A great way to relax
Canal holidays are a great way to unwind and enjoy some ‘down time’. Freewheel Afloat specialise in boat holidays on the French canals. The three areas we cover are Burgundy, western France, and the famous Canal du Midi in the south. Each offers its own attractions. No previous boating experience is required and no licence is required to hire any of our boats. All you have to do is choose the area, the base to start from and the type of boat.

Many people come back again and again once they have tried and enjoyed the boating holiday formula. The freedom to travel at your own pace, the pleasures of the outdoor life, of eating and drinking al fresco, and of making your own discoveries in charming villages and towns en route are some of the ingredients which make a boating holiday special. The time to enjoy the company of friends in a shared activity is also what draws many.

Superb boats and bases
From the boat descriptions you can see that there’s an excellent range of boats on offer to suit all party sizes and budgets. The Euroclassic and the Linssen ranges are ever popular because they offer a high standard of comfort and equipment. Nicols, Viking and Venus boats all offer spacious interiors and are well-appointed. The boat descriptions indicate the ‘in comfort’ sleeping capacity as well as the total sleeping capacity which can be more. Our advice would be to adhere to the ‘in comfort’ number as a maximum.

Our bases are your holiday start point. In Burgundy we have two – Vermenton and St Florentin, both accessible by train from Paris, and your gateways to the popular Canal du Nivernais and Canal de Bourgogne. Western France has several bases in Brittany, Anjou and the Charente which you can reach by ferry/car or by rail. Capestang, 10 miles from Béziers, is our base for the Canal du Midi.  The ‘Midi’ is one of the world’s most famous canals. It is a breathtaking achievement, constructed in the 17^th century, and carries Unesco World Heritage status. Capestang is accessible by air (Béziers, Montpellier, and Carcassonne all within range) or by rail to Montpellier, just 3 hrs 40 mins from Paris.

If you need help selecting your ideal boat and base please give us a call. Our friendly reservations staff have been on most of the boats and know the bases so can advise you accordingly.

Book early to get the best choice
This really is a holiday where booking early pays !  Simply because when a boat is reserved for a particular week it is gone and no longer available that week. Our canal boat holidays are becoming more and more popular so to get the best choice of boats and dates please contact us as soon as you can.

We look forward to serving you in 2012 !

Freewheel Afloat is a partner of Burgundy Cruisers SARL, a British-owned, French-based operator of canal hire boats.