel insurance
  • Barge crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
  • Superior vintage wines
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional activities when available
  • Other items not specifically listed under "Included" above

Barge Features

  • 4 cabins: twin or double/queen (8 passengers)
  • 4 crew members
  • Size: 100 ft. long
  • Spa/Jacuzzi
  • Air conditioning and central heating
  • Air-conditioned coach for excursions

Departures

Every Sunday subject to availability (except winter)

This barge can be chartered for groups. Various themes (family, cycling, walking, tennis, wine) can be arranged to fit the specific interests of each group.

DEPARTURES AND PRICES

Dates and prices of all-inclusive canal barging and river cruising trips in Burgundy, France
Prices and dates of charter and theme canal barging and river cruising vacations in Burgundy, France

BOOK YOUR CRUISE

Availability of Burgundy-Vezelay cruise
Register for this hotel barge cruise in France

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DEPARTURES
AND PRICES

(R) Riverboat cruises
(C) Private charters only

France: Burgundy

Burgundy - Chablis
Burgundy - Dijon I
(C)
Burgundy - Dijon II
(C)
Burgundy - Sancerre
Burgundy - Tanlay
Burgundy - Vézelay
Burgundy - Vougeot
Chablis - Tanlay

France: Paris & Vicinity

Ile de France - Briare
Ile de France - Loire
Paris - Champagne
Paris - Honfleur
(R)
Paris - Normandy
(R)
Paris - Rouen
(R)

France: Rhone River

Burgundy - Provence I (R)
Burgundy - Provence II
(R)
Lyon - Provence
(R)
Paris - Barcelona
(R)
Paris - Riviera
(R)
Provence - Camargue II
Rhone - Provence

South of France

Midi - Beziers (C)
Midi - Carcassonne I
Midi - Languedoc I
Midi - Languedoc II
Midi - Marseillette
(C)
Midi - Narbonne
Provence - Midi I
(C)
Provence - Midi II
(C)

France: Bordeaux Region

Aquitaine - Armagnac
Aquitaine - Garonne
Bordeaux - Medoc

France: Loire Valley

Loire - Chenonceau

France: Alsace

Alsace - Lorraine

Portugal: Douro River

Douro - Lisbon (R)
Douro - Porto I
(R)
Douro - Porto II
(R)
Douro - Porto III
(R)

Spain: Rail Cruise

Andalusia - Seville (T)
Galicia - Leon
(T)
Galicia - Vasco
(T)

(R) Riverboat cruises
(C) Private charters only
(T) Train tours

Cabins on canal barges and riverboats in France, Burgundy, Provence, Normandy, the Loire Valley and Portugal
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Specials for cruises on canal barges and riverboats in France, Burgundy, Provence, Normandy, the Loire Valley and Portugal
Barge cruises in Burgundy, France
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Availability of barge cruises on canal barges and riverboats
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Canal barge and riverboat cruises in France, Spain and Portugal
 

Half-timbered houses and cathedral in Auxerre, Burgundy, France

Auxerre Cathedral

 

The castle of Bazoches, Burgundy, France

Chateau de Bazoches

 

Basilica of Vezelay,  France

Vezelay Basilica

 
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