Renowned for its superb wine vintages and gourmet cuisine, the Loire Valley in France entices wine lovers and foodies from all over the world — with stately châteaux, colourful gardens, flourishing vineyards, medieval villages and Roman towns. The Canal latéral à la Loire runs through the Loire Valley and is the canal that boats cruise along for the duration of their self-skippered Le Boat trip, mooring alongside the canal and exploring quaint French villages along the way. A highlight within this region is stopping in Sancerre, one of the most revered wine regions in France, to explore Maison des Sancerre and learn how some of the world's finest wines are produced.
As part of a wine-themed cruise and suggested itinerary, 'The Sancerre and Faience Cruise', travellers can learn more about over 300 vineyards in the area and tour farms with the winemakers. Magnificent cathedrals and châteaux fill the valley with history including the dungeons of the fort at Câtillon-Coligny, the castle ruins at Châtillon-sur-Loire and the Cathedral of St. Cyr and St. Julitte in Nevers.
Le Boat offers modern, fully-equipped self-drive river cruise holidays for all budgets and group sizes in 10 different destinations including France, Holland, the UK, Scotland and Canada. Best of all, no boating licence or prior experience is required. The experienced Le Boat teams provide a demonstration before guests set off, captaining their own boat and experiencing the regions at their leisure. Prices start from AU$560 per person, based on a group of eight travelling for 7 nights on one of the premier Horizon 4 boats.
Visit leboat.com.au for a brochure or phone 0800 44 98 91.