A myriad of rivers and canals offer over 8,000 km of navigable waterways for pleasure boating. In some picturesque circumstances, the canal may span over a highway and you might be able to observe, from down below, a boat navigating atop a Roman aqueduct. You can rent a houseboat, a small barge, big enough to hold a large family and a few friends, or signup for a cruse with proper cabins and top notch service.
Information on where to find a boat, as well as a little summary of the area you wish to visit, is available for the following regions: Alsace, Burgundy, the Rhône Delta (Camargue), the Loire valley, the South of France, the Central, Western and Eastern regions.
Usually, operators specialize in specific areas such as Ring Tours in the South of France and Croisi-Europe in Alsace and Germany, but a comprehensive list of operators provided by Maison de la France should be consulted before making a selection. Vacances Provençales Vacations can organize water trips in almost all parts of France. European Waterways proposes Deluxe hotel barges for touring in almost all parts of France in grand style. Jerry Van Dyke Tour is no stranger to grand style either and offers a luxurious visit of Paris from a hotel barge as well as a number of tours to other destinations. If you wish to remain in the Paris region, you can also arrange to charter a boat.
Some operator like to mix activities. French Country Waterways, for example, proposes barge and hot air ballooning.
If you wish to go about it on your own and want to hire a boat you can obtain brochures and information by mail from the organization that represents boat operators:
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