Nicols Self Drive Packages

Nicols, with over 25 years experience, offer a variety of modern and traditional style boats suitable for crews from 2 to 12.

With 17 bases in France, we also offer cruises in Portugal and Germany.

ALSACE, for the gourmets !

From Saverne :
Commence your river and canal escapade in Alsace, land of history and gastronomy, either taking the direction of Strasbourg, European city or towards Lutzelboug, renowned for the inclined barge lift.
Beyond this, you will arrive on the verdant Lorraine plateau amidst lakes and forests, at Gondrexange you can join the Canal des Houilleres de la Sarre taking you through the Lorraine Regional park up to Sarreguemines, renowned for it’s porcelain, and quite close to the German boarder.

From Saverne
One week return cruises:
Saverne, Arzviller, Mittersheim, La Garde and return; 154kms, 80 locks
Saverne, Strasbourg, Boofzheim and return; 154kms, 60 locks

Two week return cruises :
Saverne, Strasbourg, Nancy and return;296 kms, 122 locks
Saverne, Strasbourg, Sarreguemines and return;308kms, 124 locks

 

ANJOU: Drfting by the castles

Just a few hours from Paris, discover l’Anjou, reputed for it’s agreeable way of life, gastronomy, castles and abbeys.
From Sable: The river Sarthe is a calm river meandering though verdant countryside dotted with picturesque villages. There are very few locks along its reaches, so it’s ideal for novices. Don’t miss the most elegant castle of Plessis Bourré, the imposing Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes, Malicorne, capital of artistic porcelain and the older part of Le Mans town.
From Grez: Discover la Mayenne, dotted with small villages, manor houses, castles and old mills clinging to the rivers hillsides. Make a stop at Angers, King Rene’s city, also the Abbey in Entrammes and the famous cheeses of Port Salut. In the town of Laval the Naïve art museum is worth a visit. The Oudon river near Grez-Neuville will also bring you calmness and don’t miss the stud farm in the Lion d’Angers.

One week return cruises:
Grez Neuville, Laval, Sergré and return ; 88km; 14 locks
Sablé, Fillé, Cheffres and return; 102 km; 20 locks
Grez Neuville - Sablé sur Sarthe, one way: 88km, 9 locks, 11 hours cruising 

Two week return cruises:
Grez-Neuville, Le Mans, Laval and return; 325 km; 82 locks
Sablé, Laval, Le Mans and return; 325km, 82 locks

 

AQUITAINE, GASCOGNE and LOT: The land of Henry IV and d'Artagnan the Musketeer.

At the junction with the Garonne canal and the Lot and Baîse rivers.

From Buzet sur Baîse: Land of King Henry IV and d’Artagnan musketeers, a large circuit combing the serenity of the Deux Mers canal and the wild charms of the river Baîse, the beauty of the Lot ( douwnstream portion) and the splendour of the Garonne will lead you to regional curiosities such as artistic glassmaking in Vianne, Nérac castle, Floran abbey, cloisters of Moissac, Condom catherdral, the canal bridge at Agen, Montech water lift and the Bastille of Villeneuve sur Lot.

From Toulouse: Cruise along the peaceful, tree-lined canal with picturesque automatic locks and pretty villages. Take some time to stroll or cycle along the towpath to explore the villages.   Cross the beautiful Agen Aqueduct, visit Moissac and its renowned cloister, discover the amazing water slope of Montech and arrive by the Canal du Midi which crosses the center of Toulouse.

The rich and varied wilds of the Lot:
From Bouziès: At the foot of it’s magnificent chalk cliffs, Bouziès is a charming village from where to begin your great adventure; Aboard your boat, let yourself imagine the history of the river, winding it’s way along the sinuous curves of the Lot through it’s sumptious and wild valley. You must not miss the Middle Ages village of Saint Cirq-Lapopie, numerous grottes and pre-historic vestiges ( Pech Merle, 30000 years of history), the narrow streets of Cahors, the village of Quercy….

 

One week return cruises:
Buzet sur Baise, Montech, Valence sur Baîse and return; 304km, 98 locks
Buzet sur Baise, Penne d’Agenais and return; 160km, 16 locks

Bouzies, Luzech, Saint Cirq Lapopie and return; 128km; 28 locks

Two week return cruise:
Buzet sur Baise, Penne d’Agenais, Montechs and return; 344km; 74 locks

 

BRITTANY: Land of legends

At the crossroads of L'Edre, la Vilaine and the Nantes to Brest canal, discover the charms of inland Brittany.
From Glenac and Sucé
Land of magic and mystery, rich in colours and traditions, Brittany is yours for you to discover along the canal from Nantes to Brest, historical treasures and remarkable natural sites: Josselin with it’s magnificent castle reflected in the water; Malestroit and its 15th century houses; the craftsman vllage of Gacilly; Redon founded in 832 or Blain with it’s traditional popular arts museum.
The river Vilaine takes you on to Rennes, capital of Brittany, or Dinan with it’s 13th century forticiations, whilst the Erdre up to Nantes provides an enchanting voyage strewn with castles.

One week return cruises:
Glencac, La Gacilly, Redon, Rohan and return; 204 km; 64 locks
Glencac, La Gacilly, Redon, La Roche –Bernard, Rennes and return ;96 km, 0 locks
Glencac, La Gacilly, Nantes and return; 218 km; 32 locks
Suce, Malestroit, La Gacilly and return; 292 km, 44 locks
Suce, La Roche-Bernard and return 152km, 32 locks

Two week return cruises:
Glenac, La Gacilly, Rennes, Dinan and return; 396 km; 118 locks
Suce, Dinan and return; 598 km; 150 locks
Suce, La Roche-Bernard, Josselin and return; 378 kms; 64 locks

 

BURGUNDY – Nature, History, Spirit, Table art.

From Venarey les Laumes:
Cruising the Burgundy canal is inself a trip into the history of France whilst at the same time navigating one of the best known canals in the country.
An exceptional number of sites and monuments border the canal. The most prestigious is incontestably the Cisterian Abbey of Fontenay ( World Heritage of Historical Monuments) but you will also discover a few paces away, or a short bicycle ride, imposing Burgundy castles such as Bussy, Tanlay, Ancy le Franc, Nuits, Maulne …
Prestigious world-renowned wines and Burgundy gastronomy, reputations that need not be questioned, await you at each bend of the canal. You will also discover the Nivernais canal, via Auxerre if you wish ( gothic Cathedral).

One week return cruise:
Venarey les Laumes, Tonnerre and return; 130 kms, 80 locks
Venarey les Laumes – Pouilly en Auxois and return; 100 kms, 110 locks

One way cruise:
Venarey les Laumes – Brienon ; 98 kms, 55 locks, 30 hours cruising

 

BURGUNDY FRANCHE COMTE, DOUBS: Beautiful scenery without the crowds

Dole, ancient capital of la Comte, doorway to the Jura and birthplace of Pasteur, situated in the heart of a marvellous region gifted with one of the most beautiful navigation areas offering a very large choice of cruising: le Canal du Rhone au Rhin (infact it’s the Doubs) with Besançon and citadel of Vauban, Baumes les Dames, the charm of Comtois villages and market towns, wild beauty of fauna and flora in the superb deeply embanked valleys. You can cruise upstream one way to Port sur Soane or Champigny les Langres, or on the Burgundy canal beyond St Jean de Losne.

From Dole
One week return cruises:
Dole, Baume les Dames and return; 180 kms, 52 locks
Dole, Mantoche and return; 150 kms, 24 locks
Dole, Verdun sur le Doubs and return; 80 kms, 28 locks

Two week return cruises :
Dole, Montbeliard and return; 292 kms, 104 locks
Dole, Selles and return; 390kms, 100 locks

One week, one way cruise:
Dole – Port sur Saone ; 169 kms, 24 locks, 25 hours cruising

CAMARGUE : Close to the sea

From Le Somail or Bellegarde:
Cruise away to discover the Etang du Thau and the Camargue, land of marshes, flamingos and wild horses. This wonderful nature reserve of 85000 hectares has the richest fauna and flora in Europe. Remarkable settings of fortified towns, remnants of past history dating to the first Crusades, Meridional foods, Bouzigues oysters, Costières de Nimes wines or Frontignan Muscat.
One week return cruises:

Le Somail, Narbonne, Agde and return ; 160km, 32 locks
Bellegarde, Aigues Mortes, Le Grau-du-Roi, Palavas, Etang du Thau and return ;232 kms, 4 locks

Two week return cruises :
Le Somail, Bellegarde and return; 358kms, 26 locks
Bellegarde – Le canal du Midi ( le Somail or Homps) and return; 358km,26 locks or 390 km, 30 locks

Two week one way cruises :
Bellegarde, Aigues Mortes, Palavas, Agde, Béziers, Carcasonne, Le Somail; 305kms, 61 locks


CHARENTE : Green countryside and beautiful waterways

From Sireuil:
Large and winding, the river Charente quoted by François the 1st as “the most beautiful stream in the Kingdom”, runs through the ancient counties of “Langoumois” and “La Saintonge.” For 171km, from Angouleme to the Ocean , the Charente is regulated by 21 locks. The ancient vineyard covers the surrounding hills. Many cellars and distilleries will invite you to taste the famous Cognac or delicious Pineau. Along your cruise, you will find many villages and twos that are testimonies to a rich past such as Angouleme, Fleurac, St Simeux, Chateauneuf, Saint-Simon, Bassac, Jarnac, Saint Brice, Cognac, Saintes , Saint-Savinein and Rochefort. In the Chatente area, the gastronomy based on seafood is waiting for you along the river with many of it’s restaurants preparing local specialites (“mouclade”, oysters…) Fishermen will not be forgotten and will find plenty of brown trout, cap, pike, perche and eels….

One week return cruise:
Sireuil, St Savinien and return;198kms, 30 locks
Two week return cruise:

Sireuil, Angouleme, Sireuil, Rocherfort and return; 286km, 42 locks



MIDI: Sunshine cruises

From Le Somail:
From the charming small port of Le Somail, cruise away to discover the Canal du Midi in the direction of Carcasonne or if your cruising time permits, down to Narbonne close to the Mediterranean sea. You will cruise on the largest pound of France ( 52 km without any locks) up to the Fonserannes staircase, situated close to the historical city of Béziers. A few kilometres more of navigation and you arrive, via Agde, at Etang du Thau, famous for it’s oyster beds.
From Bram: Quite close to Carcasonne, the Canal du Mid offers you it’s best aspect from the shade of the plane trees, at the foot of the Black Mountains. You can visit numerous small villages and restaurants by the canal side. In this sunny region, the success of your holiday is ensured cruising along the canal classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

One week return cruises:
Le Somail, Narbonne, Agde and return; 160km, 32 locks
Le Somail, Trebes ( including Carcasonnes) and return;126km, 48 locks
Bram, Homps and return; 130km; 42 locks
Bram, Toulouse and return; 160km, 82 locks

Two week return cruises:
Le Somail, Carcasonne, Agde and return; 256km,70 locks
Bram, Beziers and return; 254km, 72 locks
One week, one way cruise:

Bram – Le Somail ; 85 kms, 29 locks, 20 hours cruising



NIVERNAIS and the LOIRE VALLEY : The land of Briare and Sancerre

From Rogny les Sept Ecluses and from Plagny:
Land of woods and forests dotted with charming villages, the Loire Valley is an ideal rendezvous for a first inland waterway cruise: Punctuated with remarkable sites such as curiously formed Gréau rocks, or past souvenirs- fortified Moret sur loing, the 7 locks at Rogny constructed under the realm of Henry IV, the Briare canal bridge designed by Eiffel. Not to neglect the walks among te Morvan hills, or maybe wine tasting in the famous region of Sancerre and Pouilly.

One week return cruise
Rogny, Briare, Sancerre, La charité sur Loire and return; 160 kms, 52 locks
Plagny, Sancerre, Briare and return; 194 kms, 34 locks
Plagny, Decize, Chatillon en Bazois and return; 170kms, 50 locks
Plagny – Dompierre and return; 154 km, 32 locks

One week, one way cruise
Rogny les Sept Ecluses – Plagny;116km, 34 locks, 30 hours cruising
Three week cruise
The whole central loop; 553 kms, 214 locks

On the boarders of the Haut- Nivernais and la Bourgogne, villages perched on the rocky hillsides such as Mailly le Chateau dating back to the Medieval ages will captivate you, and for those who enjoy the sports of rock climbing and fishing there are plenty of opportunies to be explored.
One week return cruise
Brienon , Montereau and return; 188kms, 40 locks
Brienon, Ancy le Franc and return; 124kms, 60 locks
Brienon, Mailly le Chateau and return; 140kms, 70 locks

 


SAONE VALLEY, the green island

From Port sur Saone:
From here you will navigate along peaceful waterways, dotted with typical small villages revealing the history of the river: Port sur Saone, Gallo roman village in the origin, Gray fascinating with it’s patrimonial treasures, unless you have chosen to sail to the esat to discover the densely wooded countryside of the Vosges: here you will be charmed by the calm of unspoilt nature – so don’t forget your binoculars.

From Port sur Saone
One week return cruises
: Port sur Saone, Mantoche and return; 212 kms, 24 locks
Port sur Saone, Epinal and return; 184 kms, 124 locks

Two week return cruises :
Port sur Saone, St Jean de Losne, Chalon sur Saone, Tournus and return ;412 kms, 42 locks
One week, one way cruise:
Port sur Saone – Dole ;169 kms, 24 locks; 25 hours cruising 


 

For more info please contact us now:
Telephone/Fax: +33 (0) 380 39 29 38
Mobile: +33 614 250 200
E-mail: hotelsafloat@aol.com

All the self drive packages

• France Afloat
• France Passion Plaisance
• Le Boat
• Locaboat
• Nicols
  • N DUO (2+2)
  • N OCTO (8+2)
  • N PRIMO (2+2)
  • N QUATTRO (4+2)
  • N SIXTO (6+2)
  • N1000 (6+2)
  • N1010 (6+2)
  • N1100 (6+3)
  • N1150 (8+2)
  • N1160 (7+3)
  • N1160N (7+3)
  • N1170 ( 8+2)
  • N1300 (9+3)
  • N1310 (10+2)
  • N1350 (8+2)
  • N1350VIP ( 4+2)
  • N800 (2+2)
  • N900 (4+3)
  • R1120 (8+2)
  • R1130 (7+2)
  • R920 (6+2)
• Pavillon Saone and Charente
• Saone Bateaux