Athos luxury barge cruises

Argeliers

Sunday
After being greeted in Beziers, guests are driven in a chauffeured minibus to Athos.
You are greeted with champagne and Mediterranean canapes by the entire crew.
After you have settled into your cabin, you will be invited to your first 4-course dinner, which will be cooked by your very talented chef.

Argeliers to La Croisade

Monday

After breakfast, relax in a cozy chair on the hotel barge's upper deck as we head to Carcassonne, a well-known medieval city with two walls.

In addition to giving you a thorough tour of this historic location, your experienced guide will make sure you have time to peruse the stores.
Head back to the Athos for a fine dining meal (maybe featuring the renowned duck confit stew and cassoulet) followed by a leisurely afternoon cruise to La Croisade, where you can enjoy ample opportunities for strolling or riding on the towpath.

Dinner is served on board.

La Croisade to Capestang

Tuesday
Following breakfast, we partake in a tasting at the neighbourhood olive oil press, "L'Oulibo."
We take a short drive up the Gorge de la Cesse and into the hilltop village of Minerve after tasting those organic and healthful olives with a glass of rosé. Your guide will regale you with the terrifying story of the 13th-century Cathar siege at Minerve. After lunch, unwind on board as we cruise to Capestang, or go to a nearby château, like Château Cabezac, for a wine tasting. Admire the floodlit Collegiale St. Etienne before heading back to the hotel barge for dinner on board.

Capestang to Fonserannes

Wednesday
We visit the weekly morning market in Narbonne after breakfast.
Narbonne provides plenty of entertainment, even for non-shoppers. Discover the magnificence of St. Juste Cathedral, stroll through the Roman Museum, take a leisurely stroll along an excavated section of the ancient Roman Via Domitia, or just unwind at one of the numerous cafés. We head back to Athos and take a cruise to Fonserannes after lunch in the atmospheric market. You will have a breathtaking view of the Cathedral St. Nazaire and the town of Béziers from where we are moored tonight.

Dinner on board.

Fonserannes to Portiragnes

Thursday

We are heading to Pezenas, an ancient market town that served as the first Languedoc court seat, this morning.
The town's architecture is unique due to the Hotels, Particuliers, and mansions owned by the noble families who followed the Court.
Today, it is home to shops owned by artisans, such as customers, hat makers, and painters.
Once more, your guide ensures that you have ample time to peruse and discover the area's history.

After lunch, we start negotiating the Fonserannes Lock Staircase, a 17th-century engineering marvel with its distinctive oval locks.
Next, we cross the river Orb on the 18th-century aqueduct.
It's the perfect afternoon for cycling or strolling alongside the barge through the numerous locks that lead to our mooring on the paved towpath.

Dinner on board.

Portiragnes to Marseillan

We cruise through the "Petite Camargue" this morning, passing pink flamingos, bee-eaters, the largest oyster and mussel beds in Europe, and the unusual "round lock" at Agde. After lunch at Marseillan, we wrap up a wonderful day with a fascinating tour of the Noilly Prat distillery., where there will be time for a tasting before returning to Athos for the  Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.

Marseillan

Saturday
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Beziers.