Waterways of the Yonne, Paris & River Seine

Your holiday begins by meeting the Tour Manager at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar service to Paris.

On arrival in the French capital, we are transferred to our barge and welcomed aboard with a cocktail. After time to settle in, we gather for a dinner cruise along the Seine.

As we sail, we can enjoy seeing the City of Light's iconic landmarks from the river and taking in the romantic atmosphere of Paris.

• Dinner

Our first morning aboard our barge is spent cruising on the Seine. Sailing through the heart of the French capital, we make our way to Évry on the outskirts of Paris. Arriving in the early afternoon, we step ashore for a guided visit to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Built between 1656 and 1661 by King Louis XIV, it is considered to be a masterpiece of the French Baroque style with a large-domed roof and a moat. Inside, opulent tapestries, paintings and chandeliers adorn the state rooms, while the gardens boast beautifully laid-out flowerbeds and elaborate fountains. The extensive grounds are considered to be the first example of a French formal garden and the designer, André Le Nôtre, later went on to create the gardens at the Palace of Versailles.

After our tour, we return to our barge for dinner and the rest of the evening is at leisure to relax or explore at your own pace.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sit back and enjoy a morning of sailing as we pass bucolic scenery enroute to Melun. Formerly the seat of France's medieval Capetian monarchs, Melun is now renowned for its Brie cheese.

After lunch onboard our barge, we are transferred by coach to picturesque Barbizon. Known as the painter's village, this hamlet began as a single grocery store, before becoming the birthplace of the Barbizon School or Art - a precursor of French Impressionism. There's time to explore this charming village at leisure and one of its main attractions is the Auberge Ganne. This old inn once hosted many of the area's artists, and there is now a museum exhibiting the life and work of painters. Alternatively, you could visit the studios of Theodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, which have been preserved in their memory and now host temporary exhibitions.

Returning to Melun, we enjoy dinner back onboard our barge with the rest of the evening free. You could head out into Melun to discover more of its history, stroll around its pleasant harbour or simply unwind on our ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a morning of peaceful sailing around the gentle meanders, we disembark in Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne. Mooring in this picturesque medieval town for the day, we transfer by coach after lunch to Château de Fontainebleau.

Spread over a 130-hectare estate and containing an elegant horseshoe stairway, this iconic château was used by French royal families between the 12th and 19th centuries as a hunting lodge. Set on the edge of Fontainebleau Forest, monarchs would ride out to hunt its resident wildlife of deer, wild boars and rabbits. Over the years, the palace has been home to a variety of distinguished residents, with each inhabitant putting their unique mark on the building. During our tour, we see Marie Antoinette's Turkish boudoir, elegantly painted white with inlaid gold, and Napoleon III's imperial theatre. There's also a ballroom that displays Italian frescoes and intricate woodwork from the 16th century, while hundreds of acres of parkland surround the château, punctuated with magnificent sculptures.

We also tour the charming town of Fontainebleau before returning to Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne for the evening back aboard our barge.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we explore Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne on a guided tour. This royal town is famous for its barley sugar and landscapes which inspired the Impressionist Alfred Sisley, who created many landscapes and river scenes from here in the late 19th century.

On our explorations, we discover the town's fortified medieval gates, the historic building façades, the banks of the Loing and Notre Dame church. There's time after our tour to wander around the town at your own pace. We recommend visiting the barley sugar shop, to savour the sweet and delicate flavour created in Moret during the reign of Louis XIII.

Returning to our ship for lunch, we begin an afternoon of sailing to Montereau, at the confluence of the Yonne and Seine rivers. Mooring here for the night, we enjoy dinner and drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we begin our cruise along the Yonne, gliding past idyllic hamlets of stone cottages, thick woodlands and lesser-known towns. We reach Sens this afternoon and, after lunch, enjoy a guided tour. As one of the oldest cities in France, with a history dating back to the 1st century BC, we uncover its significant past and timeless charm.

Dotted with impressive and ancient architecture, we see the 12th-century Gothic cathedral, where sunlight filters through the intricate stained-glass windows. We then take a stroll through the Roman streets and promenades before visiting the popular food market, Marché Couvert. This covered market is housed in a pentagonal wooden building with rows of benches that serve as stalls. Hundreds of sellers come here daily with local vegetables, cheese, meat, gingerbread, and honey, and there's some free time to look around and experience a snippet of everyday life in Sens.

This evening, we return to our barge to mark our final night onboard with a gala dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From the iconic landmarks lining the banks of the Seine in Paris to royal châteaux and ancient cities, this barge holiday along the Seine and Yonne has revealed the elegance and appeal of this region of France.

After breakfast, our explorations conclude as we disembark and say farewell to our crew. Heading to Paris by coach, we connect with the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras, where your barge holiday draws to a close.

• Breakfast, Dinner