Saône Valley

The perfect choices for watersports and cruising alike.

The River Saône, which has travelled 473 km, has its source in the Vosges mountains at Vioménil and joins the vaster River Rhône at Lyon.

Luxury hotel barges

6 hotel barge cruises

2026 offer!
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★
La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★
Magnolia barge cruise

Magnolia

Burgundy Canal
6 guests
★★★★
Maïtena barge cruise

Maïtena

4 guests
★★★★★
Saroche barge cruise

Saroche

Champagne
6 guests
★★★★★★

Self-drive boats in the Saône Valley region

Nicols

Nicols operate 16 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Last-minute
N OCTO Fly C rental boat

N OCTO Fly C

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
& 4 children
4 bathrooms
★★★★★★
From 3742€/week
Last-minute
N PRIMO rental boat

N PRIMO

4 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
1 bathroom
★★★
From 998€/week
Last-minute
N1100 rental boat

N1100

9 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1470€/week
Last-minute
N SIXTO + rental boat

N SIXTO +

8 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2795€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Locaboat

Locaboat operate 14 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Last minute
Pénichette Terrasse P.1120R rental boat

Pénichette Terrasse P.1120R

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1281€/week
Last minute
Pénichette Classic P.1107W rental boat

Pénichette Classic P.1107W

7 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
& 1 child
1 bathroom
★★
From 1246€/week
Last minute
Pénichette Terrasse P.1260R rental boat

Pénichette Terrasse P.1260R

10 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
& 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1526€/week
Last minute
Pénichette Classic P.935W rental boat

Pénichette Classic P.935W

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
& 2 children
1 bathroom
★★
From 1134€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Le Boat

Le Boat operate 29 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Save up to 50%!
Clipper rental boat

Clipper

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
& 2 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
From 1099€/week
Save up to 50%!
Salsa A rental boat

Salsa A

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
& 2 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
From 2059€/week
Save up to 50%!
Sheba rental boat

Sheba

5 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
& 3 children
1 bathroom
Value rating
From 979€/week
Save up to 50%!
Cirrus B rental boat

Cirrus B

4 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
& 2 children
1 bathroom
Value rating
From 659€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

France Passion Plaisance

France Passion Plaisance operate 15 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Last-minute
La Peniche F rental boat

La Peniche F

12 guests maximum
6 cabins
Ideal for 12 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2465€/week
Last-minute
Espade Concept Fly rental boat

Espade Concept Fly

9 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
& 3 children
1 bathroom
★★★
From 1209€/week
Last-minute
Tarpon 42 TP rental boat

Tarpon 42 TP

8 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1400€/week
Last-minute
Triton 1050 rental boat

Triton 1050

8 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
& 2 children
bathroom
★★★
From 969€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Saône Valley cruise and boating information

Saône Valley

We offer a variety of cruises on the Saône. Whether you wish to cruise for one week or two, for just a few hours per day or up to seven hours, we will indeed have a route to suit you.

The river takes you on a beautiful journey past craggy cliffs through a rolling landscape of valleys, forests, and vineyards. Quaint medieval villages and Roman towns will delight historians, and of course, all will appreciate the region's fine wines and gastronomy.

Fishing is a popular sport here, and the river is well-stocked. Canoeing, jet skiing, and snorkelling are also possible.

Vineyards are close by. Travel southward from Dijon with the Côte de Beaune, then the Côte de Nuits, the Côte Chalonnaise, and the Mâconnaise arriving at the Beaujolais vineyards before arriving at Lyon.

Places to visit near the rivers and canals

  • Fontaine de Confracourt near Pont-sur-Saône
  • Château de Talmay near Pontailler-sur-Saône
  • Beaune and the Hospices
  • Abbaye Notre-Dame de Citeaux
  • The market of Louhans
  • Chateau de Corcelles near Belleville

Heading downstream on the River Saône

  • The old streets of Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
  • The town of Chalon-sur-Saône with the Nicéphore Niépce photography museum and old half-timbered houses.
  • Abbaye Saint-Philibert in Tournus
  • Museum Ursulines, Maison du Bois, the arches of the Pont Saint-Laurent, and the old streets in the Saint Vincent quarter.
  • Hotel de Ville in Belleville-en-Beaujolais
  • Château de Fléchères Fareins
  • Automobile Museum of Henri-Malartre in Rochetaillée-sur-Saône
  • Highlights of Lyon
    • Montée des Chazeaux
    • Montée du Garillan
    • Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
    • Musée des Arts de la Marionnette
    • Rue Saint-Jean
    • Place des Jacobins
    • Musée d'Histoire de Lyon
    • Place Bellecour

On the Doubs and the Canal Rhône au Rhin

  • Citadelle de Besançon and its museums, the old streets of the town centre.
  • The town of Dole, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, the Hospice, and the old streets on the river bank.

And restaurants along the waterways

  • Château de Vauchoux at Vauchox near Port-sur-Saône
  • La Chaumière at Dole on the River Doubs
  • L'Amaryllis at Chalon-sur-Saône
  • L'Écrin de Yohann Chapuis and Aux Terrasses in Tournus
  • Le Rasin in Pont-de-Vaux
  • Pierre in Mâcon
  • Gaulin in Mâcon
  • Georges Blanc at Vonnas near Macon (*** Michelin)
  • Restaurant Paul Bocuse, Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or near Lyon (** Michelin)
  • Auberge de l'Ile de Barbe in Lyon
  • There are eight one-star Michelin restaurants in the city of Lyon

Map of the waterways

Canal and river map for Saône Valley

Information, history and details of the waterways in this region

The Rhone-Rhine Canal   The Saône   The Doubs   The Seille   The Pont de Vaux Canal