Why You Should Add Le Boat to your New Year Travel Bucket List
With the last chime of the last bell ringing in 2019, comes in new resolutions and pages filled with a new bucket list of activities and adventures for the New Year!
Just as your bucket list is tailored to your own personal wish list, so should your vacation. As the largest operator of self-driving boating vacations, Le Boat has spent five decades building the itineraries and choosing destinations that will give every traveller an experience to cross off their bucket list.
No longer reserved for just the rich and famous— a private yachting experience along one of the world's historical canals and waterways is the hottest new trend in travel in 2019 and is definitely an experience for your bucket list!
Filled with fun and adventure and as the captain and crew of your own private boat cruise the waterways and at your leisure, stop at the scenic landmarks, charming small towns, medieval castles, and historical sites along the way. Set your own pace, choose your own itinerary, and get off the beaten path for a real adventure exploring a destination by its historical waterways vs. the highways. No other vacation combines destinations with experiences like a Le Boat vacation.
Bring along family or friends- the more the merrier! Le Boat’s luxury cruisers are easy to drive and not previous boating experience or license if required. Rental rates are per boat, not per person, which means the whole family can join in the fun at no additional cost.
Toss your inhibitions to the side and be inspired by these must-do canal cruises in 2019.
1. Wine tasting in Burgundy Region in France
Imagine telling friends and family you spent your vacation touring the top vineyards in France, sampling Burgundy’s famous wines, including pinot noirs, Chardonnays, Chablis and Beaujolais. Think of the experiences you can cross off your list! Authentic French castles? Seen them. Indulged in a thermal bath? Been there, done that. Explore the network of canals peppered with must-dos around every corner. Don’t miss a visit to the capital, Dijon, home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and more than 200 years of history!
2. Explore a real Scottish castle, Outlander-style
No, Jamie Fraser won’t be there for company, but the experience will be just as adventurous (promise!). Spectacular mountain scenery makes Scotland's highland waterways an unforgettable boating holiday experience. The famous Caledonia canal in Scotland is set against the magnificent hillsides and mountain ranges of the Scottish Highlands, surrounded by breathtaking scenery as far as the eye can see.
The Caledonian Canal stretches between Inverness, the capital of the Highlands in the north, down to Fort William in the south. Along the way, visit hilltop castles, historical sites, sample some Scottish whiskey at a distillery tour, visit quite waterside towns, enjoy the sound of melodic bagpipes. If you are lucky, spot the Loch Ness Monster on a foggy morning.
Are you a golfer? Add golfing in Scotland to your bucket list! The sport originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages, so it isn’t surprising that Caledonian Canal golf breaks are extremely popular with Le Boat cruisers! The Castle Stuart Golf Links, Loch Ness Golf Course and the Inverness Golf Club are in Inverness, and the Fort Augustus Golf Club is on the canal.
3. Canal cruising in Venice
Is there any place reputed to be more romantic than the canals in Venice? Find out for yourself when cruising with Le Boat, and explore the best Italy has to offer. Don’t miss exploring Burano, were you can delight in the colourful houses painted by fishermen to help them identify their homes when returning from the sea, or explore the history of the lace for which the region is famous. Enjoy a day at the beach in Lignano Sabbiadoro, and stop and enjoy an Italian coffee or authentic Italian meal at a charming café or restaurant.
Book a cooking lesson in Italy and learn to make home-made pasta from the local “Nona’s”. Shop the local markets and enjoy your own Italian cooking onboard your private cruiser—don’t forget the bottle of Prosecco and limoncello aperitif!
4. DIY European cuisine
Bring home some of the flavours that you will enjoy during your travels! Explore local cuisine during any one of Le Boat’s European destinations, and book a cooking lesson so you can eat like a local from Italy, France, England, Holland, Germany – and more – all year long. Imagine making homemade pasta like a real Italian, French bread like a true Frenchman, or bangers and mash like a true Scot!
All Le Boat cruisers come with a fully equipped kitchen (with oven). Ask about our onboard BBQs to enhance your alfresco dinning on the top sundeck. Shop at the local food markets and cook up your own five star meal using fresh local ingredients, and local cheeses and spices, paired with a bottle of award winning wine.
5. Tulip festival in Amsterdam
Cruise the vast network of canals that run through the Netherlands, where you can travel virtually anywhere by boat. Indulge in a feast for the eyes in Amsterdam during the annual tulip festival, where brilliant displays of these iconic bulbs are spread throughout the city.
The tulip is one of the Netherlands and Amsterdam’s most icon symbol and was first introduced into their culture at the beginning of the 17th century. It has large economic impact in the time of Ottoman Empire that has lasted until modern day.
The famous tulip festival showcases colourful and rare tulips throughout the month of April and some main participating locations include the Hermitage Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Hortus Botanica, Museum Van Loon and most public spaces and local gardens. The goal is to have a tulip for every citizen of Amsterdam – that’s more than 700,000 blooms!
Take a picture in the medieval village of Elburg, or explore Giethoorn for a look at the scenic community nicknamed the “Venice of the North.” Add a bike or two to your private canal boat and explore the local towns and villages like the locals – you’ll fit right in!
6. Savour a traditional bier in Germany & explore the bier markets
Sample a traditional German beer during your travels along the many canals that traverse the German countryside, taking you to destinations you’ve only dreamed about, like Berlin, Potsdam, or Jabel. Stop in any number of cafés and restaurants, and ask what’s on tap that’s locally produced. Plan to make a stop in Waren to visit the local restaurant, Alt-Waren, and discover what makes German bier so unique. You may decide to bring some of those flavours home with you!
The boating regions of Mecklenburg and Brandenburg are abundant with rivers, streams and thousands of small and large lakes, making this a first-class destination for self-drive river cruises and boating breaks. Castles perch on the shores of medieval villages, and resorts bustle on Lake Müritz, the largest lake within Germany’s borders.
7. Enjoy a pint in an authentic Irish pub
Remember those dark, Irish pubs from the movies, where the locals go at the end of the day and where the floorboards are worn from centuries of traffic? Picture yourself saying sláinte with the locals in an authentic Irish pub from yesteryear. Savour thick, dark, Irish brews, Guinness Irish Stew and succulent local fare. You’ll be ready to explore your Irish roots after your tour of the rivers Shannon and Erne.
You’ll see the River Shannon gives central Ireland it's unique character. At a glance, it’s clear that the waters influence the land. The fishing is superb and golf is extremely popular! As you travel, you’ll stop in quaint villages, explore medieval churches, and enjoy the green backdrop of the rolling hills.
8. History Buff & Heritage
To cruise Europe’s waterways is to cruise back in time. Evidence of the past is everywhere on canal boat holidays in Flanders Belgium. Known for its wonderful chocolates and gourmet cuisine, the Flanders region of coastal Belgium is rich in culture and natural beauty — windmills, meadows, marshes, sandy beaches, castles and bustling cities replete with Gothic architectural grandeur.
Belgium river cruises transport you deep into the past. Fascinating museums reveal archaeological, artistic and even culinary history, such as the Museum of the Bakery in Veurne. Ypres and Diksmuide feature Belgium’s bloody World War I history. As you cruise, the peace of the present serenity on the water captivates you, regardless of the tumult of the past.
All of Le Boat’s cruising routes re packed with both famous historical sites to see and lesser-known historical gems to discover. There’s nothing like the sight of an ancient castle, a medieval chateau, or a gothic cathedral popping into view as you come around the bend in a river—except perhaps mooring and going ashore to examine Italian Renaissance art or view the Berlin Wall! Every one of our regions has historical sites to discover.
9. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Le Boat offers cruising opportunities along two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The Rideau Canal in Ontario Canada was listed as a UNESCO site in June 2007 as highlighted as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously-operated canal system in North America. Traveling this attractive waterway, you'll be able to unwind and take in the spectacular nature, picturesque towns and lively cities of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2019, Le Boat’s will be offering one way cruises along the canal and have a fleet of 20 Horizon cruisers. Boating season starts mid May and ends on October 14, 2019.
The Canal du Midi is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of Le Boat’s most popular cruising grounds in France. Canal du Midi had been around a long time. In 1516, King Francis I comissioned Leonardo da Vinci to survey a route. When Pierre-Paul Riquet got going in 1667, one problem was how to lift boats over the 190-metre (620-foot) heights at Naurouze. Reservoirs and dams were built. You’ll see neoclassical elements in many structures on your Canal du Midi vacation! In 1996, the canal became a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s designer,Pierre-Paul Riquet, created a work of art with aqueducts, bridges, 91 locks and more than 42,000 plane trees line its banks!
So what are you waiting for? Book your cruise with Le Boat today and make sure 2019 is an epic year of fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories!
Find the perfect boat for your vacation style. With a fleet of over 930 cruisers and more than 42 models to choose from, Le Boat has a boat rental that will fit all budgets, travel styles and party size. With bright and airy accommodations (check out the sun deck!) you’ll travel in comfort and luxury as you crossing one item after another from your bucket list. Prices start as low asUS$920.00 for 7 nights (per boat , based on budget boat in low season) .
Call 1-800-734-5491 There’s a Le Boat vacation with your name on it!