Inspiration

5 UNMISSABLE RIVER TRAVEL ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS

Designed to inspire your programme development, these five must-do river travel activities highlight the key experiences. Easy to integrate into your itineraries, they add value to your stays and respond to your clients’ expectations in the river travel sector.

©Canal latéral à la Garonne / Alban_Gilbert-CRTNA

Table of contents

©Croisière Le Cyrano / Alban Gilbert-CRTNA

1. SET SAIL ON CRUISES FROM CENTRAL BORDEAUX

  • Hop on board a Cité du Vin cruise with Les Bateaux Bordelais. See Bordeaux as you’ve never seen it before on a dinner cruise, trip to the Estuary islands or guided cruise with wine tasting. Explore the region from the Garonne on one of the company’s three boats as you make your way through Bordeaux’s famous vineyards and the city’s UNESCO World Heritage docks.
  • Join CroisiEurope on river cruises around Bordeaux on the Garonne and Gironde. Go on cruises on South West France’s 3 rivers starting in Bordeaux on board the MS Princesse d’Aquitaine and MS Cyrano de Bergerac. Cruises include the Basque Country to Bordeaux – Food & drink beneath the Pyrenees and a cruise exploring in and around Bordeaux (port/port package); Bordeaux to Royan via the Gironde Estuary, Garonne and Dordogne (port/ port package), exclusive to CroisiEurope. Optional excursions to La Rochelle, Rochefort and Libourne Saint-Émilion.

2. A LEISURELY CRUISE ON THE CHARENTE

  • Hop on board the electric solar-powered Bernard Palissy III boat in Saintes to see another side to the Charente. The Charente River’s unspoilt and protected landscapes unfurl in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Cruises available April-October.
  • Dive into the world of gabares (traditional flat-bottomed boats) in Saint-Simon: Maison des Gabarriers, Musée de la Batellerie, boat trips on the river in a gabare.

©Promenade à Saintes à bord d’un bateau électrique /Perrine BELIN- Charentes tourisme

©Promenade fluviale sur le canal latéral à la Garonne / Alban_Gilbert-CRTNA

3. TAKE TO THE WATER DEEP IN SOUTH WEST
FRANCE

  • Experience river travel in the land of the Musketeers on a break with Nicols. Use the meeting point between the Lot and Baïse as your base for your river holidays to blend peace on the Canal de Garonne and wild whimsy on the Baïse or set sail to Nérac with Les Croisières du Prince Henry.
  • Go on a day trip or cruise on the river and sleep in a 100 year old houseboat in Le Mas-d’Agenais with Wakaï. Saunter down the Canal de Garonne on a traditional 1925 Dutch barge which its owners have transformed to bring pleasure boaters a one-of-akind experience with nature.

4. SAIL BETWEEN CLIFFS AND CHÂTEAUX ON THE DORDOGNE IN A GABARE

  • Take to the water on trips that give you a unique insight into the history of Périgord and its châteaux with a fresh look at the local nature, flora and fauna. GABARES NORBERT in La Roque-Gageac was founded in 1986 and use their wealth of experience to provide first rate services.
  • Take time out on a cruise on board traditional boats from the iconic Gabarrier port in Bergerac. Learn everything there is to know about Cyrano’s hometown, the frantic lives of gabarriers and the nature reserve’s biodiversity. Soak up 1000 years of Bergerac’s history, canal transport, vineyards, Île de la Pelouse, flora and fauna on the Dordogne, listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
  • Indulge in some time out and see another side to the fabulous village of Terrasson on board Le Vézère. Learn the history behind the river that has sculpted the area for thousands of years and whose valley is listed as UNESCO World Heritage.

©Gabare sur la Dordogne à Bergerac / Laurent_Reiz-CRTNA

©Marais Poitevin / B. Le Bouëtté-CRTNA

5. SOAK UP THE UNIQUE MAGIC OF THE MARAIS POITEVIN

  • Get up close and personal with nature on an adventure alone or with guides in the traditional flat-bottomed Marais boats. Drink in the beauty and serenity of the “green cathedral” that is the wetland.
  • Set sail on new houseboats from Niort, the gateway town to the Marais Poitevin. Head due west to Marans on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean on board 100% electric barges with all mod cons and no need for a permit.

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