Athos, Classic Canal du Midi ex Argeliers to Marseillan

6 Night Cruise sailing from Argeliers to Marseillan aboard Athos.

Sunday, Day 1 Argeliers
Embark Athos moored in Argeliers. Your Captain and crew welcome you on board with champagne and Mediterranean canapés. Then, once you are settled into your cabin, enjoy your first 4-course dinner on board, prepared by our acclaimed chef.

Monday, Day 2 Argeliers to La Croisade
Enjoy breakfast in a comfortable chair on the upper deck of the barge, before we drive to the famous medieval double-walled city of Carcassonne. Your knowledgeable guide will provide a full tour of this historical place and ensure that you also have time to browse the shops! Return to the barge for a gourmet lunch on board (perhaps including the famous duck confit stew, cassoulet) and an afternoon’s cruise to La Croisade, with plenty of opportunity to walk or bicycle along the towpath. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 La Croisade to Capestang
After breakfast, we enjoy a tasting at “L’Oulibo”, the local olive oil pressoir. After tasting those organic and wholesome olives accompanied by a glass of rosé, we take a short drive up the Gorge de la Cesse and into the hilltop village of Minerve. Your guide will regale you with the harrowing tale of the Cathar siege launched at Minerve during the 13th century. Relax after lunch on board, whilst we cruise to Capestang, or you can enjoy a wine tasting at a local château, such as Château Cabezac. Return to the hotel barge for dinner on board and admire the view of the floodlit Collegiale St. Etienne.

Wednesday, Day 4 Capestang to Fonserannes
After breakfast, we take a trip to the weekly morning market in Narbonne. Even for non-shoppers, Narbonne offers much entertainment. Explore an excavated portion of the original Roman road, the Via Domitia, browse through the Roman Museum, discover the beauty of St. Juste Cathedral, or simply relax at one of the many cafés. After lunch in the atmospheric market, we return to Athos and cruise to Fonserannes. From our mooring tonight you will have a glorious view of the town of Beziers and the Cathedral St.Nazaire. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Fonserannes to Portiragnes
This morning we drive to the old market town of Pezenas, which was the first seat of the Languedoc court. The architecture is unique within this region because of the “Hotels Particuliers” or mansions belonging to the noble families who followed the Court. It is filled with artisans’ shops, including painters, hat makers, and costume designers. Once again, your guide makes sure that there is time to browse, as well as learning about the history. After lunch on board, we begin our negotiation of a 17th century feat of engineering, the Fonserannes Staircase Locks. Then we traverse the 18th century aqueduct over the River Orb. The paved towpath and the many locks leading to our mooring make it an ideal afternoon for walking or bicycling alongside the barge. Dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Portiragnes to Marseillan
This morning, we get underway earlier than usual, cruising through the area known as the “Petit Camargue”. Bird watchers should look out for the local species such as pink flamingoes, African Rollers and Bee Eaters. After crossing through the exceptional “round lock” at Agde, a spectacular and appropriate seafood lunch awaits you, as you enter the open-waters of the Etang de Thau, which boasts Europe’s largest mussel and oyster park. As we moor in the port at Marseillan, you will notice the enclosure which makes up the Noilly Prat vermouth distillery. End a perfect day with a fascinating tour of the distillery and if you choose, a tasting of Noilly Prat, before the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Marseillan
After breakfast, disembark Athos.

Athos was originally built as a commercial sand, grain and wine barge and converted into a luxury hotel barge in 1982. Her association with wine continues today as she gracefully meanders through the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

Her intimate saloon is the perfect place to relax on a comfortable sofa with a good book, or to sip an aperitif before enjoying another gourmet meal at the elegant dining table. The barge is air-conditioned throughout and the five bright staterooms, each with a modern en suite shower room, offer all modern comforts and can be in either twin or queen-size double bed configuration.

Outside, her spacious sundeck has a large, adjustable canopy to offer shade during a long, lazy lunch. There are comfortable hardwood deckchairs in which to relax and admire the slowly-passing Midi countryside and, of course, bicycles for the more energetic to venture along the towpath to the next lock or two.

Athos is one of the most traditional hotel barges cruising the Canal du Midi and her welcoming onboard ambience will make your gentle voyage through the Languedoc landscape truly memorable.

We have been involved in all aspects of the hotel barge and travel industry for over 35 years including designing, building, owning and operating our fleet of luxury hotel barges. We have gradually refined our barge cruise holidays into unique travel experiences, which are just waiting to be discovered.

Our fully crewed, all inclusive luxury hotel barges cruise the inland waterways of nine European countries, along canals, rivers, lakes, lagoons and lochs, giving you the opportunity to experience life there from a truly unique perspective.

Our hotel barges are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those choosing a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends.

On your all-inclusive cruise, your ‘floating boutique hotel’ glides gently along while you relax and enjoy gourmet cuisine, fine wines and the company of fellow passengers. There will be guided tours to castles, chateaux, vineyards, markets and when you return to the barge, you can be sure our dedicated, professional crew will be there to look after you once more.

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Athos - All Decks

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Cabins

Five en-suite staterooms can be in either twin or queen-size double bed configuration and offer all modern comforts.

All cabins have a full-sized wash basin, flushing toilets and a shower. They are fully tiled in Provencal blue & white.
Supplied with: towels, shampoo, shower gel, moisturiser, soap and conditioner.