Rent a boat to sail in Franche-Comté on the Petite-Saône
view Map
Boat rental on the Saône. Discover the highlights of this river cruise on the Petite Saône basin
From Saint-Jean-De-Losne, there are many routes available to you. You can leave in the direction of Mâcon for a river cruise on a wild river with few locks or in the direction of Epinal to sail in the heart of the Burgundy marshes. It is in this direction that we propose to take you.
Let's go for 35 km of waterways. In this navigation area you have 6 departure bases: Saint-Jean-De-Losne, Pontailler, Dôle, Scey-Sur-Saône, Port-Sur-Saône and Fontenoy-Le-Château. Here are some of the towns and villages you can discover during your cruise in Franche-Comté. You will find a towpath all along your route so don't forget your bikes to enjoy it!
Cities and villages to discover during your cruise
See the current offers
Navigation conditions for renting a boat without a licence on the Petite Saône
The Petite Saône is a calm and welcoming river. During your river cruise, you will navigate sometimes on a wild river, sometimes on a canalized part. Its 19 locks, all automated, allow for smooth navigation, even for beginners. The Petite Saône has a large number of stopping places (ports, pontoons). If you wish to navigate on the Doubs, we recommend that you have some experience.
You can start your cruise on the Petite Saône in Dôle, Saint-Jean-De-Losne, Pontailler, Scey-Sur-Saône, Port-Sur-Saône or Fontenoy-Le-Château. Before leaving the departure base, you will receive a short 1-hour training session to introduce you to the river code, the principle of navigation and to familiarise you with the operation of the controls of your boat without a licence.
- River cruise in the heart of the best preserved nature in Europe
- River with few locks, perfect for beginners
- Several water sports facilities
The locks are automatic or electric, most of them manned by lock keepers. The locks close the 1st may and the 14th july. Except on the Canal du Center where some are manual.
Recommended experience for navigation on the Doubs.
Between Saint Jean de Losne and Mâcon, docking at a pontoon or in a mandatory port. Otherwise you can moor on the banks, in the countryside.
Possible cruises in The Petite-Saône.
Dôle
round trip
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Fontenoy-le-Château
round trip
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Port/Saône
round trip
Monument
Nature
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Fontenoy-le-Château
round trip
Dôle
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
Gastronomy
Nature
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Port/Saône
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Fontenoy-le-Château
round trip
Dôle
round trip
Monument
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Port/Saône
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Nature
Fontenoy-le-Château
St Jean de Losne
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Pontailler
Louhans
Gastronomy
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Nature
Monument
Vineyard
Pontailler
round trip
Gastronomy
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Nature
Vineyard
Monument
St Jean de Losne
Fontenoy-le-Château
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Dôle
Port/Saône
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
Port/Saône
Dôle
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
Port/Saône
round trip
Dôle
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
Fontenoy-le-Château
round trip
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Gastronomy
Nature
Vineyard
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Also to be discovered
Here is the list of possible cruises on the Petite Saône
From €406 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit
Bow thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV
Microwave
Air-Conditioning
Electric toilets
Bimini
From €401 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 9
- Cabins : 4
- Bathroom & Toilet : 4
Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV
Microwave
Air-Conditioning
Electric toilets
Bimini
From €292 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit
Electric toilets
220 v socket
From €715 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit
Bow thruster
Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV
Electric toilets
Bimini
From €330 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Dual cockpit
Electric toilets
220 v socket
From €350 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit
Electric toilets
220 v socket
From €551 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster
Continuous 220V electricity
Microwave
Electric toilets
Bimini
From €640 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV
Microwave
Air freshener
Electric toilets
Bimini
From €426 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit
Bow thruster
Flat Screen TV
Air-Conditioning
Electric toilets
220 v socket
Bimini
From €448 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Dual cockpit
Flat Screen TV
Electric toilets
220 v socket
From €576 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Dual cockpit
Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Flat Screen TV
Microwave
Air-Conditioning
Electric toilets
Dishwasher
Bimini
From €310 / pers
Week of the 5/4/24 to 5/11/24
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
220 v socket
Customer testimonials
4.7/5
(based on 37 opinion)
"A great experience, halfway between a cruise and an adventure."
"Relaxing, a refreshing change of scenery; very nice contact with the flora and fauna and the birds."
"We discovered a magnificent river landscape. The locks were very well maintained and entertaining, and the two tunnels a real experience."
"The Saône is a wonderful river, and we were even able to swim in it on several occasions."
"A beautiful itinerary for a 4-5-day cruise."
"It was a great experience, we'll do it again."
"We loved it. However, navigation requires focus and watchfulness."
"auto-translation :''It is an experience to be had, it is very quiet and relaxing''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxed''"
"auto-translation :''Very pleasant but not much to do to the north''"
"auto-translation :''Exotic, relaxing, fun''"
"auto-translation :''It was a very nice experience and beautiful scenery.''"
"auto-translation :''Great, all the more so as the weather was favourable to us.''"
"auto-translation :''Great, we didn't see any other boats.''"
"auto-translation :''Everything went well and we had a lot of fun in this short river trip.''"
"auto-translation :''From Pontailler to Port sur Saône, superb river, possibility of stops in full nature, wild.''"
"auto-translation :''Friendly''"
"auto-translation :''Friendly''"
"auto-translation :''We have adored''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxing''"
"The route was very beautiful, calm. The locks were easy to operate"
"auto-translation :''Super very nice''"
"auto-translation :''A relaxing holiday, a slow pace of life and a stay in osmosis with nature and calm''"
"auto-translation :''Good to change between the river and the canals => possibility to bathe''"
"auto-translation :''Rather nice weather view''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxing cruise. Villages a bit far if not bicycles''"
"auto-translation :''Exotic, relaxing and decompressing''"
"auto-translation :''Nice landscapes, calm. But problems with the locks, do not open, VNF not very fast !!!!!!!''"
"auto-translation :''The small Saône and the Seille offered us unforgettable nights docked in the wilderness. Mooring in the center of Mâcon with a magnificent view of the city and the bridge lit by night.''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxing''"
"auto-translation :''Soothing, rejuvenating, we saw nature from another angle''"
"auto-translation :''Well but for the first time, we should have chosen a course with fewer locks''"
"auto-translation :''Nice, we preferred navigation on the Saone that on the Doubs''"
"auto-translation :"Very pleasant to virtually all points of view""
"auto-translation :"A little disappointed this cruise .""
"auto-translation :"Very nice""
Travelling with Cris Boat
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.
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
Cris Boat Blog
Unusual weekend on a houseboat during the May bank holidays
The finest river destinations for fine dining
"Very pleasant, not very crowded at this time of year, easy lock passage with the remote control."