The Nicols Philosophy

We’ve been proudly providing our customers with unforgettable boating holiday experiences for nearly 40 years now. Our mission remains to introduce as many people as possible to the wonderful world of life on the waterways.

GO WHERE NO ONE EXPECTS US

For a one-of-a-kind holiday, far from the usual tourism crowds.
Choose a self-drive boating holiday,
On some of Europe’s finest rivers and canals.

Escape amongst beautiful scenery and nature.
Embrace peace, quiet, serenity,
And treasure time with family or friends.

Imagine a new way to travel – a slow pace of life.
Cast off and be carried along with the flow of waterways,
Let yourself be surprised every day by new discoveries.

Onboard a Nicols boat, built by our own craftsman in France.
Fully-equipped with every home-from-home comfort you’ll need,
Our teams are ready to welcome you – for the holiday of a lifetime.

Nicols: your passport to a memorable holiday

This philosophy translates into a unique holiday experience - combining comfort, freedom and exploration on board our self-drive canal boats:

So many destinations for an unforgettable adventure

Nicols offers one of the widest choices of boating holiday destinations – with 25 different starting locations spread across six European countries. Whether you are a fan of peaceful canals, natural rivers, magnificent landscapes or historic cities, you will definitely find a holiday itinerary to excite your crew.

In France: this is our biggest selection of holidays with Nicols bases in 11 different regions of France. Highlights include navigating on the historic canals of the Canal du Midi, exploring the waterways of Brittany or discovering the charms of the Alsace region, Burgundy or Franche-Comté.

In Germany: Enjoy peaceful waters and stunning scenery in the heart of Germany. Our holidays here are in a quiet region offering many possibilities for exploring a network of lakes home to some of the richest fauna and flora in Europe.

In the Netherlands: On board your easy to drive boat you will discover another side of Holland: picturesque towns and villages, art and history museums, a national park classified as a Natura 2000 zone, swimming in natural water and of course... bike rides!

In Ireland: A preserved natural setting and a fisherman's paradise, explore the Shannon, the longest river in the British Isles with its 220km of navigable waters! The total absence of commercial traffic, the small number of locks and the picturesque little villages invite you to slow down and simply enjoy life on the waterways...

In Hungary: Sail on the wild rivers of Hungary! Two departure bases are available: Kisköre in the South, to sail between lakes and national parks; or Tokaj in the North, in the heart of a world-famous wine region...

In Portugal: Navigate on the largest lake in Europe! You will succumb to the sun all year round, to swimming in clean, warm water or try your hand at fishing for black perch, carp and more. Many activities await you on site: mountain bike rides, quad biking, etc. In addition to an abundance of fauna and flora there is other interests such as a fortified village, archaeological heritage, crafts (pottery), traditional regional cuisine and a great restaurant at the base boasting panoramic views of the water.

Discover our destinations

Choose from the best hire boats on the waterways

All of our Nicols boats are designed and manufactured in our very own shipyard in Cholet, France. Through our craftsmanship, we are committed to offering you the very best boats, combining comfort and functionality so that you feel at home. Our self-drive and license-free boats are designed with:

• Spacious and bright interiors.
• Modern and functional equipment: fully-equipped kitchen, modern bathrooms, heating, etc.
• At least one comfortable outside terrace to enjoy the scenery…but usually more!
• Quality bedding for peaceful nights.
• Easy to operate steering and navigating. Our boats have been designed to be suitable for beginners as well as seasoned boaters.

Perfect for beginners - no boating experience needed

At Nicols, we have made canal boat rentals easy. All you need to do is choose your destination, your boat and your dates of travel. Don’t be put off if you’ve never been on a boat before because with all Nicols holidays…

• No license is required: Our boats are designed to be driven without a licence.
• No previous boating experience is required: in addition to be given lots of information about the waterways and navigation our base teams will introduce you to the boat and provide training on how to operate the boat before you set off.
• Should you need them during your holiday, our bases offer assistance seven days a week.

Book your boating holiday today and set off to discover Europe on board your Nicols boat.

Start planing your holiday