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Canal Trips Boat

Canal Trips

Try Canal Holidays in Europe

OK, you’re thinking, how is this an adventure?

canal boat in England Well, suppose you traveled the canals as captain of your own boat? One of the great things about a canal cruise is you can pick your country:  France, England, Germany, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Italy and Scotland all offer opportunities for self-captained water travel.  In fact, so many European countries have inland waterways that can be traveled by boat that the longest cruise possible is from the English Channel all the way to the Black Sea.  Perhaps you’ve been to some of these places. The popular European pastime of taking “canal holidays” is entirely different, offering a look at the residents as they live and the countryside up close.  The inland waterways are storehouses of history served up with a lot of local color.

canal boat in locks in Europe Canal cruising is pretty much an all-inclusive activity that will ensure a good night’s sleep.  Some agility and strength is needed to handle the lines at locks or when mooring on these barge trips.  So, think of the journey as the destination.  Many rental firms will rent you bicycles and helmets to allow for some land excursions and if fishing is one of your passions, there will be plenty of opportunities to indulge.

Choose your route carefully.  Do you really hate the idea of locks?  If so, look for a lake adventure or a route with few locks—they do exist.  Not so keen on handling the locks yourself?  Pick a continental European route where locks are mostly manned.  One delightful possibility in spring is to see the tulips in bloom in Holland from a canal boat.  You can see the fields in their glory from early April through mid-May along with neat Dutch towns like Haarlem, Delft and Gouda.  France offers many routes to choose from.  In Burgundy, you can travel the well-known Canal du Nivernais and Canal de Bourgogne.  Along with the boating, you get wine, gourmet food, and medieval villages.  Steeped in history, the Thames winds its way through incredible English countryside offering history, riverside pubs and gardens, and a whole new way to experience London and the surrounding area.  One caveat, unlike canals where you can tie up anywhere along the towpath by hammering a stake in the ground, river cruises require stopping at official moorage, which may mean a fee.

canal trip boat in Amsterdam Wherever you choose, you may get hooked on this way of travel.  If you’re intrigued by the idea of this slower-paced mode of travel, but intimidated at the idea of handling the boat, there are plenty of options for cruising while someone else does the driving, cooking, etc. from bargain to catered luxury trips.




Contact Information:

Canal Junction British Inland Waterways

Canal Boating What It’s Like

EuropeAfloat List of Boat Rental Firms

Book your barge trip today.  Contact our travel partner, Casto,  by calling +1-866-958-8687 or by sending them an Email.




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