Barging in Europe Detailed Itinerary


Enjoy the rivers and canals of Europe by Barge

Multiple departures.

Here are a few itinerary for samples.

Scottish Highlander

Day 1 Sunday - Inverness to Dochgarroch:
At 4pm we meet at the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel in Inverness and transfer to Scottish Highlander moored at Dochgarroch. Champagne welcome followed by a short evening cruise along the heather-lined canal to the winding hole. Dinner aboard.

Day 2 Monday - Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus:
This morning we visit the 14 th century fairytale Cawdor Castle immortalised by Shakespeare with Macbeth, housing a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furniture with beautiful landscaped gardens. We also visit Culloden Moor, made famous by the MacDonald and Campbell battle in the 13 th century. After lunch we cruise Loch Dochfour to Fort Augustus passing Urquhart Castle and the south shore of Loch Ness, where there is an abundance of wildlife, and moor near Fort Augustus Abbey. Dinner aboard.

Day 3 Tuesday - Fort Augustus:
After breakfast we cruise up the staircase of five locks through the village of Fort Augustus, which gives us plenty of time to shop and look around this pretty Caledonian gem. After lunch we visit Urquhart Castle and Invermoriston Falls (or with family charters explore the Nessie Museum. Fort Augustus has a charming heather-laced 9 or 18 hole golf course, where the official green keepers are sheep! We dine out tonight at a local restaurant.

Day 4 Wednesday - Fort Augustus to Cullochy Lock:
We leave Fort Augustus this morning and cruise to Cullochy Lock via Kytra. After lunch we drive through Glen Moriston and stunning highland countryside to romantic medieval Eilean Donan Castle, setting for the film Highlander. Eilean Donan Castle has an idyllic island setting with commanding views of three sea lochs and frequent sightings of otters, dolphins and the Isle of Skye. Following the abortive Jacobite rising of 1719, the ruins of the castle were abandoned for 200 years until the 20 th century when a complete reconstruction was undertaken. Dinner aboard.

Day 5 Thursday - Cullochy Lock to Gairlochy:
Leave Cullochy Lock for a morning cruise via two locks at Laggan, and through Lochs Oich and Lochy to Gairlochy. In the afternoon there is a chance to see either the World War II Commando memorial, the woollen mill at Spean Bridge, selling traditional knitwear and tweeds, or the Clan Cameron museum. Dinner aboard.

Day 6 Friday - Gairlochy to Banavie:
Morning visit to the mystic battlefields of Glencoe. On the way back visit the Ben Nevis distillery for an insight into the secrets of the various stages of Whisky preparation and taste a wee dram or two. In the afternoon we cruise to Banavie and Neptune's Staircase, a flight of eight locks that is a spectacular feat of engineering. Farewell Captain's Dinner on board.

Day 7 Saturday - Banavie:
Passengers disembark for the transfer to Fort William by minibus after a hearty Scottish breakfast arriving in there by about 9.45am.

On alternative weeks the itinerary is in reverse direction. This itinerary is subject to change.

Accommodation Value Regular
Stateroom per person $3,590US $4,090US
Suite per person $4,090US $4,750US
Single supplement $1,400US $1,550US

Departure Dates ( Sundays) 2012
April 01, 08, 15, 22, 29, Value
May 06, 13, 20, 27, Regular
June 03, 10, 17, 24, Regular
July 01, 08, 15, Regular
July 22, 29, Value
August 05, 12, Value
August 19, 26, Regular
September 02, 09, 16, 23, Regular
September 30, Value
October 07, 14, 21, 28, Value

France - Burgundy L'Art de Vivre


L'Art de Vivre

Burgundy - Upper Nivernais Canal, Seven Days/Six Nights Cruise Highlights
- Medieval town of Clamecy and cathedral
- 16 lock flight in the Valley of Sardy
- Visit to 17th Century home of Maréchal Vauban
- Hilltop Romansque basilica in Vézelay
- Wine tasting at Tannay
- Delightful "van Gogh" style lifting bridges
- Excellent walking and bicycling
- Optional hot air ballooning
A Small Selection of the Wines Served Aboard
- Domaine Bersan, Irancy Cuvee
- Domaine Moillard Grivot, Savigny les Beaune
- Coulanges des Vineaux
- Chablis - La Chablisienne
- Bourgogne Vezelay "La Chevaliere"
- Caves Tannaysiennes, Chardonnay

Day 1 Sunday, PARIS TO CLAMECY:
Guests are met at the pick up hotel in Paris at 1.30pm and transferred to L'Art de Vivre. After a Champagne Welcome, wander around Clamecy, the logging capital and raison d'être of the Nivernais Canal. Dinner aboard.

Day 2 Monday,CLAMECY TO VILLIERS-SUR-YONNE:
There is time this morning before the barge departs to stroll around the narrow streets of Clamecy and maybe visit the Logging & Barging Museum, or to climb the hill to view the 13th century Collegiale de St Martin. Cruise from Clamecy in the late morning, passing the quaint village of Chevroches perched on the hillside. During lunch we moor at Villiers-sur-Yonne in its picturesque setting under willow trees. Our excursion this afternoon is to the impressive half built fortification at Guedelon. This is a 25 year project, set up to demonstrate the traditional building methods from the 12th to 14th centuries. Meet the stone masons, blacksmiths and other craftsmen. Enjoy a game of boules before dinner aboard.

Day 3 Tuesday,VILLIERS-SUR-YONNE TO MONCEAUX LE COMTE:
Morning cruise, passing beneath the first of many Van Gogh-style hand operated lifting bridges. A short bike ride is recommended into the village of Asnois to visit "Le Bouc qui Fume" (the smoking billy goat), an antique/curiosity shop in an old chapel. Before stopping at Tannay for lunch we pass through an impressive double chambered lock. After lunch a brief drive to visit the local wineries of Tannay, famous for its rather special Melon grape variety. We then continue our cruise and moor in the old logging port of Monceaux le Comte. Dinner ashore at a local auberge, serving traditional local cuisine.

Day 4 Wednesday, MONCEAUX LE COMTE to LA GRANGES:
This morning we visit one of Burgundy's most picturesque hill-top settings, Vezelay. Discover the treasured Romanesque Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, lace and craft shops and superb views over the surrounding countryside. Return to the barge for lunch and cruise to La Granges. On the way, we have an opportunity to stroll around Chitry-les-Mines with it's 16th century Château, used during World War Two as an H.Q. by the local Resistance Group "Les Loups" (The Wolves). Dinner aboard.

Day 5 Thursday, LA GRANGES to SARDY:
As we cruise through the remote countryside and meadows of "France Profonde" on our way to Sardy, you will notice that the locks are a lot older with their huge beam-levered lock gates and ivy covered lock houses. After lunch we visit the Château of Bazoches, whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lionheart. It later became the home of Marechal Vauban, the famous defence engineer, in whose family it has remained until this day. Dinner aboard.

Day 6 Friday, SARDY to BAYE:
Today we begin with a passage through the 16-lock flight leading to the summit of the Nivernais Canal. The locks are sometimes less than 200 yards apart! Alongside each lock is a pretty waterfall-weir and some very attractive lock houses, which can be admired whilst you stroll alongside the barge. Many consider this canal reach to be one of the most beautiful in France. We moor for lunch at the last lock before our final cruise through the three tunnels of La Collancelle set in the deep cut to Baye lake, which marks the summit. Captain's Farewell Dinner aboard.

Day 7 Saturday, BAYE TO PARIS:
After breakfast we return you to the meeting point hotel in Paris for approximately 1pm.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.

Accomodation Value Regular
Stateroom per person $3,990US $4,550US
Single supplement $1,500US $1,700US

Departure Dates (Sundays) 2012
April 01, 08, 15, 22, 29, Value
May 06, 13, 20, 27, Regular
June 03, 10, 17, 24, Regular
July 01, 08 Regular
July 15, 22, 29, Value
August 05, 12, 19 Value
August 26, Regular
September 02, 09, 16, 23,30 Regular
October 07, 14, 21, 28, Value


Duration: 6 Nights

Max Group Size: 6

Accomodations: Ship Cabin

Price: Prices vary from barge to barge. From $3,590 USD and up per person based on twin share