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Canal du Midi cruise
tips & insights

When to go

May to September is the prime season with July and August the peak. April and October are nippy, but less crowded and lower priced.

Booking

Most barges are hired through rental agencies, not directly from the owners.

Don't be disappointed -
Verify that you boat
meets your expecations
before you book

Boats vary considerable in variables.

Lengths - Up to 30 meters (100 feet)

Widths - Narrow and wide

Ages - New to too old

States of repair - Good to bad

Cruise lengths - 2 to 7 days

Berths - 4 to 12

Personnel and rates also vary:

With crew

Number ranges from one (captain) to four (captain, cook, steward, and tour guide). Typical prices range from US$200 to $800 a day per person. They are usually all-inclusive - food, drinks, shore excursions, but not tips.

No crew

Passengers do all the work: Skipper, rope-tow, cook, housekeep, shop, and more. Daily rates average $100 to $300 per person.

Travel upstream or downstream?

Book the latter direction. Going through the locks will be easier and less arduous.

Docking

You can do it practically anywhere. Tie up your boat to a countryside tree or to a village dock.

 

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