SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
The 8-passenger Tango now offers charters for 8 by opening up the spacious captain's cabin with a separate entrance. For up to six passengers it continues to offer two cabins and a suite on the salon level. The sister ship of the Fandango, the Tango floats through Languedoc, one of Southern France's most fascinating regions, recently dubbed "the next Provence." Our waterway is the picture-perfect 300-year-old Canal du Midi, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be the prettiest canal in France.
Tango is known for her beautiful décor and fine gourmet cuisine and wine served on board. The vessel is one of the best ways to sample local delicacies of Southern France, both on board and at local restaurants, a unique feature of the cruise program.
A barge cruise on Tango means relaxed luxury plus a chance for up-close contact to a stimulating local culture. Each day will be a flowing experience of cruising for a few hours and enjoying a daily sightseeing excursion in our air-conditioned mini-van. This can be to visit local sites of historic or cultural interest, shop at open-air markets, and enjoy wine tastings and the olives from the prize winning olive oil mill, l'Oulibo. While the barge cruises at a leisurely pace you can walk alongside, ride a bicycle into the countryside or simply put your feet up on our Provencal tiled decks while the chef prepares your next delicious meal. An English-speaking crew of four pampers you all week long.
Your cruise includes 6 nights accommodations in one large suite, two smaller cabins, and the captain's cabin in the bow with a separate entrance, all offering twin beds or a queen bed with elegant en suite bathrooms; all meals, including one meal at a local restaurant for either lunch or dinner; fine local wines from the Languedoc with meals; open bar; guided-chauffeured daily sightseeing; transfers to and from the barge in the cruising area; and use of barge amenities including bicycles and spa. (Alcoholic beverages not included with on-shore meal.)
The Tango's chef focuses on the rich culinary tradition of the cruising area, the Languedoc. A Mediterranean climate provides sun-ripened fruits, vegetables, olive oil and herbs, while the robust traditional fare of the Southwest offers foie gras, duck and tender lamb from the Pyrenees. A fantastic choice of fine cheeses and increasingly prominent wines from vineyards once favored by the Romans complete each meal.
The owners, mother and son team Hazel Young and Daniel Sak, both graduates of the French National Cooking School in Beaune, Burgundy, oversee operations and maintain the high standard of preparation of your meals when aboard Tango. They welcome guests with a strong interest in cooking and are happy to share their recipes, techniques and philosophy on fine dining. All of the meals prepared on board The Tango are made with garden market produce bought daily, the best quality meats and poultry from the farms of the Southwest of France, and fresh Mediterranean seafood and fish.
Bathrooms beautifully tiled and generous size. Barge nicely decorated and comfortable. Good restaurants on daily trips ashore. I believe Hazel's son was probably the best captain on the Midi. He could operate in the locks almost single handed.
-- L.C., UT, USA
Just a note to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip. We certainly would recommend the Tango to our friends as a wonderful, relaxing way to vacation in France. From the warm welcome to our final good bye we certainly felt pampered. We explored charming villages, visiting wineries, markets, museums and cathedrals. Everything exceeded our expectations especially the fabulous meals on board. Merci mille fois.
-- B.M.
Service was very good. The crew was friendly and made sure we were well looked after. Grace was a real asset to the crew, unobtrusive when we were talking amongst ourselves, but always ready to answer questions or talk with us. Food was excellent and beautifully presented. Daniel and Philippe did a great job of pairing wines with the food. The excursions were extremely interesting and Philippe was an excellent tour guide and wine expert. He was very knowledgeable and fun to travel with. His knowledge of the local history and his ability to tell us about it was wonderful. We think barging is unique and we would highly recommend it as a relaxing and interesting vacation. Tango and the crew were great, so our experience was also.
-- F.D., B.C., Canada
Had Pierre Paul Riquet only realized that the Canal du Midi that he created 200 years ago would allow us to experience leisure travel befitting King Louis XIV! The Tango and Fandango are the two most exclusive of the twelve premier boutique hotel barges quietly plying the canals of France. Thank you, Capts. Danielle and Thomas, chefs Marcus and Yanika, and the entire crew for providing a gastronomic/cruising experience available only to a privileged few.
--G.H., MO, USA
Sunday
You arrive at the barge, moored in the picturesque canal-side village of Le Somail, which has remained untouched since it was built at the time of the canal, with church, stables, warehouses and its lovely stone arched bridge. The Captain and crew are waiting to welcome you on board with a Champagne aperitif and to set off on your first cruise. You will immediately appreciate why the Canal du Midi has become a protected World Heritage Site as well as getting a feel for the relaxed pace for the week ahead. Plenty of time to freshen up in your cabins before your first dinner on board.
Monday
After breakfast take a stroll around Le Somail which features an antique bookstore to which treasure hunters come from all over France, a great source of old prints and antique postcards to take home and frame. We then depart for our first excursion, destination the panoramic hilltop Cathar village of Minerve. The landscape is impressive with rugged gorges that surround this historical village. Your tour guide will explain all of the dramatic history of the Cathars and their losing battle with Simon de Montfort's Catholic crusade as you explore the cobblestone streets.
En route back to the barge we stop at L'Oulibo olive oil mill to sample gold medal prize-winning olives and olive oils. On board, we do a short cruise to Porte Minervois, a scenic aqueduct mooring for lunch on board. In the afternoon we start our first longer stretch of navigation, cruising to Capestang, the largest village on the canal. Enjoy an evening stroll through the village before dinner on board.
Tuesday
In the morning we depart in the minivan for the area's main attraction, the medieval city of Carcassonne. Take time to explore the ancient ramparts and fortifications which still surround this walled city, the largest castle town standing today in Europe. Carcassonne also boasts many interesting boutiques and shops with local crafts and products, in the new town and the old. For lunch we take you to L'Auberge des Lices where you may sample the area's hearty famous Cassoulet. Back to the barge for an afternoon cruise with breathtaking views across vineyards stretching as far as the Pyrenees.
There might even be time for a wine tasting before dinner on board.
(For groups who have already been to Carcassonne, we offer an alternative excursion to Abbaye de Fontfroide with an optional wine tasting in the Corbieres at Chateau Auris, or a visit to the medieval Corbieres village of LaGrasse.)
Wednesday
Breakfast on deck while enjoying a morning cruise to the Canal's only tunnel and a visit to the L'Oppidum d'Enserune, a Roman hillside site occupied from 600 BC to 100 AD, and only discovered by archaeologists at the beginning of this century. There is a fascinating museum containing many artifacts found on the site for archeology enthusiasts, otherwise for wine connoisseurs, a wine tasting at Chateau la Vernede before lunch on board. In the afternoon we cruise to Fonserannes for our evening mooring. This is the top of the famous seven lock staircase, the masterpiece of Pierre Paul Riquet's engineering work to build the Canal, offering a splendid romantic view of the lit up Cathedral of Beziers.
Some of the guests may enjoy an optional shopping trip by minivan to Beziers which has a small Galeries Lafayette, and cutting edge boutiques.
Thursday
An exciting start to the day as the barge descends the locks, after which we depart for Narbonne where a full morning of interesting activities await us. Narbonne was once the Roman capital of the Minervois region and then became an important political and religious center in the Middle Ages. We visit the striking Narbonne Cathedral, and the chariot-rutted paving stones of the recently excavated Roman Via Domitia. But possibly the best part of this excursion is the Chef accompanying us on a tour of Narbonne's vibrant covered 'les halles' market, over 100 years old and full with local produce and specialties. Chilled white wine and a platter of seafood fresh from the Mediterranean are more than delectable, as well as anything that you would like to sample from the market stalls at the market bistrot.
An afternoon cruise through what has become the Camargue, a new canal side marshland setting with wild white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos. Dinner on board.
Friday
Our morning cruise takes us to the round lock of once Phenicien seaport town of Agde. Once through the round lock we then set sail to the Mediterranean fishing village of Marseillan. Sailing on the salt lake of Thau, we view the oyster beds while enjoying lunch on deck. The mini-van departs shortly thereafter for our last excursion to the exquisite town of Pezenas. This will take you back in time with architecture representative of the Middle Ages through the Renaissance period to the 18th century. The entire old town is rich with 'hotels particulars' of period mansions, with wonderful wrought iron balconies, stone sculpture and ornate doorways. The Roi Soleil held court here in the summers with the noblemen of the South of France.
We return to Marseillan in the late afternoon where you may opt to tour the Noilly Prat Vermouth cellar for a last wine tasting. With spectacular views over the Mediterranean, a sunset Champagne aperitif is enjoyed before your farewell dinner on board.
Saturday
After your last breakfast onboard, bid farewell to the crew before traveling in the barge's vehicle to your prearranged drop-off point.
Note: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change at the discretion of your hosts, or unforeseen waterway closures. On alternating weeks this itinerary may run in reverse.
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*Note: Cruise directions and sample itineraries may be in reverse and are subject to change and may depend on bookings and local navigation conditions. Alternate excursions of equal appeal are substituted when needed. For charter cruises special itineraries can be arranged.
| TANGO 2010 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS | ||
|---|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION | REGULAR Apr 4 thru Oct 30 |
CABIN SALE PRICE! For all remaining 2010 weeks New bookings only |
| Cabin (per person, double occupancy) |
$4,600 |
$4,100 |
| Suite (per person, double occupancy) |
$5,100 |
$4,600 |
| Charter for up to 4 |
$23,500 |
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| Charter for up to 6 |
$28,800 |
|
| Charter for up to 8 |
$38,400 |
$34,400 |
What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in cabins with private baths
- Transfers from Beziers to the barge and return
- All meals beginning with dinner on Sunday, through breakfast on Saturday, including one meal at a quality restaurant chosen by the captain (alcoholic beverages not included at the restaurant)
- All wines on board with lunches and dinners
- Open bar on board
- All escorted side-excursions
- Use of bicycles
What's Not Included
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Air or train transfers from Paris to Beziers and return
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be paid to the captain in equivalent euros
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Special Places Travel, LLC "Barges in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™
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