ROI SOLEIL

Canal du Midi itinerary

Beziers; Narbonne; Corbieres & Minervois Wines; Cathare Castles; Carcassonne.

Canal du Midi is our most sought after route – Commissioned by Louis XIV and now on the World Heritage list, this route takes you through rugged and scenic Languedoc. It makes for a charming navigation, the canal twists and turns above the valley and vineyards under a tree canopy, you will be spoiled with plunging views stretching to the Pyrenees.

Our route takes in the most scenic part but also the most dramatic locks and canal bridges.

The region of Languedoc unravels a rich history and architecture. This is a land of proud people devoted to their terroir and awarded wines … a passion they will share with you in private tastings.

Whether your passion is for history, arts and crafts, nature activities, village atmosphere, wine discovery or shopping – each day your Roi Soleil cruise will be tailored to your interest.

Of course you can also theme your entire cruise to be a Wine Discovery or Young Family cruise.

H I G H L I G H T S & E X C U R S I O N S
C A N A L du M I D I

The main highlight on the Canal du Midi is the 17th Century marvel of the Canal du Midi, itself! With its 328 works and 45 000 trees linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean - traversing a remote, unspoilt, countryside of the pristine Languedoc region, now world famous for its sophisticated wines - and then there are many more highlights ...

CANAL du MIDI: Beziers; Narbonne; Corbieres & Minervois Wines; Cathare Castles; Carcassonne.

Being on charter means that you can tailor the excursions according to your party's special interests. For example:

Historic Tours & Architecture
Follow the path of civilization - the prehistoric sites and caves; the Grecco-Iberian sites such as the Oppidum of Enserune; the Galls and their Dolmens; the Roman presence in Narbonne (their first colony outside of Rome); the medieval architecture with its hill villages; bastides and magnificent abbeys such as Fontfroide and Lagrasse. The Cathare Castles, witness to religious wars and the expansion of the king of France - Carcassonne as the proudest medieval city. The wine and its domains which, from the 17th Century, gave the Languedoc its final aspect.
Art, History and Antiques
Narbonne concentrates some very fine art treasures from its Cathedral; to the archaeological museum with some of the finest Roman wall paintings; the art museum with its 17th and 18th Century masters and its Oriental collection of the 19th Century. We can round it up by visiting a friendly antique dealer whose friendliness is on par with his impeccable taste.
Gourmet Traveler
Olives - wine - Muscat. This is a hedonist trilogy from the olives to be sampled at the Olibo Olive Oil Mill (one of the most prized in France) to the wines of Languedoc, now a force on the international scene. Languedoc, since Roman times, has intertwined its history with wine making - the landscape of the entire region is modeled by it. We will visit top vineyards in the company of their owners taking in the Corbieres, the Minervois and the St Chinian from grand domains to no less deserving smaller wine makers This will be rounded up with the Muscat Petit Grain of St Jean de Minervois, the prime Muscat in France with Beaumes de Venise from Provence.
Cooking Demonstrations
Our gourmet Provencal chef will enjoy demonstrating to you some of his specialties in the open plan kitchen on Roi Soleil - all to be taken with a trusty glass of wine in hand.
Natural Sites and Village Life
The geography is very rich and extremely diverse with spectacular sites varying from the Mediterranean to the inland mountains with deep gorges as in Minerve, which is dotted in vineyards or hidden valleys such as St Chinian and Roquebrun. The village life follows the rhythm of the vine and harvest and the traditional, open-air markets.
Activities - The Young Family
If walking along the Canal or bicycling on our top of the range hybrid bikes is not enough, there are scores of activities to choose from: swimming on the Mediterranean beaches or river gorges - scenic flights over medieval castles - Ballooning - country horse riding or rounding up the bulls on horseback - hiking on nature trails - white water rafting - four-wheel driving on Paris Dakhar ralley training tracks - eagle watching show in Carcassonne - visiting spectacular caves & prehistoric museums - windsurfing - African wildlife reserve ...

Sunday - Béziers East- Cassafieres to Portiragnes

transfer, welcome on-board, and cocktails
navigation along the canal through a rural area with wetlands, a reserve for flamingoes and horses.

Monday - Portiragnes to Fonserannes

sailing through the great locks of Fonseranne (9 locks staircase) and Beziers canal bridge. (Few hotel barges do so- an experience not to be missed)
excursion to historical city of Pézenas ( famed architecture, many artisans & antiques, option to add a wine tasting at a prized property)
or excursion to the impressive hill village of Roquebrun by the river Orb (possible to swim or kayak)
and / or – visit to the pre-roman Oppidum of Enserune, a major archaeological site with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys
and / or – visit Béziers historical centre and shops

Tuesday - Fonserannes to Capestang

sailing into the heart of the historic village of Capestang
private visit to the cistercian Abbey of Fontroide, one of the finest examples in France
or excursion to the impressive hill village of Roquebrun (possible to swim or kayak)
and / or wine tasting at the cellar of a top sommelier to Michelin starred chefs.
and / or a visit a bull ranch with the opportunity to round up the bulls on horseback.

Wednesday - Capestang to La Croisade or Somail

morning excursion to the charming City of Narbonne that was the Roman Capital of the early Gaulles – its vibrant food market – the famed art and roman archeology museums within the Bishop Palace -many shops and cafes on cobbled streets – a highlight of the week
afternoon sailing to the peaceful country village of Somail with an impressive antique bookstore
sailing beneath the smallest bridge in France – with the largest boat on the canal.

Thursday - Somail to Paraza

morning visit to the hill village of Minerve, which is a beautiful natural site with a dramatic history during the Crusades.
visit to prized olive oil mill, Oulibo, and a historic Languedoc village
an afternoon sail to Paraza and mooring by an ancient canal bridge with views across the valley.
private wine tasting in a renown Minervois domain with up to 15 varietals

Friday - Paraza to Homps

visit to the fortified city of Carcassonne – Europe’s largest Medieval Fortress – a great place to be transported into medieval history and a shopping opportunity.
or visit medieval village of Lagrasse and its artisans.
afternoon sailing to Homps with many locks.

Saturday 10 am.

a leisurely breakfast onboard then transfer to departure point.

NOTE: On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

Year 2024 Rates in US Dollars

ACCOMMODATION	VALUE	REGULAR
Charter 4 guests wholeboat	$33,750	$37,500
Charter 6 guests wholeboat	$38,750	$43,125

2024 Departures

DATES	SHIP	ITINERARY
Oct 13, 20, 27	Value	Canal du Midi

Year 2025 Rates in US Dollars

ACCOMMODATION	VALUE	REGULAR
Charter 4 guests wholeboat	$35,750	$39,875
Charter 6 guests wholeboat	$41,125	$45,750

2025 Departures

DATES	SHIP	ITINERARY
Mar 16, 23, 30; Apr 6	Value	Canal du Midi
Apr 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25	Regular	Canal du Midi
Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Jul 6	Regular	Canal du Midi
Jul 13, 20, 27; Aug 3, 10, 17	Value	Canal du Midi
Aug 24, 31; Sep 7, 14, 21, 28; Oct 5	Regular	Canal du Midi
Oct 12, 19, 26	Value	Canal du Midi

From her debut season in 2000, River Yacht "Roi Soleil" established herself as one of Europe's preeminent canal and river cruisers.

3 spacious, air conditioned staterooms (about 160sq feet, so you can actually walk around your bed) and en-suite bathrooms in Provencal style, equipped with thermostatically controlled showers and heated towel racks, hand-made Provencal tiles, lava in the bathrooms, and the rich hues of stylish Pierre Frey fabrics decorate the entire interior.

'Roi Soleil' has more to do with luxury yachting than barging - hence the term 'River Yacht'. Her lines and mahogany and brass trim are inspired by the classic motor yachts of the 1920's while her interior brings you the best of contemporary design and comfort. The stylish saloon with its fireplace, bar and panoramic views through no less than 20 windows, and the elegant dining area offer you a level of comfort equivalent to that of luxury motor yachts.

The separate forward sun deck, the aft teak deck with Spa Pool, the outside dining area under the retractable canopy, are all pure luxury yachting.

FEATURES 3 spacious staterooms with en-suite bathrooms with hair dryers
twin or queen-sized beds (160 sq. ft. + bathrooms)
* 6 Passengers
* 4 Crew members
* 2 decks
* Fireplace
* TV with DVD and VCR in Saloon
* Bose system inside saloon and outside
* Air conditioning / Central Heating
* Bicycles on board with helmets
* Handicap Access - NO