Alouette

A transfer agent will meet your party at late morning in the lobby of your Paris hotel, chauffeur you to the Paris Gare de Lyon Train Station, and provide First Class tickets on a mid-day TGV train to the Canal du Midi. As you alight, Alouette crew will be waiting on the platform. From here, you will be driven to Alouette moored in the charming village of Columbieres, just outside Beziers. A traditional champagne welcome and introduction to the rest of the crew awaits you, before your first gourmet dinner onboard.

The adventure begins with a leisurely morning cruise. Take a brisk bicycle ride on the towpath, or relax on deck while admiring the rustic scenery slipping by. This afternoon, a guided visit to the l'Abbaye de Fontfroide reveals a Cistercian monastery founded in the 11th century. Now privately owned, the abbey has been meticulously restored with a colorful garden and peaceful cloister. Then, sip and sample the Languedoc's bounty at a winetasting at a local domaine. Drinks and dinner onboard culminate the day.

A morning cruise reveals more of the Canal du Midi's flora and fauna. Gourmands and gastronomes are invited to join Chef in the galley for an informal cooking demonstration, while active guests can explore the towpath by bicycle or on foot. This afternoon, the epicurean experience continues at a local olive pressoir. Enjoy a private tasting of small batch olive oils before browsing the onsite gourmet boutique. Your Tour Guide returns you to the barge where cocktails and canapes precede tonight's delicious dinner.

The morning begins with a visit to the town of Narbonne, a regional capital established in 118 BCE as a Roman colony. Here you will visit the market to help Chef select the ingredients for this evening's dinner. Mingle with the locals as you explore vendors of seasonal produce, handmade cheese, and artisanal breads. After lunch ashore at a local bistro, your Tour Guide chauffeurs you back to the barge for an unhurried afternoon cruise. Socialize in the salon or on deck before Chef presents tonight’s dinner.

In the morning your Tour Guide escorts you to Minerve, a preserved Medieval city with fascinating social, historical, and military import. Explore the evocative remnants of what was once a Cathar stronghold. Back onboard, a lazy afternoon cruise provides the perfect opportunity to lounge on deck and admire the countryside, or explore the towpath with a gentle pedal or leisurely stroll. Tonight's dinner is very special, as it is taken ashore at a local bistro. Bon appetit!

A morning cruise is the perfect time to laze on deck with a cup of coffee, or explore the tree-shaded towpath by bicycle or on foot. This afternoon, visit Carcassonne, a fortified Medieval fortress with a walled city. Your Tour Guide will escort you through the ancient castle and preserved ramparts to admire the mighty 53 Roman towers. Stroll the cobblestone boulevards into local cafes and specialty boutiques. Back onboard, freshen up for tonight's Captain's Dinner, culminating your Canal du Midi cruise in style.

After breakfast, you will be chauffeured to the closest train station for your return trip to Paris. You will be provided with First Class tickets for a morning train, arriving mid-day at the Paris Gare de Lyon Train Station. As you alight, a representative of the Alouette will be waiting on the platform and will help you and your luggage to the taxi line or to a pre-arranged private transfer to your next destination. The services of the Alouette end at the Gare de Lyon.