ACTIVITY HOLIDAY GUIDE 2015 PLEASURES GALORE…


floating B&B, which traverses the waterways of the Rhône-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi- Pyrénées and Burgundy.


Scenic Tours offer a wide range of all-inclusive luxury cruises, featuring fine cuisine, wine tastings and on-shore excursions


RIVER CRUISES, BARGING & BOATING


One of the most popular current trends across France is holidaying by boat, an option which comes in a variety of forms, from self-drive houseboats to river cruises and all-inclusive hotel barges. Each type of holiday afloat


revolves around France’s numerous canals and rivers, and offers all the relaxing benefits of life on the water. The level of activity involved depends entirely on you, and the boat on which you’re staying. River cruises are a great option for the cultural traveller, as they often glide through and between major hubs, with stop-offs at sites of interest en-route. Conveniently, river boats can dock right in the centre of town, making sightseeing particularly hassle-free. Companies such as Scenic


Tours (www.scenictours.com) curate tailored and eclectic itineraries for their all-inclusive


cruises, incorporating wine tastings at famous vineyards and stop-offs at castles and concerts, with onboard commentary throughout. The routes include Paris to Bordeaux and Nice, past the D-Day beaches of Normandy and along the Seine. Eight-day, all-inclusive tours start at around €2,635. For something a little more intimate, crank the luxury levels up a notch and book a week or two on a floating hotel or chambre d’hôtes. Hotel barges are usually all-inclusive and come replete with a gourmet chef, personal tour guide and all of the onboard amenities that your heart could desire. They tend to be based on French canals rather than rivers, primarily on the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi – a plane tree-lined, 17th-century masterpiece of engineering that links the Garonne at Toulouse with Sète and the Med. Hotel barges can also be found on the Canal de Bourgogne,


traversing a region famous for its wine and gastronomy; the Canal du Centre, running from Digoin to Chalon-sur-Saône; and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, crossing the north-east of France from Vitry-le-François to Strasbourg. A great option is La Semouse


(www.penichelasemouse.com), a former Dutch goods barge that’s been converted into a luxurious,


Riverboat sightseeing is perfect for couples on romantic breaks, retirees on a relaxing holiday or families seeking a deluxe cruise. Meals are all served on the boat’s terrace or dining room and excursions are organised by the crew. Week-long, full-board summer cruises cost €1,800 per person. During the winter season, the barge docks in Lyon, where it’s run as a B&B that costs €90 per person, per night. Even more upmarket is the Barge Hotel Emma (www. bargehotelemma.com), which boasts three en-suite, air- conditioned bedrooms; a fully stocked bar, library and DVD collection, and a huge outside deck for mealtimes en plein air. The Emma cruises up and down the Canal du Midi and is crewed by a bilingual staff who are keen to pamper their guests and pay attention to each tiny detail. Prices start at €4,465 for a week. More adventurous readers might be on the lookout for something rather more fast-paced this year, and to enjoy France’s waterways,


Simply relax and float through France on the luxury barge cruiser La Semouse


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