Your guide to French Barge Cruising
02/07/2020 · By Sukie Chapman
Experience French barge cruising: with Great Rail Journeys. Read our Ultimate Guide and plan your dream cruise today with expert tips from our blog.
Read more2026 Tour code: CSR26
About the tour
Set sail on France's picturesque waterways to discover the very best of the romantic Provence region. On this fabulous barge cruise holiday, you can uncover the region's hidden gems, from Étang De Thau's famous shellfish to the medieval treasures of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.
With each stop, we dive deeper into the heart of Provence. Visit an authentic 'manade' farm to see its workings, explore medieval Aigues-Mortes, and witness the wild beauty of the Camargue Delta. A guided tour of the fascinating Roman ruins in Arles perfectly rounds off a memorable cruise adventure.
Unforgettable Experiences
What’s included
Itinerary
With the delights of France's charming waterways beckoning, your cruise holiday begins this morning at London St Pancras International. As you arrive, meet the Tour Manager and your travel group, and together, board the Eurostar to Paris. On arrival in the French Capital, we continue by rail to Montpellier St-Roch.
Joining our coach here, we drive to Sete at the cusp of the Garonne and Rhône Rivers, where our stylish hotel barge awaits. We arrive this evening and board our home for the next seven days, the delightful Anne-Marie. We are welcomed aboard by the friendly crew and can enjoy a welcome drink while taking our first looks at the scenery from the sun deck. Take some time to get settled into your cabin, and then we sit down to our first dinner together.
Additional information
Trains
Ship
Enhance your holiday
Upgrades
Reviews
4.4 / 5 · 43 reviews
Bethel Lalich
Submitted 18/Jun
Just loved everything about this holiday - how smoothly and efficiently everything was run, the amazing meals, the concern of the crew, just everything. This was my first Great Rail trip, and if that’s what they are all like, I will always choose Great Rail for my holidays where possible.
Collected by Trustpilot
Colin McCarty
Submitted 18/Jun
Food fantastic and the wines matched well to the lunches and dinners on the little barge of 11 cabins. Cocktails at 11:00am was an added bonus every day. Journey through the canal from Sete to Arles was a delight watching all the birds in their natural habitat. Excursions to the Camargue and an oyster farm to see how it is done, including a sumptuous lunch of fresh oysters delicious. Being driven on a little train around the massive salt pans was fascinating. It was a birders paradise, even I managed a photo of a bee eater.
Collected by Trustpilot
Christine Sturgess
Submitted 21 Jul 2024
Lovey scenery and superb food and service on the barge.
Collected by Trustpilot
P Ogden
Submitted 20 Jul 2024
Great food, great birdwatching, and a beautifully peaceful way to see the Camargue.
Collected by Trustpilot
Mr William Wallace
Submitted 24 Jun 2024
Comfortable accommodation and good food. Well chosen trips that did not require too much exertion, ideal for older people.
Collected by Trustpilot
A Wakefield
Submitted 19 Jun 2024
I did this trip 7 or 8 years ago and the food was so good I just had to do it again. No disappointment. On this occasion the CroisiEurope staff were, if anything, even better than the last time. Good excursions and organisation. Baggageman was worth doing, too, as my colleague was 91 and would not have been able to manage his case.
Collected by Trustpilot
River Cruise Holidays 2026
Experience the magic of cruising along some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways. Glide serenely along the romantic Rhine, explore the blue Danube or meander through the enchanting Douro Valley. With our river cruises, you’ll drift through beautiful landscapes and historic towns.