HEAR FROM OUR EXPERTS: BOATING HOLIDAYS IN CAMRGUE FROM THE BASE AT BELLEGARDE

Our series of ‘expert opinion’ articles let you meet the people at Nicols who bring our boating holidays to life – people who are passionate about their jobs, the waterways they work on and the regions they live within. Here we will share their advice about how to get the most from your boating holiday.

In charge of the Nicols base at Bellegarde in the heart of the Camargue region is Sébastien. He is an extremely versatile pair of hands to have at the helm and loves the variety of task required of him at the Nicols base. In winter you’ll find him working hard to maintain our fleet of self-drive canal boats while in the boating holiday season he’s welcoming you and your crews and sharing his advice on what makes a boating holiday in the Camargue special.

In this article we will introduce you to Sébastien plus ask him to tell us more about why he loves the Camargue and its waterways…

A long journey in boating

When we asked him how long he’d been working in the boating industry 49 year old Sébastien answered ‘Always’! The Camargue isn’t his first home with Nicols – previously he has managed other Nicols bases on the Canal du Midi and in Charente. At the very beginning before joining us it was boat engines that he worked on, before also working in roles managing the port of Cognac and Port Cassafières.

Now in the Camargue, Sébastien is part of a team of three – himself taking care of the reception and crew arrivals, plus mechanic Anthony who keeps the boats in good working order and Morgann who keeps the boats looking great! The team offer a fleet of 14 boats for hire.

Uninterrupted navigation

On the Canal du Rhône à Sète, “we navigate without obstacles” explains Sébastien. This is due to the fact that you can travel all the way to Agde before reaching a lock meaning there is plenty of time for our crews to get used to the boat in the first few days of navigation.

Also, and something that is quite rare in the South of France, the Canal du Rhône à Sète is never closed due to low water levels. “Fed by the Rhône and by sea water which comes from the Camargue marshes there is always an opportunity to get out on the water” adds Sébastien.

Plenty of ports are ready to welcome you

On the Canal du Rhône à Sète, “we navigate without obstacles” explains Sébastien. This is due to the fact that you can travel all the way to Agde before reaching a lock meaning there is plenty of time for our crews to get used to the boat in the first few days of navigation.

Also, and something that is quite rare in the South of France, the Canal du Rhône à Sète is never closed due to low water levels. “Fed by the Rhône and by sea water which comes from the Camargue marshes there is always an opportunity to get out on the water” adds Sébastien.

Help at hand if you need it

You hopefully will never need it – but it offers extra peace of mind knowing that Sébastien has obtained permission from VNF (Voies Navigables de France) to move freely on the towpath and has a key for all the barriers, so on the rare occasion that a crew needs support, he can easily help you wherever you might be along the canal.

Our expert's top picks

With so many great things to see and do in the Camargue region of France we limited Sébastien to picking just his top four.

“The port of Gallician, located in the heart of the wild Camargue. Aigues Mortes, a medieval walled city whose port is barely 100 metres away. The abbey of Villeneuve les Maguelonne is also a must.”

“And, for something completely different and quite unique in comparison to all other Nicols holidays, the sea is never far away with excellent coastal attractions in Palavas, Carnon or Villeneuve. In just a few kilometres you’ll see such vast differences in your surroundings.”

Fine dining at exceptionally good prices

With so many great things to see and do in the Camargue region of France we limited Sébastien to picking just his top four.

“The port of Gallician, located in the heart of the wild Camargue. Aigues Mortes, a medieval walled city whose port is barely 100 metres away. The abbey of Villeneuve les Maguelonne is also a must.”

“And, for something completely different and quite unique in comparison to all other Nicols holidays, the sea is never far away with excellent coastal attractions in Palavas, Carnon or Villeneuve. In just a few kilometres you’ll see such vast differences in your surroundings.”

Listen to Sébastien - His top tips!

Even if it’s not your first boating holiday, the initial boat handover and briefing session with the base team is super important to the success of your holiday. Embrace this time to learn as much about the boat, the waterways and the region as you can.

“Getting started can take as long as an hour and a half and even if it means spending your first night onboard still at our base then it will be well worth it from the inside knowledge you’ll gain” says Sébastien.

A last bit of advice… “Although the idea of mooring in the middle of nowhere sounds bliss it is better to stop at the designated boat mooring pontoons. There are plenty of them and they offer good facilities.”

Our expert's secret corner - A must see for bird watchers

For Sébastien, the most perfect place along the canal is the port of Franquevaux. “From this port”, he explains, “you can go to the Scamandre pond and the Charnier pond which is accessible on foot. It is a protected and natural reserve, you will only come across wildlife there. Geese, Black Ibis, Herons, Flamingos and much more populate the Scamandre reserve.”

"My shower water is salty!"

As with all our ‘experts’ articles we asked Sébastien to tell us a funny story he remembers… and he doesn’t disappoint.

He recalls the time that a customer called the base to complain that the tap water onboard was salty as was the water in the shower. “When we got to him he had bumped the boat damaging the fresh water tank - which meant it started to take on sea water instead of holding fresh water. Fortunately the design of our boats means they remain very safe (apart from maybe the taste of your water!) so there were no serious consequences and we can laugh about it now.”

Tell us three words to describe your region

Some of our base managers struggle with this question but Sébastien quickly tells us the three words which he believes defines the Camargue region. He says “biodiversity, space and tranquillity which can be enjoyed everywhere along the Canal du Rhône à Sète.”

Why choose the Camargue for your boating holiday ?

This article would become way too long if we listed every great reason why you should enjoy a boating holiday in the Camargue region of France so we’ve asked Sébastien to end the article by summarising why he thinks it should be next on your destination list…

• Firstly there is good weather for the majority of the year with almost no rain in the summer months. Rain in summer is “almost an experience” says Sébastien.
• The waterways are generally very wide so navigation is easy and stress free and much of them are lock-free.
• The Camargue region is steeped in history and heritage.
• The region also has two very different feels to it. Fans of beautiful flora and fauna and diverse wildlife, in particular birdlife, will be spoilt whilst you are also within touching distance of the southern beaches at Carnon or Palavas. In fact you are so close to the sea here that the Camargue Nicols base is the only one in our network that also provides a nautical chart and explanation about it because you can quickly find yourself in the maritime domain without even knowing it!

Plan your Camargue boating holiday today!

We’re convinced that Sébastien has persuaded you to make the Camargue your next boating holiday destination so it’s time to start planning.

You can find out more and see the full range of boating holiday itineraries available from the Bellegarde base by visiting our boating holidays in Camargue pages.

If you would like additional information about the region you can also contact the local tourist office, who will be happy to send you all the documentation you require. Contact them via the website: www.provence-camargue-tourisme.com.