Self-drive Houseboat on Canal du Midi, France

Boat for 6 x guests in double cabins with ensuites. (space for 2 x guests sleeping in living area)

Classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Canal du Midi links the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and takes you through sun drenched vineyards and to numerous villages and canal side restaurants. The best bits: plenty of sunshine, numerous historical sites to visit, and excellent Languedoc wines from waterside vineyards.

From Le Somail - from the charming small port of Le Somail, cruise away to discover the Canal du Midi in the direction of Carcassonne or if your cruising time permits down to Narbonne close to the Mediterranean Sea. You will cruise on the largest pound of france (52km without any locks) up to the Fonserannes starcase, situated close to the historical city of Beziers. A few kilometres more and you arrive, via Agde, to the huge Etang de Thau- renowned for it oyster beds.

From Port Lauragais - Cast off from the base in Port Lauragais and sail West towards Toulouse, the 'pink city', named because of its red brick buildings rich with points of interest for tourists, Heritage Capitol museum, city of Space to name a couple.

To the East, a must stop is Castelnaudary to try its delicious cassoulet, a local gastronomique specialty, before cruising on to the medieval city of Carcassonne. the streets of Trebes, whose origin date back to 4500 BC, await you before reaching Homps and its man-made beaches.

Included in your houseboat holiday:

• Your boat for 8 x days (Saturday to Saturday or any other day except Sunday, subject to availability) excellent well-crafted boat with a capacity of 6 guests (room for 2 x visitors sleeping in living area). Departure is between 3-6pm Saturdays; return your boat between 8-9am the following Saturday. For other possibilities of extended days, shorter breaks and weekends, bigger or smaller boats - please contact our office: [email protected] 
• Captain's handbook: preparation and advice for a trouble free cruise from start to finish
• Navigation chart: vital for a well-organised cruise. In it you will find the location of locks, water fill-up points, places of interest etc. 
• Base location map: instructions for locating your departure base easily
• Navigation instruction: video giving advice for the navigation and security instructions to live aboard your cruiser.
• Boat equipment, all equipment necessary for navigation
• Boat insurance
• Instructions on navigating the waterways and your temporary boat licence
• Breakdown assistance available 7 days per week during base operating hours
• Inventory: a list of all interior and exterior equipment
• Crockery etc. enough for everybody on board
• Bedding: sheets, blankets or duvets, pillows and pillow cases

Not included:

• Boat fuel: you start with a full tank (All consumables such as oil, fuel, gas etc. used are included in your charge. All cruisers are fitted with a meter which is read on your departure and on your return. The number of hours of engine fuel used will be invoiced according to the rate displayed at the base. On average between 30-60 EUR per day.)
• A bond of 1500 EUR (repaid to you at the end of your cruise if the boat and its equipment are brought back clean, in good condition and undamaged, at the time and place agreed on)
• Waterways guide: 25 EUR
• Barbecue rental: 40 EUR
• Power converter rental 12/220v: 10 EUR
• Wifi on board: 50 EUR
• Deck mattress: 10 EUR each: comfortable and foldable mattress for relaxing on theroof or front deck of your boat
• Bikes 40 EUR each
• One-way cruise: from 150 EUR (not available in all regions, and charge is according to distance for recovery between the bases)
• Final cleaning (required) internal and external at end of cruise: outside 70 EUR, inside 130 EUR (total clean 200 EUR)

Option 1 'all inclusive' package:

• Fuel package + cleaning price
• Waterways map
• Set of towels for each passenger
• Kitchen towels kit
• 2 x bikes
• May be collected and paid on arrival (575 EUR)

Option 2 'hotel' package:

• Cleaning price
• Set of towels for each passenger
• Kitchen towels kit
• May be collected and paid on arrival (275 EUR)

Slow Tours offers a number of other Houseboat Holidays in Europe

Price is calculated on 6 x guests. Total price of boat hire is 6 x individual price

Ask us about your houseboat hire: departures any day except Sunday; boats available from 2-10 guests; boats available in other parts of France, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal: find the right boat and location for you at [email protected]

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