River tourism in Europe is considered a green tourism, where the user has the opportunity to carry out different and varied activities. France is the European country with a greater number of navigable kilometres: about 8,000. All the Welsh channels have their own history, their charms and treasures that river tourism proposes to discover and some will also have the privilege of meeting on the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage, case of the Midi Canal, which it achieved in 1996.

At present, river tourism has been recognized and valued as a very complete tourist product, because it joins an active and cultural holiday. The regions and municipalities that shape their shores and make known their natural and cultural wealth, to the vistists that sail on these channels, rivers and lakes. These river cruises are ideal for families, couples, groups of friends... They are a holiday on a river boat, where each one will sail at its own pace, without haste, in your floating hotel with all the amenities, without the need to make and unmake luggage, and each day you will wake up in a new and amazing place.

The easiest option for the uninitiated is to hire a cruise, in line with the sea navigation, with all the amenities. The French offer is fantastic (Photo Cruciemar).

The locks are part of the fun

It's one of the most fun parts of the trip, when you pass the first one, you'll see that the procedure is simple. Some are manual, although most are automatic, you will usually find the help of an operator, others will be a meeting place for river tourism travelers, as they include shops and museums.

Where can I tie up?

The practice of river tourism through rivers, canals and lakes is synonymous with freedom, that is, it is to sail into your air, without the need for established times, or other conditions. You will be able to tie and free of charge anywhere on the banks of the rivers and channels, although there are some limited areas such as restricted or private areas. You can also find on some tours, sports or private ports, where generally, paying a fee, you can access electricity, water, food...

Le Canal de Midi is one of the most popular and well-known in the French Republic.

How are the ships?

The ships are equipped with all the amenities you could find in a hotel room. They include comfortable mattresses, quality bedding and soft towels. With storage space and multi-purpose furniture. All the ships have fully equipped kitchen with everything you need. There is the option of cooking on the boat and lunch or dinner on board or next, or making meals outside to discover the gastronomy of the area. There are several models, depending on their capacity, performance and / or route, you can choose from the more than 80 models of river ships that we make available to you, meeting your needs. You can hire luxury ships, more popular, more basic...

What are the destinations and how many days?

The customer will be able to choose the duration you prefer, from three nights to several weeks, our proposals indicate the distance and estimated times, the average speed will be five knots (between 6 and 8 Kms per hour).

The offer in charter is wide and diverse,... always with a high quality in it.

What do the prices of the hired ships include?

• fully equipped boat rental
• Full kitchen with all the necessary utensils and appliances
• Towels and bed linen for all passengers
• Ship driving tutorial
• Technical assistance
• Navigation information
• Price of locks (except in Belgium and Ireland)
• A maximum of two quiet pets on board are allowed, upon payment of a special cleaning supplement.

Even the small charter baros with maximum occupancy of five crew members, offer splendid conditions of comfort, quality and cleaning.

Not including:

• Travel to your base of departure or from your base of arrival
• Fuel *
• River guide or navigation map
• Full risk insurance or bail
• Personal insurance
• Extra or optional services
• Cancellation insurance (its recruitment is recommended)

The fuel is a supplement and has to be paid upon arrival. The consumption is calculated by hours of navigation or by litres, boat model (consumption) and the cruise region, based on market prices at that time. The weekly price is between EUR 150 and EUR 250.

The weekly price is between EUR 150 and EUR 250.

Fuel bond:

Upon arrival at the base and before departure, the Constable must pay an advance as a deposit on expenses of about 200 euros (to be confirmed at the base). The amount of this advance is considered as a guarantee for diesel oil and cleaning costs, and the unconsumed will be returned. The actual price of your fuel consumption will be calculated at the end of your vacation. Fuel bail is mandatory in all cases. The prices are indicated for one week (7 nights on board), are by boat and depend on 4 elements: the boat model, the navigation period, the chosen region and the supplements, extras and discounts. The boat will be ready for boarding between 4: 00 hrs and 6: 00 hrs on the day of departure and you must deliver the boat before 9: 00 in the morning on the last day.

Bicycle rental:

There is the possibility to rent bicycles to take on board and enjoy bike riding in the places of the tour. The tracks for bikes, the sirge roads (roads that border the channels)... The prices per week of rent, depending on whether it is for adults or children, range from €56 to €35.

The offer of boats in charter (capacity 2 / 5 crew):

The offer is very high with charter ships up to a capacity of 12 people. You can call 902 102 784 and 669 797 673 to Cruises River or go to info @ turismoluvial.com

For complete information enter:http: / / www.turismoluvial.com /

Texts: Manuel Pedro Seoane
Archive: Tourism of France and Inland Tourism
Photographs: Inland Tourism