Loire Valley

Stunning chateaux and world-famous vineyards

Cruise destinations for Loire Valley

The Loire valley invites wine connoisseurs and historians alike to discover it's natural beauty.

Map of the canals and rivers

Canal and river map for  Loire Valley

Hotel barges

3 hotel barge cruises

C'est La Vie barge cruise

C'est La Vie

Champagne Loire
8 guests
★★★★★
10% off
Nymphea barge cruise

Nymphea

Loire Valley
6 guests
★★★★
Last dates!
Save 10%
Renaissance barge cruise

Renaissance

Loire Valley
8 guests
★★★★★★

Self-drive boats in this region

Locaboat

Locaboat have 12 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

Linssen 34.9  GS self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1020 FB self-drive
5 guests
4 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1107W self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
P1120R self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1165 FB self-drive
7 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1180 FB self-drive
7 guests
6 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
P1260R self-drive
10 guests
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1400 FB self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
P1500 FB self-drive
12 guests
8 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
P1500 R self-drive
12 guests
6 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P935W self-drive
5 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
Penichette Evolution self-drive
4 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★

Nicols

Nicols have 10 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

N DUO self-drive
4 guests
2 adults, child
1 cabin
1 bathroom
★★★★
N OCTO self-drive
10 guests
4 adults, 4 children
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
N QUATTRO B self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
N1000 self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
N1100 self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
N1160 self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
N1170 self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
N1350 B self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
N800 self-drive
3 guests
1 cabin
1 bathroom
★★
N900 DP self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★

France Passion Plaisance

France Passion Plaisance have 8 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

Espade Concept Fly self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
Haines Rive 40 self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★
La Peniche F self-drive
12 guests
12 adults, child
6 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
Tarpon 32 self-drive
8 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 37 self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 37 DP self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
Tarpon 42 self-drive
12 guests
6 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 49 QP self-drive
12 guests
8 adults, 2 children
5 cabins
5 bathrooms
★★★★★

Le Boat

Le Boat have 13 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

7 nights for 5!
Caprice self-drive
6 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Clipper self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Continentale self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
7 nights for 5!
Crusader self-drive
6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
Elegance self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Horizon 1 self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
Premium rating
Horizon 2S self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Premium rating
Horizon 4 self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating
Magnifique self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Mystique self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Royal Mystique A self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Royal Mystique B self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Vision 4 self-drive
9 guests
8 adults, child
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating

Loire Valley information

Loire Valley

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000, the Loire Valley is characterised by the pomp and splendour of its extravagant châteaux and its gentle, rolling landscape. Referred to as the "garden of France", this fertile region boasts abundant fruit and vegetables as well as the vineyards for which it is so well known.

Starting on the River Seine at Saint-Mammès, the canals Loing, Briare and the Lateral to the Loire, connect to the Canal du Centre and then the River Saône. At Décize you can also cruise onto the Canal du Nivernais and head to Auxerre.

As you cruise southwards, you'll cruise the spectacular "canal bridge" at Briare. With its 662 metres in length and 11 metres wide, it spans the River Loire and is an incredible construction by Eiffel in 1896. 

Views of the vineyards on top of hills can be enjoyed from The Canal Latéral à la Loire, which follows the course of the river Loire. Pretty, waterside villages with magnificent chateaux and ancient churches line the route, while delightful towns such as La Charite sur Loire and Sancerre offer the opportunity of wine tasting.

What to see and do whilst you're here

Monuments to visit

  • Castles nearby
    • Château d'Apremont
    • Château Blois
    • Château de la Bussière
    • Château Chambord
    • Château Fontainbleau
    • Château de Guedelon
    • Château Sully-sur-Loire
    • Château Saint-Fargeau
    • Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte at Maincy

Places to go

  • Visit the town of Gien
  • Visit the city of Orleans
  • Visit the town of Château Landon

Along the canals

  • Moret-sur-Loing and the inspirations for Alfred Sisley
  • Château-Musée de Nemours
  • Discover the streets Rue Raymond, Laforge of Montargis
  • Walk across 
  • View the old flight of 7 locks at Rogny-Les-Sept-Ecluses and cruise on the new flight of locks!
  • Discover the magnificent Pont-du-Canal Briare by Monsieur Eiffel
  • Walk around the quaint village of Châtillon-sur-Loire
  • Visit Sancerre, discover the red and white wines
  • Notre-Dame de La Charité-sur-Loire
  • The town of Nevers
    • Port du Croux
    • Duke Palace
    • Church Sainte-Bernadette-du-Banlay
    • Sanctuary of Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Nevers and Bernadette’s Shrine
  • The double lock and Pont-du-Canal of Guétin

To taste and eat

  • Wine tasting in Sancerre
  • Wines of Pouilly-sur-Loire and Pouilly Fumé
  • Taste the Crottin de Chavignol goat's cheese near Sancerre

Technical and construction information for the waterways in this region

The Briare Canal   The Cher   The Berry Canal   The Sarthe   The Maine   The Loire Lateral Canal