Watch my video to see what a houseboat holiday in the French wine region of Burgundy looks like. I went on the all-girls trip of a lifetime with one of my best friends and our two moms in the autumn of 2017 on board Le Boat’s Horizon 4 luxury houseboat. Imagine spending all day soaking up the late-summer sun as you wind your way slowly through French wine country on your own houseboat. It’s one of the best trips I’ve ever been on! If you’re worried about doing it as a group of girls, let me just say that if we can do it, you can do it!
Watch: Self-drive Houseboat Holiday with Le Boat Vacations
The stretch we cruised can be done in 2-3 days, but you have a week to get to the end. We spent about 3 to 4 hours cruising between 15kms and 23 kms per day, with 20-minute stops when we needed to go through locks. We didn’t feel rushed at all, and there was no set time to set off in the morning or moor in the evening. This kind of relaxed pace is such a dream, especially for our go-go-go lifestyles. We would often just pull up next to one of the banks, have lunch and take a little stroll before setting off again.
To read all about the trip, head over to my guide to a French houseboat holiday with Le Boat Vacations here. Think days spent cycling, eating fresh goats cheese, drinking local wine and slowly cruising down the beautiful canals. You might be surprised how affordable the trip can be (especially toward the end of summer) be sure to check out my blog post to see how much it costs. Once you’re ready to go, make sure to check out my guide on what to pack for a French houseboat holiday.
My Top 5 Reasons to Book A Self-Driving Barging Holiday in France with Le Boat Vacations
1 Le Boat has been in the business for over 40 years and they know pretty much everything there is to know about barging holidays in Europe.
2 Le Boat’s local team is based in South Africa, so they understand what it’s like to travel as a South African (and spend your hard-earned ZAR overseas) and they can advise on everything from which route is right for you to what visa documents you’ll need. The process is super smooth from start to finish, and they are always just a phone call away if you need help.
3 It’s a really affordable way to see Europe. Think about what you’d normally spend on accommodation and car hire per day. Barging means that you’re effectively cutting your costs in half.
4 It’s such a fun and unique experience. You’re always on the move, but you’re always together. I loved the fact that one of us could be driving while the other was preparing lunch. Having all your stuff with you is so nice, and not having to pack up and move every night is a dream. It’s also awesome being able to charge your devices at any time (never have a flat battery again!).
5 There are so many routes to choose from. With routes in 9 countries, you can do a Le Boat holiday every year. I am already planning a big family trip for my 30th next July!
*My trip was sponsored by Le Boat Vacations. As always, my opinions are my own. If you’re ready to plan your trip, you can visit the Le Boat website or contact them directly via email [email protected] or phone +27 21 200 1838.
*Video shot on the DJI Spark from weFix.
One comment
This looks like so much fun.
We will be travelling on the same route next year.