Luxury Barge Tour on the Burgundy Canal

Fleurey-sur-Ouche.

Guests are met at the designated meeting point in Paris and transferred to the luxury barge moored in Fleurey-sur-Ouche. A full crew welcome aboard with champagne and canapes. After time to settle into your cabin, you will enjoy your first dinner on board and an introduction to Burgundy's excellent cuisine.

Fleurey-sur-Ouche to Sainte-Marie-sur-Ouche.

This morning experience your first day's cruise along this enchanting canal, which also promises a walk or cycle along an ever-present towpath past sleepy villages and pretty lock houses. After lunch we visit Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin, who award a special prized label to the finest Cote d'Or vintages every year. On the way back to the barge we enjoy a tasting of fine Burgundy wines in the cellars of the reputable Domaine Chateau Andre Ziltener, a family-run winery built on the foundation of an old Cistercian abbey. Dinner on board.

Sainte-Marie-sur-Ouche to La Bussiere.

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of old Dijon including a visit to the vivid produce markets, mustard shops and the impressive Notre Dame de Dijon, or enjoy some excellent shopping time. return to the barge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to La Bussiere and perhaps a walk or bicycle ride to the next lock or two. Dinner on board

La Bussiere to Pont D'Ouche.

After a short morning cruise, we set off to drive through the vineyards, stopping en route at the "vigne de l'enfant Jesus", a famous vineyard owned by the Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils'. There, a wine expert will give us a real insight into the production of the domaine's Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines. We continue to Beaune, capital of Burgundy wine country, for a winery tour and private tasting of Bouchard Pere et Fils wines before enjoying a gastronomic lunch in the orangery of Chateau de Beaune. Afterwards, we visit the fascinating 15th century Hotel-Dieu Hospice and explore the town, before returning to the barge for a short evening cruise to the Port d'Ouche. Dinner on board.

Pont D'Ouche to Vandenesse.

After breakfast we cruise to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, passing grazing white Charolais cattle, rolling hills and picturesque villages crossing the only canal bridge on the Burgundy Canal. After lunch on board, we visit the medieval village, craft shops and castle of Chateauneuf-en Auxois, once an outpost of the Dukes of Burgundy and offering a fine overview of the feeder lakes, canal and surrounding countryside. . Dinner on board.

Vandenesse to Escommes. Our last day's leisurely cruise takes us to the canal summit, 1250 feet above sea level, just before the Pouilly tunnel. This afternoon we visit Chateau de Bussy-Rabutin and see the portrait gallery created by the disgraced courtier of Louis XIV, before strolling through the gardens and enjoying views of the chateau surrounded by its moat. Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.

Escommes. After breakfast, guests disembark and transfer to the designated drop of point in Paris.

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