Rivers & Canals
1 700+ boats · april – october · The Canal du Midi, Burgundy, the Mecklenburg lakes and the Shannon — at walking pace, at your own helm.
Popular:
Houseboatwithout a captainMARINA FÜRSTENBERG6 guests / 3 cabins / 13.45 m
2025 · Pénichette Neo
from€2 373
week · without captain
Houseboatwithout a captainMARINA FÜRSTENBERG6 guests / 3 cabins / 13.45 m
2025 · Pénichette Neo
from€2 373
week · without captain
Houseboatwithout a captainARGENS-MINERVOIS6 guests / 3 cabins / 13.45 m
2025 · Pénichette Neo
from€2 267
week · without captain
Houseboatwithout a captainSAVERNE6 guests / 3 cabins / 13.45 m
2025 · Pénichette Neo
from€2 267
week · without captain
Houseboatwithout a captainLOOSDRECHT6 guests / 3 cabins / 13.45 m
2025 · Pénichette Neo
from€2 982
week · without captain
Houseboatwithout a captainCHIOGGIA11 guests / 4 cabins / 13 m
2025 · Houseboat
from€2 876
week · without captain
Slow travel on the water: you steer the boat yourself, moor at a village quay for lunch and pass the locks one by one. Most of the fleet is in France — the Canal du Midi, Burgundy, Alsace, Anjou and the Camargue — with more on the Mecklenburg lakes in Germany, around Amsterdam and Friesland, on the Shannon in Ireland, and a few bases in Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Canada. River and canal boats are self-drive and come without a captain; the base gives you a briefing before you set off.
Anchorages we love
The Canal du Midi
A UNESCO World Heritage canal lined with plane trees, running from Toulouse towards the Mediterranean. Start from Castelnaudary, Homps or Port Cassafières, and take the staircase locks at Fonserannes near Béziers slowly.
Burgundy and the Saône
Wine villages, stone lock-keepers’ cottages and a wide, easy river. Saint-Jean-de-Losne, one of the busiest inland boating ports in France, is the natural place to start.
The Mecklenburg lakes
In northern Germany, lakes joined by rivers and short canals, with the Müritz — the largest lake entirely within Germany — at their heart. Bases at Marina Müritz, Wolfsbruch and Fürstenberg.
Holland and the Shannon
Around Amsterdam and in Friesland you moor in the middle of town; in Ireland the Shannon opens into wide lakes, with a pub at almost every quay.
Questions
Do I need a licence to hire a houseboat?
On most hire waterways, no. In France, the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK a typical hire boat can be taken without a boating licence, and in Germany a charter certificate issued by the base covers designated waters such as the Mecklenburg lakes. Before you set off the base gives a briefing and a short practice run. Most operators want the person in charge to be at least 18, some 21. Rules depend on the waterway and the size of the boat, so the manager confirms them for your route before you book.
Is there a captain on board?
No. River and canal boats are self-drive: you steer, moor and pass the locks yourself, and the price is for the boat. If you would rather have someone else at the helm, look at a crewed charter at sea instead.
How much does a week on a houseboat cost?
Starting weekly prices in our catalogue run from about €750 for a small two-cabin boat outside peak season. A typical houseboat in France starts at around €1,450 a week, in the Netherlands at around €1,900; July and August cost more. On top of the rate, budget for fuel, a refundable deposit and optional extras such as bikes. Figures from our catalogue, September 2026 — the concierge quotes the exact price for your dates.
How far can you get in a week?
Less than you might think, and that is the point: speed on canals is limited to little more than walking pace, and every lock takes time. A relaxed week covers roughly 100–150 km, often as a one-way trip between two bases.
When is the season?
Roughly April to October, with some bases opening in March and staying open into November. Spring and September are quieter and cheaper; locks keep set hours, and some close for maintenance in winter.