🧘Yoga or stretching on the deck of your licence-free houseboat
In the morning, at dawn, while the canal is still peaceful... there's nothing more soothing than rolling out a mat and taking a moment to breathe.
No need to be an expert: a few simple postures are all you need to release tension and get the day off to a good start.
👉 Tip: take a soft yoga mat or towel with you, and make the most of rest stops with a view to vary the locations.
📖 Read a good book in the middle of nature
On deck, in the cabin or by the water during a stopover, a river cruise is the perfect time to savour that novel you've been putting off for months. No notifications, no diary, just you, the book... and the ducks.
🛶 Swimming in a lake or river on your river cruise
Some stages offer natural bodies of water perfect for a zen swim, away from the crowds of beaches. Étang de Baye, Lac de Jouarres, Lot at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie... so many places for a gentle swim and a refreshing dip.
👉 See our article: The best swimming spots on a river cruise
🖋️ Keep a logbook or gratitude book
Take advantage of these suspended moments to write down your feelings, stick on memories, note down your favourite ports of call... Keeping a logbook also means prolonging the magic of the trip once you're back home.
🦆 Observe nature and birds
Canals are refuges of biodiversity: herons, swans, kingfishers... Take the time to simply observe aboard your licence-free houseboat. A pair of binoculars or an identification app can make the activity even more exciting.
🎧 Listen to a podcast or a soft playlist
There's no need to always be doing something. Lie back on the deck of your licence-free houseboat, headphones on, and let yourself be carried away by some inspirational music or podcast. The lapping water will do the rest.
🧺 Organise a picnic by the water
At lunchtime or for an aperitif, stop off in a quiet spot, moor your licence-free houseboat and get out the tablecloth. There's nothing simpler and more convivial than an impromptu picnic on the banks or on the terrace of your licence-free houseboat.
You don't need a spa or a plane ticket to relax. A river cruise is all you need to slow down, refocus and savour the moment. On board your licence-free houseboat, you create your own zen interlude... at your own pace.
👉 Discover our itineraries and let yourself be tempted by slow tourism along the water.