About this trip.
Canal du Midi closed for drought: VNF suspended navigation on the whole Canal du Midi, from Toulouse to the Étang de Thau, from 9 November 2026 to save water after this year's drought. The canal's usual maintenance closure runs from January to March; check reopening dates with your hire firm before booking early spring. Source
Before you book: Canal du Midi vs UK narrowboating — same week, different country, very different holiday · How we vet operators — and the questions you should ask any small-group operator yourself
Cruising from a semicircular port
Colombiers is a small port with an unusual feature: it is built in a semicircle. It sits on the Canal du Midi a few kilometres west of Béziers, the wine capital of the Languedoc, a town with a strong following for bullfighting and rugby. You can hire a boat here without a licence and take your time through the south of France.
Close to Béziers are the Fonsérannes locks, the most impressive engineering on the Canal du Midi. This staircase of locks raises or lowers boats 21.5 m over a length of 300 metres. There were nine locks in the original flight, and seven are still in use.
Short breaks and mini-weeks
Over a weekend, you can go to Le Somail and back, which is 68 km with no locks and about 10 hours of cruising. A one-way weekend to Agde covers 31 km, 12 locks and 8 hours.
Mini-week return trips include Marseillan (90 km, 26 locks, 20 hours), Narbonne (84 km, 22 locks, 20 hours) and Homps (108 km, 12 locks, 18 hours). One-way mini-weeks go from Colombiers via Marseillan to Agde (51 km, 18 locks, 11 hours) or to Carcassonne (95 km, 18 locks, 17 hours).
Week-long and two-week routes
A week allows a return trip to Sète (120 km, 26 locks, 26 hours), Carcassonne (192 km, 54 locks, 35 hours) or Port-la-Nouvelle (126 km, 24 locks, 30 hours). There are two one-week, one-way routes. The first runs from Colombiers via Aigues-Mortes to Carnon, covering 125 km, 15 locks and 25 hours. The second goes from Colombiers to Carcassonne, on to Bram and back to Carcassonne, covering 143 km, 28 locks and 25 hours.
With two weeks, you can cruise from Colombiers to Aigues-Mortes and back, which is 256 km with 26 locks and 50 hours of cruising. The longest option is the return trip to Castelnaudary: 272 km, 102 locks and 52 hours at the helm.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1Do I need a licence?
No. The hire base gives you a short handover covering steering, locks, and safety before you set off. Speed limit is 4 mph on UK narrowboats — slower than a walking pace. If you can drive a car, you can drive a canal boat.
Q2How many locks will I do?
Depends on the route. The Llangollen has about 20 over a week — leisurely. The Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon has 29 in one stretch — a full day's work. Some European routes (Canal du Midi, Camargue) have almost none. The operator's map shows lock counts per day so you can pace yourself.
Q3Can I travel solo?
Most hire companies require two adults on board, mainly so one person can work locks while the other steers. A few allow solo hire on quieter routes — ask the operator before booking.
Q4What's included?
Typically the boat, fuel for the engine, a handover briefing, mooring ropes, fenders and a starter pack (tea, coffee, washing-up kit). Bedding is sometimes included, sometimes £10-20 extra. Food is your own, shopped from towpath-side villages.
Q5What if something breaks?
The hire base has a 24/7 support line. A fitter will usually come out within a few hours. Engines are robust and well-maintained — the most common failures are blocked weed hatches (clearable yourself) and flat domestic batteries.
Q6Is it good for kids?
Yes — lifejackets are provided and kids love working locks. Older children (6+) can help steer under supervision. Toddlers need constant watching near open decks. A reinforced guard rail helps.
Q7Can I bring my dog?
Most hire companies allow one or two dogs for a small supplement (£20-30 per dog per week). They love the towpath walks. The boat will lose its deposit if the dog damages upholstery — bring a blanket.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a 25% deposit at booking, balance 8-12 weeks before departure. Each operator has its own cancellation ladder (steeper close to departure). Travel insurance with cruise cover is recommended.
Three canal holidays, side-by-side.
The two closest canal holidays on Mooch, both in France. Prices are the operators' own, per boat.
