Carloline: Sample Cruise Itinerary
Canal du Midi: Beziers to Carcassonne

The following sample itinerary for Caroline's cruise week can be adapted for cyclists, runners, walkers, as well as to accommodate special interests. With Caroline's half-board plan, cyclists can opt for lunch on their own, and then have dinner aboard in the evening, in coordination with Caroline's hosts, Uli and Ute. As a charter for two to six passengers, Caroline's week is oriented around your special interests.

Sunday
Guests are picked up at approximately 4pm by Uli, your Captain, at the pre-arranged meeting point and transferred by private air-conditioned minivan to the Caroline mooring. Champagne welcome aboard by Ute, your Chef, and time to settle in while Caroline starts her first little cruise to your evening mooring. Relax on deck and watch the picturesque French landscape glide past. Our mooring tonight overlooks a wide area with vineyards and what hopes to be many marvelous sunsets from our deck during your week. Four course welcome dinner on board.

Monday - Poilhes to La Croisade
Awaken to enjoy an extensive continental breakfast with freshly brewed coffee, tea, fruit juices, croissants and baguettes, jams, ham, cereals...

Before we start our daily cruise you might decide to have a morning visit to the pre-Roman site of Oppidum d'Enserunes, which is a historical site from around 800 BC and has been part of the Via Domitia. This area also overlooks the famous Etang de Montady. We set off cruising, meandering through truly unbelievable and stunning scenery. While we pass by the petite village of Capestang, with its extremely small and narrow ancient bridge, the Caroline almost appears not to fit! Ute will serve our 3-course lunch on deck al fresco. This afternoon while relaxing on deck with a chilled drink enjoy yourself and watch the countryside pass by as we cruise to our mooring destination for the evening. Tonight the mooring is only a few steps away from a wonderful Auberge, a restaurant where you are welcome to have your dinner.

As with all our days, if guests prefer a stopover during the day please just let us know. If you prefer a walk or a bicycle ride along the towpath, this is easy to arrange. Perhaps a stroll into a little village? Caroline can 'park' at nearly each and every point along the Canal.

Sample excursions: Pre-Roman site of Oppidum d'Enserunes, Vineyard Perdiguier

Tuesday - La Croisade to Ventenac
After breakfast, we will start our cruise towards the village of Le Somail were we will stop for lunch. Our evening mooring is the charming and petite Ventenac. Here we will moor in front of the local vineyard whose stonework is built much like an old Chateau. It invites you in for a wine tasting. Dinner tonight may be taken in one of the two typical open air restaurants just steps from the Caroline.

Sample excursions: Wine tasting in Paraza or a trip by car to Minerve.

Wednesday - Ventenac to Homps
Today's cruise will take us to our first locks. The first has a single chamber while the next lock has a double chamber. A total of 4 locks with 6 chambers will bring us to our evening stop at Homps. We moor on a quay in the middle of this little village where guests have a wide choice of restaurants for dinner and a stroll tonight.

Thursday - Homps to Pucheric
This morning our day begins with a visit by minivan to the open air markets of Narbonne, the Palace of the Archbishop, and the Cathedral St Just, with its impressive organ. From this vantage the ancient Via Domitia can be seen. While enjoying the markets you can look for souvenirs or maybe purchase a fresh fish or meat for a BBQ tonight instead of dining out?

After lunch we leave Homps, cruising again through locks, this time transporting us 'uphill' to the next level of the Canal. Watch out for the special lock 'Aguille' which is decorated with many funny sculptures, made by the lock-keepers. Our evening mooring tonight is away from the villages and in the countryside.

Sample excursions: Exploring ancient Narbonne and the markets by car.

Friday - Pucheric to Trebes
Our cruise continues today towards Trebes, our final port. We pass by barge through "the green cathedral", so called as all the waterway is covered by more than three hundred years old trees. After we have been lifted up again in a three chamber lock towards the new upper level, we find ourselves in the middle of the little village of Trebes. Our mooring here is underneath the huge plane trees. Why not take your dinner tonight on the terrace of the restaurant which is located directly at the lock?

Sample excursions: Tour of the famous walled city of Carcassonne, a fascinating fortified medieval fortress, situated on top of Carcassonne overlooking the city.

Saturday - Trebes
After a relaxing breakfast, we will say goodbye and take our guests to their next destination, arriving at approximately 10 a.m. Drop-off may be coordinated at your hotel, the rail station, or depending on our cruise direction, the Carcassonne Airport.

Typically Caroline will plan a half-day cruise each day. Depending on the stretch of the canal we are in and how many locks we have to pass, the cruise might be in the morning or the afternoon. We enjoy finding out together with our guests what their excursion preferences are. Some excursions may be at additional costs. Each day the Canal du Midi offers walking and biking along the flat and well maintained towpath. You might find that you are walking faster than Caroline can follow you...

Note: this is a sample itinerary and stops and excursions may be altered to suit guests individual ideas. On alternate weeks this cruise will run in the opposite direction.