Sunday Board Alouette at Béziers, where a champagne reception awaits. Experience your inaugural voyage to the village of Colombieres followed by your first dinner on board.
Monday Enjoy a morning visit to l'Abbaye de Fontfroide, an 11th century Cistercian monastery, which includes a tranquil rose garden. Cruise along the beautiful Canal du Midi to Capestang. Return to the barge for lunch and spend the afternoon cruising one of the most picturesque canals in France.
Tuesday Visit the Oppidum d'Enserune, a pre-Roman hilltop settlement and one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. Stop for a wine tasting at a local vineyard. Return to the barge for lunch followed by an afternoon exploring the Canal du Midi, with its fine locks, impressive buildings and aqueducts.
Wednesday Experience the quaint, Art Nouveau covered market in the historic town of Narbonne. Here you will find a mouth-watering abundance of seafood taken fresh from the Mediterranean sea as well as wild chanterelles from the mountains of the Haut Languedoc. The municipal, military and religious architecture, museums and riverbanks of the Robine, all contribute to its charm. After lunch at a nearby bistro, return to the barge for a cruise to the port of Homps.
Thursday Today, visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone cliff. On the way back, stop off at Peyriac-Minvervois for wine tasting. Return to the barge for lunch and watch the ever-changing views from the deck or perhaps walk or cycle the tow path. The evening is spent moored at pretty Trebes.
Friday Finish the week with a tour of Europe's largest medieval fortress, La Cité de Carcassonne, restored to its former glory in the 19th century. Visit the cathedral, remarkable for its stained-glass rose windows. Meanwhile the chef prepares for your farewell gala dinner in the evening.
Saturday After breakfast, disembark.
* Itinerary also operates in the reverse direction
* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected
6 Nights
2012
4 Passengers
$31,600
3 Passengers
$28,900
2 Passengers
$26,200
First-class return TGV train tickets from Paris to local station, transfers between local station and barge
Included in cos of charter.
What's Included
• Accommodation on Board
• Personal service from professional crew
• Breakfast, lunch and candlelit dinner each day prepared by the onboard chef
• Refreshments on board after excursions
• Wine with meals, liqueurs and bar drinks on board
• Sightseeing excursions, including entrance fees
• Use of bicycles
• Air-conditioned vehicle with guide for sightseeing
• All transfers as described in the itinerary
• Return TGV between Paris and the Alouette
Cabin Pricing
Ports
Afloat in France - Alouette Barge Cabin Info
View Another Cabin:
Cruise line info
Orient Express Trains & Cruises
Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises. A name synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and service for over 25 years, Orient-Express owns and manages hotels, trains, cruises and restaurants in some of the most magical locations our planet has to offer.
Orient-Express now encompasses myriad luxury travel experiences to suit all tastes, in settings as diverse as Peru, Botswana, Tahiti, Portugal and Australia.
Ship info
Afloat in France - Alouette Barge
Alouette was built in 1908 at Ouderkeek in the Netherlands. Whilst used as a cargo barge, she was first named 'Cura' and later, 'Mars'. In 1986-1987 she was converted into a luxurious passenger carrying barge and was renamed Alouette.
Alouette is a Luxemotor type of barge and is 98ft in length and 17ft wide, the only boat in the Afloat in France fleet that can navigate the Canal du Midi. This is a well appointed boat with all cabins well above the water line.
In 2008, the Alouette was converted from a six to a four passenger luxury hotel barge. The interior of the barge was also refurbished to the highest standard.
Facilities
These entertainment services are provided at no additional charge:
Entertainment
Library
Games
Hifi/Stereo
Bose iPod Docking Station
Bicycles and Maps
Tennis Rackets and Balls
Television
Also available on board for your convenience:
Mail Service/stamps on sale
Newspaper
Photo film on sale
Souvenirs
Telephone
Guest computer with Internet access (in Salon)
Safe - one central per barge and one per cabin
We can also offer to arrange essential services: (additional charges may apply)
Dry Cleaning
Hair Dresser
Religious Services
Restaurants can be booked
Doctor/Dentist/Nurse
