Included
On-Board Facilities
- Maximum of 10 passengers
- 5 cabin staterooms with en suite
- 10 bicycles
- A small library of books and maps
- A collection of board games
- Boules
- Sundeck
- Binoculars for watching birds
- iPod speaker mount for use with Athos iPod or passengers’ own devices
- Guitar (on request)
- Free Wi-Fi (connectivity limited in remote locations)
Itinerary
Guests are met in Beziers** and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Athos. A full-crew Welcome Aboard follows, with champagne and Mediterranean canapés. Once you are settled into your cabin, you will be invited to your first 4-course dinner on board, prepared by the highly skilled chef.
Overnight stay onboard Hotel Barge Athos in a Stateroom.
Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included.
Enjoy breakfast in a comfortable chair on the upper deck of the hotel barge, before we drive to the famous medieval double-walled city of Carcassonne. Your knowledgeable guide will provide a full tour of this historical place and ensure that you also have time to browse the shops. Return to the barge for a gourmet lunch (perhaps including the famous duck confit stew, cassoulet) and an afternoon’s cruise to La Croisade, with plenty of opportunity to walk or bicycle along the towpath. Dinner on board.
Overnight stay onboard Hotel Barge Athos in a Stateroom.
Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included.
After breakfast, we enjoy a tasting at “L’Oulibo”, the local olive oil press. After tasting those organic and wholesome olives accompanied by a glass of rosé, we take a short drive up the Gorge de la Cesse and into the hilltop village of Minerve. Your guide will regale you with the harrowing tale of the Cathar siege launched at Minerve during the 13th century. Relax after lunch on board, whilst we cruise to Capestang, or you can enjoy a wine tasting at a local château, such as Château Cabezac. Return to the hotel barge for dinner on board and admire the floodlit Collegiale St. Etienne.
Overnight stay onboard Hotel Barge Athos in a Stateroom.
Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included.
After breakfast, take a trip to the weekly morning market in Narbonne. Even for non-shoppers, Narbonne offers much entertainment. Explore an excavated portion of the original Roman road, the Via Domitia, browse through the Roman Museum, discover the beauty of St. Juste Cathedral, or simply relax at one of the many cafés. After lunch in the atmospheric market, return to Athos and cruise to Fonserannes. From your mooring tonight, you will have a glorious view of the town of Beziers and the Cathedral St. Nazaire. Dinner on board.
Overnight stay onboard Hotel Barge Athos in a Stateroom.
Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included.
This morning we drive to the old market town of Pezenas, which was the first seat of the Languedoc court. The architecture is unique within this region because of the “Hotels Particuliers” or mansions belonging to the noble families who followed the Court. It is filled with artisans’ shops, including painters, hat makers, and costume designers. Once again, your guide makes sure that there is time to browse, as well as learning about the history. After lunch we begin our negotiation of a 17th century feat of engineering, the Fonserannes Staircase Locks. Then we traverse the 18th century aqueduct over the River Orb. The paved towpath and the many locks leading to our mooring make it an ideal afternoon for walking or bicycling alongside the barge. Dinner on board.
Overnight stay onboard Hotel Barge Athos in a Stateroom.
Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included.
This morning, we get underway earlier than usual, cruising through the area known as the “Petit Camargue”. Bird watchers should look out for the local species such as pink flamingos, African Rollers and Bee Eaters. After crossing through the exceptional “round lock” at Agde, a spectacular and appropriate seafood lunch awaits you, as you enter the open-waters of the Etang de Thau, which boasts Europe’s largest mussel and oyster beds. As we moor in the port at Marseillan, you will notice the enclosure of the Noilly Prat vermouth distillery. End a perfect day with a fascinating tour of the distillery and if you choose, a tasting of Noilly Prat before the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Overnight stay onboard Hotel Barge Athos in a Stateroom.
Selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included.
After breakfast, transfer by a private chauffeured minibus to your choice of location in Beziers**.
Optional Extras
Departure Dates and Pricing:
Excluded
- International airfares and taxes
- Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
- Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
- Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
- Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
- Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
- Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package
Important notes
- This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks, the cruise will be in the reverse direction.
- Approximate transfer duration between Beziers & Athos is 30 minutes
- This barge is available for charter bookings and theme cruises. Contact us for more details.
Pick-up Point
- Cabin bookings - Guests choice of location in Beziers between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm
- Charter bookings - On a request basis to be agreed prior to booking: One location of the group’s choice in Beziers, Carcassonne, Narbonne or Montpellier starting from 4:00 pm.
Drop-off Point
- Cabin bookings - Guests choice of location in Beziers by 10:00 am or guests who wish to take the 8:30 am train from Beziers can be dropped at the station at 8:00 am
- Charter bookings - On a request basis to be agreed prior to booking: One location of the group’s choice in Beziers, Carcassonne, Narbonne or Montpellier by 10:00 am.
Booking / Payment Process
- On our website the Barge Cruise prices are show in Euros
- All payments will be made to us in Australian Dollars
- The current exchange rate will be used at the time of deposit and balance
- Our invoice will make this clear and our team is here to assist you
Supplier Booking Conditions Apply
Due to the boutique nature and limited capacity of this travel experience, under our Bookings Conditions this package classifies as “Booking Type 2 – Travel Experience where we act as agent only”. Your contract for the delivery of travel arrangements will be with the principal supplier and will be subject to their Booking Conditions. We will advise you prior to confirming your booking the full details and Booking Conditions of the principal supplier. Our responsibility to you where we sell travel arrangements as agent for the supplier is specified in the ‘Responsibility’ section of our Booking Conditions.
