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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
8 DAYS
COMFORT
STYLE
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • 7 day/6 night barge trip in France on the Canal de la Marne au Rhin and the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, through Alsace- Lorraine, one of the most picturesque regions in France.
  • Stay in comfortable accommodations on board our elegant, privately chartered hotel-barge, exploring the “soul” of the region from our “floating country inn.”
  • Bike, hike, and enjoy motor and walking excursions into famous cities and towns of the region (Strasbourg, Colmar, Saverne) full of renowned art and architecture (Chagall windows and Sarrebourg chapel), plus cultural exploration.
  • Ride on the famous “Arzviller” barge lift, which raises our barge 52 meters.
  • Feast on gourmet regional cuisine, exquisite 4-course dinners, superb wines and wine tastings, and experience caring service.
  • Come early to Paris or extend your trip to explore the “City of Light.”
  • Celebrate AdventureWomen's 30th Anniversary at our Farewell Dinner!
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Hiking
Other: Local Culture & Cuisine, Photography, sightseeing, wine tasting, bicycle, Walking Tour
$3995USD
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
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Applies to Departures Between:
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A French Toast: River Cruising by Barge in Alsace-Lorraine

Discover eastern France's Alsace-Lorraine region on a French barge cruise, and capture the true essence of the local French lifestyle, culture, cuisine and wine tasting from our floating hotel. Cruise on the Rhine-Marne Canal that connects with the Rhine River and the Rhône River in eastern France.
Discover eastern France's Alsace-Lorraine region on a French barge cruise, and capture the true essence of the local French lifestyle, culture, cuisine and wine tasting from our floating hotel. Cruise on the Rhine-Marne Canal that connects with the Rhine River and the Rhône River in eastern France.

Welcome to the wonderful world of European river cruising! In France, rivers and canals flow from bustling cities to quaint hamlets, linking towns and villages. Follow these waterways and you encounter a quieter, more relaxed side of Europe. A river cruise by barge in France is a very special way to discover the heart of this elegant and historic country, gliding through the French countryside at 2-4 miles per hour, allowing plenty of time to experience the local culture, tastes, and vistas you would miss by any other form of travel. A barge towpath runs alongside the canal, giving us the option to walk or bicycle between the river’s locks, or stay on board and watch the world go by as the scenery in the French countryside changes with every bend in the waterway. You will love cycling in France, exploring nearby villages and seeing the country at your own pace, or ride the towpath alongside our barge, which stops at locks along the way. Barging in France on a European river cruise is the graceful way of life that seems long forgotten to us today. 

Each day on our barge tour in France brings a new guided shore excursion via our air conditioned bus. Amble through cobblestone streets of French medieval villages where time seems to stand still; visit private castles with magnificent gardens; go wine tasting in French vineyards and visit world historical sites that remind us of the depth and importance of France’s cultural heritage. Cruising by barge in France, discover the light that gave life to the French impressionist paintings of the 1800s; witness the stunning mountain scenery of the Vosges Mountains, and be carried in our barge up (or down, depending on our route) by the spectacular Arzviller hydraulic lift which enables the Marne-Rhine Canal to pass through the Vosges mountains. 

 Newly renovated, our elegant barge accommodates twenty-two AdventureWomen in twin cabins, all with outside-facing, picture windows which open to the outside (or allow for air-conditioning), and bathrooms with private shower. Tastefully decorated, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon and bar, and separate dining room. Experienced bilingual French-English speaking crew provide highly personalized service. 

We dine on authentic French cuisine and gourmet meals prepared by French chefs trained in some of the finest culinary schools: they are true artists, excelling day after day with delicious meals created from fresh foods, delivered directly to our vessel. Carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards, we will taste over 20 different wines served with lunch and dinner. After finishing one meal on our river cruise in France, you will already be looking forward to the next! 

It doesn't get any better than this, so join AdventureWomen on our "official" 30th anniversary “French Toast” celebration – a river cruise by barge! Ooo-la-la!
DAY 1: Depart the USA for Your Overnight Flight to Paris
Depart the USA for Your Overnight Flight to Paris
DAY 2: Arrive Paris and Take the Train to Strasbourg to Meet the Barge
This morning you’ll arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and transfer to the train station at the airport for your direct TGV train to the Strasbourg Train Station. Or, if you arrived a few days early and have spent time in Paris, you will depart Paris from the train station at the Paris Gare de L’Est Train Station to Strasbourg. Meet at the front door of the Strasbourg Station at 4:45 pm. The boat crew will be there to transfer us to the barge, moored in Krafft. You will be welcomed aboard and meet the crew while your bags are delivered to your cabin. Following a welcome drink and orientation you will have a short time to relax before our first gourmet dinner aboard the boat.
Lodging Hotel Barge
Description Our elegant barge is newly renovated and accommodates 22 AdventureWomen in 11 twin cabins, all with outside facing, opening picture windows (or air-conditioning), bathrooms with private shower, wardrobe, shelves, bookshelf, and reading lamp. Tastefully decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass, and complimented by lovely fabrics, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Experienced bilingual crew provide highly personalized service. Of course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.” We dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in France: they are culinary artists, excelling day after day with meals created from fresh foods supplied by the finest wholesale food purveyors and delivered directly to our vessel. After finishing one meal, you will already be looking forward to the next! Who said that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?” The complimentary wines that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards. During our week onboard we will enjoy 22 different wines served at lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. They gracefully compliment each meal and bring about a feeling of well being and contentment which will linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with friends, old and new.
DAY 3: Krafft to Strasbourg, with an Excursion to Colmar and Private Winetasting
A journey through Alsace-Lorraine, perhaps the most picturesque province in France, is a voyage of endless discoveries: art and architecture, gourmet food and wine, history and heritage. The backdrop is the Vosges mountains dotted here and there with turreted castles, and picture book villages with their brilliant displays of petunias and geraniums. 

After breakfast we begin cruising toward Strasbourg on the Canal duRhone au Rhin, a peaceful waterway that has seen little use since the building of the Grand Canal d’Alsace (the canalization of the Rhine) in the 1950s. Before lunch we board our air conditioned coach to Colmar, renowned for its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings,13th-century collegiate church, and the waterside Little Venice district. We’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Colmar, feasting on one of the specialties of the region, then have some free time to explore. We’llstop at the Unterlinden Museum, famous for its Renaissance art and home to the “Issenheim Altarpiece.” We’ll return to the barge, now moored in Strasbourg, through the famous “Route Des Vins,” a small road running at the base of the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, parallel to the Rhine, and through the famous vineyards of Alsace. We pause in picturesque medieval Riquewihr for a wine tasting of local vintages and souvenir shopping before returning to the barge.
Lodging Hotel Barge
Description Our elegant barge is newly renovated and accommodates 22 AdventureWomen in 11 twin cabins, all with outside facing, opening picture windows (or air-conditioning), bathrooms with private shower, wardrobe, shelves, bookshelf, and reading lamp. Tastefully decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass, and complimented by lovely fabrics, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Experienced bilingual crew provide highly personalized service. Of course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.” We dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in France: they are culinary artists, excelling day after day with meals created from fresh foods supplied by the finest wholesale food purveyors and delivered directly to our vessel. After finishing one meal, you will already be looking forward to the next! Who said that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?” The complimentary wines that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards. During our week onboard we will enjoy 22 different wines served at lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. They gracefully compliment each meal and bring about a feeling of well being and contentment which will linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with friends, old and new.
DAY 4: Strasbourg to Hochfelden, the Beginning of our Cruise into the Heart Of Alsace
This morning we cast off early and cruise during breakfast toward Strasbourg center. We enter the heart of Strasbourg and pass through the commercial docks before leaving the city to the north, passing by the ultra modern buildings of the European Parliament. Here we disembark for a guided walking tour of the principal sights of Strasbourg, with its cobblestone streets and timber houses. The unique beauty of the picturesque “Petite France” riverside district is magnificent. The remarkable cathedral of Notre Dame, whose construction spread over five centuries from the Romanesque choir to the flamboyant gothic spire, is a highlight. We then continue cruising to the village of Hochfelden and our mooring for the night. 

During the day, there is ample opportunity to walk between locks on the tow path or to bicycle into nearby villages.
Lodging Hotel Barge
Description Our elegant barge is newly renovated and accommodates 22 AdventureWomen in 11 twin cabins, all with outside facing, opening picture windows (or air-conditioning), bathrooms with private shower, wardrobe, shelves, bookshelf, and reading lamp. Tastefully decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass, and complimented by lovely fabrics, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Experienced bilingual crew provide highly personalized service. Of course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.” We dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in France: they are culinary artists, excelling day after day with meals created from fresh foods supplied by the finest wholesale food purveyors and delivered directly to our vessel. After finishing one meal, you will already be looking forward to the next! Who said that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?” The complimentary wines that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards. During our week onboard we will enjoy 22 different wines served at lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. They gracefully compliment each meal and bring about a feeling of well being and contentment which will linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with friends, old and new.
DAY 5: Hochfelden to Saverne. Taste French Beers!
This morning after breakfast we begin cruising, passing several typical Alsatian villages where ancient documents prove there was a brewery as early as 870 A.D. All Frenchbeer is brewed in Alsace. We will visit a small local brewery and sample some delicious Alsatian beer. This day provides us with excellent opportunities for walking and cycling (perhaps diverting to a bierstub to appreciate the product of a local brewery). Later, a delightful afternoon cruise brings us to the picturesque small town of Saverne.
Lodging Hotel Barge
Description Our elegant barge is newly renovated and accommodates 22 AdventureWomen in 11 twin cabins, all with outside facing, opening picture windows (or air-conditioning), bathrooms with private shower, wardrobe, shelves, bookshelf, and reading lamp. Tastefully decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass, and complimented by lovely fabrics, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Experienced bilingual crew provide highly personalized service. Of course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.” We dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in France: they are culinary artists, excelling day after day with meals created from fresh foods supplied by the finest wholesale food purveyors and delivered directly to our vessel. After finishing one meal, you will already be looking forward to the next! Who said that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?” The complimentary wines that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards. During our week onboard we will enjoy 22 different wines served at lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. They gracefully compliment each meal and bring about a feeling of well being and contentment which will linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with friends, old and new.
DAY 6: Saverne to Lutzelbourg: from Crystal to Ancient Ruins
Alsace has long been the crystal center of Europe. After breakfast we drive a short distance to visit a unique crystal factory to watch as glass comes out of the furnace and is turned into wonderful works of art. The real skill, however, is in the cutting. Professional crystal cutters go to school for 4 years and complete a 3 year apprenticeship. Beautiful pieces of crystal are still individually blown and fashioned by hand, and we will each have an opportunity to try our hand at the cutting wheel. 

Back on board our barge, we continue cruising into the beautiful town of Lutzelbourg, nestled in the Vosges mountains. In Lutzelbourg we explore the ruins of an old fortress and dozens of beautiful walking trails through the nearby hills. Bring your walking shoes, as there will be time to discover this canal-side city before dinner.
Lodging Hotel Barge
Description Our elegant barge is newly renovated and accommodates 22 AdventureWomen in 11 twin cabins, all with outside facing, opening picture windows (or air-conditioning), bathrooms with private shower, wardrobe, shelves, bookshelf, and reading lamp. Tastefully decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass, and complimented by lovely fabrics, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Experienced bilingual crew provide highly personalized service. Of course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.” We dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in France: they are culinary artists, excelling day after day with meals created from fresh foods supplied by the finest wholesale food purveyors and delivered directly to our vessel. After finishing one meal, you will already be looking forward to the next! Who said that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?” The complimentary wines that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards. During our week onboard we will enjoy 22 different wines served at lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. They gracefully compliment each meal and bring about a feeling of well being and contentment which will linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with friends, old and new.
DAY 7: Lutzelbourg to Xouxange, with a Visit to the Petite Chapel and Chagall’s Windows
We begin our morning cruise by entering the steep-sided valley of the River Zorn to the famous inclined plane of Arzwiller, a highlight of our cruise. Here, the boat enters a lock and the lock itself is moved from one level to the next, transporting us up nearly 150 feet to the Marne to Rhine Canal. The crew and passengers all stay on board. This takes the place of 17 locks and hours of passing through many locks! 

We then cruise through a cutting and two tunnels under the peak of the Vosges mountains. We continue along the summit pound, the highest section of the Marne to Rhine canal. This section is 18 miles long with no locks, and it passes through the regional park of Lorraine, a nature reserve with numerous lakes and vast areas of woodland. The canal then begins its descent toward the plain of Lorraine through a series of locks, the first of which was built in the 1950s to replace a flight of seven of the original early 19th century locks. It has a drop of nearly fifty feet. 

This afternoon we drive to Sarrebourg and visit the chapel of the Cordelieres to see the beautiful stained glass window created by the artist Marc Chagall. Arriving at the peaceful little village of Xouaxange, we return to the barge for our Gala Farewell Dinner and Adventure Women’s “official” 30th anniversary celebration!
Lodging Hotel Barge
Description Our elegant barge is newly renovated and accommodates 22 AdventureWomen in 11 twin cabins, all with outside facing, opening picture windows (or air-conditioning), bathrooms with private shower, wardrobe, shelves, bookshelf, and reading lamp. Tastefully decorated with a mix of beautiful wood and brass, and complimented by lovely fabrics, the barge features a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Experienced bilingual crew provide highly personalized service. Of course there is the serious pleasure of the “perfect gourmet.” We dine on meals prepared by chefs who were trained in some of the finest schools in France: they are culinary artists, excelling day after day with meals created from fresh foods supplied by the finest wholesale food purveyors and delivered directly to our vessel. After finishing one meal, you will already be looking forward to the next! Who said that “a day without wine is like a day without sunshine?” The complimentary wines that accompany both lunch and dinner are carefully selected from the vast choice of quality French vineyards. During our week onboard we will enjoy 22 different wines served at lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. They gracefully compliment each meal and bring about a feeling of well being and contentment which will linger as the evening unfolds and you sit and chat with friends, old and new.
Day 8: Farewell and Transfer to Paris by Train
This morning after breakfast we are transferred by coach back to the train station in Strasbourg, arriving before noon. Trains into the city of Paris depart beginning a little past noon, arriving in Paris at approximately 2:30 pm. If you are going directly to the airport, the train departs at noon and arrives at the airport about 2:40 pm. Please schedule your departure based on arrival times of the train, and check all train schedules for up to date times.
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Double-occupancy, fully air-conditioned twin cabin accommodations aboard the barge, including full bathroom and shower in each cabin.
  • Transportation from the Strasbourg Train Station to and from the barge.
  • All meals while on the barge, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last morning, including wine and beverages served with lunch and dinner. Certain of the more rare chateau-bottled vintage wines may be excluded.
  • Private coach transportation on daily sightseeing excursions with a guide and entrance fees.
  • Bilingual guide services throughout the trip.
  • The use of bicycles to ride on the towpaths.
  • Use of an onboard laptop computer for emails, since there are places along the route where cell service is not available. (A small charge is levied to cover costs of service.)
  • One AdventureWomen Associate, Susan L. Eckert, President and Founder of AdventureWomen, Inc.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Round trip airfare from the U.S. to Paris, and round trip train from Paris to Strasbourg.
  • Soft drinks, cocktails, after dinner drinks and any other beverages.
  • Optional hot air balloon excursion, booked separately with the balloon company but coordinated by the barge crew.
  • Gratuities for the barge crew (suggested tip of approximately $175 U.S. Dollars per participant). The crew and cooks provide superb service. They also serve as your guides, bus drivers and barge drivers.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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