Athos du Midi

I was so pleased to be invited to do a hotel barge cruise on the Athos as I'd never gone barging. My trip was fabulous: the Canal du Midi is beautiful and serene, the food onboard was topnotch - actually it was better than topnotch - and the tours to Pezenas, Minerve and Narbonne were fun. It could have been a bit warmer, but oddly enough the Athos crew doesn't seem to be in charge of the weather. If you like slow travel, hotel barging is a wonderful way to float.

Last May I had the pleasure of being a guest on a week long barge cruise on Athos along the Canal du Midi. Dannielle, who manages the day to day operations + reservations was a huge help in setting things up, even helping with train timetables in order to get to the meeting spot.Everything from soup to nuts was included and taken care of. Our guide was so friendly and knowledgable about the area, our tours were varied between villages, cities, a food market and an olive co-op. The crew was simply wonderful.Every gourmet meal was delicious and those who had food allergies or preferences were taken care of in that regard - the chef even went above and beyond - even giving a little impromptu cooking class to interested guests.The bikes on board were a nice touch - you could ride the towpaths every day! Going through the locks and listening to the captain's stories was a highlight.Overall a 5 star slow travel experience with fantastic food, wine, tours and views!

The best way to discover the beauty of the famous Canal du Midi is aboard the Athos!

This is the best boating experience you could wish for. Julian and his crew spoiled us every day with unique and informative excursions then plied us with the finest food and wine, and sunshine to inspire naps. The fresh croissants, fruits, and cheeses started our day. I chose this specific canal trip for the oyster and mussels touted in the brochure. I was not disappointed with how fresh the oysters were as I watched Julian arrive with the oysters just moments before the chef made his preparations. The boat is cozy yet spacious for just 10 travelers. Everything was sparkling clean. The side excursions fit perfectly into each day and Julian took exceptional care that our one traveler with a cane could enjoy the experience. This was a 5-Star experience.

A fabulous trip. Courteous and competent staff. The food was exceptional. The tour guide was knowledgeable. And the stewardesses most attentive and helpful.

I have had a few cruises on the Athos - each time returning to the same excellent 5* quality excelling in the accommodation, service and cuisine! I had read somewhere that the cabins were a touch on the small side to find instead that they were comfortable, private, bright, fresh and designed cleverly for a storage space for everything. The huge and spacious front deck accommodating a sun lounger for each passenger is a plus. The best thing about the Athos that in my mind puts it in front of it's competitors, is that is owned and run by the owners making the attention to detail and the importance of its passengers paramount. It also boasts having a Crew that have remained year after year creating a happy and very experienced workforce that do not have to learn the ropes" at the beginning of each season. I will definitely be returning again on the unbeatable Athos!"

My wife and I joined three other couples, for a total of eight passengers, on our October Athos du Midi barge trip. The entire experience was excellent. The crew was exceptionally skilled, helpful and hospitable; the barge accommodations were very comfortable; the excursions to historic sites, wineries and other destinations were well planned and interesting; the onboard dining was outstanding; and even an unforeseen major mechanical mishap was handled with grace and generosity, barely diminishing the overall experience. Excellent weather made the trip even better.

The trip of a lifetime on this 5-star luxury barge. Every detail was thought through from enjoyable and informative guided tours, comfy cabins, the tastiest meals you'll ever have, informative wine/cheese pairings, relaxing cruising along the canal, and most importantly, an amazing crew who made it not only memorable but so much fun! We still pinch ourselves to know that it really happened! Thank you, Athos Crew!

My husband Peter and I were on the first trip of this season and had the most wonderful experience. Julian, Danielle, Matt, Marianne and Pop were the best crew imaginable. They were all very knowledgeable in their respective areas, and made our trip such a pleasure. We were also very fortunate to have very compatible shipmates! The food, wines, breads, cheeses etc. were amazing and we would thoroughly recommend this barge to anyone thinking of taking a luxury barge trip

This was a fabulous experience. Attentive and friendly service, but not formal or starchy. Good food and a broad range of local wines.Mornings were for exploring local villages, olive presses, vermouth distilleries, etc. Lunch was generally on the barge, and afternoons were for relaxing as we sailed under trees turning autumn colors or past vineyards.It was just a perfect week.