7 Day Luxe Cooking Holidays on Premium Barge in Toulouse, Southwest France

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

15:00

Check-out Time:

13:00

Enjoy a stay on a chic and elegant boat (not navigated) in the center of Toulouse during this holiday. All accommodations are elegant, chic, and comfortable with private bathroom and WC.

Facilities:

All cabins have commodities such private bathrooms, air conditioning, and heating
Zen and relaxing atmosphere
Large space in the salon, total surface of the boat is 200 square meters
Hot tub JACUZZI
Terrace
Small boat with electric motor
Rental of bicycles
Small group (maximum 6 people on board)

Cabin options:

Cabin I

Cabin I comes with a 140 x 190 bed (without footboard) in a brown and taupe universe with some touches of blue evoking the "Pastel des Teinturiers", medicinal and dyeing plant, which made the fortune of Toulouse merchants from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The bathroom is semi-open, with a bath, bathroom sink, and WC. The two portholes overlook the Canal du Midi.

Cabin II

Cabin II comes with a 140 x 190 bed (without footboard), in shades of pearl gray and powder pink, to subtly evoke the colors and charms of the beautiful "Pink City" of Toulouse. The bathroom is semi-open to the cabin, with a bath, sink bath, and WC. The two portholes overlook the Canal du Midi.

Cabin III

Cabin III comes with two single beds of 90 x 200. The mauve, purple, and plum tones are reminiscent of the violet, a symbolic flower of Toulouse which blooms in spring on the banks of the Canal du Midi. The bathroom is semi-open to the cabin, with a bath, sink bath, and WC. There are four portholes, two overlooking the canal, the other two overlooking the banks.

Program

South West cuisine courses and cooking

Barge Amboise will make you discover the culinary recipes of their region: Magret, Foie gras, Confit, Cassoulet, etc.

The holiday

During this holiday, you will stay aboard an elegant barge with all mod cons, which remains moored at the quay all year round (no navigation). Your stay will be a calm and zen one!

This holiday will be a total change of scenery and absolute relaxation, because of the chic and bucolic rhyme on the Péniche Amboise in a completely unexpected way.

Barge Amboise spare no effort to bring you the well-being and comfort sought, being generous in their benevolent attention and respectful of the sensitivity of each. This stay is also an opportunity to visit the incomparable Toulouse since the Péniche Amboise is nestled in the heart of the pink city.

On the program are guided tours, the best restaurants in the South West, hikes or bike rides, in the city center, or on the banks of the Canal du Midi, everything is possible! Come aboard for an unforgettable stay!

Cooking lessons

Take French South West cooking lessons, participate in a special ritual where people come together to work with their own hands and prepare meals that will be shared with pleasure. Amazing local and regional products will end this perfect taste trip (food and beverage).

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday: Arrival

You will be picked up at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) or Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau to head to Barge Amboise (preferably between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.).

From 7.30 p.m., you will enjoy a cocktail reception with the presentation of the team and the other participants staying on the boat (maximum 6 people). The team will show you a film on safety instructions on board, touristic interests of the city of Toulouse and around, and the origin of the Canal du Midi waterway listed on UNESCO Heritage (in English and/or French).

Day 2 - Monday

Breakfast

You can have your breakfast freely according to your rhythm between 8 and 10 a.m. on the Barge Amboise.

First cooking course and lunch

From 10 a.m. to noon, participate in cooking lessons based on French South West local gastronomy. You will take the lunch you cooked earlier with the cooking trainer or bring back with you to your home as the end of your stay ("Foie gras" or "Magret séché" or "Confit de canard" for example).

In the afternoon, go on a guided visit of Toulouse conducted in English or French. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a restaurant cooking the famous cassoulet Toulousain.

Day 3 - Tuesday

Breakfast

You can have your breakfast freely according to your rhythm between 8 and 10 a.m., on the Barge Amboise.

Second cooking course and lunch

From 10 a.m. to noon, participate in cooking lessons based on French South West local gastronomy. You will take the lunch you cooked earlier with the cooking trainer or bring back with you to your home as the end of your stay ("Foie gras" or "Magret séché" or "Confit de canard" for example).

Enjoy a free afternoon and dinner on your own.

Day 4 - Wednesday

You can have your breakfast before 8 a.m. on the Barge Amboise. From 9 a.m., depart for your excursions, it can be one of the following:

1. Carcassonne / Revel / Saint Fereol / Soreze
2. Gaillac (wine testing) / Albi / Cordes
3. Survol du Viaduc de Millau (with additional cost), depending on the weather, visit of Moissac

Lunch will be taken in a restaurant in Saint Féréol (for excursion 1), Cordes (for excursion 2), or Moissac (for excursion 3).

You will have your dinner on Barge Amboise tonight.

Day 5 - Thursday

Breakfast

You can have your breakfast freely according to your rhythm between 8 and 10 a.m. on the Barge Amboise.

Third cooking course and lunch

From 10 a.m. to noon, participate in cooking lessons based on French South West local gastronomy. You will take the lunch you cooked earlier with the cooking trainer or bring back with you to your home as the end of your stay ("Foie gras" or "Magret séché" or "Confit de canard" for example).

Excursions

Enjoy guided visit conducted in English or French to one of the following:

1. Airbus
2. Cite de L’espace
3. Halle de la Machine

You will have your dinner on Barge Amboise tonight.

Day 6 - Friday

You can have your breakfast freely according to your rhythm between 8 and 10 a.m. on the Barge Amboise. The day is free for you to enjoy.

From 8 p.m., enjoy your dinner on a cruise barge or at a starred restaurant.

Day 7 - Saturday: Departure

You can have your breakfast freely according to your rhythm between 8 and 10 a.m. on the Barge Amboise.

Your cabin must be vacated before 1pm. and the team will accompany you either to the airport or to Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau.

Note:

Barge Amboise lend the boat of the barge with the oars and the life jackets during the day to stroll on the Canal du Midi

Included excursions

Occitania tours:

Toulouse

Guided visit of the beautiful "Pink City" of Toulouse in English or French.

Outside Toulouse

Either of the following:

1. Carcassonne / Revel / Saint Fereol / Soreze
2. Gaillac / Albi / Cordes
3. Survol du Viaduc de Millau (with additional cost), depending on the weather, visit of Moissac

Inside Toulouse

Either of the following:

1. Airbus
2. Cite de L’espace
3. Halle de la Machine

Instructors

Marie Cachau

Marie is the owner of the Amboise Barge. “Toulousaine” by adoption for many years, she is passionate about the "Pink City” and its region Occitania. She will guide you to make you know unexpected places, places that sometimes only the natives know. Because of her pronounced taste for harmony, she seeks perfection in order to obtain the best to improve daily life, the visual and well-being. She likes calm and she designed the barge to receive her guests in a lush and relaxing universe. Everything has been arranged to welcome guests all year round in a cozy, chic, and elegant setting.

Location

The barge is moored all year in the center of Toulouse (downtown) on the Canal du Midi, a waterway listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Food

You will be able to enjoy local cuisine during this holiday made by a chef:

6 breakfasts on Barge Amboise
3 lunches with French local wine tasting, each after cuisine classes
1 cocktail reception on your arrival
1 dinner on cruise or at a starred restaurant
1 dinner at a famous restaurant cooking the best cassoulet in Toulouse
1 lunch other than the lunches after cooking classes
2 dinners on Barge Amboise

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Gluten Free
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

On day 4 of this holiday, you can opt for overview of Millau viaduct program (additional fees for airplane). Please note that due to weather conditions, it can be canceled on the same day. You will be offered another excursion (on the ground) and you will be fully reimbursed for the flight reservation.

Spa treatments

Hot tub

The hot tub on Amboise Barge is free to access (bathrobe, towels, and flip-flops are provided).

Massage

A masseur or a masseuse can be recommended to come to the boat.

What's included

6 continental breakfasts
3 cooking classes local and regional cuisine
1 cocktail reception with video explaining the origin of Canal du Midi waterway listed in UNESCO Heritage
2 dinners on the barge
2 dinners on restaurant and / or cruise dinner on Canal du Midi
Coffee corner available during all the day
1 Toulouse guided visit in your mother tongue
1 Occitania excursion (Carcasonne/Revel/Saint Férérol or Gaillac/Cordes sur Ciel/Albi or overview of Millau viaduct (added fees for airplane))
1 visit of Cité de l'espace or Airbus assembly lines or Halle de la Machine
Transfer from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) or Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau (train from Paris TGV around 5pm)
6 nights accommodation

What's not included

The route to Toulouse
Visits and activities carried out during free time
Meals indicated as free in the program (dinner on Tuesday and lunch on Friday)
Beverages other than those included in the stay
Airplane fees for overview of Millau viaduct program (if you opt for it)

How to get there

Recommended Airports

TLS

Toulouse–Blagnac Airport

8 km

Transfer included

Arrival by train

You can also take the train to Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau. This train station is 2.8 kilometers away from the boat, 10 minutes away by car. Take the TGV from Paris at 4.30 pm Barge Amboise will pick you up from the train station.

Airport: Toulouse–Blagnac Airport Airport transfer included: Toulouse–Blagnac Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 16.94% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 10 days before arrival.

Menu