Thank you for joining us.
Here at Hotels Afloat, we’ve been helping our guests find their perfect cruise for many years. With our personal experience of Burgundy and the waterways, we are confident that we can help you, too.
Where are the three canals?
Below is a summary of the characteristics of these canals and the types of cruises that we can offer.
| Burgundy Canal | Nivernais Canal | Loire canals | |
| Scenery | Hilly, woodlands, rural; numerous small villages | Very rural, varied landscapes; forests & meadows | Pretty waterside villages, hilltop vineyards, & woodlands |
| Vineyards | Chablis: Taxi/15 km bike ride. Beaune: Taxi/25km bike ride | Bailly: Bike ride Chablis: 19km bike ride Bris, Irancy | Sancerre Pouilly |
| Monuments | Abbaye de Fontenay Chateauneuf Hosipices de Beaune | Cathedal city Auxerre Vezelay Abbey | Briare aqueduct, designed by Eiffel. Cathedral Sainte-Cyr at Nevers |
| Towns & Villages | Migennes Tanlay & Ancy le Franc: Renaissance chateau Montbard Beaune Good dining, though choice can be limited in villages | Auxerre Vezelay Tannay Baye Numerous small villages; the lower Nivernais canal is very rural, with fewer opportunities for dining out | Very rural, varied landscapes: forests & meadows |
| Minimum train travel time from Paris | 1h30 | 2h15 | 1h10 |
| Self-drive hire fleets | Le Boat Locaboat Nicols | France Passion Plaisance Le Boat Locaboat Nicols | Le Boat Locaboat Nicols |
| Hotel barges: full-board | La Belle Epoque L’Impressioniste Grand Cru Magnolia Prosperite Saroche | L’Art de Vivre Luciole | C’est La Vie Finesse Renaissance |
| Hotel barges: half-board | Savoir Vivre | Vie en Rose | |
| Hotel barges: Self-catering |
Each of the canals has much to enjoy, of course…
You can click on any of the links in the table above to learn more about the region and the cruise choices.
So, if you’re sporty and interested in history, the Burgundy Canal would be an excellent choice.
If you’re looking for a tranquil time on a self-drive boat and intend to cook for yourselves, the Nivernais Canal may be ideal.
If wine floats your boat and you love market towns, the Loire cannot be beaten!
Book early for your first-choice dates.