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Secrets of Provence

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You are viewing the 2026 itinerary. Select your departure year
20252026
7 days From £2,799 per person
4.4 stars(43 reviews)
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Sun-drenched towns, cities rich with history and glittering waterways lined with unimaginable vistas await on this cruise holiday through France's elegant Provence region

Mobility Rating 2

2026 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.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Uncovering the history and traditions of Arles
Uncovering the history and traditions of Arles
Explore the ancient architectural masterpieces of Arles on a guided tour, and then delve into the region's culinary traditions during a tasting at a traditional olive farm.
Admiring the scenery of the Camargue Delta
Admiring the scenery of the Camargue Delta
Head into Camargue's marshlands on a memorable panoramic tour, admiring the scenery and searching for the incredible wildlife that calls this region home, including pink flamingos, bulls and the famous white Camargue horses.
Discovering the intrigues of Aigues-Mortes
Discovering the intrigues of Aigues-Mortes
Uncover the prestigious heritage of Aigues-Mortes with a local guide then board a tourist train through the fascinating salt tables with admission to the Salt Museum.
Tasting the shellfish of Étang de Thau
Tasting the shellfish of Étang de Thau
Amidst stunning scenery, learn about the history of Étang de Thau's shellfish industry with opportunities to taste the lagoon's famous shellfish and hear about the hard-working shellfish farmers and fishermen.
Sightseeing in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
Sightseeing in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
Step back in time during a sightseeing tour of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, whose medieval buildings and lush surroundings make it one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Experiencing bull-sorting at a ‘manade’ farm
Experiencing bull-sorting at a ‘manade’ farm
Get a taste of France's rural life during a visit to an authentic 'manade' farm, where we enjoy a wagon tour, take part in bull-sorting and taste fresh produce.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – To Sete, where we board our ship

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.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – A taste of Étang de Thau and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

After a calm night moored in Sete, this morning we set out by coach for Étang de Thau, world-famous for its shellfish. We visit the Étang de Thau Museum, where we learn about the history of the shell-fishing trade and discover how the farmers and fishermen made their living. Before heading back, we sample some of the freshly caught shellfish while savouring the beautiful scenery from a terrace along this unique seascape.

Lunch is served onboard, and then this afternoon, we enjoy an excursion by coach to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, a beautiful French village tucked away in the folds of a verdant valley and boasting a wealth of medieval treasures. Here, we embark on a guided tour that explores the atmosphere of this destination, which feels frozen in time. Some of the town's most impressive sights include its Romanesque abbey and the Devil's Bridge, which spans a turquoise stretch of the Hérault river and dates back to the 11th century. Afterwards, we return to our barge for dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – The coastal town of Palavas-les-Flots

Setting out on our first cruise with breakfast, you can enjoy the changes in scenery as we drift toward our next port of call, Palavas-les-Flots. This morning is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or to grab a sun lounger on the sundeck, relaxing as the riverbanks pass.

Mooring after lunch, we step ashore and visit a 'manade' farm in Palavas-les-Flots. This authentic farm grows many types of produce and has a population of bulls, which we get to see sorted during our visit. Discover the lives of the herders and enjoy some time to taste the produce and snacks made fresh on the farm before returning to the ship.

The day continues with some free time in Palavas-les-Flots, during which you could explore this spa resort whose rich identity reaches back more than three centuries. Dinner is served upon returning to the ship this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Discovering the gems of Aigues-Mortes

With a leisurely morning of sailing, you can continue to soak up France's ambience from the window-lined lounge or a table on the sun deck as we float towards Aigues-Mortes.

On arrival early this afternoon, we walk into Aigues-Mortes, perhaps one of the most beautiful sites in Provence. Encased by square medieval walls, this ancient, fortified city is symmetrically perfect, with white-washed terracotta-topped houses contrasting with the surrounding green countryside. We get a look at it all during a guided tour.

The medieval city is also famous for its nearby salt marshes which we discover by tourist train. Interestingly, Roman Legionnaires stationed in the area used to receive a portion of their wages in salt harvested from these very marshes. What makes this sight extraordinary is the marshes' enchanting pink hue, caused by the presence of microscopic algae in its waters. Admire their colours against the surrounding scenery and learn more about the history of salt mining with included admission to the Museum of Salt before returning to the town by tourist train and the ship in time for dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Admiring the wildlife in the Camargue and Sainte-Marie-la-Mer

We spend this morning surrounded by enchanting waterside scenery as we cruise toward Gallician, the starting point for our next adventure: a visit to the Camargue. With 140,000 hectares of natural wetlands, the region is home to an array of wildlife, making it a paradise for nature lovers as we see wild white horses and even the odd pink flamingo. Additionally, the paddy fields here produce red rice, which is a fascinating sight to behold.

Continuing to Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, there's time to explore at your own pace. You could visit the fortified church located in a strategic position near the mouth of the Petit-Rhone. It was built in the 9th century as an imposing bastion to deter pirate raiders along the coast. Today, it holds a towering presence over the village and can be seen as far as 10km inland. A coach transfer takes us back to the ship for dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – The history and artistic allures of Arles

After a relaxed morning on the water, we enjoy a guided tour of Arles, the home of some of Europe's best Roman ruins. With a long history dating back to Celtic times, Arles' heritage of conquest over the years has left it with a rich variety of architecture, which we explore during our visit. We take in the stunning Roman Amphitheatre and enjoy the myriad of Romanesque architecture and sun-baked houses.

Arles inspired some of Van Gogh's artistry, and its heritage harks back to the glory days of Julius Caesar. Once a major Roman port, Arles rose to prominence after Caesar plundered Marseille for backing his political opponent, and evidence of that prosperity is preserved wonderfully for us to see.

Following our tour, we travel inland to learn about olive oil production in Provence, and we sample some of the local produce. Back onboard tonight, we enjoy a Gala dinner as a perfect way to round off our French adventure.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Homeward bound

From shellfish farms to 'manade' farms and medieval villages to the Camargue Delta, stunning scenes of Southern France have been revealed during this week-long cruise. Our barge has provided a luxurious base on the water, taking us along scenic waterways from Sete to Arles, where our journey comes to a close.

After enjoying breakfast onboard, we say goodbye to our crew and disembark the Anne-Marie for the final time. A coach transfer takes us to Avignon, where we board the train to Paris. Switching trains here, we continue on the Eurostar back to St Pancras. Your voyage concludes on arrival in London this afternoon.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Trains

Eurostar
TGV

Ship

MS Anne Marie

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Upgrades

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UK rail connections

Reviews

4.4 stars4.4 / 5 · 43 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (26)
  2. 4 stars
    (12)
  3. 3 stars
    (3)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

Bethel Lalich

5 stars

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

5 stars

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

5 stars

Submitted 21 Jul 2024

Lovey scenery and superb food and service on the barge.

Collected by Trustpilot

Christine Sturgess
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P Ogden

5 stars

Submitted 20 Jul 2024

Great food, great birdwatching, and a beautifully peaceful way to see the Camargue.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr William Wallace

5 stars

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

5 stars

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

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