Insider Experiences

As your barge sedately makes its way along one of the waterways of France, Scotland, Holland, or perhaps Italy, you will have the opportunity to visit hidden places and meet local people from all walks of life.

Authentic and Immersive

These ‘Insider Experiences’ are unique and personalised and each one offers the chance to uncover a true slice of local life. These forays to get ‘under the skin’ of local culture and history are not always shown in our published itineraries and many are impromptu, depending on the occasion and the interests of the guests on board.

Places and People

On a Burgundy barge voyage, one of the friendly lock-keepers you meet may proudly want to show you around their little waterside home and vegetable garden. While in the Loire Valley, you can meet local Troglodytes in their cave dwellings chiselled out of rock faces by their forbearers many years ago. And during a cruise in Holland, a visit to clockmaker’s workshop is a real insight into a highly-skilled profession. You may also meet people from very different backgrounds, such as the Count of a Renaissance château who will be happy to give you a private showing of his long-standing family home, then invite you to join him for a tasting of wine from his own cellar; or be treated to a special tour of the gardens of a Scottish castle by the head gardener – or even “the lady of the house” herself.

Falconry at The Highland Club

Oysters in the Midi

A Taste of the Good Life

Local gastronomy is also a firm feature of our Insider Experiences. You may find yourself enjoying oysters with some chilled Picpoul de Pinet at an oyster farm as the sun sets over the sea in the Midi, or perhaps visiting an artisan chocolatier in her home to learn more about the expert art of chocolate making – and of course sampling the end product!

Heritage and History

Many of the diverse waterways we cruise in Europe have fascinating histories and you will be able to find out more from some of the interesting characters who work and live on them. A private visit to a boatyard on the Royal River Thames to see craftsmen hand-building traditional river craft will be a real education, while an hour or so aboard an open wooden boat on the River Loire enjoying a glass of white wine with the owner may be another enjoyable diversion.

Grape Harvesting

Local Culture and Music

And don’t be surprised if one balmy evening as you are enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail with your fellow passengers, you are put ‘in the mood’ by a local jazz band. Or more dramatically still, serenaded by a bag-piper in full traditional regalia on the misty banks of a loch in the Scottish Highlands.

Dine with a Countess

Private Dining Experiences

We also offer a number or spectacular private dining experiences ashore, such as a gourmet lunch with a Baroness in the 12th century château de Ricey-Bas in Burgundy, dinner on the banks of Lord Byron’s River Po with a Countess at the Villa Ca’Zen, or a delicious lunch at the Domain Laroche in Chablis hosted by the Sommelier.

Onboard Entertainment

Become an Insider

Our guests are often sophisticated, knowledgeable travellers who have already seen all of the most famous sites in the countries we cruise. Now they want to explore those out-of-the way places and take ‘the path less travelled’, to meet hosts whose only guests are our guests. Hotel barging devotees who are keen to discover the real heart of Europe away from the madding crowds and tourist traps, will find that our Insider Experiences really do add to the intimate nature of their ‘gentle voyage of discovery’.