Last Minute Holiday Offers

Benson is located at the quiet and rural end of the Thames where the river is flanked by rolling countryside and farmland and quaint villages. Moorings are easy to find and the distance between locks is slightly greater than at the river’s eastern end – which means more cruising. The dreaming spires and universities of Oxford is a 6hr cruise to the west of Benson. Or, head east and in 6hrs you’ll be in Henley-on-Thames, home of British rowing. Royal Windsor is 12 hrs from Benson.

Our Chertsey base is not far from central London, so the river here is bordered by bustling towns and villages with a wider variety of restaurants, supermarkets and pubs than there is near Benson. The historic and grand royal palace at Hampton Court is just 3hrs to the east, with Kingston (and direct trains into central London) another 30minutes after that. 3hr west from our Chertsey base will find you in Windsor and Eton and the countryside vistas become more and more beautiful the further you travel.

Our Chertsey base is not far from central London, so the river here is bordered by bustling towns and villages with a wider variety of restaurants, supermarkets and pubs than there is near Benson. The historic and grand royal palace at Hampton Court is just 3hrs to the east, with Kingston (and direct trains into central London) another 30minutes after that. 3hr west from our Chertsey base will find you in Windsor and Eton and the countryside vistas become more and more beautiful the further you travel.

Benson is located at the quiet and rural end of the Thames where the river is flanked by rolling countryside and farmland and quaint villages. Moorings are easy to find and the distance between locks is slightly greater than at the river’s eastern end – which means more cruising. The dreaming spires and universities of Oxford is a 6hr cruise to the west of Benson. Or, head east and in 6hrs you’ll be in Henley-on-Thames, home of British rowing. Royal Windsor is 12 hrs from Benson.

The iconic Cathar stronghold of Carcassonne is a 3hr cruise, and only a 15minute drive (8km) west, from our Carcassonne (Trèbes) base. This makes for the perfect start or finish to you boating adventure, and the short distance  by car means you can save cruising time if you’d rather.  Before or after you visit this ‘must-see’ attraction, we recommend you navigate to the east of our base into the very heart of the Canal du Midi. The vineyards and wine cellars at Ventenac & Paraza are an 8hr cruise away and the pretty village of Le Somail is not long after that. Carcassonne (Trèbes) is also a good start or end base if you have kids – a 5km taxi ride away is Lake Cavayère, home to a host of outdoor fun and activities.

Castelnaudary, the capital of Cassoulet offers a variety of things to see – not least the impressive views over the Black Mountains from the Cugarel Windmill view point. It is a great start (or finish) for boaters looking to enjoy pleasant countryside and a lazy meander past quiet towns and villages. A 7-night cruise to the west is a peaceful return journey to the contrasting hubbub of cosmopolitan Toulouse. However, most boaters choose to head east where, after two days of tranquil cruising, you’ll reach the spectacular fortified citadel of Carcassonne, the second most visited tourist attraction in France.

Port Cassafières is perfect for families, with the sandy beach of Portiragnes nearby and a 1hr cruise to the east await the fairgrounds, adventure golf and go-karts of Vias. A short 2hr cruise to the west will find you in Béziers, a city bursting with history, art and culture with a flight of seven locks just a little further along the canal, at Fonserranes. Then it’s onwards past a multitude of historic sites and pretty villages until you reach a junction (9hrs from Port Cassafières) – you must decide whether to travel south towards historic Narbonne, or maintain course along the Midi, past pretty Le Somail.

The iconic Cathar stronghold of Carcassonne is a 3hr cruise, and only a 15minute drive (8km) west, from our Carcassonne (Trèbes) base. This makes for the perfect start or finish to you boating adventure, and the short distance  by car means you can save cruising time if you’d rather.  Before or after you visit this ‘must-see’ attraction, we recommend you navigate to the east of our base into the very heart of the Canal du Midi. The vineyards and wine cellars at Ventenac & Paraza are an 8hr cruise away and the pretty village of Le Somail is not long after that. Carcassonne (Trèbes) is also a good start or end base if you have kids – a 5km taxi ride away is Lake Cavayère, home to a host of outdoor fun and activities.

Port Cassafières is perfect for families, with the sandy beach of Portiragnes nearby and a 1hr cruise to the east await the fairgrounds, adventure golf and go-karts of Vias. A short 2hr cruise to the west will find you in Béziers, a city bursting with history, art and culture with a flight of seven locks just a little further along the canal, at Fonserranes. Then it’s onwards past a multitude of historic sites and pretty villages until you reach a junction (9hrs from Port Cassafières) – you must decide whether to travel south towards historic Narbonne, or maintain course along the Midi, past pretty Le Somail.

Homps is at the very heart of the Midi. It’s a great base if you wish to travel far and see lots – with loads of villages and attractions and very few locks to the east. You can branch off towards the Canal de la Robine and the Roman city of Narbonne (7hrs from Homps), or continue to the Fonserannes staircase of seven locks and lively Béziers (5-6hrs away). Historic Carcassonne is a quiet and peaceful 10hr cruise to the west. You can’t leave Homps without travelling 12km inland to the beautiful town of Minerve, perched high on a rocky promontory surrounded by deep gorges – spectacular!

Port Cassafières is perfect for families, with the sandy beach of Portiragnes nearby and a 1hr cruise to the east await the fairgrounds, adventure golf and go-karts of Vias. A short 2hr cruise to the west will find you in Béziers, a city bursting with history, art and culture with a flight of seven locks just a little further along the canal, at Fonserranes. Then it’s onwards past a multitude of historic sites and pretty villages until you reach a junction (9hrs from Port Cassafières) – you must decide whether to travel south towards historic Narbonne, or maintain course along the Midi, past pretty Le Somail.

Castelnaudary, the capital of Cassoulet offers a variety of things to see – not least the impressive views over the Black Mountains from the Cugarel Windmill view point. It is a great start (or finish) for boaters looking to enjoy pleasant countryside and a lazy meander past quiet towns and villages. A 7-night cruise to the west is a peaceful return journey to the contrasting hubbub of cosmopolitan Toulouse. However, most boaters choose to head east where, after two days of tranquil cruising, you’ll reach the spectacular fortified citadel of Carcassonne, the second most visited tourist attraction in France.

Port Cassafières is perfect for families, with the sandy beach of Portiragnes nearby and a 1hr cruise to the east await the fairgrounds, adventure golf and go-karts of Vias. A short 2hr cruise to the west will find you in Béziers, a city bursting with history, art and culture with a flight of seven locks just a little further along the canal, at Fonserranes. Then it’s onwards past a multitude of historic sites and pretty villages until you reach a junction (9hrs from Port Cassafières) – you must decide whether to travel south towards historic Narbonne, or maintain course along the Midi, past pretty Le Somail.

It’s worth cruising 3hrs north of St. Gilles to visit Tarascan, rich in history and home to one of the most beautiful fortresses in Europe. The main attractions of the Camargue lay to the south of the base. The walled city of Aigues-Mortes (3hrs south of St. Gilles) is not to be missed, as well as the plethora of lively beach resorts, Gardian cowboy ranches and opportunities to see the famous pink flamingos and white Camargue horses. We’d also recommend a trip to Nîmes from St. Gilles (23km by road). It has a Roman arena and a walking tour of the city is an excellent way to absorb its fascinating history.

Castelnaudary, the capital of Cassoulet offers a variety of things to see – not least the impressive views over the Black Mountains from the Cugarel Windmill view point. It is a great start (or finish) for boaters looking to enjoy pleasant countryside and a lazy meander past quiet towns and villages. A 7-night cruise to the west is a peaceful return journey to the contrasting hubbub of cosmopolitan Toulouse. However, most boaters choose to head east where, after two days of tranquil cruising, you’ll reach the spectacular fortified citadel of Carcassonne, the second most visited tourist attraction in France.

Homps is at the very heart of the Midi. It’s a great base if you wish to travel far and see lots – with loads of villages and attractions and very few locks to the east. You can branch off towards the Canal de la Robine and the Roman city of Narbonne (7hrs from Homps), or continue to the Fonserannes staircase of seven locks and lively Béziers (5-6hrs away). Historic Carcassonne is a quiet and peaceful 10hr cruise to the west. You can’t leave Homps without travelling 12km inland to the beautiful town of Minerve, perched high on a rocky promontory surrounded by deep gorges – spectacular!

Castelnaudary, the capital of Cassoulet offers a variety of things to see – not least the impressive views over the Black Mountains from the Cugarel Windmill view point. It is a great start (or finish) for boaters looking to enjoy pleasant countryside and a lazy meander past quiet towns and villages. A 7-night cruise to the west is a peaceful return journey to the contrasting hubbub of cosmopolitan Toulouse. However, most boaters choose to head east where, after two days of tranquil cruising, you’ll reach the spectacular fortified citadel of Carcassonne, the second most visited tourist attraction in France.

Port Cassafières is perfect for families, with the sandy beach of Portiragnes nearby and a 1hr cruise to the east await the fairgrounds, adventure golf and go-karts of Vias. A short 2hr cruise to the west will find you in Béziers, a city bursting with history, art and culture with a flight of seven locks just a little further along the canal, at Fonserranes. Then it’s onwards past a multitude of historic sites and pretty villages until you reach a junction (9hrs from Port Cassafières) – you must decide whether to travel south towards historic Narbonne, or maintain course along the Midi, past pretty Le Somail.

It’s worth cruising 3hrs north of St. Gilles to visit Tarascan, rich in history and home to one of the most beautiful fortresses in Europe. The main attractions of the Camargue lay to the south of the base. The walled city of Aigues-Mortes (3hrs south of St. Gilles) is not to be missed, as well as the plethora of lively beach resorts, Gardian cowboy ranches and opportunities to see the famous pink flamingos and white Camargue horses. We’d also recommend a trip to Nîmes from St. Gilles (23km by road). It has a Roman arena and a walking tour of the city is an excellent way to absorb its fascinating history.

Port Cassafières is perfect for families, with the sandy beach of Portiragnes nearby and a 1hr cruise to the east await the fairgrounds, adventure golf and go-karts of Vias. A short 2hr cruise to the west will find you in Béziers, a city bursting with history, art and culture with a flight of seven locks just a little further along the canal, at Fonserranes. Then it’s onwards past a multitude of historic sites and pretty villages until you reach a junction (9hrs from Port Cassafières) – you must decide whether to travel south towards historic Narbonne, or maintain course along the Midi, past pretty Le Somail.

This base allows you to escape from it all and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of central France. The delightful town of Épinal is not far to the north-east, although the many locks will mean it will take you a tiring week to get there and back – so we’d recommend a day trip by taxi or bike instead. To the south, the canal is lined with quiet and sleepy villages, punctuated by the relative bustle of Gray (20.5hrs from Fontenoy-le- Château) and historic Auxonne (7.5 hrs after that).

Located right at the heart of this region where two waterways intersect the River Saône, St. Jean-de-Losne gives four directions to choose from.  Delightful Dijon, a ‘mini-Paris’ is 8hrs to the west.  To the north lies a succession of quiet villages as well as the ‘relative bustle’ of historic Auxonne, (5hrs) and Gray (another 8hrs further on). Flower-adorned Dole is 4hrs cruising east and the citadel of Besançon, with its UNESCO listed fortifications, is further 14hrs after Dole. Head south the river to see the many sights of beautiful Chalon-sur-Saône (8hrs) and then on to Chagny (a further 4.5hrs), gateway to the Cru vineyards where you can sample the many premium wines of this region.

Located right at the heart of this region where two waterways intersect the River Saône, St. Jean-de-Losne gives four directions to choose from.  Delightful Dijon, a ‘mini-Paris’ is 8hrs to the west.  To the north lies a succession of quiet villages as well as the ‘relative bustle’ of historic Auxonne, (5hrs) and Gray (another 8hrs further on). Flower-adorned Dole is 4hrs cruising east and the citadel of Besançon, with its UNESCO listed fortifications, is further 14hrs after Dole. Head south the river to see the many sights of beautiful Chalon-sur-Saône (8hrs) and then on to Chagny (a further 4.5hrs), gateway to the Cru vineyards where you can sample the many premium wines of this region.

Branges is situated on the pretty River Seille, bursting with wildlife and beauty. Be sure to stop for a walk (or hike) through the nature reserve at La Trunchère (4hrs from Branges) where the Seille intersects with the River Saône. South lies historic Mâcon (7.5hrs from Branges), one of the oldest cities in France or head north to explore Burgundy’s premium Cru vineyards from Chagny (13.5 hrs from Branges).

Located right at the heart of this region where two waterways intersect the River Saône, St. Jean-de-Losne gives four directions to choose from.  Delightful Dijon, a ‘mini-Paris’ is 8hrs to the west.  To the north lies a succession of quiet villages as well as the ‘relative bustle’ of historic Auxonne, (5hrs) and Gray (another 8hrs further on). Flower-adorned Dole is 4hrs cruising east and the citadel of Besançon, with its UNESCO listed fortifications, is further 14hrs after Dole. Head south the river to see the many sights of beautiful Chalon-sur-Saône (8hrs) and then on to Chagny (a further 4.5hrs), gateway to the Cru vineyards where you can sample the many premium wines of this region.

This base allows you to escape from it all and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of central France. The delightful town of Épinal is not far to the north-east, although the many locks will mean it will take you a tiring week to get there and back – so we’d recommend a day trip by taxi or bike instead. To the south, the canal is lined with quiet and sleepy villages, punctuated by the relative bustle of Gray (20.5hrs from Fontenoy-le- Château) and historic Auxonne (7.5 hrs after that).

Branges is situated on the pretty River Seille, bursting with wildlife and beauty. Be sure to stop for a walk (or hike) through the nature reserve at La Trunchère (4hrs from Branges) where the Seille intersects with the River Saône. South lies historic Mâcon (7.5hrs from Branges), one of the oldest cities in France or head north to explore Burgundy’s premium Cru vineyards from Chagny (13.5 hrs from Branges).

Located right at the heart of this region where two waterways intersect the River Saône, St. Jean-de-Losne gives four directions to choose from.  Delightful Dijon, a ‘mini-Paris’ is 8hrs to the west.  To the north lies a succession of quiet villages as well as the ‘relative bustle’ of historic Auxonne, (5hrs) and Gray (another 8hrs further on). Flower-adorned Dole is 4hrs cruising east and the citadel of Besançon, with its UNESCO listed fortifications, is further 14hrs after Dole. Head south the river to see the many sights of beautiful Chalon-sur-Saône (8hrs) and then on to Chagny (a further 4.5hrs), gateway to the Cru vineyards where you can sample the many premium wines of this region.

You’re in the heart of the undulating hills and valleys of the Nivernais region. There are plenty of locks to go through, whether you head north or south, and you are rewarded with amazing views and spectacular countryside. Clamecy, is stunningly pretty and just 4hrs north the large lake at Baye, (11.5hrs south) is bursting with wildlife and great for a refreshing dip in the waters. We’d also recommend a  visit (23mins from Tannay) to hill-top Vézelay, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine.

From Decize, a journey north, will take you through the hilly countryside and pretty villages of the Nivernais Valley while historic and thriving Nevers lies just 6hrs to the west. Head south however and Decize puts you in the best place to explore the southern-most part of this cruising region where the towns are full of historic abbeys, cathedrals and museums – great for history buffs. Roanne is a delight to explore, perfect for a two week boating vacation!

You’re in the heart of the undulating hills and valleys of the Nivernais region. There are plenty of locks to go through, whether you head north or south, and you are rewarded with amazing views and spectacular countryside. Clamecy, is stunningly pretty and just 4hrs north the large lake at Baye, (11.5hrs south) is bursting with wildlife and great for a refreshing dip in the waters. We’d also recommend a  visit (23mins from Tannay) to hill-top Vézelay, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine.

Our closest base to Paris, from Migennes you have a choice of three directions to head in. The Canal de Bourgogne takes you east past quiet towns and beautiful countryside… an ideal ‘escape’. To the west, the pretty Yonne River will take you past the Cathedral town of Sens (8hrs). Or head south towards, and then along, the Canal du Nivernais. Auxerre (5hrs from Migennes), is a bustling city of art, history and impressive cathedrals, in perfect contrast to the many other cliff top villages that overlook this stretch of the canal.

From Decize, a journey north, will take you through the hilly countryside and pretty villages of the Nivernais Valley while historic and thriving Nevers lies just 6hrs to the west. Head south however and Decize puts you in the best place to explore the southern-most part of this cruising region where the towns are full of historic abbeys, cathedrals and museums – great for history buffs. Roanne is a delight to explore, perfect for a two week boating vacation!