Come to France... a country blessed with thousands of miles of canals and rivers, many beautiful lakes and the inland waterways of the Mediterranean Sea. A skippers paradise...

Mysterious castles suddenly appear... irresistible chateaux beckon all along the shoreline. Villages with incredible patisseries offering a shop full of  pastries for the mornings breakfast... or freshly baked bread to be enjoyed at some wonderful picnic place along the way. Market days in the canal side villages  are a shoppers dream.

Just relax on deck with a long neglected book or have a nap on the sundeck to restore your soul in time for the anticipated evening dinner. Some special restaurant along the way, perhaps with a famous chef... or, if you prefer, dinner on board... prepared from fresh foods discovered in shops along today's journey. Finally, late at night, under a sky full of stars long forgotten slip into your comfortable bed... and anticipate tomorrow.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO CRUISE?

Just click on a destination and it will magically take you there...

Click on the titles below for more cruise info:

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CRUISE

DURING YOUR CRUISE

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CRUISE

RESERVATION

• Choose your boat (according to the number of people in your party), the region and the dates of your cruise

• Contact us to make sure the boat is available to reserve it.

• Upon receipt of payment, we will send you in ample time all the information you need for a successful holiday.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

We will send you a complete set of documents including:

• Log book - Preparation and advice for a trouble free cruise from start to finish

• Base location map - Instruction for locating our base easily

• Navigation Chart (if ordered) - Vital for a well organized cruise. On it you'll find the locations of locks, water fill-up points, places of interest, etc. Remember to order one when booking

• Inventory - A list of all interior and exterior equipment

YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Holdalls are recommended - they are easy to stow away. Suitcases do take up far more space on board so perhaps unpack them and leave in the trunk of your car. Take with you comfortable non slip shoes so that you can move on the deck without danger. Don't forget sunglasses and sun creams, hats, glove... and camera with film.

ON ARRIVAL AT THE BASE

At each base you may choose between a free car park or a lock up garage which is not included in the price of your cruise. Generally these facilities are not guarded.

A few formalities will need to be attended to while other members of the group load your luggage or perhaps go off to do some basic shopping to get you through your first day. One of our technicians will come aboard with you to show you how to operate your boat. Whenever possible he will be with you when you negotiate your first lock.

You'll soon see that navigation is child's play. Now it's time to cast off!

AT THE END OF YOUR CRUISE

Remember to return the boat on time! between 4 and 5 p.m. for a weekend cruise and 8 to 9 a.m. for longer cruises. The personnel at the base can supply you with necessary materials to give the boat a good clean. After your cruise please don't hesitate to fill out the questionnaire and give us your ideas, suggestions and recommendations. This is a precious source of information enabling us to improve constantly our service to you and other clients.

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DURING YOUR CRUISE

PORTS AND MOORING

During your cruise you're free to stop where you like... except on private property of course.

If you choose the peace and quiet of the countryside, remember to respect Nature... don't leave litter

If, on the other hand, you prefer the relative bustle of the towns and villages you pass through on your way, take advantage of the purpose-built ports and mooring sites. Sometimes a modest fee is charged, but these comfortable areas will often give you quick access to the town...

LOCKS - WILL I HAVE TO PAY? - ARE THEY AUTOMATIC?

Some locks are automatic while others are manual, and the lock-keeper may ask you to lend a hand. In the Charente, the locks are operated by the user - thus you are not restricted by timetables.

In general, lock-keepers do not work on Bank Holiday (these dates vary according to region) - Please contact us for more information.

FISHING

You can fish in the canals and rivers providing you hold a fishing license to be purchased from local fishing tackle shops or from certain tobacconist's shop (cost about $30 and valid for 15 days) so good fishing.

BICYCLES

An absolute necessity for exploring the area where you've moored... little villages, places of interest or simply for going to buy your daily bread. A bike can help you make unforgettable discoveries.