Saraphina barge cruise

Saraphina

Luxury barge cruises

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Cruise highlights

4 passengers
★★★★ 4 star rating

  • Visit historic Pezenas: arts, crafts and antiques
  • The Fonserannes lock flight
  • Explore the hilltop Medieval village Minerve, and the olive oil factory
  • Tour Narbonne: Archbishops Palace, Gothic cathedral, market
  • Discover the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide
  • Visit Carcassonne: The largest medieval fortified town

Saraphina cruise route & itinerary

Portiragnes to Homps
Canal du Midi

Download the information pack(s) for Saraphina

Brochure ↓

Saraphina also offers

Home & Away cruises

Saraphina cruise file

Prices

  • Charters from 14,900 €

Boat size

  • Length 82′0″ ft (25.00 metres)
  • Width 13′1″ ft (4.00 metres)

Specifications

  • Crew members : 4
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Double cabins : 2

Also

  • Central heating
  • Air-conditioning
  • Demonstration galley

Guests have awarded ★★★★★ stars

About Saraphina barge cruises

Luxury barge Saraphina

Owners Finnegan and Emily bring their extensive experience in hospitality and piloting from their years on luxury barges, to make your week cruising on Saraphina the perfect holiday.

Saraphina is a dutch barge, dating from 1924 and converted in 2007.
She is 25 meters (82 feet) long and 4 meters wide (12 feet).

The barge cruises between Portiragnes plage and the majestic medieval city of Carcassonne, and includes the locks at Beziers, the winding grand bief (big pound) with beautiful views and numerous pretty villages.
Finnegan and Emily select unique places for your lunches or dinners ashore.

Saraphina has 2 spacious cabins each about 20 square meters in size.
The aft cabin, which is designed for a couple, has many original features giving it a traditional boaty feel.
The front cabin is more contemporary and modern with queen-size or twin beds.
Both cabins have en-suite bathrooms, central heating and air-conditioning, with individual controls.
Access from the top deck to the inside of the barge is via a short flight of fairly steep steps, which are not ideal for anyone with mobility issues.

Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed outside, in our covered wheelhouse, or in the spacious dining area, where you can enjoy watching the landscape floating by.
The open kitchen allows you to see your meals being prepared by your hosts.

Wifi is available but reception can vary along the canal.
An iPod/Phone connection to the ship's music system is available on board... enjoy your favourites in the saloon or on deck.
For sunny weather, there is a comfortable deck to lounge on, or take the traditional dutch bicycles and cycle along the towpath.
Every day a guided tour can be organized to discover the surrounding towns, wineries and markets.

Saraphina operates on a dine-around basis:
The price includes: All facilities aboard, transfers from and to the local airport, hotel or train station, and to excursions by private minibus
All meals from dinner on day one to breakfast on the last day, including 2/3 lunches ashore in restaurants selected by the barge owners.
All beverages aboard

Drinks ashore, in excess of half a bottle of wine per person at lunch, and gratuities are at clients' own expense

Saraphina deck and cabin plans

Saraphina deck plan

Saraphina cruise route & itinerary

Portiragnes to Homps map

Portiragnes to Homps

Canal du Midi

Rates

Sunday: Portiragnes

We pick you up from your hotel, train station, or local airport and bring you safely aboard Saraphina.
After a short cruise and Champagne welcome your first dinner will be served aboard.

Monday: Portiragnes - Regiment le Haut

After breakfast, you will be taken to the historic streets of Renaissance Pezenas with its arts, crafts and antique shops.
After a typical bistro lunch in Béziers, we cruise over the aqueduct and up the majestic flight of locks at Fonserannes.

Tuesday: Regiment le Haut - Croisade

The morning visit brings you to the Medieval Cathar village Minerve and the olive oil factory Oulibo.
After lunch at a restaurant with a stunning view, we cruise along the windiest part of the canal to our mooring for the night and dinner aboard.

Wednesday: Croisade - La Repudre

Our tour guide takes you to Narbonne. Known for the Archbishop's palace, the Gothic cathedral, shopping, and the famous covered food market, where you will enjoy your lunch.
Back aboard, we cruise to another stunning mooring.

Thursday: La Repudre - Homps

After visiting the Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide, we serve lunch aboard while cruising to Homps, where you will have your evening meal ashore.
A wine tasting before dinner could be organised if you wish.

Friday: Homps 

The medieval city of Carcassonne is the highlight of the week.
After a guided tour around Europe's largest medieval, fortified town and lunch there we set off for the final cruise and farewell dinner aboard.

Saturday: Puicheric

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station, hotel or local airport for your onward journey.

This is a sample itinerary and may be modified

Portiragnes to Homps rates

2024 rates
Private charter for 4 20, 200 €
Private charter for 3 18, 300 €
Private charter for 2 16, 400 €
2023 rates Regular
Private charter for 4 17, 900€
Private charter for 3 16, 400 €
Private charter for 2 14, 900 €
 
Regular April - October 2023

These are sample itineraries, on alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.

Availability for Saraphina

Saraphina operates on a private charter basis only

Saraphina enquiries and reservations

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