Even if the Canal du Midi (near Toulouse) is the most famous river cruise in France, there are many more options to relax on a barge (called péniche) in one of the French rivers.

There are 113 nautical bases for river cruising, covering about 5,000 miles of waterway. Most of them are located in the Eastern part of France. The South West is also very nice with the Lot or the Canal du Midi. We have tested for you the navigation on the Mayenne river, located near Angers in the Loire Valley.

 

This type of tourism is for travelers who want to go slow and enjoy life ; maybe around a glass of rosé wine with some cold cuts ; or taking a sunbath on the deck of a boat.

Your journey is about getting cooler in the river, passing locks and strolling villages along the way. At night, you’ll find a pontoon either in the nature or in a small river port.

Everything you need is onboard including a kitchen, a bathroom and bikes.

This is a really nice way to discover the French countryside!

France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

5.0
Jeanie & David
We were planning a trip to the Ryder Cup and looking for other places to visit while in France. I happened upon the France Just for You website and started some planning with Emilie. She took over and gave us great plans for every day and great accomodations. All of her suggestions were perfect, actually too much for us to do each day. Her travel …
Ellen & Ray
This was the best trip to France we have ever been on! It was the second trip that Emilie and Laura at France Just for You set up for us. The first was a trip around Provence, which we loved so much that we asked them to set up our second trip to the Loire Valley, Normandy, and Paris. Both trips were tailored to our interests - food, wine, art …
Elliot
You gave me so many good suggestions that honestly, I just walked everywhere you recommended, with something breathtaking around every corner. The guidebook was great and the suggestion to make an effort to try French was a solid one. I did much better once I got comfortable trying. I will recommend your service to anyone I know thinking at coming …
Steve
We normally craft our own trips or join a small group tour. This time, we decided to try Emilie and Guillaume's tailored holiday service to enjoy southern France in a way we wouldn't have otherwise done. It was an excellent experience in every way and we recommend them highly. The BnB's chosen , the sightseeing and dining suggestions made as well …
Nicole
My husband and I used Emilie from France Just For You to plan a special trip for our anniversary. We loved the fact that our trip had structure, but at the same time, we had freedom to explore as we wished. We also loved the fact that the trip included guided tours, but we were not tied to a tour group as such. Emilie planned our trip according to …
Craig & Ginette
France Just For You, made going to France a seamless experience. They took care of all the arrangements: train, and car travel, tours and stays. The bed and breakfasts were hosted by delightful people who took an interest in you and had met and praised Emilie. Emilie tailored the trip to our specifications. Her organizational skills are unmatched …