French Hotel Barge ATHOS - Cruise the canal du midi in the south of France - golf, painting, tennis, family and wine vacation cruises

Sunday, Day 1 - SALLELES D'AUDE
4pm pick up at the designated point in Montpellier. Your family will be met by ATHOS Captain and Manager. In the comfort of ATHOS' private air-conditioned minivans, you will be chauffeured to where the ATHOS awaits you at her moorings. You will be treated to a full-crew Welcome Aboard, including an introduction to the Ship’s Dog, Jill! Toasting with either Champagne or soft drinks, the Chef will offer a selection of Mediterranean canapés fit for kids and adults alike! Once you are settled into your cabin, there may still be time for a quick bicycle ride alongside the canal. The Athos collection of children’s and adult bicycles & helmets are at your disposal throughout the week. You will be invited to a 4-course dinner, prepared by our highly acclaimed onboard Chef. The Chef will have asked in advance about your family’s likes and dislikes so that she can present you with meals that meet the whole family’s approval!

Monday, Day 2 - SALLELES D'AUDE to ARGELIERS
While coffee is available at any time from the bar, continental-style breakfast is served, at your leisure, beginning at 8:30am. A breakfast buffet offers a selection to please everyone: cereals, juices, yogurts, cold meats and cheese, and of course fresh pastries and bread from the local boulangerie! The proposed morning visit is a drive to the famous Medieval double-walled city of Carcassonne. Your knowledgeable on-board guide, Dannielle, will offer the historical & guided visit, including the legendary tales of Dame Carcas, and a visit to the tombstone of Simon de Montfort. She will also make sure that there is still time to browse the shops! Jill is wagging and happy to see you on your return to the Athos! The Captain is getting ATHOS underway for an afternoon's cruise to Argeliers, and Chef serves up another gourmet meal while the whole family relaxes on the sunny deck. If exercise and a swim are in order, cycling enthusiasts might like to follow Dannielle and Jill off to the swimming hole at the Cesse river under the 17th century Canal Bridge. It’s a quick ride there, and 4.5km to Argeliers where the Athos has arrived after cruising. Ready for a refreshing glass of wine or a cold drink? Another delicious meal has been prepared. The onboard hostess asks if everyone would like to eat al fresco, under the shade of the Plain Trees?

Tuesday, Day 3 - ARGELIERS to CAPESTANG
After breakfast, Captain Julian starts the engines, and the Athos moves off towards Capestang. As Athos moors for lunch, Dannielle suggests a quick game of Petanque. The vineyards surrounding are sprawling – a walk or a cycle ride might also be fun! After lunch is served, Athos carries on cruising. Coming in to Capestang, Dannielle suggests a visit to the local organic Goat’s cheese farm at Combebelle. The 30 minute drive into the Minervois hillside proves worthwhile: Combebelle is a petting zoo where everyone can watch the goats being milked, learn how the cheese is made, taste the products, and of course, bring some back to Athos to eat! On the way back, Dannielle stops in at Bize, where the locals swim in the river – a refreshing cool-down at the end of a busy day! On returning to the Athos, Chef has once again prepared a special meal, and the view over Capestang towards the flood-lit St. Etienne Collegiale is a pleasant setting for an al fresco dinner.

Wednesday, Day 4 - CAPESTANG to FONSERANNES
For early risers, the Morning Market is on in Capestang. Have a little walk into the village square and browse the local cheese stall or the vegetable stand, or sit and watch the locals from the Café with a delicious café au lait! Dannielle invites enthusiastic swimmers and paddlers on an excursion into the Cevennes mountains, where large, wide kayaks float down the River Orb! After the scenic drive into the hills, everyone is handed a helmet and lifejacket, then set off in kayaking pairs to navigate the mostly-shallow river bed. Chef has packed a superb picnic lunch to be served by Dannielle and another crew member mid-way through the kayaking route. For those more enthusiastic about relaxing than kayaking, Julian invites you to stay onboard for a leisurely cruise, lunch on deck, and a quiet time under the parasol. When kayakers return to Athos (tired and excited!), cruising gets under way once again, making the way towards Fonserannes. This evening's mooring is the breath-taking view-point at the Fonserannes. Perhaps a little cycle ride down to the staircase locks and the Canal Bridge will work up your appetite for the Chef's creations this evening?

Thursday, Day 5 FONSERANNES to PORTIRAGNE
Following breakfast, Dannielle invites you on a side-trip to the weekly morning market in Narbonne? Even for non-shoppers, Narbonne offers much entertainment on a Thursday morning! Explore an excavated portion of the original Roman road, the Via Domitia, or, browse through the well-compiled Roman Museum, or, discover the beauty of St. Juste Cathedral, or, simply take a moment to blend into the scene: sit and relax in one of the many cafés. As Chef and the hostess begin serving up today's luxury meal, Captain Julian and his deck hand are busy getting ATHOS underway. This 17th century feat of engineering, the "Neuf Ecluses" (or staircase locks), is sure to impress! ATHOS crew expertly tie her up in each lock, and wait for the gates to close safely behind her before the water levels empty out and allow her to pass one locks into the next. But it's not over yet! Coming up next is the 18th century Canal Bridge which will carry the ATHOS over the Orb River. The paved tow path and the many locks leading to this village make it an ideal afternoon for walking or cycling alongside the ATHOS. When we arrive at the evening's mooring just outside the small village of Portiragnes, Dannielle invites swimmers for a quick trip to the beach and a splash in the Mediterranean! Dinner onboard.

Friday, Day 6 - PORTIRAGNES to MARSEILLAN
Athos will get underway just after breakfast. Some active family members may like to take the bicycles back to the beach for a quick swim, and then return to re-board the Athos as she makes her way under the Portiragnes bridge. A spectacular seafood lunch arrives as you enter the open-waters of the Etang de Thau. The Etang hosts Europe's largest mussel and oyster park. The crew’s favourite swimming pool is the Etang! Join them and jump in to cool off! Only Ship’s Dog, Jill, can refuse this opportunity! As ATHOS comes to moor in the port at Marseillan, you will notice the enclosure which makes up the Noillly Prat Vermouth distillery. End a perfect day with a fascinating tour of the Distillery -- and, of course, a taste of Noilly Prat vermouth! Chef's efforts are sure to make this evening worth remembering! Captain Julian will join your party for your final dinner onbard this evening. During the evening, he will also invite the crew to make a farewell toast with you.

Saturday, Day 7 - MARSEILLAN
After breakfast, everyone waves goodbye to Jill and the Crew, who have looked after your every need throughout the week. The minivans will now depart to the appointed destination in Montpellier.

NOTE:
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse.