France Take advantage of our low deposits and secure your boating vacation today with just a 25% deposit. 2nd payment (up to 50%) is due by December 31st, 2024. Balance due 90 days before departure. Gold Trusted Service Award Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience. Rosette With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water. Boat We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people. Life buoy That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.

French river cruises

Canal du midi waterways
Canal du Midi waterways
Pink flamingos in the Camargue
Pink flamingos in the Camargue
Cacor Aqueduct, Moissac
Cacor Aqueduct, Moissac
River Lot
River Lot
St Simeux, Charente
St Simeux, Charente
Hospices de Beaune
Hospices de Beaune, Burgundy: Franche Comté
Two Caprices in Auxerre
Auxerre, Burgundy: Nivernais & Loire
Sunset in Chalon-sur-Saône
Sunset in Chalon-sur-Saône
Strasbourg, Alsace
Strasbourg, Alsace
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Regions in France

Canal du Midi highlights

  • Bike

    Cycling

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

Nivernais & Loire highlights

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

River Lot

Lot

Lot highlights

  • Water sports

    Fishing

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Nature

    Nature

  • Swimming

    Swimming

  • Water sports

    Water sports

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

Franche Comté highlights

  • Water sports

    Fishing

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Nature

    Nature

  • Water sports

    Water sports

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

Aquitaine highlights

  • Water sports

    Fishing

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Water sports

    Water sports

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

Alsace-Lorraine highlights

  • Bike

    Cycling

  • Beer icon

    Distillery / Brewery

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Nature

    Nature

Camargue highlights

  • Bike

    Cycling

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Horse Back Riding icon

    Horse Back Riding

  • Nature

    Nature

  • Umbrella

    Swimming & seaside

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

Brittany highlights

  • Water sports

    Fishing

  • Salt & pepper

    Gastronomy

  • Golf icon

    Golf

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Swimming

    Swimming

  • Water sports

    Water sports

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

Charente highlights

  • Water sports

    Fishing

  • Chateau

    History & Heritage

  • Nature

    Nature

  • Swimming

    Swimming

  • Water sports

    Water sports

  • Wine bottles

    Wine tasting

France Boating Vacations

Discover French canal boat holidays, no experience needed, no licence required. Captain your own boat as you explore France from the unique perspective of your cruiser. French river cruising is the perfect way to discover the hidden treasures of the waterways. The Canal du Midi offers a wonderful journey through the sun-drenched vineyards and pretty villages of Languedoc – France’s most prolific wine producing region. A visit to Carcassonne and Fonseranes locks is a must for your French canal boat holiday. Nivernais is reputed to be one of France’s prettiest canals providing gentle cruising through its picturesque villages and vineyards. The amazing wildlife in the Camargue will accompany your cruise as you enjoy ancient ports, historic towns and fabulous beaches. Burgundy is one of the most fascinating regions for a barge cruise in France and is often referred to as the “country of art and life”. Every one of our regions has something to offer for your France canal boat vacation. 

The history of French river cruising

French houseboat vacations allow you to go where you want and do as you please. Enjoy a slower pace of life as you explore the many towns and villages along the way. Cruising in France offers the largest river network in Europe with over 100 canals and rivers creating around 800km of navigable waterways making it the ideal destination for canal boat vacations. Experience nine boating regions from a completely different perspective.

Reviews of cruising in France…

“A five star service every time! We have booked holidays with Le Boat for over 15 years and we have always had a memorable experience. Both during and before our cruise, we have always been very well informed! And always with a smile!”

Margaret P

“I will never forget my visit to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, a magnificent village perched on the cliffs of the river Lot. Its unique location, its historic buildings and its imposing church gave me the impression of being in a film: too good to be true!”

Marie J

“We arrived in a beautiful hamlet along the Canal de Nantes to Brest. We left our houseboat and put our bikes on to go downtown. We enjoyed the surroundings, we did the shopping at the local market and we returned to the boat to prepare the dinner whilst drinking a delicious local wine on board. All very relaxing and stress-free!”

Anne F

“I will always remember the wine tasting in the Loire-Nivernais region. The vineyards of Sancerre stretched along the entire canal at the Loire. At sunset the leaves went from green to a magnificent golden shade. We could taste wine at vineyards all around us. A unique experience: wine, nature, our canal boat and the waterway.”

Amandine J