This is a very special type of cruise, one in which the crew and passengers are the same, and one of them is in charge of the ship, without needing any qualifications.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 50 – September 2019
Le Boat's river cruises are a fantastic holiday experience, perfect for disconnecting and enjoying an adventure at your own pace in the exclusivity of your own boat. There are boats of various sizes and styles, accommodating between 4 and 10 people, and no license is required to operate them. They move slowly, and the canals are relatively safe and straightforward, aside from passing through numerous locks—a simple operation that, once done, loses all its mystique, albeit a thrilling one.
The Canal du Midi is 241 km long, winding along an impressive network of 17th-century canals that connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. The canal itself begins in Toulouse (on the Garonne River) and ends in Sète (on the Mediterranean), passing through Carcassonne and Béziers, among other interesting towns.
No qualifications or prior experience are required to operate the boats.
Le Boat has five bases along the canal from which to begin your journey (Castelnaudary, Homps, Trèbes, Port Cassafières, and Narbonne), allowing you to choose the direction and duration of your trip. Upon boarding, you'll receive a travel guide detailing the entire itinerary, including overnight accommodations, available services, places to visit, and more. You'll also be given instructions on how to operate the boat, for which no prior experience is required. We started our trip at the Homps base, where the boat's operation was explained in Spanish, which was very much appreciated.
This type of river cruise is just as exciting for adults as it is for children. In our case, we traveled with children who enjoyed every moment of the cruise, from the initial nerves of setting sail, to passing through the first lock holding the mooring lines while the operation was carried out, to fun bike excursions. Le Boat rents bicycles to take on board, so at each stop you can explore further afield, or even pedal alongside the ship at its pace, burning off any excess wine, cheese, and pâté.
The destination:
Along the Canal du Midi, you can discover medieval cities like the fortified Carcassonne, as well as fascinating cathedrals, grand castles, and ancient ruins; the Roman art of Narbonne; the red brick architecture of Toulouse; and the gastronomic and wine delights of the Occitanie region. Speaking of wine, we are in the renowned Languedoc-Roussillon region, the world's largest wine-producing area, home to several appellations of origin.
In terms of gastronomy, perhaps the traditional options would be Cassoulet from Castelnaudary, fresh figs from Portiragnes and Bouillabaisse in Sète, although nothing prevents us from enjoying our own version of French gastronomy on board our ship by preparing some delicious duck confit, or a good plate of pâté and cheeses from the region that includes Roquefort.
The landscape changes constantly, from cereal plains to the vineyards of Lauragais and Minervois, and fields of wheat and sunflowers in the Mediterranean Regional Natural Park. Meanwhile, we pass impressive engineering feats like the Fonseranes lock staircase, followed by the legendary Orb Canal aqueduct, where you'll feel quite a strange sensation crossing a bridge over a river by boat. Equally strange and impressive is passing through the Malpas Tunnel aboard a vessel.
This type of trip really gives you many options along the way, such as visiting vineyards in Languedoc in the legendary Citroën 2CV or tasting Lucques olives in Oulibo, where there is a whole culture of olives and oil, and enjoying an excellent meal at the Comptoir Nature restaurant, on the banks of the canal in Le Somail, where they only serve fresh and local products, and where they even have jazz concerts on Wednesdays in the summer.
Our route:
In our case, we started a 7-day round trip from Homps. After passing through a few locks, we stopped in the small village of Paraza for a stroll. Halfway through our walk, we came across the Chateau de Paraza, with its beautiful winery and stunning gardens. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting paired with a cheese board in such a beautiful setting.
Wines from Languedoc, Roquefort cheese, pâté and other French delicacies await us at this destination.
We spent our first night on the canal under the stars. The silence of the canal couldn't have been more wonderful; the boat didn't move at all. We enjoyed a long conversation while we ate dinner on deck, sipping on meat and vegetables cooked on our boat's grill. Our next destination was Le Somail, undoubtedly the most charming village on our trip. The children took their bikes out and rode around the village with their parents while we explored Le Somail's wonderful corners on foot.
We decided to eat at the Auberge du Somail restaurant, a magnificent choice. The owner speaks Spanish and chose the typical dishes we had to try, including a cassoulet and gratinéed mussels—all exquisite!
We also fondly remember Colombiers, where we met four Australian couples with whom we shared some beers and conversation on their deck, that sunset being one of the most magical moments of the vacation.
In Capestang we couldn't resist buying some oysters and mussels at the fish market in the port; at a very economical price, we dined like kings on board.
On the boat, you feel like time stands still. Other boats drift slowly past you, you pass many people, you greet them, you smile… everything is peaceful and special. It's an ideal trip for friends, children, or family… a relaxing vacation where you can tailor the itinerary to your own pace.
Other routes
Le Boat operates primarily in France, visiting destinations such as Burgundy, Alsace, the Camargue, and Brittany, but also in England, sailing the Thames, or in Scotland, with the option of navigating the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, or Ireland, along the Shannon and Erne. The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Germany are also interesting destinations, but the recent addition of the Rideau Canal in Canada, with state-of-the-art boats, is undoubtedly a very tempting option for the more adventurous.
Le
Boat has over 900 boats distributed across 36 departure bases in 8 countries worldwide. The following boats are available on the Canal du Midi:
• Royal Mystique A, perfect for groups of up to 6 people. Includes 2 cabins, 2 bathrooms and a large deck.
• Horizon 3, 3 cabins with 3 bathrooms. Ideal for three couples to have all the privacy and tranquility they need.
• Crusader, 3 cabins with en-suite bathrooms. One of the most versatile due to its layout.
• Salsa A allows up to 10 people to travel comfortably. 4 cabins and 2 spacious bathrooms located in the central area.
