Canal du Midi and Camargue Boating Holidays. The Camargue offers unspoilt natural beauty with a massive nature reserve spanning over 20,000 acres where pink flamingos wade. Set mainly in marshes, the region is known for its white horses, bull breeding, fantastic food and beautiful long stretches of sandy Mediterranean beaches all this interspersed by ancient, historical fortified towns with canal side ports.

This is a great region to enjoy a Sail & Stay holiday and there are some great beach side resorts like Grau du Roi, an idyllic resort on a long fine sandy beach with a picturesque fishing port that backs on to the lagoons and marshes where you can spot the flamingos, the many species of migrant birdlife and of course the famous black bulls.

The historic Aigues-Mortes is surrounded by famous salt marshes. The ramparts were built in the 13th century and are considered to be the best preserved example of military fortifications still standing. The town inside is a lively warren of tightly built dwellings, cobbled streets and alleyways. There’s lots of shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy and we recommend sitting on the terrace and enjoying a refreshment in the shade of a parasol on the Place Saint-Louis. Market day is Wednesday and Sunday and there are lots of great bargains at the car boot style bric a brac market on Saturdays. You have two routes to choose from either head to Saint-Gilles and then to Bellegarde or westwards towards Le Somail. The Etang de Thau salt lake is a spectacular nature reserve where you’ll find delightful towns and villages on it’s shores.

Sète is the largest with a busy harbour whose economy relies on the lagoon’s oyster farms and shellfish. Balaruc-les-Bains, Bouzigues, Meze and Marseillan are all worth visiting. These sun drenched towns sit on the lagoon’s shore. Their ancient architecture and relaxed lifestyle are synonymous with this Mediterranean region of France. There are many beaches to enjoy along the way like the Pilou beach that spans 9km near the village of Villeneuve-les-Maguelone. The canal takes you to the outskirts of Agde where there’s some great mooring places at the marina. The last stop on a 1 week/one way cruise on this route is Le Somail.

Local tourist offices

The Aigues-Mortes Tourist Board and Occitanie Regional Tourist Board websites are worth visiting when you are preparing your holiday with some great local advice, tips and useful information:

www.ot-aiguesmortes.com & www.tourism-occitanie.co.uk