2023 BOATING GUIDE


you everything you need to know during a briefi ng and demonstration. Then you’re off, enjoying your river houseboat vacation.” www.leboat.com


Les Canalous With Les Canalous, you are the captain of your own boat. No hand-holding, no crew, no licence required – just you and the water. Discover Burgundy, Franche-Comté, Alsace, Brittany, Charente, Ardennes, Anjou, Picardy and the Canal du Midi – all at your own pace. The company describes what you might enjoy along the way: “A bike ride along the towpaths, or a walk through the small villages of the region, discovering the stalls at traditional markets. Stop off to enjoy a lake or pond, indulging in your passion for fi shing or taking a swimming break.” They have been busy refurbishing their boats over the winter and converting much of their fl eet to electric power for a greener trip. www.lescanalous.com


C’est La Vie


Luxury hotel-barge C’est La Vie has a fascinating history. It started out in 1960 as a commercial barge


transporting goods across Holland, Belgium and France, before being converted in 2004 to accommodate passengers. It’s now the epitome of comfort and modernity, with a full crew, a beautifully


Serenity Barge With a strong focus on hospitality, the dedicated crew of the 39m hotel-barge Serenity take guests through the Champagne region’s rolling vineyards and charming villages. Bespoke cruises are the company’s bread and butter, and the team, led by Claire and Graeme, will put together a


C’est La Vie began work in 1960 as a commercial barge and is now enjoying life at a luxury hotel-barge


appointed lounge, spacious dining areas, a sun-deck, a well-stocked bar and four spacious cabin suites. From May to October there are fi ve- or six-night trips available on the Upper Loire and in Champagne. There’s also a golf cruise available – one in Burgundy and one in the Upper Loire. Prices start at $8,000 per person. www.charterbargefrance.com


tailored itinerary. This could include all sorts of local activities, from cellar tours and market visits to tastings of the famous local fi zz itself. With three en-suite cabins, a large saloon, a dining area, and an outdoor deck complete with hot tub, you can either take the reins and charter the whole barge or book an individual cabin. Prices start at €3,450 per person for a six-night cruise. www.serenitybarge.com


SAILING


La Manche, Brittany, the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Gascony, the


Indulge in some Champagne-style hospitality with Serenity Barge


Mediterranean… France boasts some of the prettiest coastlines in all of Europe. It also has a long-established and very rich sailing culture. After all, this the home of the Vendée Globe (the world’s most famous round-the- world ocean sailing race), the Golfe du Morbihan (a huge natural harbour on the coast of Brittany), and of course the French Riviera, home to some of Europe’s smartest marinas. Here we have chosen a selection of yacht cruises along the three coastlines that make up half of l’Hexagone. And don’t worry if you’re not an


experienced sailor. Alongside the self-crewed boats are skippered and crewed vessels, so you can experience rugged ocean adventures without needing any previous experience.


AquaCruise


This very upmarket yacht charter company has been providing luxury yachts since 2003. “Proud to be a small independent company, dedicated solely to luxury yacht charters, our approach is direct, honest, and straight talking,” they say. One of their most popular destinations is the French Riviera. Their suggested itinerary starts in the Baie des Anges or La Napoule, before taking in Saint-Tropez, the Porquerolles islands, Cannes, Saint-Jean-Cap- Ferrat, Cap d’Antibes and Monaco. Various super and mega yachts are available. As you can imagine, the prices are eye-watering. www.aquacruise.com


Boatbookings


The French Riviera and Corsica are the two French regions covered by this online charter broker. You can choose from luxury crewed motor yachts, catamarans


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IMAGE © SERENITY BARGE, C’EST LA VIE


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