Self-drive boating holiday France canals

Newbie? What are self-drive
boating holidays?
Read our introduction,
view our video and
get the information!

ALL ABOUT SELF-DRIVE

Why take a Self-Drive Boating Holiday In France?

It’s simply an ideal way to explore and experience the pleasures and treasures that the  waterways in France have to offer. Hire boats come in different designs and sizes – to suit a couple, a family or you and your group of friends – and your holiday can be booked with any of the reputable companies to be found here.

  • Hundreds of boats to choose from
  • Thousands of kilometres of canals to explore
  • You’re in charge of when and where you stop
  • Perfect for ‘absolute beginners’ – no qualifications required!
  • Great for couples, families, groups – and pets!

See also take your dog on a self-drive boating holiday and cruises for young people

A selection of 3 holidays from 347,375 available

Calypso (6+2) by LeBoatFrom
6 729€
15% off!
LeBoat

Calypso (6+2)

Departure: 28 Jun 2024
Length: 14 nights
Destinations: Trèbes → Castelnaudary
Size: 3 cabins
Class:
Sedan Primo by NicolsFrom
794€
30% off!
Nicols

Sedan Primo

Departure: 12 Apr 2024
Length: 7 nights
Destinations: Port Lauragais
Size: 1 cabins
Class:
Pénichette Classique 935 W by Locaboat HolidaysFrom
3 098€
25% off!
Locaboat Holidays

Pénichette Classique 935 W

Departure: 23 Aug 2024
Length: 14 nights
Destinations: Saint Leger Sur Dheune
Size: 1 cabins
Class:
Alsace France canals boating holiday hotel barge cruise Strasbourg

Alsace ~ Strasbourg

Savour the unique Franco-German culture of North-East France

Alsace

Burgundy Loire France canals boating holiday hotel barge cruise Nivernais

Burgundy N.~Nivernais~Loire

A network of wonderful waterways amidst fabulous scenery

Burgundy N ~ Loire

Burgundy France canals boating holiday Dijon

Burgundy S. ~ Dijon ~ Saone

The stunning Ouche Valley, the wide river Saone . . and wine!

Burgundy S ~ Saone

Brittany France canals boating Josselin

Brittany ~ Anjou

Unspoilt countryside, picturesque towns and craggy castles.

Brittany ~ Anjou

Aquitaine France canals boating hotel barge cruise Agen

Aquitaine ~ Charente

The special South-West, Bordeaux, gastronomy and grapes

Aquitaine ~ Charente

Canal du Midi France canals boating holiday

Midi ~ Languedoc

Unique. World renowned. World heritage. Justly famous.

Canal du Midi

Provence France canals boating cruise

Camargue ~ Mediterranean

Here comes the sun. Camargue and blue Mediterranean

Camargue

Boat Hire in France: The Best Holiday Experiences

There are plenty of self-drive hire boats available throughout France, with sizes and configurations to suit all kinds of guests.

Couples self-drive hire boating France canals

Boats for small families

Just for two or more in one or two cabins

1 – 2 Cabin Boats

Families self-drive hire boating France canals

Boats for larger families

For parents, children – and grandparents!

3 Cabin Boats

Groups self-drive hire boating France canals

Boats for Groups

Up to 12 friends can share a fantastic holiday

4 + Cabin Boats

The Self Drive Boats Fleet

Do you need previous experience or qualifications? No!
You’ll be given whatever guidance you need before you set out.

              • Simple controls, rather like driving a car
              • Basic waterways ‘rules of the road’
              • Boats are in immaculate condition, well-equipped and well-maintained
              • Ready to drive away from the hire-boat base of your choice
              • Choose an A to B or do a ‘there-and-back’ trip
              • Take your family dog, too
              • Choose your destination, find your perfect boat and book with our
                trusted boating holiday providers.
Luxury self-drive hire boating France canals

Luxury Self-Drive Boats

The best boats, from all the fleets
from £1,250 per week

5✮ Luxury Boats

First Class self-drive hire boating France canals

First Class Self-Drive Boats

High quality boats, from all the fleets
from £900 per week

4✮ First Class Boats

Economy self-drive hire boating France canals

Economy Self-Drive Boats

Great value boats, from all the fleets
from £550 per week

3✮ Economy Boats

Our Partners in France

We’ve partnered with the best four self-drive fleets to offer a huge range of boats
of all styles, sizes and price-points. Each fleet has its own bases placed along the canals throughout France.

France Afloat barge self-drive boating holiday France canals

France Afloat

A smaller fleet with excellent boats above: the barge-style Euroclassic

France Afloat

Locaboat penichette self-drive boating holiday France canals

Locaboat

Distinctive boats (incl. Linssen) above the excellent Penichette

Locaboat

Nicols self-drive boating holiday France canals

Nicols

A wide range, including above ‘Sedan’ walk-through aft deck types

Nicols

Le Boat self-drive boating holiday France canals

Le Boat

The biggest fleet, with a wide range of sizes and styles of boat

Le Boat

FAQs about Self-Drive Boat Hire In France

Where can I cruise on a self-drive hire boat?

Almost anywhere! There are over a hundred hire boat bases throughout France that each keep a (limited) number of differently-sized boats for couples, families and groups. The major rivers, however, are out of bounds – the Seine (including Paris), the Rhine, Rhone and the Gironde – because they are too busy with commercial traffic or have strong currents or tides.

Can I take a one-way cruise? If so, how do I get back to my car?

Hire boat bases are usually one-week’s cruise apart so it is often possible to start at base A and leave your boat a week later at base B. Hire-boat companies may offer to return you to your car after your cruise, or bring your car to you. Shorter cruises will require that you return to base A.

What's included in the price of hiring the boat?

When you collect your boat it will be freshly cleaned and set up with a gas bottle, a full tank of diesel and a full tank of water to last your week. It will also have a fully fitted kitchen – the luxury boats are modern and very high-spec – and all bedding required. A full list of extras will be supplied with your booking form, so you can purchase additional items such as cleaning kit, bar-b-cue and bikes to carry on board.

This will be our first time. Is it easy to drive a hire-boat?

Yes, but it’s not quite like a car. Steering may require a few complete turns of the wheel in order to head in the direction you want and some boats have a joy stick. Some boats also have a bow and stern thruster to assist movement sideways. Don’t worry, instruction is given before you set off. Travel by boat on the canals is s-l-o-w and speeding destroys not only your peaceful holiday but the canal banks too. We recommend that the ladies drive the boat and the men do the rope work; techniques develop with practice but the latter requires more physical strength.


Our Unique Expertise – France, Cruising the Waterways and Self-Drive Boating
We’ve explored the rivers and canals of France on our own boat since 2003, logging up over 10,000km along most waterways, in most regions, at all times of year.
Independent, impartial and enthusiastic, we have personally visited and know every fleet and many of their boats published here.

Popular French Self-Drive Boat Routes

Delve into the different regions to discover more about each destination’s opportunities.

The concentrated richness of scenery, history, culture, leisure and pleasure is such that even just a few weeks spent voyaging the canals and rivers of one small part of France is an experience you’ll never forget. Such a variety of places and scenes, such a variety of different waterways to explore and people to make friends with.

France has an amazing 8,000 km (5,000 miles) of wonderful navigable rivers and canals. Cruising at a leisurely speed of 5km an hour, with days spent exploring all the fascinating places along the way, means many happy holidays waiting for you ahead!

Looking for inspiration?