'Athos'

Salleles d'Aude to Marseillan (or reverse)

Sunday, Day 1 SALLELES D'AUDE
4pm pick up at designated point in Montpellier. You will be met by ATHOS Captain and Manager. In the comfort of ATHOS' private air-conditioned Chrysler minivans, you will be chauffeured to where the ATHOS awaits you at her moorings. You will be treated to a full-crew Welcome Aboard, whilst toasting with Champagne and Mediterannean canapés. Once you are settled into your cabin, you will be invited to a 4-course dinner, prepared by our highly acclaimed onboard Chef.

Monday, Day 2 SALLELES D’AUDE -ARGELIERS
Enjoy your first coffee of the day sitting in a comfortable chair on the upper deck of ATHOS. While coffee is available at any time from the bar, breakfast is served, at your leisure, beginning at 8:30am. The proposed morning visit is a drive to the famous Medieval double-walled city of Carcassonne. Your knowledgeable on-board guide, Dannielle, will offer the historical & guided visit -- making sure that you have time to browse those shops! While the Captain gets ATHOS underway for an afternoon's cruise to Argeliers, Chef will serve up another local 3-course gourmet meal (perhaps including the famous duck confit stew, Cassoulet?). By early evening you have arrived in Argeliers, where ATHOS' mooring is beside the picturesque Argeliers bridge. There ought to be enough time for a brisk stroll into the village before Chef starts serving up her next delight!

Tuesday, Day 3 ARGELIERS - CAPESTANG
Breakfast. This morning's suggested visit is a tasting at the Oulibo - the local olive oil pressoir. After tasting those organic and wholesome olives (accompagnied, bien sur by a small glass of rosé!!), a short drive up the Gorge de la Cesse and into the hilltop village of Minerve is in order. Dannielle will regale you with the harrowing tale of the Cathar siege launched at Minerve during the 13th C. A long lunch and an afternoon of relaxation await your return to the ATHOS. We arrive early evening in the charming village of Capestang. ATHOS will be moored with a clear view of the flood-lit St. Etienne cathedral. The village is a 5-minute walk -- and dinner will be waiting on your return!

Wednesday, Day 4 CAPESTANG - FONSERANNES
Breakfast. Visit the 6thC establishment and archeological site at the Oppidum d'Enserune & amazing look-out and landscape of the Lac de Montady. To maintain your enthusiasm for local fare, Dannielle would like to invite you to a wine-tasting at one of the few remaining traditional-method 19th C wineries. On returning to ATHOS, a stylish al-fresco lunch awaits you (along with more traditional, dry, fruity rosé!). The afternoon promises spectacular views of the Pyrenees across the sunny, clear plain. This evening's mooring is the breath-taking view-point at the Fonserannes. Perhaps a little cycle ride down to the staircase locks and the Canal Bridge will work up your appetite for the Chef's creations this evening?

Thursday, Day 5 FONSERANNES - VILLENEUVE LES BEZIERS
breakfast. Why not take a side-trip to the weekly morning market in Narbonne? Explore an excavated portion of the original Roman road, the Via Domitia, or, browse through the well-compiled Roman Museum, or, discover the beauty of St. Juste Cathedral, or, simply take a moment to blend into the scene: sit and relax in one of the many cafés. As Chef and the hostess begin serving up today's luxury meal, Captain Julian and his deck hand are busy getting ATHOS underway. This 17thC feat of engineering, the "Neuf Ecluses" (or staircase locks), is sure to impress! ATHOS crew expertly tie her up in each lock, and wait for the gates to close safely behind her before the water levels empty out and allow her to pass one locks into the next. But it's not over yet! Coming up next is the 18th C Canal Bridge which will carry the ATHOS over the Orb River. The evening's mooring will be at the small village of Villeneuve les Beziers. The paved tow path and the many locks leading to this village make it an ideal afternoon for walking or cycling alongside the ATHOS. Dinner onboard.

Friday, Day 6 VILLENEUVE les BEZIERS - AGDE - MARSEILLAN
Breakfast. From the shaded and scenic mooring of Villeneuve, we get underway earlier than usual to make it into the Greek-established village of Agde for before lunch. Discover Agde! This morning will see bustling activity in the tiny centre ville. Take the opportunity to explore the Old Town and the Romanesque Cathedral which overlooks the River Herault. enjoy the short walk into Agde for a little exploration, or, relax on deck with a book. Late morning, ATHOS leaves your shaded mooring at Agde, and cruises towards Marseillan. A spectacular (and appropriate!) seafood lunch awaits you, as you enter the openwaters of the Etang de Thau. The Etang hosts Europe's largest mussel and oyster park. As ATHOS comes to moor in the port at Marseillan, you will notice the enclosure which makes up the Noillly Prat Vermouth distillery. End a perfect day with a fascinating tour of the Distillery -- and, of course, a taste of Noilly Prat vermouth! Chef's efforts are sure to make this evening worth remembering! Captain Julian will join your party for your final dinner onbard this evening. During the evening, he will also invite the crew to make a farewell toast with you.

Saturday, Day 7 MARSEILLAN
Breakfast. Wave goodbye to the Crew, who have looked after your every need throughout the week.
The minivans will now depart to the appointed destination in Montpellier.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks, cruises will be in reverse direction.