4 to 6 night half-board ecological cruise through the Somme Region departing from Amiens
We will cruise the beautiful Canal de la Somme and arrange visits to the battlefields, war cemeteries and memorials closely<br> connected to the river and canal.
BOOKA CARE
- Your money is safe, we pay your host 2 days after check-in.
- 100% refund in the unlikely event the host cancels.
- Changing booking details is always free.
- Access to urgent phone line during your booking.
- Book Co2 positive, we compensate 3 times more than we emit.
River trip highlights
- Enjoy the wonderful unspoilt nature of the canal.
- Unwind on the boat’s two sundecks.
- Visit some of the many WW1 memorials along the canal.
- Learn about the French canals and their locks.
- Sample the region’s many gastronomic specialities.
- Visit picturesque villages seen from a different angle.
River trip summary
WHAT WE WILL DO DURING THE CRUISE;
- The Canal de la Somme no longer has any commercial traffic, neither potatoes nor grain.
- The fact that the river Somme enters and leaves the canal at irregular intervals means that there is suddenly additional current and the risk of silting up in various places, which makes it impossible for heavily loaded barges to navigate.
- The local authorities, however, have since 2010 done a major job in furthering canal tourism and keeping the locks and weirs in pristine conditions.
- The gentle navigation will bring total peace of mind and ample chances of observing flora and fauna as the ship advances at only 6 km/h, - pure relaxation!
- The ship’s folding bikes are of course at the disposal of the more energetic guests for cycling on the towpath or discovering the villages and war memorials a little away from the waterway.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CHARTER PRICE;
- Exclusive use of the barge for your group (max. 4 persons)
- Half-board: breakfast buffets and lunch buffets reflecting local gastronomy
- A “Captain’s Dinner”
- All beverages underway
- Use of the ship's 4 folding bikes and helmets, at your own risk
- Tourist brochures and guides for sightseeing excursions, use of the ship’s WI-FI
- No stress, the captains will handle the boat, provide the food and the domestic logistics.
- However, the guests are requested to take responsibility for their own cabin and bathroom during their stay.
- The final cleaning of the guest area
- All taxes, fuel and mooring charges
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CHARTER PRICE;
- Transport to and from the boat
- Sightseeing fees
- Dinners at local restaurants
- Your personal Liability, Property, Medical and Travel Insurance.
River trip description
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Location
How to get there
BY CAR;
- Amiens, 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris by motorway
- It can be reached through the motorways A16, that connects Amiens to the Greater Paris region and the ports on the North Sea.
- Or through the motorways A29, that now connects Amiens with Normandy (Rouen and Le Havre) and the East of France (Reims).
- Or the motorway A1, that connects Amiens to the Eastern Greater Paris region via the A29 trunk.
BY TRAIN;
- Amiens is 1 hour from Paris (more than 20 daily return trips).
- The high-speed TGV train station of Haute Picardie is just 20 minutes away, but you need a taxi to get from the station to Amiens city.
- You can book your train ticket on the SNCF Website.
BY PLANE;
- Amiens is near the (110 km) international Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
- In addition, thanks to the A16 motorway, Amiens is close (50 km) to the international Beauvais-Tillé airport.
About the area
- They say the river Somme is the backbone of the department, crossing it from east to west. This could also apply to the city of Amiens. The majestic river is the spine of the city, irrigating its different districts.
- Along the Quai Bélu, it flows past the terraces of restaurants in the Saint-Leu district. In the Hortillonnages it transports market gardeners and tourists in their boats, surrounding the plots of fertile soil and creating a multitude of little islets.
- At the Saint-Ladre lakes, the river becomes a marsh, home to an extraordinarily rich eco-system.
- Along the banks of the Saint-Maurice district, in Saint-Pierre Park at Dreuil, it borders the towpath, a paradise for joggers and roller-bladers.
River trip owner
Bente
We (Bente and Kurt, of Danish nationality) built the barge in the Netherlands in 2006, and since 2007 we have cruised 19,153 km, passed through 4,661 locks and innumerable tunnels, boat lifts, aqueducts and mobile bridges (as per August 30, 2019).
We still love this peaceful life afloat and invite you to join us and enjoy the amazing network of canals and rivers in Europe.
In 2020 we will again be underway in France and enjoy the Champagne region with its spectacular vineyards (and the wine), but may also spend some time on the beautiful Canal de la Somme with its unspoiled nature and interesting historical sites. This true gem really has captured our hearts.