Burgundy Wine River Cruise

6 Days

If you’re a wine lover, this luxury river cruise on the canals and waterways of Burgundy in France will be an unforgettable experience. It either starts or finishes in the largest inland port in France, St Jean de Losne, and will take you along the beautiful Canal du Bourgogne in Burgundy as well as the wide Saone River.

This is a region of outstanding natural beauty complete with castles, vineyards and picturesque villages, all of which you’ll get to discover en route.

The on-shore highlights will include an excursion in a WWII jeep through the vines from Clos du Vougeot in the famous Cote d’or.

On a private visit you’ll explore Joseph Brouhin’s 2 acre maze of wine cellars which lie beneath the Medieval town of Beaune. Naturally you’ll also be able to enjoy some wine tasting along the way!

You can also look forward to a private lunch at a Grand Cru producer in Gevry Chambertin. Madame delights in serving delicious local specialities perfectly paired with her wonderful wines.

The barge

The fabulous nearly 40m long luxury barge hotel has 3 spacious cabins with Emperor size beds than can be converted to twins on request. They have air con as well as heating and all cabins have a large walk-in shower, fully stocked with Occitane products.

There’s satellite TV in the salon and dining area as well as a Bose DVD player and CD player and also an iPod docking station. There’s even free WiFi on board!

The deck is a fabulous outside space complete with a hot tub that can easily take 6 people. Or you may just wish to relax on one of the deck chairs or under the canopied area where meals are served if weather allows.

If you’d like to remain active during your cruise then you can use one of the bikes and cycle along the well made towpath or maybe even explore further afield.

Thanks to the talents of Cordon Bleu trained Caroline you can expect gourmet meals on board the barge, all carefully paired with wines from the region.

Overview

This is a 6 day luxury river cruise along the beautiful waterways of Burgundy during which you’ll discover world famous vineyards and taste some exceptional wines direct from the producing estates.

The river cruise takes you along the Canal de Bourgogne as well as the Saone River where you’ll experience the breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful countryside of Burgundy.

The cruise will include plenty of gourmet food, both on board and during your shore excursions. Prepare to be thoroughly spoilt!

 

Itinerary

Transfer from Paris to the barge moored in St Jean de Losne and enjoy a champagne reception where you'll meet the crew.
Enjoy a cocktail cruise on the river Saône before a delicious four course dinner accompanied by perfectly matched local wines.

You'll spend the morning gently cruising along the Canal de Bourgogne to Longecourt.
After lunch, your guide will take you to visit the Côte d'Or where you'll visit the magnificent medieval chateau and vineyards of the Clos de Vougeot.
Return to the barge in time for a refreshing cocktail and a delicious gourmet 4 course dinner.

After a morning of gentle cruising on the canal, you'll leave at midday for a delicious lunch at the winery of Olivier Leflaive in the village of Puligny Montrachet.
After the meal, sit back and enjoy a beautiful drive through the magnificent villages of the Cote de Beaune before returning to the barge in Dijon where you'll be moored for the evening.
As an aperitif you'll be invited to try a delicious ‘Kir Royale’ made with the local blackcurrant liqueur, crème de cassis and Crémant, the delicious Burgundy sparkling white wine.

Your morning cruise will take you along the canal from Dijon to the Ouche Valley.
As there are many locks on this leg of the river cruise, why not jump ashore and stretch your legs on the tow path.
Late morning, an excursion to the pretty village of Gevrey Chambertin where you'll meet the owner of this prestigious Grand Crus wine makers and enjoy a fabulous lunch on their terrace overlooking their vines!
During lunch Madame will present her wines. This really is a unique and very special experience!
After lunch, you'll be taken on a very informative private tour of the cellars before heading off on a scenic drive along the famous ‘Route du Grand Crus’ where you'll pass through numerous famous wine-producing villages.

Day 5 :
Beaune

On your morning cruise through the pretty Ouche Valley, you'll pass through delightful little villages and soak up the unbelievable peace and quiet of this beautiful waterway.
After a delicious lunch on board you'll head out for an excursion to the charming Medieval town of Beaune, the capital of the wine region of Burgundy.
Enjoy a visit to the historic Hôtel-Dieu, Hospice de Beaune with its rich and fascinating history and magnificent tiled roof.
Afterwards, you'll be invited to a private wine tasting at the famous cellars of Joseph Drouhin where you'll learn all about these famous wines and their connection to WWII and also have the opportunity to discover the amazing caves beneath the town.
At the end of the excursion you'll return to the barge for a refreshing cocktail and freshen up before enjoying another gourmet dinner aboard.

On your final excursion of this fabulous river cruise you'll have the opportunity to tour one of the traditional barrel makers of the area which is a fascinating experience!
Your river cruise continues along the Ouche valley amidst beautiful scenery, with plenty of walking and cycling opportunities.
This will be your final evening on board the barge and you will enjoy a fabulous gala dinner with wonderful wines to match.
What a way to end a stunning river cruise on the waterways of Burgundy!

Day 7 :
Paris

After breakfast you'll disembark and be transferred back to Paris or to a local rail station for your onward journey.

Included

  • Transfer to and from Paris and boat in a luxury minibus
  • 6 nights accommodation aboard the barge (Sun pm–Sat am)
  • All onboard meals, drinks, alcohol and wines
  • 2 onshore meals
  • A unique 'wine and war' visit of the Hospice de Beaune followed by a private tasting in the Drouhin family cellars
  • A drive through the Côte de Nuits vineyards in a WWII jeep
  • Wine tasting including Grand Cru wines (Clos de Vougeot, Latricières-Chambertin) and lunch with a wine-maker in Gevrey-Chambertin
  • A visit to the wine college of Beaune to learn all about the age-old art of barrel making
  • Guided tour of the 12th C former Cistercian wine chateau of Clos de Vougeot
  • Lunch in Puligny-Montrachet with tasting of Grand Cru white wines (Batard-Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne)
  • Driving tour of the Côte de Beaune (Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Volnay)

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Personal Insurance
  • Crew gratuities


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