Salleles d'Aude to Marseillan
(or Marseillan - Salleles d'Aude )

Sunday MONTPELLIER - 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 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, continental-style breakfast is served, at your leisure, beginning at 8:30am.

The Salleles d’Aude Tennis Courts are a quick walk around the corner from the boat’s moorings. Those who would like a break this morning may enjoy a browse through the Quilting Museum just beside the boats’ moorings, or perhaps a stroll in the village of Salleles?

Returning to the boat post-match, Captain Julian gets ATHOS underway for an afternoon's cruise to Argeliers. A good hard match has you worked up for lunch and rosé to be served!

The table is laid under the parasols on deck, and Chef is busy serving up local 3-course gourmet fare, along with the dry fruity rosé wine so famous to the Languedoc region!

After a few relaxing hours going through the locks, and winding along the waterway, you arrive in Argeliers. Dannielle suggests a visit to 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.

The minibuses arrive back in Argeliers in time for pre-dinner drinks while enjoying ATHOS' picturesque mooring beside the Argeliers bridge. Lovely smells waft from the galley to the deck, a sure sign that Chef will soon start serving up the next culinary delight!

Tuesday ARGELIERS - CAPESTANG
After breakfast, 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!
a long lunch and an afternoon of relaxation await your return to the ATHOS.

We arrive early evening in the charming village of Capestang. The Capestang Tennis Courts are booked for a pre-dinner match. When you return from tennis, a hard-earned pre-dinner drink overlooking the clear view of the St. Etienne cathedral is in order. Dinner is another sumptuous feast accompanied by local wines and served with grace by the onboard hostess.

Wednesday CAPESTANG - FONSERANNES
After breakfast, take a moment for a stroll into the village square. The Morning Market is on, and there is time to explore the stalls of the local cheese merchant and butcher. Julian will get Athos underway in time to stop for a pre-lunch wine tasting at one of the few remaining traditional-method 19th C wineries, Domaine de Guery. As you ramble back onboard post-tasting, the table is laid on deck and another impressive feast awaits.

The afternoon promises spectacular views of the Pyrenees across the sunny, clear Plain, and Athos makes her way to the evening's mooring: the breath-taking view-point at the Fonserannes. A short drive into Beziers Tennis Club Barthes, and this afternoon’s Tennis matches are under way.

Returning to the Athos for cocktails and relaxation on deck, the hostess asks if you would prefer to dine al fresco this evening? A long gourmet dinner and wine in the fresh air finishes a perfect day.

Thursday FONSERANNES - PORTIRAGNES
Why not take a side-trip to the weekly morning market in Narbonne? Even for non-shoppers, Narbonne offers much entertainment on a Thursday morning! 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 18thC Canal Bridge which will carry the ATHOS over the Orb River.

The evening's mooring will be in the country, just outside the small village of Portiragnes. The Crew suggest a break from Tennis for today, in exchange for cycling, walking or jogging on the paved tow path which follows Athos’ route this afternoon?
Again, dinner onboard is a feast.

Friday PORTIRAGNES - MARSEILLAN
After breakfast, Julian and his deckhand get the boat underway and cruises towards Marseillan. You pass by the “Petit Camargue”, watching Pink Flamingos in the estuaries, and keeping your eye out for the famous African Rollers and other tropical birds.A spectacular (and appropriate!) seafood lunch awaits you, as you enter the open-waters 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 a taste of Noilly Prat vermouth! Tennis enthusiasts will have a last opportunity for an end-of-week match on the well-maintained clay courts at Marseillan Tennis Club.

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 MARSEILLAN
After breakfast, you 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.