m.touch travel

Nymphea

Loire Valley

 

Cruise Highlights

• Cruise under the famed Chateau de Chenonceau

• Visit a Troglodyte cave dwelling and see the silkworm nursey

• Excursion to the Chateaud Amboise

• Private wine tasting at Montrichard & Civray

• Chateau visit to Valency or Blois

• Optional Ballooning

Special Interest Cruises on Request

Boat Features

• 80 Feet Long

• 6 Passengers

• 3 British Crew

• 2 Twin Staterooms

• 1 Twin Dbl. Staterooms

• Air Conditioned Saloon

• Central Heating

• 16 Touring Bikes

• Bus with A/C

Boat Design

boat map

Cuisine Aboard

Regional Specialities
• Filet Mignon de Veau à la Bière et Moutarde
• Selle d'Agneau au Romarin
• Saumon et Friture

Wine Cellar
• St. Nicholas de Bourgeuil
• L'Alliance des Generations
• Sancerre
• Vouvray

Cheese Board
• Valancay
• St. Maure de Touraine
• Selles sur Cher

Testimonials

"We have recently returned from a holiday on La Belle Epoque and felt that we must write to compliment your Company on the quality and service you have delivered. Martin Pocock and his staff, Rachael, Dean, Georgina and latterly Guy cannot be praised too highly. They all played their respective parts in making our holiday happy and truly memorable. "

"We just returned from a fabulous week aboard La Belle Epoque. The crew was wonderful, and made our trip so pleasant! Our hostesses, Lynn and Barbara were so pleasant to be around and took such good care of us. The chef, Guy prepared wonderful meals with a wonderful variety of regional tastes.

We really appreciated that he kept the meals fairly light (I didn't even gain a pound!). Our first mate/tour guide Nick Jones was delightful and very knowledgeable and capable. He made us feel very at home. Finally, our captain, Leigh Wooton was just wonderful. He welcomed us aboard with open arms and made us feel safe while keeping us entertained.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and we have sent many people that we ran into in Paris to your web site for more info."

 

Details

Gastronomy

gastronomy
A delicious trip

BREAKFAST: Breakfast is usually continental with fresh breads, pasties, jams, fruit, cereals, yoghurts, fruit juices, regular and decaffeinated coffee and tea.

LUNCH: Luncheons are buffets of colourful salads, pates and cold meats that may be accompanied by hot soup or entrée, delectable desserts and a different selection of regional cheeses and wines daily

DINNER: Always a gastronomic adventure by our talented chef. A taste of regional cuisine by candlelight. Harmonizing food and good wines from the best vineyards. Followed by a selection of regional cheeses. Coffee and liqueurs served in the saloon. Non-alcoholic beverages and regular or decaffeinated tea and coffee, whole or low fat milk, are offered with all meals.

Captain's Dinner: Captain’s dinner on the last night. Dress slightly formal.

Special Food Requirements: Special food requirements (such as vegetarian or allergies) are catered for if requested in advance. Please give as much advance notice as possible – preferably 8 weeks prior to the cruise departure at least.

Drinks which are included: There is an open bar on board with alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks available 24 hours a day. Champagne and Special vintage wines are not included although you may purchase bottles at cost of Champagne and Premier and Grand Cru wines on board if you let us know in advance how many of each you would require

 

Leisure & Entertainment

Leisure in the Loire
On and Off Board

ON BOARD
6 person Jacuzzi heated to 40 degrees
Hi Fi system and compact discs. Guests are welcome to bring their favourite compact discs from home
Boules
8 touring bikes: 4 Dawes AT Bikes, 2 ladies AT bikes and 2 larger AT bikes. 18 speed. Children’s bikes and child bike seats can be arranged if required. Please let us know at least 8 weeks prior to departure.
Board games etc
A small library of books
Binoculars for watching the bird life

CYCLING
Passengers are welcome to walk or cycle using the on board bicycles as often as they like. Most people choose to disembark the barge at a lock and then visit local villages and then return to the canal and meet the barge a little further along. The barge travels very slowly and therefore “catch up” will not be a problem. .

HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
We are afraid that the region Anjodi cruises in is not suitable for hot air ballooning mainly because there are so many vineyards, which means a hot air balloon would have trouble landing.

EXCURSIONS BY MINIBUS
9-seater (including driver) long wheelbase VW Caravelle minibus - air-conditioned.

EXCURSIONS FOR CHARTER GROUPS
If you are chartering, the itinerary can be adapted to suit your group’s particular needs. If the excursion is within a reasonable distance of the barge we will do everything we can to arrange it. Please advise our office in advance and the Captain can be informed.

FOR THOSE NOT WISHING TO ATTEND EXCURSIONS
You are welcome to stay behind on the barge if you would like. You can use the bikes, go for a walk or just sit on the shaded sundeck or Jacuzzi

Golf Charter - $500 per golfer supplement – Available for Charter Groups only

Walking Charter - $3000 per charter supplement – Available for Charter Groups only
(The supplement includes the services of a professional Walking guide throughout the cruise)

Wine Charter - $3000 per charter supplement – Available for Charter Groups only.
(The supplement includes the services of a professional wine guide throughout the cruise and an upgrade to the wine list on board, to include some Premier and Grand Cru wines)

 

Groups and Agents

100% customer satisfaction is our aim so if you have a special request, just contact us and we will be pleased to help you.

We have more than 40 vehicles with the latest active and passive safety measures to provide comfortable and efficient Transfers

We can create Tours based on practically any theme and any budget. We can also book hotel and chateau accommodation for any size party.

Departures:

Sundays May 11- Oct 19

Prices - State Room
Regular Season: 2,700€ pp

Note: Rates include TGV train tickets Paris - Saint Pierre des Corps - Paris

an arrowCheck Availability
chenonceau
living room
a bedroom in the barge
chenonceau aerial
chenonceau garden
outside church
inside church

Nymphea • 6 Nights • Nitray in the Loire Valley

The 6 passenger Nymphea is a classic Dutch design with shallow draft and is ideal for navigating the incredibly beautiful yet somewhat sandy reaches of the river Cher in the Loire Valley.

Refitted throughout, her traditional ship interior features a warm classic decor of rich varnished hardwoods, stained glass and a welcoming country house atmosphere
Nymphea has three comfortable cabins providing two twin bedded state- rooms and one twin or double stateroom with en-suite facilities. Her crew of Captain, Chef and Tour Guide are most knowledgeable about the history in this beautiful area, , and are excellent hosts for your luxury cruise along the river Cher in the Loire valley.

ITINIRARY

Sunday, Day 1

Azay sur Cher to Moulin de Nitray
You are met at 4.30 pm at the TGV railway station at St Pierre des Corps and transferred to Nymphea where a Champagne Welcome awaits you. Cruise upstream to our mooring opposite the 17th century Moulin de Nitray. Dinner aboard

Monday, Day 2

Moulin de Nitray to Bléré
A morning cruise through two locks takes us to the quaint town of Bléré where we moor for lunch. Afternoon excursion to Chateau D'Amboise and the Clos Lucé, Leonardo Da Vinci's home. Dinner aboard

Tuesday, Day 3

Bléré to Chissay en Touraine
A short stroll over the bridge to admire the colourful street market in Bléré. Morning cruise to Civray de Touraine where an optional short cycle ride takes us to Les Caves de Père Auguste for a wine tasting. After lunch we cruise under the 5 arch bridge of the impressive Chateau de Chenonceau and moor at Chisseaux. From there we depart by minibus to visit the Chateau. Early evening cruise to the village of Chissay en Touraine. Dinner aboard

Wednesday, Day 4

Chissy en Touraine to St Aignan
An early start sees the Nymphea tackling the upper reaches of the navigable Cher, arriving at St Aignan, the head of navigation where we moor in the shadow of the castle. An afternoon excursion is made either to Blois with its chateau, Musée de la Résistance and cosmopolitan shopping streets, or the Chateau de ValenVay, with its renowned gardens. Dinner ashore in a local hostelry

Thursday, Day 5

St Aignan to Montrichard
After a chance to stroll the old centre of St Aignan, we cruise downstream to the hamlet of Bourreé. A short walk from the lock takes us to one of the more unusual dwellings in the Loire Valley, La Magnaneraie. The Coquillat family have grown up in this hillside troglodyte habitation, which has been in turn wine cellar, quarry for the tuffeau stone, and lastly a silkworm nursery. Returning to the barge we cruise to Montrichard where we moor for the night. Before supper we visit the local vineyard of the Meriau family, to taste the regional Touraine vintages. Dinner aboard

Friday, Day 6

Montrichard to Nitray
Following breakfast, a short stroll takes us to the heart of Montrichard, into the midst of one of the largest weekly street markets in Touraine. There is much to explore at the 12th century Chateau of Foulques Nerra overlooking the mediaeval town square. After an early lunch, Nymphea sets off downstream again, for another passage under Chenonceau and arrives at the hamlet of Nitray in time to visit the Chateau and rose garden of Nitray. Enjoy a pre-Captains dinner aperitif from their vineyards. Captains Dinner aboard

Saturday, Day 7

Return to Paris
After breakfast disembark and transfer by minibus to St Pierre des Corps Station in time for the 09.30 TGV to Paris.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change

 
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