Book your spring boating holiday at the best price! Up t 30% off on cruises in April and 25% off on departures in May 2025 (offer valid until 30/04 on a selection of cruises).

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Canal Ardennes

Rent a boat to navigate on the Canal des Ardennes

Crisboat - Expert in river boat rental for over 20 years

Current offers

Book your spring boating holiday at the best price! Up t 30% off on cruises in April and 25% off on departures in May 2025 (offer valid until 30/04 on a selection of cruises).
No licence, no experience, and completely safe
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Boat rental on the Canal des Ardennes. Discover the highlights of this river cruise between Pont à Bar and Reims

From Pont à Bar, there are many routes available to you. You can leave for Namur to discover an exceptional natural heritage, for Verdun to navigate on a houseboat between nature and history or for Reims for a river cruise between city, forest, countryside and lakes. This is the direction in which we propose to take you.

 

Let's go for 95 km of waterways. On this navigation area you can start your cruise at Pont à Bar. Don't forget to take your bikes with you on your houseboat, the towpath follows the Canal des Ardennes, short walks or more sportive tours, it's up to you!

Ardennes Image

Cities and villages to discover during your cruise

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Berry au Bac Located at the crossroads of the Aisne and the Canal des Ardennes. You will find several relics of the 1st World War.
Berry au Bac Located at the crossroads of the Aisne and the Canal des Ardennes. You will find several relics of the 1st World War.
Reims and its Cathedral. A masterpiece of Gothic art built from 1211. Since 1991, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reims and its Cathedral. A masterpiece of Gothic art built from 1211. Since 1991, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Lake of Bairon. Nestled in the heart of the Ardennes, Lake Bairon offers walking trails, playgrounds, a sandy beach and restaurants.
The Lake of Bairon. Nestled in the heart of the Ardennes, Lake Bairon offers walking trails, playgrounds, a sandy beach and restaurants.

Navigation conditions for licence-free boat hire on the Ardennes Canal

The Canal des Ardennes is a canal that offers easy and stress-free navigation. There are several mechanised locks without the assistance of a lock keeper. Passing through a lock usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes.

 

To navigate the Canal des Ardennes by licence-free boat, you can start your cruise at Pont à Bar. Before you leave the base, you will receive a training session of about 1 hour to introduce you to the operation of the boat and the manoeuvres.

2 possible starting bases

The locks are manned by lock keepers. They are closed on some bank holidays.

Navigation on waterways in the Ardennes is quite easy and perfect for your first experience of boating.

You can moor anywhere along the banks in the heart of the countryside, except on the River Meuse where you have to use the designated moorings.

The Canal des Ardennes - our suggested cruises

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 3 of nights

River Cruise Pont à Bar / Le Chesne / Pont à Bar

56 kms - 12 locks - 10 h of navigation

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 3 of nights

River Cruise Pont à Bar / Le Chesne / Pont à Bar

56 kms - 12 locks - 10 h of navigation

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 7 of nights

River Cruise Pont à Bar / Rethel / Pont à Bar

122 kms - 68 locks - 30 h of navigation

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 7 of nights

River Cruise Pont à Bar / Rethel / Pont à Bar

122 kms - 68 locks - 30 h of navigation

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 10 of nights
Monument
River constructions
Gastronomy

cruising route Pont à Bar / Berry au Bac / Pont à Bar

204 kms - 80 locks - 43 h of navigation

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 14 of nights
Monument
Vineyard
River constructions
Gastronomy

cruising route Pont à Bar / Reims / Pont à Bar

250 kms - 98 locks - 53 h of navigation

Pont à Bar
round trip

Cruise 14 of nights

River Cruise Pont à Bar / Reims / Pont à Bar

250 kms - 98 locks - 53 h of navigation

Also to be discovered

The Meuse River

The Meuse River

Discover this destination
The Canal de l'Est

The Canal de l'Est

Discover this destination

Travelling with CrisBoat

Crisboat has more than 90% of the French fleet of self drive river boats. Entrust us with your desires and your availabilities and we will shape your holidays on the water. Located in the heart of the Vienne, Crisboat is the leader in self driver river boat rental in France. Discover our team, made up of 6 experts ready to take up the challenge to design the cruise that will meet your expectations.

Who are we?
Customer
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
20 years of experience
Wide choice of boats and destinations
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The Canal des Ardennes

Le Chesne

You can take advantage of the proximity of Lake Bairon, accessible from your licence-free boat, to try your hand at water sports.

Semuy

One of the oldest and most beautiful needle dams on the Aisne is located in Rilly, at the junction of the Ardennes and Aisne canals. These early 18th century buildings regulate the flow and height of the canal.

Asfeld

Asfeld

In the middle of this village, situated between Berry-au-bac and Blanzy, is a magnificent 17th century Italian baroque church. It was built by the Dominican François Romain, who later built the Pont Royal in Paris and the Pont du Marché in Meaux.

Reims

Reims

The city of Reims, twice classified as a UNESCO heritage site, is full of Gothic monuments. Why not discover its exceptional heritage? Leave your houseboat behind and opt for a sparkling excursion to the land of Champagne. On the programme: a visit to the cellars of a great Champagne House and tasting sessions. You won't be disappointed!

What is included / not included

The price of your charter includes

  • The rental of the boat
  • Fittings: equipment necessary for navigation
  • Crockery: in sufficient quantity for the number of passengers on board
  • Bedding*: sheets, blankets or duvets, pillows and pillow cases
  • Boat insurance
  • Navigation instruction and delivery of the yacht's card
  • Breakdown assistance available 7/7 during the base's opening hours
  • The navigation toll
  • A 13 kg gas bottle

* Beds made up on certain boats in the 5 star range

 

The price of your rental does not include

  • Cancellation insurance
  • Navigation guide
  • One way supplement
  • Deposit redemption insurance
  • The cleaning package
  • Cleaning kits, kitchen linen, towels**.
  • Deposit of 780 € to 3 250 €, depending on the boat
  • The navigation package. This includes all consumables used during your stay (oil, diesel, gas, etc.). Depending on the category of the boat, the package varies from 7 € to 22 € per hour of navigation.

** Included on some boats