Day 1  ·  A Champagne Welcome

Tours to Moulin de Nitray – You are met by a crew member at the TGV railway station at St Pierre des Corps at 4:30. From there you are transferred to Nymphea where a Champagne Welcome awaits you at our mooring opposite the 17th century Moulin de Nitray. Dinner is served aboard.

Day 2  ·  Golf de Touraineat

Moulin de Nitray to Larcay – Touraineat A morning cruise through two locks takes us to the quaint town of Larcay where we moor for lunch under the weeping willows.

The afternoon is spent at Golf de Touraineat the Château de la Touche, Ballan Miré. (18 holes Par 71 – length 5673 meters).

We return to Nymphea for dinner on board.

Day 3  ·  Tours Ardrée Golf Club

Larcay to Vallet – After a morning cruise past several private châteaux, we tie up opposite the hamlet of Vallet, a cluster of classic Tourangeau architecture grouped around its 18th century mill.

From there we leave for Tours Ardrée Golf Club. Laid out in 350 acres of park and woodland, the fairways thread their way through the trees and water hazards, leading to large but well protected greens. (18 holes, par 72, 5734 meters).

We dine out tonight in one of the local restaurants specializing in regional cooking.

Day 4  ·  Château de Cheverny

Vallet to Domaine de Fontenay – While cruising in the morning we may pull in to the tiny landing stage next to Domaine de Fontenay. A two minute walk brings us to their courtyard where we can taste their range of Touraine wines as an aperitif before lunch moored at Civray.

In the afternoon we play golf on the estate of the Château de Cheverny. Winding round the Rousseliere Lake, home to swans, mallard ducks, and grey herons. (18 holes par 71, 6272 meters). Before returning to the barge we can visit the Château if time permits.

An evening cruise takes us under the famed Château de Chenonceau to the village of Chisseaux. Dinner is served aboard.

Day 5  ·  Château des Bordes

Domaine de Fontenay to Montrichard – A morning cruise takes us to Montrichard.

After lunch we drive to Château des Bordes, which was originally conceived by businessman Mr Yoshiaki Sakurai and industrialist Baron Marcel Bich (Bic pens fame).

The two friends decided to create a world class golf course with an international dimension for their own and their guests’ enjoyment. Robert von Hagge, Texan architect of more than 200 courses, was employed to bring his American expertise to the project.

With no expense spared and free from development constraints, Von Hagge created a masterpiece of extraordinary beauty exploiting the abundance of the Sologne’s lakes to present water hazards at 12 of its 18 holes as it winds its way through the forest.

The golf here is in the same league as Valderama. In fact, along with the former Ryder Cup venue, Les Bordes is one of only two courses in Continental Europe to enjoy the highest rating in the Peugeot Golf Guide to 1000 European courses. (18 holes, par 72, 6420 meters). In the evening, dinner is served aboard.

Day 6  ·  Troglodyte Habitation

Montrichard to Moulin de Nitray – After breakfast we visit Montrichard with its’ busy street market. The 12th Century Château of Foulques Nerra overlooks the medieval town square, and is interesting to explore.

Before lunch, we visit one of the more unusual dwellings in the Loire Valley, La Magnaneraie. The Coquillat family has grown up in this hillside troglodyte habitation, which has been in turn wine cellar, quarry for the tuffeau stone, and lastly a silkworm nursery.

After lunch, Nymphea sets off downstream, for another passage under Chenonceau with a chance to visit the castle, and arrives at the hamlet of Nitray.

Enjoy a pre-Captain’s dinner aperitif grown in Nitray and Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.

Day 7  ·  Nitray to Tours

Moulin de Nitray to Tours – After breakfast, disembark, and return by minibus to St Pierre des Corps Station arriving there at 9.30am. This itinerary is subject to change.

There is a supplement per golfer, as not everyone on the cruise may wish to play golf.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change