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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted River Cruise / Small Group

Waterways of Burgundy

Seven-day barge cruise through Burgundy's wine country from London to Strasbourg

Illustration of Waterways of Burgundy

Great Rail Journeys' Waterways of Burgundy combines rail travel and river-barge cruising over 7 days, departing London and ending in Strasbourg. The journey begins with Eurostar and high-speed rail from London through Paris to Dijon, where you board MS Daniele for a 6-night cruise along the Burgundy Canal and the Saône and Doubs rivers. The itinerary balances leisure time aboard the barge with organized excursions: a coach trip along the Grand Crus wine route with tastings, guided walking tours in historic towns like Dole and Saint-Jean-de-Losne, and a visit to the UNESCO-listed Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director lead the group, and all meals, drinks with dinner, and rail travel are included. The trip suits couples and food-and-wine enthusiasts seeking a guided, slow-paced exploration of Burgundy, as well as history-lovers interested in the region's monuments and cultural heritage.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is substantial: GBP 4,699 compared to GBP 2,799 for the base price, nearly double the per-person cost.
  • The from-price covers the package and included rail fares; Eurostar Plus Class and London hotels are optional upgrades.
  • Only two departures are scheduled: June 2027 and August 2027. Confirm availability before committing.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: MS Daniele (Dijon area)

    Arrival in the historic city of Dijon

    Your holiday begins at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and board the Eurostar to Paris. In the French capital, we change stations and continue by high-speed rail to Dijon. As the former capital of the wealthy Duchy of Burgundy, Dijon is an attractive and historic city. In the grand Place de la Libération, a crescent of honey-hued restaurants and bars look out to the medieval Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy. On arrival in the French city, we are transferred to our hotel barge. After boarding the MS Daniele and settling into our cabins, a three-course welcome dinner is served onboard.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: MS Daniele (Petit-Ouges)

    Exploring the Grand Crus wine route

    Our Burgundian explorations begin today with a coach excursion along the Grand Crus wine route. Passing through picturesque villages, we view the beautiful vineyards where the most prestigious Burgundy wines are produced. Enroute, we stop to enjoy a wine tasting as we begin to immerse ourselves in the region and discover its famed produce. Returning to our boat, we cruise onwards to Petit-Ouges. On arrival, there's the chance to discover the Path of the Three Wash Houses – a 2.5-mile walk tracing the area's surprising history. This little-known area near Dijon can trace its origins back to the 7th century, as we explore ancient wash houses that boast different architectural styles. This evening, we enjoy dinner and drinks on board.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: MS Daniele (Saint-Jean-de-Losne)

    Sailing towards Saint-Jean-de-Losne

    A full day sailing towards Saint-Jean-de-Losne provides the chance to embrace the joys of this form of travel. Take the time to sit back and admire the riverbank scenes of quintessential French landscapes as we uncover parts of rural France that other forms of transport cannot reach. Enjoy verdant views, pastoral architecture and charming villages from our barge. You can even opt to cycle alongside the boat as we travel. Our destination is the historic village of Saint-Jean-de-Losne. Despite its small size, it's renowned as the capital of canal barging in France and boasts a significant history, due to its position on the banks of the Saône River. During the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century, the village was besieged by forces of the Holy Roman Empire but managed to withstand the imperial army. After we moor in Saint-Jean-de-Losne, dinner and drinks are served on our barge this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: MS Daniele (Dole)

    Serene views along the Saône

    This morning, we uncover the history of Saint-Jean-de-Losne, exploring monuments that tell the story of the village's prestigious past. On our tour, we view the monument commemorating the siege of 1636, as well as the Hôtel-Dieu – a charitable hospital founded in 1658. In the afternoon, we join the Saône River and begin sailing towards Dole. Unwind aboard our barge as we glide past picturesque riverscapes of tree-lined shores, serene backwaters and small islands. Dole is a historic town in the Jura department and is renowned as the birthplace of Louis Pasteur. Arriving this evening, we enjoy dinner and drinks aboard our ship.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: MS Daniele (Ranchot)

    Dole & the Trail of the Chat Perché

    After breakfast, we disembark for a unique tour around Dole. The 'Trail of the Chat Perché' refers to the famous tales of a perched cat and was written by Marcel Aymé who lived in Dole as a child. It also refers to Dole's location, which is nestled on a beautiful hillside. The tour reveals Dole's history and celebrated monuments as we stroll its quintessential French streets, lined with shuttered limestone buildings topped by grey slate roofs. The town's focal point is the 16th-century collegiate church of Notre-Dame, which reflects Dole's history as a capital of Burgundy and is topped by a 240ft bell tower. Returning to our barge, we set sail during lunch as we glide eastwards along the Rhône & Rhine Canal and Doubs River to Ranchot, where we moor ahead of dinner this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: MS Daniele (Besançon)

    Saline Royale of Arc-et-Senans

    Our final day of sailing sees us spend the morning cruising along the river towards Besançon. As we get closer to our destination, the banks become steeper and are blanketed with thick forests. In the afternoon, we transfer by coach to Arc-et-Senans, a small village famed for its remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site. Built under the reign of Louis XVI in the 1770s, the Saline Royale (Royal Saltworks) reflects the architectural ideals of the Age of the Enlightenment. These saltworks were where the workers lived and produced the valuable commodity of salt, with a semi-circle of houses gathering around the main works. Our tour relays the history of the Saline Royale and we can also explore the attractive gardens. Returning to our boat in Besançon, we gather for our gala dinner this evening to celebrate our barge experience.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7rail

    Homeward bound

    From the Burgundy Canal to the winding rivers of the Saône and Doubs, this barge holiday has revealed the region's idyllic waterways. Enroute from Dijon to Besançon, we have savoured tastings of world-renowned wines and uncovered the timeless history of Burgundy. This morning, we enjoy our final breakfast onboard before disembarking and taking the coach from Besançon to Mulhouse. From here, we travel by train to Paris, via Strasbourg, and board the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras, where your holiday comes to an end.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Coach excursion along the Grand Crus wine route with a wine tasting, passing through picturesque villages where the world's finest Burgundy wines are produced.
  • Day 3Full day sailing the Burgundy Canal towards Saint-Jean-de-Losne, viewing rural French landscapes and pastoral architecture from the barge; optional cycling alongside the boat.
  • Day 5Guided walking tour of Dole following the Trail of the Chat Perché, exploring the town's history and limestone-built streets on a hillside overlooking the Doubs River.
  • Day 6Coach transfer to Arc-et-Senans to visit the Saline Royale, a UNESCO World Heritage Royal Saltworks built in the 1770s under Louis XVI.

Included

  • Experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team throughout
  • 6-night cruise onboard MS Daniele, operated by Croisi Europe
  • Excellent service onboard
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
  • Eurostar Standard class travel
  • Standard Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day
  • Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
  • Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
  • A superb choice of excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Standard Class from London St Pancras to Paris, high-speed TGV rail from Paris to Dijon, and standard class return trains from Mulhouse to Strasbourg and Paris. Eurostar Plus Class is available as an optional upgrade.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the entire 7 days.
Which barge am I on?
MS Daniele, operated by Croisi Europe.
What meals are included?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. A drinks package with dinner is included every night of the cruise. A gala dinner is held on the final evening aboard the barge.
What happens on the return journey?
On Day 7, you disembark in Besançon and travel by coach to Mulhouse, then by train to Strasbourg and Paris. From Paris, you board Eurostar back to London St Pancras.
What is the single supplement cost?
GBP 4,699 for a cabin on MS Daniele, compared to GBP 2,799 base price per person.

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