How to Sail the Historic Canal du Midi in Style with French Waterways

French Waterways is unveiling a new voyage along the historic Canal du Midi in 2026 that combines luxury barge cruising with excursions through and above the Mediterranean countryside by vintage car and helicopter. The all-inclusive six-night charte

rs feature visits to medieval villages, private wine tastings, and gourmet meals prepared by a private chef. French Waterways will be offering charters aboard the Savannah from May through October with pricing starting at $32,000 for four guests and $39,000 for six.

“A Canal du Midi voyage on the Savannah truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Rosie Mansfield, CEO of French Waterways. “From serene cruising amid stunning nature and engineering marvels to private wine tastings and thrilling excursions like a fun-filled drive in a vintage car and a breathtaking helicopter flight, it’s the ultimate immersive escape. And the itinerary can be tailored to suit your family or group of friends, making it one of the most flexible in France.”

Guests will spend a week cruising the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi, known for its distinctive oval-shaped locks, aqueducts, and stone bridges, from La Redorte to Bram. Travelers will pass landscapes of villages, vineyards, wheat fields, and sunflowers.

Travelers can drive through the roads of the Languedoc-Roussillon region at the wheel of a vintage Citroën 2CV, or fly over sites such as the ruins of Château de Peyrepertuse and the Carcassonne citadel by helicopter.

The itinerary also includes privately guided excursions by chauffeured Mercedes Viano to destinations along the route. Guests will visit the quaint village of Minerve and a local vineyard for a private tasting with the winemaker. Perched on a rocky spur at the meeting of two valleys, the village is in the heart of the Minervois, where wines have been prized since Roman times.

Guests will be whisked to Narbonne, a Roman capital founded in 118 B.C., for exploration of the Via Domitia, Saint Just Cathedral and Episcopal Palace. The Savannah’s chef will then fashion a meal from local ingredients selected from Narbonne back on the barge.

There will be a stop in Carcassonne, which dates back to the Neolithic era. Travelers will ascend ramparts dating to Gallo-Roman times to the UNESCO-listed medieval citadel, then roam the 19th century bastide.

Additional excursions include the 17th century Château de Pennautier, set in formal gardens among vineyards where 10 generations of the Lorgeril family have lived and Mirepoix, a medieval town in the foothills of the Pyrenees known for its lively market, arcades and half-timbered houses.

The Savannah barge boasts a brightly colored exterior that matches its Mediterranean setting, three double cabins and a single cabin with ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning, and a spacious sun deck with shaded dining area, loungers and a spa pool.

Departures are available from either La Redorte or Bram, with transfers from Narbonne or Carcassonne included. For couples, the Savannah’s smaller sister ship, Amour, is also available for Canal du Midi cruises with the vintage Citroën 2CV drive and helicopter flight.