Featuring Back-Roads Touring and Luxury Hotel Barge L’Impressionniste
Venture from Great British culture to Gallic charm on this trip from London to Paris, immersing yourself in the Channel Islands’ natural beauty and fascinating history along the way. Hear about Guernsey’s wartime occupation, uncover Western Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic sites in Jersey, enter a bygone world on Sark and admire Saint-Malo’s exquisite coastal landscapes.
And after 10 days of sightseeing on your own, private tour, it will be time to board your exclusive Luxury Hotel Barge in Burgundy. If France is where the idea of luxury barge cruising first started, Burgundy is the jewel in Luxury Hotel Barging’s crown. Taking a Luxury Hotel Barge cruise down one of the region’s canals is a delightful experience as the area boasts some of the world’s finest wines with around 60,000 acres of sunlit vines and arguably the prettiest canals in France.
Tour Highlights:
- Spend a day on beautiful Sark, the iconic ‘Dark Sky Island’
- Explore the only part of the British Isles to be occupied during WWII
- Wander the enchanting island village of Mont Saint-Michel
CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit Clos de Vougeot, home of the Chevaliers du Tastevin | Tour of Dijon and its markets | Private Falconry Display & Tour at the Château de Commarin | Gastronomic private lunch and wine tasting at Château de Beaune | Visit to medieval Châteauneuf-en-Auxois | Optional hot air ballooning | Excellent towpath for walking and cycling
CRUISE INCLUDES:
- 6 Nights’ accommodation in airconditioned, en-suite rooms
- All gourmet meals aboard and ashore
- Selected regional wines
- Champagne welcome
- Open bar
- All excursions and admittance fees
- Use of bicycles
- Other hotel barge facilities (i.e.: spa pool)
ITINERARY
Saturday, Day 1: London
An epicenter of rich history and innovation, London is where we’ll meet for the start of our incredible journey. Tonight, we’ll get to know one another over a delicious welcome dinner. Accommodation: Wellington by Blue Orchid (or similar) D
Sunday, Day 2: London to Winchester to Dorset
After breakfast, we’ll travel to our first stop: the collegiate city of Winchester. Here, we’ll take some time to tour the magnificent Gothic cathedral before exploring the city’s old-worldly centre at our own pace. En route to our hotel, we’ll visit the sublime Corfe Castle – a site with over 1,000 years of diverse history. Then, a delicious meal awaits us at our Dorset hotel. Accommodation: Mortons Manor Hotel (or similar) B, D
Monday, Day 3: Dorset to Guernsey
This morning it’s all aboard the ferry for the journey to Guernsey. Depending on our arrival time in St Peter Port, we may have the opportunity to tour the grand Sausmarez Manor and its charming gardens – before enjoying some free time to wander the cobbled streets, marina and stores at your leisure. Tonight, take the leisurely walk into town for dinner at a local restaurant or enjoy a relaxing evening at the hotel. Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel (or similar) B
Tuesday, Day 4: Guernsey to Sark to Guernsey
The famous ‘Dark Sky Island’, Sark, will be our next stop – and here the day will be yours to spend as you please. No cars are allowed on the island, giving it a unique ‘olde worlde’ charm. Enjoy a leisurely walk to the various viewpoints around the island including the Lighthouse and Pilcher Monument. Or enjoy the strikingly beautiful walk along La Coupée to Little Sark. There is even the option to admire the island’s captivating landscapes from aboard a horse-drawn carriage, if you’d prefer. After returning to Guernsey on the ferry, we’ll enjoy an included dinner together. Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel (or similar) B, D
Wednesday, Day 5: Guernsey
First on the agenda today: a stop at the enchanting Little Chapel, a work of art built entirely from seashells. Afterwards, we’ll visit the fascinating German Occupation Museum. Beginning as a schoolboy hobby, the museum has expanded into an extensive collection of Occupation memorabilia and rare artefacts. Returning to our accommodation in the afternoon, there will be some free time to explore Guernsey your own pace. Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel (or similar) B
Thursday, Day 6: Guernsey to Jersey
Our morning in Guernsey will be a relaxed one as we ready ourselves to depart for our next stop: Jersey. Upon our arrival, we’ll familiarise ourselves with the beautiful harbour village of St Aubin – exploring the Bulwarks, quaint streets and pubs at our leisure. Tonight, we will reconvene at the hotel and share stories of our day over an included dinner. Accommodation: Hotel Pomme d’Or (or similar) B, D
Friday, Day 7: Jersey
Today we’ll uncover one of Western Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic sites, La Hougue Bie. Here, you’ll be able to stand inside the chamber of the passage grave and feel the heart of this centuries-old place of worship before continuing our discovery at the geology and archaeology museum. Then, we’ll press on to the imposing Mont Orgueil Castle – a medieval fortress that has overlooked the beautiful fishing port of Gorey for more than 800 years. This afternoon you’ll be free to relax before we move on again. Saint-Malo is coming up tomorrow! Accommodation: Hotel Pomme d’Or (or similar) B
Saturday, Day 8: Jersey to Saint-Malo
Elizabeth Castle has played a huge role in Jersey’s history for more than 400 years. Choose to take the Castle Ferry or walk out along the causeway at low tide. Then, enjoy some free time to explore the grounds at your leisure – uncovering wartime bunkers, marvelling at the hermitage where St Helier is thought to have lived, and taking part in living history demonstrations. Later this afternoon, we’ll swap Britain for France as we sail into the dramatic port-town of St-Malo. Be tempted by an array of restaurants in the town centre and enjoy some down-time relaxing in the fresh coastal air. Accommodation: Le Grand Hotel de Courtoisville or similar) B
Sunday, Day 9: Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo’s labyrinthine streets are best explored on foot and that’s how we’ll begin today – with an orientation tour led by our expert Tour Leader. Later, we’ll visit the impressive Château de Saint-Malo. Dating from 1424, marvel at the impressive views over the port and surrounding coastline from the site’s watchtowers. Then, the rest of the afternoon is yours to wander the medieval ramparts surrounding the town, visit the Cathedral or enjoy a walk in the sunshine along Plage de Bon-Secours beach. This is evening is yours to indulge in some classic French cuisine. Accommodation: Grand Hotel de Courtoisville (or similar) B
Monday, Day 10: Saint-Malo to Mont Saint-Michel to Saint-Malo
Today we’ll wind our way along the coast of Normandy to the magical Mont Saint-Michel, a rocky islet topped with a medieval monastery. Here, we’ll have some free time to explore the Abbey and Logis Tiphaine Museum – before finding lunch in the island village. This afternoon, we’ll return to Saint-Malo for an evening of leisure. Accommodation: Le Grand Hotel de Courtoisville (or similar) B
Tuesday, Day 11: Saint-Malo to Dinan to Fougères to Laval
After spending some time exploring the medieval ramparts, cobblestoned streets and half-timbered houses of Dinan this morning, we’ll move on to Fougères. Following a stop for lunch in the medieval Old Town, we’ll pay a visit to the Château de Fougères – before moving on to historic Laval. Tonight, we’ll regroup at the hotel and enjoy a dinner together. Accommodation: Hotel Perier du Bignon (or similar) B, D
Wednesday, Day 12: Laval to Chartres to Paris
Enroute to Paris today we will visit the Cathedral of Chartres – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and beautifully preserved example of Gothic architecture. This afternoon we will arrive in the magnificent city Paris, which will be our home for the next four nights. Accommodation: Hôtel Ronceray-Opéra (or similar) B
Thursday, Day 13: Paris
Choose an optional tour or explore Paris at your leisure. Accommodation: Hôtel Ronceray-Opéra (or similar) B
Friday, Day 14: Paris
Choose an optional tour or explore Paris at your leisure. Accommodation: Hôtel Ronceray-Opéra (or similar) B
Saturday, Day 15: Paris
Choose an optional tour or explore Paris at your leisure. Accommodation: Hôtel Ronceray-Opéra (or similar) B
Sunday, Day 16: Paris to L’Impressionniste
Enjoy this morning at leisure in Paris before being transferred the Luxury Hotel Barge, L’Impressionniste. A champagne reception welcomes you on board and the opportunity to meet the captain and crew. Then enjoy your first dinner on board.
MONDAY, DAY 17: FLEUREY-SUR-OUCHE TO SAINTE MARIESUR-OUCHE
This morning, experience your first day’s cruise along this enchanting canal, which also promises a walk or cycle along an ever-present towpath past sleepy villages and pretty lock houses. After lunch we visit Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin, who award a special prized label to the finest Côte d‘Or vintages every year. On the way back to the hotel barge we enjoy a tour of the cellars and a private tasting of fine Burgundy wines at another long established domaine. Dinner on board.
TUESDAY, DAY 18: SAINTE MARIE-SUR OUCHE TO LA BUSSIÈRE
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of old Dijon, including a visit to the vivid produce markets, mustard shops and the impressive Notre-Dame de Dijon, or enjoy some excellent shopping time. Return to the hotel barge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon cruise to La Bussière and perhaps a walk or bicycle ride to the next lock or two. Dinner on board.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 19: LA BUSSIÈRE TO PONT D’OUCHE
After a short morning cruise, we set off on a drive through the slopes of the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. Here, our expert guide will offer an insight into the production of the region’s finest Premier and Grand Cru wines. We continue to Beaune – the capital of the Burgundy wine country, for a private tour and tasting at the renowned Domaine Chanson. The tour includes its medieval Bastion de l’Oratoire, a 15th century defence tower whose 25-foot-thick walls now maintain the perfect temperature for ageing wine. This is followed by a private gastronomic lunch in the domaine’s chateau. Afterwards, we visit the fascinating Hôtel-Dieu Hospice with time to explore the town, before returning for a short evening cruise to Pont d’Ouche. Dinner on board.
THURSDAY, DAY 20: PONT D’OUCHE TO VANDENESSE
After breakfast, we cruise to Vandenesse-en-Auxois, passing grazing white Charolais cattle, rolling hills and picturesque villages, crossing the only aqueduct on the Burgundy Canal. After lunch on board, we visit the medieval village, craft shops and castle of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, once an outpost of the Dukes of Burgundy and offering a fine overview of the feeder lakes, canal and surrounding countryside. Dinner on board.
FRIDAY, DAY 21: VANDENESSE TO ESCOMMES
Our last day’s leisurely cruise takes us to the canal summit, 1,250 feet above sea level, just before the Pouilly tunnel. After an early lunch, we visit the moat-encircled Château de Commarin to be treated to a private demonstration of the medieval sport of falconry. The close-up encounter with these majestic birds against the backdrop of the castle grounds is an amazing experience and afterwards, we meet Count Bertrand de Vogue, the current resident and 26th generation of the de Vogue family to maintain continuous residence since the 13th century, who will give a fascinating insight into the Château’s history. This is followed by a private tour of the building. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
SATURDAY, DAY 22: ESCOMMES
After breakfast the crew bids you farewell before you disembark the barge for your onward travel arrangements.
Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
Please contact us for more information, dates and pricing.
