Alouette: Avignon to Béziers

Board Alouette, your exquisite floating palace for the week ahead. Enjoy a warm welcome and chilled champagne in the company of your dedicated crew and guide as you take in the 360-degree views on deck. After settling into your cabin, enjoy an early-evening cruise past the famous medieval bridge, Pont Saint-Bénezet, otherwise known as the Pont d’Avignon, before mooring in the small town of Vallabrègues. Your chef is busy preparing your first feast of the cruise, a spread of vibrant dishes crafted from intensely flavourful ingredients, tailored to your tastes. As delicious wines are uncorked, raise a toast to the start of a sublime vacation.

Awake to a beautiful day on the water and a breakfast of local delicacies. Alight with your guide for a short drive to Avignon and a walking tour of the stunning walled city that was home to the Popes from 1309-77. Visit the majestic Palais des Papes, the former papal palace, before enjoying some time at leisure. Browse the shops or simply order a drink in a pavement café and watch the world go by. Return to the barge for lunch and an afternoon cruise on the Petit Rhône towards Galician, a small hamlet in the Camargue. Set in Europe’s largest river delta, the Camargue is a national nature reserve brimming with beauty and wildlife. Tonight, enjoy an enchanting dinner on board.

This morning, your guide takes you to visit a lavender farm. Step into a fragrant dreamland where hues of purple paint the landscape and the air is rich in soothing scents. Return to Alouette in time for lunch and cruise to Aigues-Mortes. Drenched in fascinating history, this medieval walled city was where Louis IX launched two Crusades to the Holy Land. Explore its imposing walls, ramparts and towers, which conceal a lively hub of shops, markets and cafes. This evening, relax with an aperitif on deck before dinner is served.

This morning’s cruise takes you through the salt marshes, a spellbinding haven for pink flamingos and other enthralling wildlife. After lunch on board, your guide accompanies you to Mèze, where you board the Mansathau oyster boat. Glide across the Étang de Thau lagoon, a vast saltwater lake renowned for its oysters and mussels and take the opportunity to sample some of these delicacies. Tonight, dinner is served at a charming local restaurant.

Continue cruising through the Étang de Thau lagoon to reach the beautiful seaside port of Marseillan. After lunch on board, embark on a sensory journey at the Noilly Prat factory, where the air is infused with an aromatic alchemy of herbs and spices. Witness the meticulous craft of vermouth-making as skilled artisans blend flavours in oak barrels. Conclude your visit with a tasting, savouring the rich heritage of this iconic French aperitif, before returning to the barge for dinner.

Spend the morning cruising on the fabulous Canal du Midi towards our final destination of Béziers. Lined with willows, irises and plane trees that tower over the water, the canal’s banks abound in wildlife. Late morning, alight for lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the enchanting town of Pézenas. Immerse yourself in its maze of medieval streets lined with elegant mansions and Renaissance façades. Note tributes and monuments to cherished playwright Molière, who lived here for several years in the 17th century. Return to the barge, where your chef has been busy preparing a farewell gala dinner. Sit out on the balmy deck and share stories as you feast on gourmet delicacies.

Please check out this morning by 09:00. 

After breakfast, your crew bids you farewell as you disembark for your onward travel arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you back on board soon. 

Please note, in exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to alter the route without prior notice.