ADVERTORIAL: Win a boating holiday on the water canals of France

Have you ever dreamt of the idyllic countryside of France? Now you have the chance to make that dream a reality, click here to read more on this fantastic opportunity.

April 24, 2019

Rekord Newspaper 3 minutes read

If you want to relax and really take in the local culture, a Le Boat holiday is the perfect way to travel. As the captain of your own boat (yes, its a real boat), you decide where to stop and what to see. And no boating licence or previous boating experience are required.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing time for the family, a romantic trip as a couple or an active break with friends, Le Boat promises to give you a wonderful holiday to remember!

About Le Boat

As the No 1 and largest operator of self-drive barging holidays, more than 102,000 people enjoyed a barging holiday with Le Boat last year. With 36 different departure bases to choose from across Europe and Canada, This means with Le Boat you can plan canal boat holidays in some of the world’s most magnificent places. There are bases in nearly all canal boating locations.

And, there are a variety of one-way trips so you don’t ever have to retrace your steps, and round trips so you can even better explore the area you are cruising through. Le Boat travellers can cruise in their own time and choose between more than 200 suggested routes, from 3 to 21 nights total cruise duration.

The fleet consists of over 900 cruisers and more than 30 models of boats to choose from. There’s a perfect boat to suit every budget, party size and holiday style. A boat is like your home on the water, fully-equipped for a relaxing life on board, with stylish décor, comfy furnishings, a scenic sundeck and light and airy interiors – all hallmarks of Le Boat’s fleet. All boats come with fully-equipped kitchens, entertainment-friendly sundecks with braais and on board sound systems, all linen and towels.

Popular destinations for first-time canal boaters:

One of Le Boat’s most popular cruising destinations for travellers is the South of France, which has a bit of everything on offer: history & culture, sightseeing, outdoor activities and more. There are plenty of quaint French towns and villages, with first-class restaurants and delicatessens along the way to stock up and enjoy France’s famed food and wine.

A few examples of the exceptional French barging itineraries you can experience with Le Boat:

The Midi-Robine Cruise

You lounge on the sundeck as the scenery slowly passes by on your boat hire on the Canal du Midi. Two beautiful cities await — mediaeval Carcassonne and Roman Narbonne. In between, you explore the pretty villages on foot or on your bicycle, feeling part of the friendly French people you meet along the way. Ahead, another waterway, the Canal de la Robine, welcomes you.

The Classic Nivernais Cruise

The narrow streets and quaint shops in Vermenton entice you to trek and cycle, and perhaps to stop for a bite to eat. You’ve already enjoyed good times in lively Auxerre, a Gothic city with a soaring cathedral. Now it’s time for some wine tasting in Tannay. Long a favoured stop on a Classic Nivernais Cruise boat hire in France, you’re delighted with the village and its white wines.

The Burgundy Wines and Cheeses Cruise

Follow down the River Saône up to the dynamic city of Châlon-sur-Saône then turn to the Canal du centre to reach the town of Chagny. You are now between 2 of the most famous vineyards of the World, the Mâconnais and the Côte de Beaune. Make the most of these fine wines by tasting them with some the local cheeses and gourmet cuisine. Just relax and make the most of the heritage and gastronomy of Burgundy.

Activities include wine tasting, history and heritage, gastronomy, cycling, swimming, fishing, wildlife and horseback riding.

WIN!

For only R50 you could take part in a lucky draw and win a trip on Le Boat, Europe’s No. 1 boating holiday company with canal routes in France, England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Simply buy a ticket via SnapScan at https://thesocialmix.org/le-boat. Don’t forget to use the special promo code TSM-LB19.

For more information visit www.leboat.com or contact leboat@thesocialmix.org.

All proceeds of the competition will be raised for funding of the Fête de la Musique music festival in Pretoria, taking place on 8 June.

Fête de la Musique, also known as Make Music Day or World Music Day, is a music festival which started in Paris, France in 1982, and is now celebrated annually in more than 120 countries and 700 cities. Pretoria will be part of this international phenomenon on 8 June at the Old East Village in Hazelwood. Anybody who makes music in any form, is invited to participate (play or sing) freely on stages and in the street. Everybody performs for free and the festival is free of charge for all visitors. For more information or to be considered to play on the main stages see www.thesocialmix.org/fetedelamusique

Competition closes on 29 July 2019.