Esperance cruising
Esperance living room
Houseboat 811 Capestang photo 2
Happy guests
Dining
Esperance hot tub
Cocktail time
White bedroom
Outside dining
Table setting
Cocktail time
Captain bedroom
Front bedroom
Esperance lunch
Overnight at le Somail
Dining
Esperance crew
Canal du Midi cruise
Dining onboard Esperance
Esperance private van
Cheese dish
Canal du Midi lock
Dining experience
Hotel barge Esperance dining room
Esperance private mooring
Esperance barge bathroom
Guided tour
Peaceful night on the canal

Peniche Barge Esperance Canal du Midi

Luxury Canal du Midi cruise on board an authentic barge fully air conditioned with 200 ft bedrooms

Excellent! 5/5 (3 reviews)

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.
Read more...

River cruise highlights

  1. Luxury hotel barge
  2. 200 ft2 ensuite bedrooms
  3. Hot tub on deck
  1. Fully air conditioned
  2. Private chef
  3. Private mercedes minivan

River cruise summary

Aboard the Esperance you will be charmed by the gentle tranquility of the Canal du Midi. This majestic waterway, classed as a World Heritage site by Unesco, offers a peaceful, romantic and timeless universe within which you will cherish every moment. Day trips allow you to discover the beauty of the surrounding area.


By choosing to travel on the Esperance you will experience the authenticity of the region, its heritage and its cultural diversity. The barge Esperance was formally built to carry wine between Bordeaux and Sete but she has preserved her original lines as well as her name.


The interior on the other hand has been redesigned as a private yacht with 3 en-suite bedrooms of 200 sq. ft, offering an incomparable level of quality and comfort. The layout is very spacious and very bright with lots of windows all around. 


The hand made furniture is built of solid teak and the barge is fully air conditioned. She can accommodate 6 guests and for you utmost comfort she comes with a hot tub on deck and a Mercedes minivan for the excursions. Esperance is proud to offer the largest bedrooms on the Canal du Midi and the largest sun deck.

River cruise description

Esperance is offered as a charter barge for 2 up to 6 guests with a crew of 4. Your stay will be organized based on a half- day of sailing and a half-day on a guided tour with a schedule dedicated to your comfort and built around your tastes and your expectations. Our company has been offering  cruises for the past 23 years and is very well known for her attention to details, warm hospitality and excellent guest feedback. Guests are also raving about our ever changing table settings and the excellent food provided by our personal chef. Esperance is the only barge with an extra covered outside cocktail area in the wheelhouse where you can join the captain and learn how to drive this impressive vessel.

 

 

 

 

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Details

Property type

Barge river cruise

Payment policy

25-75% or 50-50% or 100% (read more)

Cancellation policy

Security deposit

$3162

Check in/out time

Please, ask owner

Bedrooms

3 Bedrooms, 6 Sleeps

King size beds: 3

Bathrooms

Number of bathrooms: 3
Number of en-suite bathrooms: 3
Number of toilets: 3

Holiday type

Rural / countryside
Historic / sightseeing
Town / city
Family

Lake / riverside
Romantic
Sporting activities

Amenities

Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Microwave / oven
Toaster
Washing machine
Linen provided

Towels provided
Iron
Hair dryer
Beach towels provided
Dining table & chairs

Entertainment

Internet access
WiFi / internet

TV
Music system / CD player

Indoor facilities

Shower

Child /baby cot

Outdoor facilities

Jacuzzi / hot tub
Terrace / balcony

Sun loungers
Private swimming pool

Heating / cooling

Air conditioning
Central heating
Room fans

Electric fans
Oil heaters

Location

Panoramic views

General information

Free parking
No pets allowed

Smoking not allowed

Activities nearby

Swimminig / watersports
Walking / hiking
Horse riding
Golf

Fishing
Climbing
Cycling / mountain biking

Services

Tour guide
Transportation to and from airport
Maid service

Chauffers service
Entertainment for kids

Location

Houseboat owner

Mathias

I started to cruise at sea at the age of 13 doing charter in North Africa with my parents on our big sailing yacht. After a couple of years of intense cruising I arrived in the Nederlands were I bought my first barge at the age of 21 and used her as a fantastic living / cruising boat.

Holland was the perfect country for me to learn how to rebuild and work on barges. But after spending 8 years in the North I decided to take a 2 year barge trip, traveling thru Holland, Belgium and most of the French waterways.

During this trip I came across a beautiful barge in need of a total refit. After 2 years of hard work, the boat was ready for her first season as a hotel barge. Beside running my own hotel barge, I also was the captain of an exceptional private luxury barge: The Esperance.

I was very lucky to become the new owner of this wonderful boat and started to offer her as a unique charter barge 18 years ago. Since then I have been upgrading and redecorating (my other passion) the barge almost every year to keep her at the level of beauty and quality she deserves.

Response time
Normally within one hour
Language spoken
French, English, Dutch

3 Reviews - Peniche Barge Esperance Canal du Midi

Excellent! 5/5

  1. Jenic - the United States

    29 Jun

    The barge Esperance - heavenly!

    My family and I had the most wonderful time on the canal barge Esperance in June. We reserved all 3 cabins and were treated to the most fabulous 6 day trip along the Canal du Midi - hosted by owner Mathias and his crew Herve and David. We were met in Carcassonne for a quick drive to Homps where the beautiful boat was moored. Herve (who was not only the tour guide but the captain as well) was a true expert at area details, but was able to share his knowledge with lots of humor and charisma. Upon arrival, we had a champagne toast, settled in to our cabins, then met again on deck for the first of many 3-4 course gourmet meals prepared by David and served brilliantly by Mathias. The wines were excellent, and we were never far from a new bottle if we desired. The days were spent cruising slowly in the morning, having a walk, bike ride, reading, painting. Then we would stop for lunch (again, brilliantly prepared) before going on a field trip to a charming village and/or vineyard for the afternoon. While I was concerned that my family might feel the pace to be too slow, they all agreed the time flew by and they were more than occupied each day with adventures. We finished the trip near Beziers and left our new friends for our ride back to Toulouse-happy with our memories of a trip of a lifetime. I have been on two other wonderful barge trips in the Loire, and must say that the Canal du Midi is enchanting- as is the Esperance and her crew. We cannot thank Mathias enough (he really needs to be on TV with a travel show- so charismatic!) for his hospitality and kindness. Do not hesitate to book a trip on this barge if you have the chance, there is simply no way that you could be disappointed!

  2. The Smith Group - the United States

    18 Oct

    Wonderful trip on the Canal du Midi

    We cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful trip on the Canal du Midi. You, Herve, David and Stephanie made the trip so special and I feel like I left with four new friends. Your barge is lovely and the accommodations were great. We all had such a good time just slowing our pace down and enjoying the wonderful landscape as we floated by while drinking wine and eating wonderful gourmet meals. It was a trip to remember and I know I will pass on your name and the barge information to many friends and hope they will take advantage of this wonderful passage of time like we did.

  3. Ramzi - England

    15 May

    This barge is incredible!

    The barge is incredible. As we kept mentioning, you have not missed anything. Every room, bathroom, seating area, upper deck is warm and comfortable. I can’t think of one thing you haven’t provided. I am in awe of the tabletop combinations you have and how you manage to store them. The dishware and glassware (plus multiple napkin folding) make every meal special. All these are things and add to the atmosphere but mainly, your humor and easy manner and willingness to share your experiences make for a perfect host!

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