Exploring the Canal du Midi with Les Frenchies
You may already know Colleen and Antoine, the husband-and-wife team behind Les Frenchies Travel. Known for their practical travel guides and video tutorials, they help travelers navigate and discover regions across France, sharing recommendations on where to eat, stay, and experience authentic French culture.
Now, you can watch them discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Canal du Midi for the very first time. Joining Le Boat aboard a Liberty houseboat, they cruise from Homps to Port Cassafières, taking the helm themselves and learning the skills needed to captain and crew a boat along one of France’s most famous waterways.
Les Frenchies Travel on Youtube
Follow Colleen and Antoine, the husband-and-wife team behind Les Frenchies Travel down the Canal du Midi.
Inspired by their adventure? You can experience the same journey for yourself with Le Boat.
Skip the hustle and bustle of Paris and discover the South of France from a completely different perspective. Cruise at your own pace as vineyards, historic villages, and beautiful countryside reveal themselves along the waterway. A Le Boat vacation allows you to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and immerse yourself in a more relaxed way of traveling.
Like Les Frenchies, first-time boaters can enjoy front-row views of the stunning French countryside while cruising beneath centuries-old bridges, navigating locks, and passing through historic tunnels that make up this remarkable canal.
Starting from our Le Boat base in Homps, located in the heart of the Canal du Midi, your adventure begins immediately. The journey from Homps to Port Cassafières covers approximately 113 kilometres and involves around 22 hours of cruising, making it an ideal itinerary for a leisurely week-long vacation.
Highlights Along the Route
Le Somail
One of the Canal du Midi’s most picturesque stops, this charming 17th-century hamlet is home to waterside cafés, a famous floating grocery boat, and an impressive antiquarian bookshop.
Capestang
A vibrant canal-side village featuring a striking collegiate church, lively cafés, and a welcoming atmosphere perfect for an afternoon stop.
Malpas Tunnel
Opened in 1679, the Malpas Tunnel is considered the world’s first navigable canal tunnel, carved directly through a hill more than 350 years ago.
Fonseranes Locks, Béziers
One of the Canal du Midi’s most iconic landmarks, this impressive staircase of locks is an engineering masterpiece and a highlight for many boaters.
Port Cassafières
Located close to the Mediterranean coast, Port Cassafières offers a relaxing finish to your journey and easy access to nearby beaches and seaside attractions.
Why Explore the Canal du Midi by Houseboat?
Eat, Sleep and Cruise Onboard
Your boat becomes your floating vacation home. Unpack once and wake up somewhere new each day while enjoying all the comforts of home, including comfortable cabins, a fully equipped kitchen, linens, and onboard amenities.
Enjoy Complete Freedom
Set your own schedule. Choose where to stop, where to dine, and how long to stay in each village. Whether you want to spend an afternoon at a vineyard or an entire evening in a waterside town, the choice is yours.
No Boating Experience Required
Like Colleen and Antoine, you don’t need previous boating experience. Before departure, Le Boat provides a comprehensive boat handling and safety briefing, so you’ll feel confident from the moment you set off. No boating license is required.
Access Places Others Miss
With your own houseboat, you can moor along the canal beside vineyards, local markets, historic villages, and restaurants, without worrying about hotel check-ins or finding parking.
Following the route taken by Les Frenchies is more than just a vacation. It’s an opportunity to experience the South of France at a slower pace, discover hidden gems along the Canal du Midi, and enjoy the freedom of exploring one of Europe’s most beautiful waterways from the comfort of your own Le Boat houseboat.
What Les Frenchies Thought About Their Le Boat Vacation
After completing their Canal du Midi journey, we asked Colleen and Antoine about their experience, from discovering this lesser-known region of France to learning how to navigate a boat for the very first time.
What were your thoughts about a Le Boat cruise?
Colleen shared:
“I think this vacation experience is perfect for people who are comfortable on boats. If you have already seen Paris and your have done Provence, maybe you have eaten your way through Leon already. This is the trip that most Americans don’t even know about and it is called the Canal du Midi, it is an UNESCO World heritage site that cuts all the way through the south of France from Toulouse all the way to the Mediterranean. And the way you need to experience this is by boat. I would say this is a great way to see the small towns and what it is really like in the little areas of France.”
Antoine was equally enthusiastic about discovering the canal:
“It is an amazing feat of engineering from the 1600’s. I am French and I grew up in France but until a few weeks ago I had no idea you could be boating on the Canal du Midi in the South of France. This trip is not for anyone who likes to be hands off. This trip was extraordinary. We created memories that will last a lifetime. We loved it and want to make sure you are aware of what it take to navigate a boat like this on the Canal du Midi.”
How was it to drive a Le Boat cruiser for the first time?
For many first-time boaters, the idea of captaining their own boat can seem intimidating. Colleen explained:
“When we told our friends we were renting a boat to go cruising without a captain they asked, ‘Can you actually do that without a license?’ It sounds a little bit reckless, but its not.”
Like many Le Boat guests, Colleen and Antoine quickly discovered that with the full training and boat briefing provided before departure, navigating the Canal du Midi is accessible even for those with no previous boating experience.
What would you say to someone considering a boating vacation?
Colleen offered some honest advice for future boaters:
“I think this travel experience is perfect for people who are comfortable on boats. Managing the ropes and jumping on and off the boat can be a lot. But if you like this sort of thing, this could be for you.”
Why Cruise the Canal du Midi?
When asked what makes the Canal du Midi special, they highlighted the unique combination of flexibility, slow travel, local experiences, and stunning scenery:
“Easy and Flexible. Le Boat provide full training on-site, making captaining the boat simple for beginners. Slow place cruising at an unhurried speed allows you to tie up your boat, rent bicycles, and explore small villages at your own rhythm. Stop daily at rural towns to buy fresh food from open-air markets and dine at regional bistros. Wind past sun-drenched vineyards in the Languedoc region with opportunities to visit local wineries along the waterway.”
Frequently asked questions about Le Boat
You can book your Le Boat vacation at any time either by booking online (secured payment) or by phoning our experienced sales team on
The price includes the hiring of the boat and its equipment (kitchen gallery equiped, ustensils…), towels and linen for all passengers, neon LED lanterns to provide additional lighting up on deck in the evenings, a boat handling demo, technical support, on-board cruising information & locks fee (except in Ireland where locks fee should be paid locally in supplement).
Extras, fuel, moorings fees, water/fuel refill, travel to the base are NOT included in the boat price.
Choosing the right boat depends on the number of guests, comfort preferences, and experience. Le Boat’s website shows detailed specifications, deck layouts, and virtual tours. The sales team can advise on the best option for your party and destination.
More articles about the Canal du Midi
Our 4-day river cruise on the Canal du Midi
Exploring the Canal du Midi: a travel and boating vacation guide
