Aquitaine Cruise

Aquitaine cruise – sample itinerary

Sunday Guests will be met by Earl from a prearranged pick up point at noon and transferred to Colibri. Where you will be warmly welcomed aboard with a glass or two of the world famous and oldest bubbles in the world. We will have a safety briefing, before sitting down to enjoy your first experience of Fiona cooking when lunch is served. The afternoon will see us let the lines go for a relaxing afternoon cruise towards the village of Buzet-sur-Baïse. Time to explore the village and stretch your legs before dinner aboard Colibri.

Monday After breakfast its time for visit of the day. Today we will heading to Lily Gardens of Latour – Marliac, founded in 1875 and said to have inspired Monets famous garden. Time will disappear as you walk around the lay out of ponds and enjoys the vibrant colours of you surroundings. Back to Colibri for lunch, wine and happiness and time to see more of the country side as we cruise our way down the canal to our evenings mooring near Damazan, and another sumptuous dinner aboard.

Tuesday This morning we will visit a family run business where we will learn the art and watch the Tonnelier (barrel makers) work their magic making those barrels that store, flavour and have such a crucial role in the development of wine through out France. We will continue to the cork museum in a nearby village, to explore another vital but often overlooked part of the wine making process. Back to the Colibri to sample some of the fabulous local wines that will be the prefect accompaniment to Fiona’s lunch. Enjoy the peace of the canal and listen to Colibri glide her way through the water for the destination for tonights dinner, near the village of Mas d’Agenais.

Wednesday As usual a local bakery will supply the tempting treats for breakfast this morning. Our visit today is the beautiful golden village of Saint Emilion, this world heritage site, with it’s little known monolithic church is just the perfect place to wonder the streets and sample some of the world renowned wines. Lunch will be taken just out side of the village, over the vineyards of the Chateau restaurant. We continue our cruise along this beautiful canal to the village of Meilhan sur Garonne. Guests can relax aboard or take a walk up through the villlage to the lookout point with views over the river and beyond. Returning to enjoy aperitifs and dinner aboard Colibri.

Thursday After another delicious breakfast, today our morning visit will be to the Chateau de Duras, surrounded by vineyards that product exquisite but little known wines. Located in the rolling hills with a view over the valley of the Dropt, on the edge of one of the bastide villages that are a feature of this region.

This afternoons cruise takes us near the end of the canal at Castets en Dorthe and a beautiful secluded mooring for dinner.

Friday After a leisurely breakfast, it is always a sad today, as we turn our attention to your onwards journeys and adventures. Guests are transferred between 10 and 11am to the arranged drop off point.

Note This is a sample itinerary, due to the nature of barging the moorings and visits may vary depending on the seasons, local influences and, of course, your preferences.

About Canal de Garonne

The Canal latéral à la Garonne is a canal dating from the mid-19th century in south-west France. It connects Toulouse to Castets-en-Dorthe. The remainder of the route to Bordeaux uses the Garonne River.

• The canal is 193 km long and has 53 locks
• Maximum height above sea level: 128 m (420 ft)
• Construction began in 1838 and was completed in 1856