Saroche
Avignon to Sete - Southern France - Provence

May 27(R), Oct 7 

France revolves around exquisite food and fine wines - whilst other nations eat to live, France lives to eat! Every cruise on board Saroche is a gourmet experience. Whilst the majority of other passenger barges have a set menu each evening, Saroche offers a choice of dishes each evening on its 5-course menu. The chef will discuss your personal preferences with you and tailor the week's menus to reflect these. We also cater for special dietary needs. 

Sunday Afternoon - Beaucaire
Guests are greeted at the pre-designated meeting point and escorted to Saroche in Beaucaire. After settling in you are invited to join the captain for a Champagne Reception and cruise safety briefing. Enjoy your pre-dinner aperitifs during an early evening cruise from Beaucaire port into the countryside.

Monday - Cruising : Beaucaire to Saint Gilles
A morning excursion to Avignon for a guided tour of the Palace of the Popes and the famous Pont d'Avignon followed by some free time to explore the town before returning to Saroche for lunch. The afternoon cruise begins by passing through the only lock on the canal and then continues through the lush vegetation of the Rhône valley to overnight mooring spot in the country where frogs and nightingales sing the night away.
Excursion : The magnificent city of Avignon.

Tuesday - Cruising : Saint Gilles to Aigues-Mortes
Your morning excursion is to the Provençal city of Arles before returning to Saroche for lunch and relax on the tranquil afternoon cruise through the reed beds of the Camargue where reed cutters work, black bulls and white horses graze, and birds of prey soar over Europe's largest wetland wilderness.
Excursion : Visit Arles and the Roman arena and theatre - walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and maybe take a drink in the Starry Nights Café made famous by his painting.

Wednesday - Aigues-Mortes
Aigues-Mortes, 'the jewel of the Camargue' built by Louis IV as a departure port for his Crusades, stands boldly on the salt flats guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean. Visit the colourful morning street market and enjoy the shopping, galleries and sightseeing, or walk the ramparts of this medieval town.
Excursion : Village and vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape. Lunch at a selected Restaurant, followed by a tasting of the world famous red wine. The return trip to Saroche takes in the 2000 year old Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard, one of the treasures of the Roman Empire.

Thursday - Cruising : Aigues-Mortes to Maguelone
After your morning excursion time to relax on an afternoon cruise through the inland lakes teeming with bird life, to Maguelone, an ancient settlement on a pine clad hill by the sea - its cathedral dating back to the sixth Century. Watch the nesting colonies of bee-eaters and white egrets along the canal banks and the flocks of hundreds of flamingoes gracefully wading through the etangs.
Excursion : Today's excursion is a visit to Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer with its fortified church and magical stories or visit the world famous Perrier source and bottling plant.

Friday - Cruising : Maguelone to Sète
The last day's cruising takes you to the medieval Port of Sète, France's second largest sea port. The picturesque town is crisscrossed by small canals which link the Mediterranean with the inland lake 'Etang de Thau'. The captain's farewell dinner this evening is on a canal front restaurant where fish comes directly into the kitchen from the fishing boats moored at the quay. Local Mediterranean dishes are a specialty.
Excursion : The afternoon excursion of Sète includes a trip to the hilltop for breath-taking panoramic views of the town and surrounding waters, followed by a stroll through the streets of the old town.

Saturday - Sète
Time after breakfast for one last chance to sit on deck before your departure from Saroche.

The cruise is from Sète to Beaucaire on alternate weeks



This itinerary details the cruise route and gives examples of the visits which may be made from the vessel.
It is our aim to provide a cruise tailored for you,
wherever possible we will adjust the cruise to fit in with your requirements.
Activities such as riding, tennis, hot air ballooning and golf can be organized on request.
18 speed mountain bikes and boules are available on board.